wages same as benefits - what would you do?

help4help2013

you dont loose your self respect if you go on benefits...... like some people have said i agree its always better to be working than not to be working but lets get something right people who do work also get an income top up from certain benefits like working tac credit child tax credit and also they get help with child care costs too which can add up to more that a single person on benefits it all comes from the same pot

plzhelpmesave!

Thanks for all the replies!! I totally can see it from both sides....think most parents do a great job....esp the main carer, usually mum!

But it's very hard to raise family and feel you are being a good parent when other ppl/care providers spend more time than you with your kids!! It's why i went self employed....cd have made more money working full time but would have had no quality of family life...

She's decided to take it and see how they can make things work....ive offered to help with kids whenever I can ...thanks to all responders

mattcanary

seven-day-weekend wrote: »

But it is not financially possible if she is having to claim Benefits to do it.

I think she should take the job. The years will soon go by and then the children won't need childcare.

If she can afford to stay at home without Benefits, then she has the choice, otherwise no, imho.

Er, she has to be able to afford for childcare in the meantime....

Of course it's financially possible to stay at home.
The benefits are paying for it (as well as the Avon work).
Benefits are in place to help someone(and their family in this case) live.
Tax credit claimants with children (or indeed any tax credits claimants) do not have to accept the first kjob that comes along.

Your attitudes to whether she should get any benefits or not are irrelevant

Of course, benefits (incuding tax credits) are being cut back, and claimants will it seems have to go through more hoops to claim tax credits (or their equivalent under the Universal Credit system - if it ever actually goes ahead nationwide). That has to be considered too, but no one can predict the future.

Your username is rather ironic, what with the comments you come out with.....

mattcanary

jgh wrote: »

Oh yeah, pride and self-respect stops you going bankrupt.

Absolutely.
I know - I went bankrupt after continuing with a "self-employed" job that paid little, and with lots of expenses on top.
Bankruptcy doesn;t exactlly do much for your pride and self-respect.

seven-day-weekend

mattcanary wrote: »

Er, she has to be able to afford for childcare in the meantime....

Of course it's financially possible to stay at home.
The benefits are paying for it (as well as the Avon work).
Benefits are in place to help someone(and their family in this case) live.
Tax credit claimants with children (or indeed any tax credits claimants) do not have to accept the first kjob that comes along.

Your attitudes to whether she should get any benefits or not are irrelevant

Of course, benefits (incuding tax credits) are being cut back, and claimants will it seems have to go through more hoops to claim tax credits (or their equivalent under the Universal Credit system - if it ever actually goes ahead nationwide). That has to be considered too, but no one can predict the future.

Your username is rather ironic, what with the comments you come out with.....

I called myself seven-day-weekend after I took early retirement in 2004 after working for most of my life. I do in fact now work again, despite being in my 60s, as a house/petsitter and also am a voluntary Job Club Coach. I also pay income tax.

Hope this helps.

mattcanary

seven-day-weekend wrote: »

I called myself seven-day-weekend after I took early retirement in 2004 after working for most of my life. I do in fact now work again, despite being in my 60s, as a house/petsitter and also am a voluntary Job Club Coach. I also pay income tax.

Hope this helps.

To be fair, your own situation is irrelevant. It's great that you keep yourself busy and try to help other people though.
You have to say it is a bit rich though that you choose a username suggesting you don;t do anything seven days a week and then suggest others should not claim benefits,
I understand that you may have chosen it because you love the work you do and so it feels like you have got seven weekend days every week. But you must see where I am coming from.....

It is not right however, that you come onto these boards and suggest that people asking for help should not be claiming benefits, when they are fully entitled to .
Tax credits were actually set up to help people on a low income, after all.

restless6

I think she should at least try the job.
It is hard for people to get decent jobs nowadays so to turn one down seems daft.

I work full time rotating shifts and raise 3 children on my own. I may well be better off on benefits but I choose to work because I want my children to have a good set of ethics and standards.
I was bought up by a mum who didn't work and I always felt stigmatised.....I don't want my children to suffer that.

However, your friend has got a husband to support her, so if the job really doesn't suit her, she can always give it up knowing the security of her husband is there.

It is an enviable position to be in and if the job has career progression prospects then she should think of the longer term.....kids grow quickly and she might be left unemployable if she doesn't have enough experience etc.

whodathunkit

mattcanary wrote: »

To be fair, your own situation is irrelevant. It's great that you keep yourself busy and try to help other people though.
You have to say it is a bit rich though that you choose a username suggesting you don;t do anything seven days a week and then suggest others should not claim benefits,
I understand that you may have chosen it because you love the work you do and so it feels like you have got seven weekend days every week. But you must see where I am coming from.....

It is not right however, that you come onto these boards and suggest that people asking for help should not be claiming benefits, when they are fully entitled to .
Tax credits were actually set up to help people on a low income, after all.

Tax credits should be for people who have to live on a low income, not for those who choose not to work.

Mojisola

I think it's strange that it's thought of as good if both parents go to work and claim taxpayer's money to pay for childcare but bad if one works and has income topped up by taxpayer's money while the children are cared for by the other parent.

mattcanary

whodathunkit wrote: »

Tax credits should be for people who have to live on a low income, not for those who choose not to work.

If you read the opening thread, OP does work!