Worse of by working.

princessdon

Isn't UC going to *fix this* - Ie force the 2nd partner to work at least part time or reduce their benefits (Tax Credits etc) by that value

I really hate paying for other people's lifestyle choice of not working. I don't mind when they are young (I get paying more in childcare is a huge barrier) but when they are older?

In this instance my taxes are paying so OP can have prime TV packages and state of the art mobiles and the luxury of not working - how is that different to someone who remains on JSA for years with no attempt at work?

Murphy_Gooner

Has your husband got an accountant? He could possibly get some advice of what could be claimed as expenses if he is using car, phone etc for business and even things like travelling/car service.

merlin68

I'm exempt from working as on carers allowance but am going to be kind on the government and give it up along with wtc hb and ctb. I would rather earn the money and get out for a bit. It just seems unfair to loose the whole lot for £80 a week which is only £20 more than the ca. i'm gonna look for a few more hours as well.

princessdon

I applaud what you are saying and your insistance on working.

But you are not "exempt" from working because of carers allowance. Many people care for a loved one and work, it doesn't make you exempt - just makes it harder and more of a struggle to find decent work around those needs.

Not nit picking against you - just didn't want any lurkers to think they can't work. Aside from £100 a week permitted earnings - many can and do earn far more so get zero CA and still do this for love. Just wanted to clarify for others.

Morglin

Working families will not always be better off working, once Universal Credit is introduced:

"............. "This analysis confirms that universal credit is loaded against working lone parents and second earners even though support to these groups was, in large part, responsible for the big child poverty reductions we witnessed in the previous decade....................."

http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2012/mar/13/universal-credit-single-parents-worse-off

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/reforms-will-leave-thousands-of-families-worse-off-2296706.html

Some will be better off giving up work, and just relying on benefits - which wasn't the idea, I assume.

Lin :wall:

krisskross

merlin68 wrote: »

I'm exempt from working as on carers allowance but am going to be kind on the government and give it up along with wtc hb and ctb. I would rather earn the money and get out for a bit. It just seems unfair to loose the whole lot for £80 a week which is only £20 more than the ca. i'm gonna look for a few more hours as well.

I thought you could claim CA plus earn up to ~£100 a week

BigAunty

merlin68 wrote: »

I'm exempt from working as on carers allowance but am going to be kind on the government and give it up along with wtc hb and ctb. I would rather earn the money and get out for a bit. It just seems unfair to loose the whole lot for £80 a week which is only £20 more than the ca. i'm gonna look for a few more hours as well.

As per the previous poster, you can get CA and keep earnings up to £100 a week. See the Direct Gov website for details. Suggest you keep the CA claim going as long as you meet the other criteria.

Credit-Crunched

If you spent as much time looking into saving money and obtaining a second job as you do looking to see how much more you can squeeze out of the system then you would be a lot better off.

Before I get flamed, anyone spending £180 on a Sky TV package and claiming poverty is setting them self up for a fall.

OldMotherTucker

merlin68 wrote: »

I'm exempt from working as on carers allowance but am going to be kind on the government and give it up along with wtc hb and ctb. I would rather earn the money and get out for a bit. It just seems unfair to loose the whole lot for £80 a week which is only £20 more than the ca. i'm gonna look for a few more hours as well.

But people who work are not exempt from caring for their loved ones - its just another responsibility that we have to accept and be prepared for.

How about getting rid of the dog? That will save you £16 a month in insurance plus food costs/innoculations/worming/deflea-ing plus the time and inconvenience of walking/'Caring' for it

Charityworker

Unfortunately we have a government which is cutting peoples benefits when there are no jobs to get and then wonder why people are having to live in poverty. They can't have it all ways. They said the comfortable income for a 2 adult 2 child family is £17,000PA. Well I'm way under that at £14,500PA.