david cameron and tax credits

NYM

I suppose it would have had to happen at some point regardless of which political party held power.

[Deleted User]

there is a discussion on this subject in DT it doesn't belong here

FBaby

I agree in principle, although, of course, they may not work anywhere near their children's primary school and so 20 hours per week work may be more reasonable, to give them tome to pick up their children. Even this would be rushed by public transport.

Any child in secondary school shouldn't need mummy or daddy to pick them up from school unless suffering from a disability.

It was two choice election for many working folk.
Eat or Don't eat.

Or look for more hours or do without the luxuries.

Mersey_2

FBaby wrote: »

Any child in secondary school shouldn't need mummy or daddy to pick them up from school unless suffering from a disability.



Or look for more hours or do without the luxuries.

Hence I said primary school.

FBaby

Indeed! Still I think a disregard in hours should only apply if a case can be made that no childcare is available.

bell123321

Wages need to go up really.

This is the first year me and my partner are no longer entitled to tax credits, Other half on minimum wage and myself a little more then minimum wage but our wages aren't high but we are just over the amount we are allowed to earn jointly to get tax credits for 1 child. (No childcare costs)

However we are not actually any better off then we were last year with my other half working same as now and myself not earning. If minimum wages were higher and general wages higher then we would be better off but we are not better off. Silly really. Maybe it shows tax credits are to high or it just goes to show you wages are to low for lower paid workers.

cifpower

I would guess that the benefits cap will be broadened to include those who work, all in-work benefits will be frozen for two years and new claimaints of child tax credits will be capped at two children. Over the next 5 years there will be bigger rises in the minimum wage. Housing Benefit/LHA will also be tightened up.

nannytone_2

blondebubbles wrote: »

It may be an issue for single parents but not a couple.

So why not put children in after school care?

You get help with this through tax credits also.

I personally loved going because it gave me extra time to spend wth friends.

My point mainly is that tax credits is very lenient for those with children and should change to take into account children's age, why would a child of 15 still need picked up from school (unless disability as mentioned earlier as an exception).

tax credits are also responsible for making the state, rather than parents, responsible for funding 'choices'.
for too many years, people receiving benefit were able to have as many children as they wished, without regard to how these children would be paid for.

that is a luxury that those who earn a little too much to qualify, never had.

NYM

woodbine wrote: »

there is a discussion on this subject in DT it doesn't belong here

Possibly...but on here it's less argumentative

BigAunty

Tax credits do make up a large percentage of the welfare bill. I think its one of the largest expenses after pensions though I am happy to be challenged on this.

It is a great shame that we live in a low pay/high cost economy, particularly in the area of transport, housing and child care. I think the govt should do more to make employers pay a living wage.

However, tax credits can erode the distinction in income between those in no or part time/low paid employment compared to those in full time/well paid employment and this has caused resentment. I once saw a DWP table that confirmed a 2 parent family with 3 children who had identical accommodation costs had virtually the same income whether they earned 8k or 34k due to the effect of tax credits, HB, etc. I think the household where one parent worked part time on NMW had just a £100 or so per month less after housing costs were factored in.

Tax credits are probably the pull factors for some migration, the growing trend for low/no profit self employment and the huge rise in part time employment.

Many countries do not have the inwork benefits of the UK - if you get a 'micro job' as they are known, you have a micro income and must make do.