Wife working for nothing basically?

UnderPressure

calleyw wrote: »

It seems that all their info is rather out of date or totally wrong.

They should claim income support and transfer the Tax credits claim to the op.

None of it makes any sense.

Mind you if the OU are going to put fees up that much. I don't think I will finish off my degree.

Yours

Calley

Well it has been established the wife could not claim any IS it is there in black and white I hope you read your TMA's better than the forum posts :eek:

The OP would only have to transfer the tax credits over if the wife did indeed quit working, how could she claim WTC when not employed???? Quite simple really try reading thoroughly and you may be able to follow the conversation a wee bit better.

UnderPressure

Oldernotwiser wrote: »

As the OU has just announced that it's fees are going to go up to £2,500 per module and fee loans will be introduced to cover them, your information is only accurate for this year.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-14216167.

For most people, a course at their local college will be far more appropriate than degree level study anyway.

mmmmmmmm a wee bit sceptical TBH especially with the source being the BBC :rotfl: Still I have now emailed the relevant people for further information.

But hey who knows I have not had anything from the OU to suggest any of this maybe because I am an existing student? WHo knows I will go back to what I have always said the idea of a degree for many people is to be able to get better employment earning more money until that happens the cost of the degree and the resulting debt is really irrelevant.

When you are earning enough money to pay it back it should still be irrelevant really as you take home would still be an awful lot more than Min wage........................

Some people grab opportunities in life with both hands other sit on their hands and are easily pleased I so appreciate this fully.

EDIT

WOW completely missed all this grrrrrrrrrrr!

Here is a link direct to the OU site that explains thing a bit better without all the BBC scaremongering!

http://www8.open.ac.uk/study/explained/fees-2012/currently-studying

Still more than possible for the average Joe to sign up and educate themselves......

Oldernotwiser

calleyw wrote: »

It seems that all their info is rather out of date or totally wrong.

They should claim income support and transfer the Tax credits claim to the op.

None of it makes any sense.

Mind you if the OU are going to put fees up that much. I don't think I will finish off my degree.

Yours

Calley

I believe that there are transitional arrangements for those who are in the middle of their degree, so don't give up just yet!


ETA. Posted before reading the posts above.

MissMoneypenny

slugger09 wrote: »

Its almost like she is working for nothing now yes but if she leaves we will be alot worse of

One thing that you should also consider perhaps, is your wife's feeling of self-worth, when she works and gets her wages of £95. There is nothing like earning your own money and the confidence and surge that gives as you open your salary slip . She might want that feeling of earning her own money and if she likes the social side of working, then she won't like working from home. People who are without work for a period of time, lose confidence in themselves.

That feeling of self worth shouldn't be undermined by saying that it is not worth her working; as you are on the same hourly wage as her and just do 24 hours paid work more than her, per week. I said "paid" as she will continue to work over and in excess of your 40 hours paid work per week when she is with the children; sorting out things for them; cleaning; ironing; tidying up the house and garden; shopping and cooking meals. I assume you take a 50% share in doing all this unpaid work? If you don't, then she will be working over 100 hours per week.

If you don't 'do your share' of this unpaid work, perhaps you could take a second job to increase the household income? Or as others here have suggested; your wife could go out to work when you are not working, to decrease your outgoings (childcare costs).

AMILLIONDOLLARS

Bottom line you and your wife chose to have three kiddies, you'll have to put up with the hardship as a consequence of your decision. You're lucky that the government are funding some of your childcare costs. When I went straight back to work after having my two, I paid childminding costs, I had to half my wages, half went to the childminder and the other half was mine, no government subsidy for me, so I stopped at two.

Good luck for the future

AMD

mumps

MissMoneypenny wrote: »

One thing that you should also consider perhaps, is your wife's feeling of self-worth, when she works and gets her wages of £95. There is nothing like earning your own money and the confidence and surge that gives as you open your salary slip . She might want that feeling of earning her own money and if she likes the social side of working, then she won't like working from home. People who are without work for a period of time, lose confidence in themselves.
.

This is all true for some people but some parents feel just as much self-worth from bringing up their children. I say this as somene who has had to work when my children were young but would have loved the chance to be a SAHM.

Oldernotwiser

mumps wrote: »

This is all true for some people but some parents feel just as much self-worth from bringing up their children. I say this as somene who has had to work when my children were young but would have loved the chance to be a SAHM.

Working 20 hours a week hardly stops you bringing up your own children. By the time they're in school or nursery it needn't affect it at all.

MissMoneypenny

mumps wrote: »

This is all true for some people but some parents feel just as much self-worth from bringing up their children. I say this as somene who has had to work when my children were young but would have loved the chance to be a SAHM.

I'm not underming full time mothers. I stayed at home to look after my chilldren and then worked from home. I lost confidence in myself during those years when I wasn't working, which shocked my friends as I was always a very confident person.

A high earning friend of mine was a bit shocked when his wife wanted to go out to work as they had small children and he could afford for her to stay at home. He did admit later that when she got home from work "she was a new woman".

People who don't work, pay a heavy price with a loss of self confidence.

Alleycat

At the moment it may seem frustrating that once childcare is paid, there is very little left from your wife's wages. But just hang on to the thought that it won't be that way forever. Once your youngest is 2 years their childcare fees should decrease a bit and as the children reach school age, it will become so much cheaper. Plus whilst your wife is working, there are opportunities for pay increases, promotions etc. If she gives up her job until the youngest gets free nursery, she may find it very difficult to get back into one again.

At present, our total income is £18 per week more than if I gave up work, but the self worth it gives me knowing that I am doing a good job and bringing an income into the house makes it worth it. Yes, I then have to deduct travel costs and less chance to shop for bargains from that £18 but still, I think I am better off in the long run staying employed. Especially when we see so many people being made redundant and increasing numbers of unemployed.

It's a balancing act, but on the whole I think a part time job even when the kids are young is a good thing.

Anubis_2

slugger09 wrote: »

Thats an odd way of looking at it but true, if she didn't work we would be alot worse of, However at the min she is working to get benefits if that makes sense, not for money.

£95pw then, it was a ball park figure.

If she is working to get benefits and not for the money she earns, what is the issue? Obviously you know you would be worse off if she didn't work as your wages may mean you are not entitled to benefits.

For benefit purposes it is not just your wife's income that is calculated, yours is also - so your earnings have an effect on how much wtc etc you get.

As she is working just so she can claim benefits, then you HAVE to add the benefits she gets each week to her wages - and then you can say, well she is working for something, rather than nothing! If she is getting £90 wages and say £50 benefits - and the benefits are only paid on the basis that she is working, then the reality is she is working for £140 per week......