income less than outgoings

Caz3121

Was your income higher last year - your tax credits look low taking into account your childcare costs
It is worth puting your details into http://www.turn2us.org.uk/benefits_search.aspx
If you were not working you would have IS plus child tax credits totalling approx £580 per month and possibly no rent and council tax to pay, assuming your petrol costs would reduce then you would be better off

AimeesMum_2

I can never understand posts like this. I earn £28,000 and as a single parent I get nearly all my rent paid in housing benefit, my wages, child benefit, £200 per week tax credits, £4 per week council tax benefit...how can you not be entitled to them as well?

miduck

AimeesMum wrote: »

I can never understand posts like this. I earn £28,000 and as a single parent I get nearly all my rent paid in housing benefit, my wages, child benefit, £200 per week tax credits, £4 per week council tax benefit...how can you not be entitled to them as well?

And they wonder why the welfare bill is so high!

AimeesMum_2

Not my fault that's how much they pay. I do, however, pay £400 a month in tax and pay a childminder £1200 a month which she'll pay tax for. In a few years when my kids are at school, I'll hardly be claiming any benefits and will be at the top of my £36,000 a year grade...everything I have been given by the government I will give back ten-fold.

princessdon

miduck wrote: »

And they wonder why the welfare bill is so high!

To me it's money well spent when the parent is working full time, earning a decent salary and the majority is on childcare.

It's when we pay to allow families to work 24 hours a week between 2 or for a single parent to work 16 and claim full time childcare and such that I disagree with.

I personally have no objections to my taxes being used to pay to support careers of parents (single or joint) and think more support for childcare should be available to everyone.

princessdon

Op you need to get a benefits review

From what I have put into the calculators you should be getting

£207 pw Tax Credits (inc childcare), £45.68 a week HB plus your CB.

A total of £273 pw in benefits.

That is £1183 per calendar month PLUS your wages of £900 (average based on NMW), so you income should be just shy of £2K a month.

Why are your Tax Credits low and why did HB say no?

annie1975_2

£2000 a month with 1 child.....The world has gone bonkers.
I feel sorry for those with no kids who have 2 working and dont get anywhere nr that....i know its not the OPs fault,its the governments .

HappyMJ

annie1975 wrote: »

£2000 a month with 1 child.....The world has gone bonkers.
I feel sorry for those with no kids who have 2 working and dont get anywhere nr that....i know its not the OPs fault,its the governments .

It's including child care. You then need to deduct the cost of child care of £589 per month and that is what the OP should have left about £1,411.


If OP chose not to work then...
The amounts are £71.00 for a single person per week or £111.45 for a couple.
£64.99 a week for each child (including both child benefit and child tax credits)
Plus £17.40 for a family (first child gets more child benefit amd the family element of child tax credits) or £22.20 lone parent rate each week.

Add the components together and it's about £665 a month plus all rent and council tax paid which in the OP's case comes to £465 so not working at all the OP would get £1,130 a month. By working 40 hours a week at minimum wages they get £281 more each month....or about £1.60 per hour which OP can use to pay for the car to get to/from work which is costing £280 a month so in reality the OP is better off by £1 per month by working.

annie1975_2

HappyMJ wrote: »

It's including child care. You then need to deduct the cost of child care of £589 per month and that is what the OP should have left about £1,411.


If OP chose not to work then...
The amounts are £71.00 for a single person per week or £111.45 for a couple.
£64.99 a week for each child (including both child benefit and child tax credits)
Plus £17.40 for a family (first child gets more child benefit amd the family element of child tax credits) or £22.20 lone parent rate each week.

Add the components together and it's about £665 a month plus all rent and council tax paid which in the OP's case comes to £465 so not working at all the OP would get £1,130 a month. By working 40 hours a week at minimum wages they get £281 more each month....or about £1.60 per hour.

But if she is paying £200 in petrol,and the running cost of a car,she would be no worse off staying at home.

barnaby-bear

HappyMJ wrote: »

It's including child care. You then need to deduct the cost of child care of £589 per month and that is what the OP should have left about £1,411.


If OP chose not to work then...
The amounts are £71.00 for a single person per week or £111.45 for a couple.
£64.99 a week for each child (including both child benefit and child tax credits)
Plus £17.40 for a family (first child gets more child benefit amd the family element of child tax credits) or £22.20 lone parent rate each week.

Add the components together and it's about £665 a month plus all rent and council tax paid which in the OP's case comes to £465 so not working at all the OP would get £1,130 a month. By working 40 hours a week at minimum wages they get £281 more each month....or about £1.60 per hour which OP can use to pay for the car to get to/from work which is costing £280 a month so in reality the OP is better off by £1 per month by working.

But in a few years - free childcare/schooling kicks in and in the meantime they have kept a foot in the job market and possibly worked towards a promotion/career. Plus have the self-respect and sanity of adult company, plus their child gets to see mom supporting herself and aspiring. Lots of people go into debt or work for free to further their career, get qualifications or experience. Better off isn't just financial and needs to be averaged over the next 18 years. Quitting the job market is a big step and getting back in isn't always easy.