Tax credits for nursery . .

Mimi_Arc_en_ciel

I dont want to get into a whole debate about this but im curious to read others opinions.

I was talking to a friend about nurseries and the costs of them and she stated "thats why i dont work" but it turns out that she CAN claim tax credits towards the fee's - but doesnt. She told me she isnt going to work when she would only get £10 pay! (Completely rubbish but there was no disagreeing with her!) she has no reason "not" to work - she struggles financially but doesnt ever really mention a "real" reason why she doesnt work. I know some people would rather look after their own kids than put them in a nursery but this isnt the case with her. It's almost as if she cant be bothered

Seem's an odd question but I was curious to see how many people CAN actually work (so no disability etc) - but refuse to and if there was a reason for it?

(P.S - not sure if this should be on this board or the employment one? please move as appropriate)

nottslass_2

She'd still have to find at least 30% of the nursery fees & the associated costs of working eg clothes,travel etc,so she could end up being worse off by working................

charlieismydarling

Can. Opening. Worms everywhere.

zagfles

One for DT really but you really don't want to bother as it's mostly extremist loonies on both sides.

Or you could watch the BBC documentary on the so called "entitlement culture" last week:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b016ltsh/The_Future_State_of_Welfare_with_John_Humphrys/

jetplane

Crash helmet is on...

Firstly I think its understandable that some mothers want to be with their children. I also think its hard going out to work when you have a child. Unless you have a live in nanny getting the child/children ready for childminders, nursery, time off when they are ill etc makes for a long day. I think a lot of people don't appreciate how hard it is to be a working mother.

But there are many people who can work but won't. I think the reasons are endless. Here are some of my theories..

Some just don't have a work ethic, some are from generations who have never worked.

Some have lack of ambition and are quite happy to live on what they receive in benefits, can borrow or can earn cash in hand.

Some have been unemployed for so long or lack basic skills that they are truly unemployable.

Some choose to work part time and have their income topped up with benefits, tax credits can double your income.

Some look at the difference between benefits and earnings and won't work for the difference.

Just for the record I am answering the question and talking about those won't work, not can't work or would love to work.

[Deleted User]

I have never been unemployed in my life, but for the past 12 Years I have worked part time. I went back to work when my Son was 14 weeks old. I have moved 80 miles away to be with my partner, when the relationship broke down I stayed up North 2 years but decided to come back to my hometown just before my Son started School. I did the sums and realised that financially, taking into account everything, like free school meals, uniform vouchers etc etc I was only £10 per week better off working....
BUT.....
I wanted to work, society does not owe me a living. I am very grateful for the help I receive in addition to my wage. My job (payroll) changes all the time, I would have lost all my skills if I had given up work.
I have kept myself established in a career. I am worried about the future. When my Son leaves education I shall lose £900 in Housing Benefit, Tax Credits and CSA. But I am confident I can secure a full time 25k a Year job. I will not have all the problems a lot of unskilled workers are having when they get forced back into work after raising a Family, scratting around the bottom of the pile looking for a NMW job.
Unless you have a rich Husband..... I think it's a little silly to stop working!

clearingout

Deleted_User wrote: »

Unless you have a rich Husband..... I think it's a little silly to stop working!

Unfortunately, this is something many of us learn a little too late! I chose not to work for a couple of years and I managed on benefits with three children and without the financial support of their father. My reasons were many - dealing with the emotional fall out of a divorce and being left pregnant with our third child, moving house (a long distance) meaning I had to give up the work I had, living in an area where either care work or bar work is the majority of what is available (thus making it very difficult/impossible to find childcare to make it work as a single parent), trying to develop skills through volunteering to put me into a better position to gain the job I actually wanted which would eventually support myself and the children.

I used to feel guilty about it, yes. I felt I should be working and being the stereotypical 'single mum on benefits' isn't much fun, I can tell you. On the other hand, I had no intention of it being a long term thing, I was 'using the system' to help me get back on my feet, I had paid into it full-time for years, part-time for more years and even had a good number of years where I'd worked a full-time and 2 part-time jobs at the same time. I had never anticipated 'being on benefits' but am entirely grateful that there is a system to pick up people who find themselves in the situation I was in.

Once you are in the benefit system, it can be hard to see a way out. With three children, I had sufficient in hand to run a car and if I hadn't had the car, I would have been able to save a little. Not much, but some for a rainy day. It wasn't a great life but I can see that if you're on minimum wage, slaving away in a factory or waitressing for ungrateful, miserable people that some would make a decision that the extra cash in the pocket just isn't worth it. If you took any money away from people in my situation (remembering that my high earning, self employed ex contributes nothing at all towards his children that were conceived and born within marriage), it is the children who would suffer and I don't think, if we are to continue to think of ourselves as 'civilized', we should be comfortable with that.

Of course, there are always those who will milk the system for all it is worth for as long as they can. That too is a by-product of 'civilization' and I would still rather that than live in a society where toddlers are begging on the streets or picking through rubbish to make a few pennies to survive.

There are too many people willing to judge without giving the facts their due consideration - something single parents know a lot about. I have lost count of the number of times I was looked down the nose at in the school playground - single mother, can't keep her knickers on, on benefits, expecting us to fund her lifestyle. I would much rather a husband and settled home life for my children, that's for sure! Of course, those same people were shocked to realise that I am university educated and am now teacher training. It raised a few eyebrows and I am sure there are comments made behind my back. At least I know that I'll never judge any of you in that way and that I'm most definately a better person than I was before I went through all of this. Priceless, as they say!

jojo_2012_2

How old is the child? Is she able to use the free child places in nursery to take up any training? Trust me in my experience if you train and have a job that pays a decent amount it is well worth going out to work even if it is part time.

Mimi_Arc_en_ciel

Her children are young, one is in nursery and the other is maybe 2/3 so I understand its difficult BUT she has a lot of family support who do look after the children and she had a good upbringing (went to a private school) so I don't think its her back ground that stops her working

I do understand minimum wage wouldn't be worth it but she is educated so could easily get a well paid job. she's 25 and as mentioned, never worked. I can't fathom why, when she's struggling and could get childcare she doesn't work, she can't be getting THAT much being unemployed surely?

like I said, I work, i have 1 DD and 1 on the way ( been practising getting 2 ready for school as my niece has been staying lol) I've never been unemployed so obv don't know the ins of benefits (i know that pregnant ladies get more if they don't work - milk tokens etc) but I didn't think she would be better at home. Long term when kids are older and she can't get benefits surely she will be in the deep end? No cv? No experience etc?

FBaby

jetplane wrote: »

I also think its hard going out to work when you have a child. Unless you have a live in nanny getting the child/children ready for childminders, nursery, time off when they are ill etc makes for a long day. I think a lot of people don't appreciate how hard it is to be a working mother.

Surely being 'hard' is not in any way an excuse to avoid doing something? Are those single mums not working under this principle also the one telling their 5 years old that they don't have to try to learn to read because it is a hard process?

I don't really get this notion of 'hard' anyway? It is tiring, it is stressful, it is frustrating at time, is what makes it 'hard'? It is also highly rewarding from a self-esteem point of view. It teaches you to be independent, resilient, confident, valuable values that you can in turn pass on to your children.

Raising children as a single parent is far from being the only hard experience of life. Dealing with illness, the death of a parent, the loss of a partner etc... are whole difficult life events that you have to learnt to cope with.

I personally just don't think it is a good enough excuse, on the opposite.

System

I agree to a certain extent with FBaby in that working as a single parent sets a good example to your children even if you are only £10 better off than being on benefits. That's obviously if you can get a job in the first place.