Tax credits, is this true?

Jessikita1983

mildred1978 wrote: »

I note the OP has a student loan. So you must have gone to uni full time. How did you manage that, what with working full time?

With bloody hard work and determination! While I was at College (16 to 18) I worked for a large hotel change who would let me work evenings and weekends, I used to average 39 hours a week work. Luckily my course was pratical and only 20 hours a week, so there wasn't much work outside of the 20 hours a week for reading etc.

During Uni I was fortunate to work for Asda, While at Uni I worked in the shop, they were open 24 hours so I used to do 3 night shifts at 12 hours, and 1 at 4 hours, stay up and go to my lectures, sleep in the afternoon then do my studies at night.

It was bloody hard work but I was determined to leave university with the smallest debt possible and I wanted to run a car (which probably wasn't much dearer than the train fares all told. Leicester to Middlesbrough used to come up at £168!!! return)

During the holidays I used to work at the warehouse back home as the money was better.

Because I was under 25 they never looked at my income for working out Student loans and fees, it was all based on my parents income still.

charlieismydarling

Obviously being on benfits your whole, life, or maybe I should committ tragic crimes and go to prison, then your estimations of me will rise!

Now you are throwing your toys out the pram.

Wrong. Sigh I have not been on benfits I have worked full time for 25 years, Long long hours in a very tough job and part time for 6years.

My estimation of you as being silly and not decent arise because you said this:

Less fortunate???! I seriously doubt that!

All the people on benefits that I see, seem to do ok. They all have big screen TV's, the latest sky package, chain smoke, drink 8 tinnies a day, afford a holiday at least once a day and wear designer clothes.

All while they never actually do any work and have been long term unemployed, voluntary. Every time we recruit we can never fill the jobs!

So how these people are "less fortunate" than me I will never no.

So after working my whole life and constantly paying into the system I don't see how I can be begrudged a little moan about them removing the only thing I will ever claim (assumsing the rumour I have heard is wrong)

As for my children using the Schools, NHS, etc in principle I do not disagree with you. But again, I find it frustrating that I will contribute so much and others NOTHING but take.

Just sour grapes isn't it?

It isn't about paying in to take out. It is about providing for those in need.



It is called civilisation.

Anyone with 125 a week pocket really should not be getting benefits.

I know you have worked hard all your adult life and so have I. I regularly worked 60 and 70 hour weeks back when interest rates were high to pay my mortgage. I was proud to do so.

It never occurred to me to be envious and spiteful to those subsisting on benefits, and I really don't get it when people do.

Why not just get on with your own life and stop looking at what others do or don't have. Life is far too short. You should be looking to your future and hoping that the children you have are healthy and happy. Not glancing over your shoulder at others possessions and stewing over perceived injustices.

By the way it is the benefit bashing attitudes and sentiments that are tiresome. Not the threads themselves.

Jessikita1983

charlieismydarling wrote: »

Now you are throwing your toys out the pram.

I understand it may seem this way, but really I'm not. I will gladly debate anything with anyone and take comments on board. The only thing I object to you saying, which I feel is unfair is that I am not a "decent" person. I generally do not committ crimes, I work, contribute to society, support an animal charity, help others when I can.
So I just feel that that comment is unfair and unjust.

Wrong. Sigh I have not been on benfits I have worked full time for 25 years, Long long hours in a very tough job and part time for 6years.

I understand my post may have read that I was insinuating that about you, but actually I wasn't. I was asking, that if you do not think I am a decent person, for working and contributing what do you think makes a decent person? Being on benefits your whole life? Or maybe I should committ crimes and go to prison? (See my above comment)Then I would go up in your estimations. That is what I was saying. But I do acknowledge that it could have been read differently.

My estimation of you as being silly and not decent arise because you said this: (Again I hardly think sour grapes means I am not a decent person!)



Just sour grapes isn't it?

It isn't about paying in to take out. It is about providing for those in need.

Point generally noted - however, you are not in NEED to have 5 children when you never worked or paid for one.



It is called civilisation.

Anyone with 125 a week pocket really should not be getting benefits.

I know you have worked hard all your adult life and so have I. I regularly worked 60 and 70 hour weeks back when interest rates were high to pay my mortgage. I was proud to do so.

It never occurred to me to be envious and spiteful to those subsisting on benefits, and I really don't get it when people do.

Why not just get on with your own life and stop looking at what others do or don't have. Life is far too short. You should be looking to your future and hoping that the children you have are healthy and happy. Not glancing over your shoulder at others possessions and stewing over perceived injustices.

I object to this, I do not believe it is "perceived". I do not think it is right for anyone to work their whole life and get nothing when they need it, and others who do not contribute anything to society, never work and come out with more money that I do, at anothers expense.

I take your point on board, and maybe I should, but debate is something I enjoy.

By the way it is the benefit bashing attitudes and sentiments that are tiresome. Not the threads themselves.

Comments and clarification above.

clemmatis

Jessikita

Jessikita1983 wrote: »

I am in no desperate need for the £545 a year, I just find it frustrating that after working and contributing since I was 13 years old, and never claiming a benefit in my life, I have paid for every body else to get everything. And now yet again when it's my time to claim they will get rid!

Jessikita1983 wrote: »

It seems to go to everyone else, then when it finally seems my "turn" they change the boundaries and I end up with nothing!

Jessikita1983 wrote: »

Less fortunate???! I seriously doubt that!

All the people on benefits that I see, seem to do ok. They all have big screen TV's, the latest sky package, chain smoke, drink 8 tinnies a day, afford a holiday at least once a day and wear designer clothes.

