Tax Credits / Step Children should my income count?

Marisco

MissMoneypenny wrote: »

Spain, along with Greece, Portugal and Italy, have the lowest numbers of single-mother families in Europe.

Might this be because they are largely Catholic countries, and have more of a "shame" element, rather than fewer benefits? I was a teenager in the 60's, and there was certainly a "shame" element around then. I lived in a mainly small rural place, and it was certainly true that the best contraception was "No"

FBaby

monkeymouth wrote: »

I was having the fun of teenagers and young twin girls in the house, whereas the ex, their father, saw that money was more important.

You said it yourself, you were having the fun, their dad only cared about the money. I'm sure the kids quickly saw behind it and therefore learnt to respect you as a father since it seems you were more a father to them than their dad.

that's not always the case. Some kids do not open their heart to their stepdad. They can respect each other's presence in their lives, but feel no real attachment. You can't force children to love a step-parent and vice versa. Does this mean the family should be broken down? For many it works just fine as long as there is no animosity. Still, it doesn't seem right in this case scenario that the step-father should be the one to pay for his step children.

MissMoneypenny

Marisco wrote: »

Might this be because they are largely Catholic countries, and have more of a "shame" element, rather than fewer benefits?

Last year I was spoke to a lady who lived in Italy. She said that in Italy, if a daughter got pregnant, then the government said it was the responsibilty of her parents' to keep and pay for her and her child.

That report seems to suggest that countries with low welfare payments for single mothers, have the lowest number of single mothers: while those with the highest welfare payments for single mothers (UK) has the highest number of single mothers.

Sixer

MissMoneypenny wrote: »

Last year I was spoke to a lady who lived in Italy. She said that in Italy, if a daughter got pregnant, then the government said it was the responsibilty of her parents' to keep and pay for her and her child.

That report seems to suggest that countries with low welfare payments for single mothers, have the lowest number of single mothers: while those with the highest welfare payments for single mothers (UK) has the highest number of single mothers.

It's very difficult to compare, though. For example, the French system is comparatively tough on single mothers and in France, something like 85% of single mothers work full-time (figure from memory so may not be exactly right, but thereabouts).

So you'd think there was a strong correlation.

But France provides free (or virtually free) high quality childcare in the form of ecoles maternelle for babies and pre-schoolers and it's available to all working mothers across the board. The vast majority of French kids go to them and I don't think anyone pays more than 15% of their salary in fees. Most mothers pay much less than that.

When you factor in the childcare element of tax credits, suddenly the correlation is significantly smaller.

Also, the French system actually rewards larger families more than smaller ones. The third child gets a premium there.

chocice22

As some people on here have ripped me to shreds and some have understood my point....

Let me say thanks to those who have made the legal position on this clear, it is as we thought it would be.

Second, to all those preaching from on high.... I work bloody hard to support my step kids - financially and emotionally - to the point where I have taken on occasional evening work to boost our household income. Due to nature of day job I have a company car which adds a cash value to my final salary and means that it pushes our tax credits down further.

We are all too aware that the CSA can't cope with assessing self employed people properly and it is very easy in that case to make it look like you earn less than you do.

It is not a case of me not wanting to take responsibility for them, I spend more on them in a month than their dad does in a year. However, they do see him a couple of times a week and love him dearly - I don't want that to change as IMO it is important for them to feel that way about their dad - but my wife is fed up of seeing me work flat out to support the family and thought if the CSA are unable to help then maybe we could seek help from the Child Tax system by arguing my salary should not be as important as their dad's contribution.

We have a highly flawed benefits / support system in this country where it is dead easy for the wrong people to claim the most money. All we are doing is trying to see what our options are (whilst still holding down jobs to contribute as taxpayers!).

MissMoneypenny

chocice22 wrote: »

- but my wife is fed up of seeing me work flat out to support the family

Why doesn't your wife take an job to help support her children? There are lots of Christmas jobs around now or perhaps she could work in the evenings when you are home from work?

FBaby

I thought OP's wife worked part-time?

FBaby

Sixer wrote: »

For example, the French system is comparatively tough on single mothers and in France, something like 85% of single mothers work full-time (figure from memory so may not be exactly right, but thereabouts).

I didin't know the official figure, but being from France originally and still having strong bonds with the country, I can confirm that there isn't the support for single parents there as there is in this country and single mums are expected to get a job and support themselves.

Sixer wrote: »

But France provides free (or virtually free) high quality childcare in the form of ecoles maternelle for babies and pre-schoolers and it's available to all working mothers across the board. The vast majority of French kids go to them and I don't think anyone pays more than 15% of their salary in fees. Most mothers pay much less than that.

When you factor in the childcare element of tax credits, suddenly the correlation is significantly smaller.

Indeed, children can start school from the age of 2 1/2 in France (although they are not guaranteed a place at that age, and I've heard it more and more common that children have to wait until they are over 3 as too many demands for places available). Also, childcare is overall much cheaper, more very cheap/subsidised holiday schemes. However, as you say, if you take tax credits into consideration -which are not available in France-, I don't think single mums pay that much less for childcare than single parents in England do.

Sixer

FBaby wrote: »

I don't think single mums pay that much less for childcare than single parents in England do.

I think low-wage single parents in France almost certainly pay considerably less. For them, ecoles maternelles will be entirely free. Whereas in the UK, even low-wage single parents will be paying 30% of very high (comparatively) childcare costs. When money is tight, that's significant. Also take into account that the minimum wage in France is 9 euros an hour. And that rents are MUCH cheaper.

Even though comparisons are far too open to interpretation to make any statements hold fully true, I really don't think you can argue that the UK's supposedly generous treatment of single parents through the welfare system is the main cause of the number of single parent households or the teen pregnancy rate.

FBaby

I don't know whether you can say that a generous benefit system will overtly encourage single parenthood, but I do believe that a system that makes it more financially sound to be working will enourage single parent to return to employment. That and the stigma attached to single parenthhood. From my experience, there is more of a negative stigma attached to being on benefits in France and much less of choosing to work and put your kids to nursery/maternelle than there is in England. Yes, as a whole childcare is more widely available in France, but it doesn't mean that it is never an issue. A friend of mine is a childminder in Marseille and she has a waiting list. Parents do struggle to find decent childcare and will look into it early into their pregnancy (women don't get as many months off maternity leave as in England).