New rules for working tax???

flutterby_lil

adewolves wrote: »

We got the letter today as well. I don't work and my wife works 16 hours a week so we won't be entitled to working tax credit anymore from what I can gather. The only other benefits we get are child tax credit and child benefit. We will be nearly £72.00 a week worse off, surely there must be something else we can claim, if we can't we wouldn't be able to survive. Any advice would be most welcome.

Any chance of increasing hours to make up the £72 you will lose?

flutterby_lil

The government make it far to easy for some people to reduce their hours to claim the maximum benefits - when I was a single parent I only went back to work part time as I would get more in CTC and WTC working 2 days a week than I would working full time. If the government didn't wllow me to do this I would have gladly gone back full time, or, reduced to 30 hours instead of 37.

I think this system is very fair that they are introducing. A step in the right direction I say!!

flutterby_lil

lin473 wrote: »

A thread like this is bound to bring the benefit bashers out of the woodwork but it is not always as black and white as you think.
Currently my OH is struggling to keep up his 20 hrs as he has serious health problems.
As he manages his own personal care and can walk (albeit slowly) he does not fit the criteria for DLA.
As a result he does not qualify for the disabled element of WTC.

I am carer to my profoundly disabled son - there does not seem to any allowance for this in the new rules.

Believe me , our lives are not easy, and now we have to accept either another cut in our living standards or i will have to use my respite allowance for going out to work.
(Which incidently is also being cut due to budget cuts in local services.)

I feel sorry for people in your situation, have you spoken to somebody at the JCP who can maybe advise on what you can do.

meemo38

lin473 wrote: »

A thread like this is bound to bring the benefit bashers out of the woodwork but it is not always as black and white as you think.
Currently my OH is struggling to keep up his 20 hrs as he has serious health problems.
As he manages his own personal care and can walk (albeit slowly) he does not fit the criteria for DLA.
As a result he does not qualify for the disabled element of WTC.

I am carer to my profoundly disabled son - there does not seem to any allowance for this in the new rules.

Believe me , our lives are not easy, and now we have to accept either another cut in our living standards or i will have to use my respite allowance for going out to work.
(Which incidently is also being cut due to budget cuts in local services.)

I agree, its not as black and white, like you i have a husband who has a bad knee, can barely walk some days, and suffers from severe depression, and doesn't get DLA, well we havnt tried, but know he wouldnt get it, but he tries his best to keep working as much as he can, when he is at his lowest i have to be here for him, as well as my kids, so would find working difficult, but would HAVE to work if needed, but then i would have the added pressure of who is caring for my husband and youngest 2 kids, but i am sure for us it will work out as hubby is doing ok at the minute:D

The_Write_Girl

My OH works 40 to 50 hours a week and I (after maternity leave) will be back, working 38 hours. Our baby was born this summer and we receive no tax credits. I'd increase it to 40 hours a week without batting an eyelid! Time for change.

I should add that he voluntarily reduced his hours, but is lucky enough to go back to 40 hours minimum once maternity/paternity leave is over.

Weary_soul

Some would say you're lucky to be in the position to do so, as so many companies seem to be cutting staff/hours these days.

nannytone_2

no one objects to people getting benefits to see them through hard times. losing a job could happen to anyone at any time, and we all know that it isnt easy to find work at the moment.

but too many people base their decision to have another child/children on how much their tax credits will increase.

the way the system is right now, almost encourages people to do what they want to do, rather than do what they can afford to do.

want another baby? doesnt matter that we only work 16 hours a week between us because tax credits will go up to cover the expense! oh and now we can also get housing benefit for a 3 bed house instead of a 2 bed ..........

i'm not bashing people with children, or the fact that some people have lost jobs...

i'm bashing the people that choose to live in a way that they cant sustain without help from the state.

Weary_soul

Thats funny, because pardon me for saying this but from where I'm standing you seem to be making sweeping generalizations about people you don't know in any shape or form.

Oldernotwiser

geordie_joe wrote: »

I didn't say the £88 meant nothing to me, I SAID IT MEANT EVERYTHING.

If you actually read what I wrote you will see that I say it is the only reason I was working, to get £88 per month more than dole money.

Try reading posts instead of skimming through them looking for bits to pick on people for.

I did read your post but the way you'd worded it was rather ambiguous. Now I understand the way you actually meant it, I apologise.

meemo38

I agree with something i heard the other day, think it was the news, that the government is considering capping the benefits after the 4th child...theres a lady near us with 7....i wonder what her benefits are:eek:
don't get me wrong, i am not against big families, i always wanted 3...and got 3, then divorced, and met a man with 2..one which was living with him, and we chose to have one together then i immedietly had my tubes tied lol...so we had 5 at home but given the choice if i was having one partner i would have had the 3 kids!!!!!