All while they never actually do any work and have been long term unemployed, voluntary. Every time we recruit we can never fill the jobs!

this is offensive and it is nonsense

Jessikita1983 wrote: »

My parents paid tax their whole lives for me to be educated etc, as my tax contributions will pay for my childrens.

that is not how it works. It's possible your tax and NI contributions together are sufficient to pay your share of your children's education, your and their NHS use, the money the government pays to your local council, and so on. And it's possible they aren't

If you would like to read my original post correctly, it was not started as a purpose to benefit bash.

but you did it anyway....

All I can say is, if you do not think that I am a decent person for contributing to society etc in the best way that I can by working hard and a lot. You must have a very warped view of what you think a decent person is. Obviously being on benfits your whole, life, or maybe I should committ tragic crimes and go to prison, then your estimations of me will rise!

I rather agreed with charlieismydarling. (Unlike him, I am now "
on benefits", LRC DLA; and 45 years ago I was unemployed for a year and on Supp. Ben.) It takes more than working and paying taxes to be a decent person, and I've known many who did not work, who were decent people. And as for your suggestion that charlie would think better of you if you committed a "tragic crime" and "went to prison", 1. that's insulting and silly 2. there are decent people in prison 3. stop reading and believing the Daily Mail and its ilk.

Melly1980 is 100 per cent right, there's a vicious game of divide and rule and it's going to get worse as the economy worsens. Please don't take part in it.

kingfisherblue

Just to clarify - many people who receive benefits are grateful for the safety net of the welfare state, but this doesn't mean that we are proud of ourselves because we have to claim. I don't drink or smoke (never have), wear designer clothes, have a big Sky package or a large screen TV. I do claim benefits.

I was married when my children were born. This was before tax credits were available. I had worked from being a Saturday girl at 16 and my then husband had also worked since leaving school. We were both in low paid jobs, but managed our money reasonably well and didn't ask fro or expact any help from the sate apart from Child Benefit.

Then my son was born. Boy, am I glad that we have the NHS. They saved his life more than once. His first surgery was at nine hours old. He was born with disabilities and he will never be cured (Down's syndrome is just one of his conditions). He has an education, previously in mainstream school and now in a special school. He has access to fantastic health care. His many medications (nine types a day) are free. Today I was told that he now needs a hearing aid - I won't have to pay for this either.

My husband left the family home over six years ago and I had to go on benefits, as I am my son's full time carer. I get help towards the mortgage, but if I moved into rented accommodation it would have to be adapted for my son's needs. i still pay part of my mortgage, plus my endowments and insurances (from my benefits). I couldn't afford a large screen TV even if I wanted one. I save for Christmas and holidays all year round - we've never been abroad and are never likely to go. A caravan can be fairly cheap, especially if you go at Easter or may half term, instead of in the summer.

My ex still works full time, although he did have a spell of unemployment. My dad worked until he was in his seventies and my mum and in laws also worked. I am the first person in my family to claim benefits and I'm not proud of it. At the same time, I am so grateful that I live in a country where my son has a good quality of life and access to the things he needs to keep as healthy as possible.

Yes, there are layabouts out there, claiming everything they can and never intending to work. I wish I was able to return to work, but my son's needs do not allow for it at the moment. Instead, I do voluntary work to fit in with my son's care needs. I have a brain that needs to be kept busy. I have a strong work ethic. I need to feel that I am not the layabout that so many people label those on benefits.

OP, I cannot answer your question about CTC. But please, do not tar everyone on benefits with the same brush.

You never know if you will end up needing (as opposed to wanting) to claim benefits.

charlieismydarling

Well it seems that it depends on your interpretation of the word decent.

To me decent means it permeates everything you do and think, including having empathy towards people who live on benefits and, in the case of the minority who milk the system, a sense of understanding towards those who have been brought up to have no sense of self worth or to possess any aspiration to better oneself.

I would rather direct resources to giving these people aspirations and a sense of self worth. A decent education and some kind of hope for the future.

I refuse to believe that it as simple as it is painted in the right wing press, the fact that benefits are there and people will milk the system. Of course some will, but that is no excuse not to provide for the less fortunate.

I would rather dig deeper to the route cause of generations of workless households because that is where, to me, the answer lies. I would hate to live in those conditions, without hope, a future, any confidence in my abilities or any aspirations to better myself. I was fortunate that I grew up with a work ethic and was able to support myself.

I do still argue though, that I can find no reason or justification to pay benefits to someone in your position. Sorry. You really do not need it, other than to feel in some way that fairness has been done.

charlieismydarling

I rather agreed with charlieismydarling. (Unlike him, I am now "
on benefits",

Charlie is she:rotfl::rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:

Otherwise great post!!

clemmatis

charlieismydarling wrote: »

Charlie is she:rotfl::rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:

Otherwise great post!!

oops sorry; and me a feminist; *blushes in shame*

(thank you!)

jc808

BrettMorganxD wrote: »

Working makes you feel better anyway. By working you have acheived something and worked hard. What have those on benefits acheived? Filling in a form with a few details on it. Real acheivment there

Someones had a change of heart!!

FBaby

Jessikita, welcome to the real world. My advise, kick those frustating thoughts out because it is a case of better off not knowing! I have worked fulll-time all my life, even when my children were little (save a few months maternity leave) and continued when I became a single mum a few years later. Last year, i calculated that I'd reach the stage where I paid in taxes the equivalent of what my ex and his new partner were receiving in benefits, both not working (but having another child, their 5th together, an accident of course!). No need to say I got no maintenance.

It is frustrating but that is just the way it is, and I really don't see any of it changing for the near future. Many are becoming very clever in figuring out how to maximise benefits, and hide behind the statement that they can so why shouldn't they.

The thing is, in essence, by saying that you should be getting £545 per year of tax credits, when really, you shouldn't but neither should many other people, as those choosing to work as few hours as possible to gain as much tax credits as entitled.