Tax credits, is this true?

Flower08

Why does everyone who claims any sort of benefit get dumped together into the typical stereotype group?

My OH worked hard to get his SIA license, is out of the house 15 hours a day working as a security guard yet is still on a rubbish wage. I work 20 hours a week (probably going to get slated for it not being more) am currently on maternity leave.

We get WTC and will get CTC/CB as well when baby is born - does that mean we get piled into the same group as everyone who gets benefits? Some people seem to forget that the people who get benefits also contribute to the system and work bloody hard for not a lot!

It really does annoy me that people get dumped into the same money grabbing category just because they dont earn a lot.

FBaby

My personal view is that indeed, one should aim to get as much as they can before they rely on benefits, that is work full-time. If by both working full-time, you are still not earning a reasonable salary, then yes, you should most definitely be entitled to benefits.

That's only my view though, I read somewhere that only 30% of mothers work full-time in this country (not all entitled to tax credits of course).

janninew

I can understand the OP's frustrations, they aren't exactly wealthy yet not poor enough to get top ups. If they reduced their hours down to the bare minimum like plently do, they would suddenly have their income topped up!
I remember reading a post on here a while back that compared a family with children with both parents working full time and a family working the bare minimum to get the maximum benefits, both families were coming out with a very similar net amount per month - that is insane!
I don't believe the OP started this thread to benefit bash for 1 second, I only saw a question regarding entitlment which I thought this board was for? Or are people who work full time and earn a reasonable living not allowed to ask questions?

ManicMum

BrettMorganxD wrote: »

How could you even WANt child tax credits earning £37,000 a year. I only just started earning £12,000 a year and consider myself very lucky, although I am only 19.

I think as others have suggested you really need to learn how to manage your money

For a start you are 19. That says it all. Do you have a mortgage? Children? I doubt it. When your time comes, you will understand that £37k is not a huge wage, especially if you live somewhere in the southern half of the UK.

melly1980

ManicMum wrote: »

For a start you are 19. That says it all. Do you have a mortgage? Children? I doubt it. When your time comes, you will understand that £37k is not a huge wage, especially if you live somewhere in the southern half of the UK.

not only that but she is likely to be one of these people that are blissfully unaware that these low earners by the time they have had tax free money given to them they are ending up with a nett of what someone who earns 30K + gets.

Ive been through all this before on these boards.

Jessikita1983

charlieismydarling wrote: »

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.

I do not agree with paying people benefits at all, let alone someone in my situation, but I repeat, there are loads of people who claim benefits and claim to have been "looking for work" for 10 years, that is utter nonsense. Every time we recruit we can never fill the positions!

All I see around me is laziness being rewarded, the more you chose to help yourself and be a decent person (despite what you may think) you get nothing as I feel is in my case.

For the last, I don't know how many years I have paid for others to be on my salary and get TC's, now it comes around to my turn and it looks like they are going.

I have read all your comments thoroughly and I'm not afraid to say my opinion has not changed. I do not now nor will I ever believe in a welfare state.

The rate of teen pregnancy in the Netherlands is around 6 times lower than the UK and it is not hard to see a contributing factor why - you do not get provided accommodation you have to look after yourself, the council does not give you a house.

I do not not like the fact that laziness is rewarded and never will.

The social do-gooders can try and sway me all you want but I will not change. I will always prefer a model much more that America, I would rather pay for my own healthcare than be forced too pay for the NHS and wait the same amount of time for treatment as someone who has never contributed.

We will never break the cycle of deprivation while people are bought up to go on the social the minute they turn 16, why we continue to pay people to get away with doing nothing.

I respect all your opinions, despite the fact I disagree. I still debate the fact I am considered not a "decent" person for having a differing view to you on social welfare. I repeat, I don't commit crime, I contribute, donate all my old clothes etc to charity, will help any friend in need. Hardly thinking that hard work should get rewarded opposed to someone who has barely contributed thinking the world owes me a living makes a non decent person!

Jessikita1983

melly1980 wrote: »

not only that but she is likely to be one of these people that are blissfully unaware that these low earners by the time they have had tax free money given to them they are ending up with a nett of what someone who earns 30K + gets.

Ive been through all this before on these boards.

Brettmorgan is male

Jessikita1983

janninew wrote: »

I can understand the OP's frustrations, they aren't exactly wealthy yet not poor enough to get top ups. If they reduced their hours down to the bare minimum like plently do, they would suddenly have their income topped up!
I remember reading a post on here a while back that compared a family with children with both parents working full time and a family working the bare minimum to get the maximum benefits, both families were coming out with a very similar net amount per month - that is insane!
I don't believe the OP started this thread to benefit bash for 1 second, I only saw a question regarding entitlment which I thought this board was for? Or are people who work full time and earn a reasonable living not allowed to ask questions?

Many thanks, I asked what i thought was a perfectly reasonable question, yes with a little moan on the end of it. Was not intending to start a massive social debate!

I just wondered if the rumour was true!

Jessikita1983

ManicMum wrote: »

For a start you are 19. That says it all. Do you have a mortgage? Children? I doubt it. When your time comes, you will understand that £37k is not a huge wage, especially if you live somewhere in the southern half of the UK.

It is not a huge wage around here. I live in a cheap area to give me a good start, but to buy a house in the village I grew up in, I couldn't afford it!

Jessikita1983

P.s. I do not read or believe anything I see in the paper, let alone the mail. I have a job where quite a few of things we do is reported in the media and I see the way they twist things and sell things a particular way.