Caught In The Benefits Trap, Is There A Way Out?

dj9928

We are in the situtaion that we would be worse of if my other half went back to work with childcare costs etc but CCCS says we need to get our income up but as to how it has beat both CCCS and ourselves, Have you been stuck in the benefits trap? Is there a way out?

If I do anymore work hours they take it of tax credits, so its 6 of 1 half a dozen the other.

bexxie90

well if one of you at home could this advoid the childcare need?

Then one of you can get a job it will make you feel so much better to support yourself,not being patronising,I think it makes people feel better to stand on their own feet
good luck
bex

dj9928

Thats what we are doing, I work the wife wants to go back to work but can't as we would be worse off

Kaz2904

How about evenings, nights or weekends?
Could she get a paper round or 2 to bring in some more money?

headoutthesand

Kaz2904 wrote: »

How about evenings, nights or weekends?
Could she get a paper round or 2 to bring in some more money?

I think you have misunderstood what Kax2904 means

If either him or his wife get ANY additional income that would take them over the tax credits/benefits limit, even if it is only £5 over, then their benefits/credits will stop/reduce significantly.

There are lots of people in my work who could do with over time but don't do it as they will end up worse off in the long run.

for eg:

earnings - £14,900
meaning your benefits could be £300 + (WFT & CTC)

but if

earning - £15,100
benefits could be reduced to £80 per month.

If the non working parent goes back to work they would be paying out more than £300 on child minders etc

hope this healp (and i hope this is what you mean Kaz)

penguin83

If your combined income is still low would you not get help with childcare costs. My oh works nights and I work weekdays. I have 2 in full time nursery and we get a little bit of help with costs but our income is relatively high. I think they pay up to 70% depending on income. Im still 200 a month better off working even though our child care comes to 1100 pm.

Conor_3

Have you looked into Working Tax and Child Tax Credits properly? They give you money towards childcare costs. Also some employers run a voucher scheme.

Herbalking

I have some thing that may be of intrest to you and your aims - It is truly stress free and provides extra income part/full time.
Have a look at http://www.theherbalking.com/slide1.htm

Kaz2904

Not really but I didn't make myself very clear did I?
My DH works days 9-5.30 and we can't afford childcare so I have worked full time nights for 3 years. DS is now at preschool so I am able to do a day shift once a week or sleep while he's at preschool.
I'm not denying it's hard- it is incredibly hard but we don't qualify for any benefits so we both have to work full time.
It's so much easier now that I get sleep during the days because I used to just try and grab 1/2 hour here and there on the sofa until DH got home from work when I could go to bed and sleep for 2.5 hours til I went to work again. I really struggled with doing more than 2 shifts in a row but often had to and I missed out on a lot of family time and still do in fact while I'm asleep.
We got into this position because we had to but my wages went up significantly when I switched to nights. DH and I discussed what to do with any extra money and decided that we had to use it to the best advantage that we could as we had suffered so much to get enough money to live. We decided to clear all debt in as short a time as possible and will be totally clear September 2013 including 2013 (God willing!).

I can't think of any other way around the childcare trap unless there are very close friends with similar age children who would be able to swap childcare day in day out?
I used to work with 2 girls with 7 children between them who had always shared childcare since their eldest children were babies. They eventually managed to get a jobshare of a full time position on the same ward which meant they would never have to worry about being due to work the same shift. Their eldest girls were 14 when I met them.

I hope this has given some ideas?

headoutthesand

:spam: stop hijacking this thread you spammer you