Why do HMRC pay credits four-weekly?

tomtontom

Has your daughter looked into numeracy classes? These are targeted at adults who find maths, budgeting etc daunting. There are also IT literacy classes for those who struggle with computers.

MegaMiniMouse

tomtontom wrote: »

Has your daughter looked into numeracy classes? These are targeted at adults who find maths, budgeting etc daunting. There are also IT literacy classes for those who struggle with computers.

I used to teach numeracy classes! And I coached my daughter through GCSE maths when she was in her early 20s. Adult numeracy students are mostly looking for simple answers, when what they really need is an understanding, and enjoyment, of numbers. Very few of them manage to overcome the fear which they learned at school.

My daughter has no problems with IT. She can key numbers in all day long, just so long as she doesn't have to understand or work out the answers.

Ames

Have you shared your budgeting tips with her? I'm sure that if she could get her basic bills down to £80 a month she'd be fine.

As for why it's weekly rather than monthly I assume it's because it's easier to administer when you're working in weeks than having to do different calculations every day for how much someone gets on a new or closing claim depending where you are in the month.

MegaMiniMouse

Ames wrote: »

Have you shared your budgeting tips with her? I'm sure that if she could get her basic bills down to £80 a month she'd be fine.

As for why it's weekly rather than monthly I assume it's because it's easier to administer when you're working in weeks than having to do different calculations every day for how much someone gets on a new or closing claim depending where you are in the month.

You are cross-referencing unconnected threads - my daughter always leaves all her lights on when she goes out to work, despite all my nagging - hopefully this will change.

I am glad that you recognise the complications involved in calculating the differences between daily, weekly and monthly finances. For whom is the administration easier - the HMRC, or the benefits claimant? Or maybe it's the payday loan companies...

Ames

Admin easier for HMRC or the DWP.

Not that it's difficult for claimants. On DLA day I just need to check what direct debits are going out in the next four weeks to know how much I have left.

Of course, I can just work on a rough basis, if I take monthly bills from four weeks of payments. That way I'm never short.

working on payment months is fine, every few months I have a payment period with less bills and more money left at the end of the four weeks.

If it were the other way round, payments out more frequent than payments in, then it would be difficult.

Bantex_2

Wish HMRC would chuck some cash my way, I would be very grateful whenever and however it arrived. Sadly they only ever take money from me.

MegaMiniMouse

Ames wrote: »

Admin easier for HMRC or the DWP.

Not that it's difficult for claimants. On DLA day I just need to check what direct debits are going out in the next four weeks to know how much I have left.

Of course, I can just work on a rough basis, if I take monthly bills from four weeks of payments. That way I'm never short.

working on payment months is fine, every few months I have a payment period with less bills and more money left at the end of the four weeks.

If it were the other way round, payments out more frequent than payments in, then it would be difficult.

I am happy for you that you are able to work these things out. Unfortunately the claimants who are unable to do so receive no help or advice from the welfare state despite being, by definition, in some kind of vulnerable situation.

gallifreyseven

MegaMiniMouse wrote: »

Do monthly salaries vary according to the number of days in the month?

That's an entirely different matter, not least because a) it's easy to understand and easy to manage, and b) is a policy that doesn't have to consider all possible issues and scenarios across all members of society.

The other question about lunar payments but monthly repayments, however, is simply a by-product of an organisation that has no idea how to do lateral thinking.

gallifreyseven

Bantex wrote: »

Wish HMRC would chuck some cash my way, I would be very grateful whenever and however it arrived. Sadly they only ever take money from me.

They are more than happy to send you as much as you want...as long as you gave it them unnecessarily in the first place. :rotfl:

gallifreyseven

MegaMiniMouse wrote: »

...just so long as she doesn't have to understand or work out the answers.

I believe that's the entire job description for the HMRC Helpline.