Tax credits cut petition

[Deleted User]

Thanks for your post NYM, it does feel sometimes that I'm over protective but as you say, it's not my daughter I don't trust! My ex is contributing as much as he can afford and I'm lucky in so much as my parents and sister help as much as they can. I will survive despite the cuts, it will just take extra budgeting and cut backs. I only posted initially as it seems that so many people feel hard done by paying tax to support people who claim benefits and I felt that this was unfair as for many people they have to claim due to circumstances beyond their control. I never judge without knowing people's full situations as I think that what suits one person doesn't suit another. Life is hard enough without other people judging when they do not know the full facts. I don't ask for sympathy or handouts but I find myself in a situation that necessitates some extra help for the time being. I work hard and do not live luxuriously and just feel that the cuts are hitting the wrong people.

OhWow

Blue22 wrote: »

There is still so much confusion in the press about what these cuts will mean and its the 'poor hardworking families' ie earning around 13K, who are seen as the victims. The ones that will lose £1300, they are the families that the press and the petition is seeking to protect.

That 13k will be just under the amount 1 parent would earn on the £7.20 NMW if only working a 35 hour week. Why can't they work longer hours for their family? What about the non worker doing some work too? No so much of "the hardworking families" then.

Seriously, 'rich hard working' or 'poor hard working' why did you plan your families around being kept by the welfare state?

FBaby

I am sure there are many people like myself who do not want to claim benefits but have no choice

But this is where some people just won't agree. Most working families will face the same dilemma than you, but in their case, if they reduce their hours, they will get benefit to compensate.

When I moved with my OH, my DD was just about to start secondary school at 11. She was new to the town, and new to the school with new kids who all knew each other. I had to leave work at 7am to get to my office at 8am and my OH left shortly afterwards because of the trade he is in. Me reducing my hours wasn't an option, so there was no alternative but for my DD to stay on own own mornings and afternoons. We discussed it over the summer, went over what she needed to do, and I took two days off on her first days but let her do everything on her own. Then when I went back to work, I texted her at 7:30 am to make sure that she was up, then made her text me when she left home and then when she arrived at school. Same in the afternoons. That went on for a few months. She of course coped absolutely fine and I realised that I had totally underestimated how independent she could be. She was never once late to school.

I appreciate that not every kid is the same, but I don't agree that you don't have a choice. I think that considering selling your house and moving into rental would have much more of a negative impact on your DD that gradually getting her used to being on her own but of course, that is my opinion.

merlin68

What do people do who loose the tax credits when kids hit 18. The cuts amount to about £25 a week.
Your forgetting that minimum wage and tax allowance is also going up.
If you claim hb, extra will go on that.
I lost my 2nd daughters tax credits and child benefit in June a loss of £70 a week, but I've managed.

[Deleted User]

Although I considered selling and renting, I won't because that would mean I would need to claim housing benefit to cover the rent which is not something I want to do. As I said previously not all children are the same and it is on a individual basis of whether you feel comfortable leaving your child at home on their own during the darker winter months. I do not feel comfortable doing that. I make sacrifices now and will make more scarifices in April to ensure my daughter comes home to someone. If she has had a bad day, I personally feel it important that she comes home to someone to talk about it with. Each person is different. I understand that everyone has a choice but it was not my choice to be in this situation and it wasn't my choice to have to claim benefits. There are very few jobs in my area and where I currently work, I am an hour from home which for me, is too far, should my daughter have a problem.

NYM

Mrs_Gloomy wrote: »

......Life is hard enough without other people judging when they do not know the full facts. I don't ask for sympathy or handouts but I find myself in a situation that necessitates some extra help for the time being. I work hard and do not live luxuriously and just feel that the cuts are hitting the wrong people.

I fully appreciate what you're saying and can see that to tide you over the difficult times, Tax Credits would be a lifeline.

I think it's unfortunate that the proposed changes to the system will be a 'catch all'

I've been reading these boards for some while now and although some of the posts I've read are from people clearly in desperate need of short term financial help. I've also read plenty more of those whereby the poster is looking for ways to maximise their TC. Not through need, but greed. A feeling of entitlement to have an income and lifestyle equal to that of someone working for theirs.

I really do wish you well as I can see you don't come into the 2nd category. x

[Deleted User]

Thank you again NYM, if it wasn't for these boards, I wouldn't have known which way to turn when my husband left me. I have had to learn to budget and have learnt what is necessity and what is luxury, although these are different to everyone. To me my dogs are a necessity and chocolate biscuits and the like are a luxury! I've always lived a comfortable life and never had to worry too much about money and at 39, I feel privileged to have everything I have and to have done the things I've done. Now, its all about priorities and doing what's right for myself and my daughter. I will survive and am a firm believer in there always being a way. Compared to other people I am lucky and I never forget that.

SkyeKnight

merlin68 wrote: »

What do people do who loose the tax credits when kids hit 18. The cuts amount to about £25 a week.
Your forgetting that minimum wage and tax allowance is also going up.
If you claim hb, extra will go on that.
I lost my 2nd daughters tax credits and child benefit in June a loss of £70 a week, but I've managed.

You lose tax credits when the child hits 18 but you also lose the child. Generally they go to university or start a job and pay their own way. I know there are people on here who struggle when they lose their Child Tax Credits but that is unusual in the real world. Most people spend over £70 a week on their child may well be in profit after the kid leaves! The £25 a week loss is just a straight loss of money.

FBaby

I make sacrifices now and will make more scarifices in April to ensure my daughter comes home to someone

I'm really not trying to be confrontational (if I could speak, my tone would be low and with a smile ) but have you actually asked her what she'd like best? Is it really what she wants to have you home when it means she will have to do with less? If you explain that it is that against you working full-time and you being able to afford to take her shopping, or to go on a trip, would she pick you being home?

I am asking because all the teenagers I know would pick the later. Yes, the first time they are alone can be a bit uneasy for some, but they quickly get used to it and then actually love having the place on their own.

If it your DD begging you to be there, then fair enough, but if it is your anxieties being transferred, then it might worth starting to leave her on her own for a few hours when you are not far and going from there.

[Deleted User]

I don't think you're being confrontational at all. I have spoken to my daughter about everything and her words were "I'd rather come home to you than buy anything for a year". With my mum being ill and her dad leaving, I think she feels very vulnerable at the moment. As things settle down, I think she may well change her mind and make me redundant but for now I think she needs the stability and comfort. I know she's 11 but at the moment she seems very young, if you know what I mean. Going forward, I may be able to slowly increase my hours and this is something I will happily do and know that I will get to the point where both she and I reach a happy medium. I am definitely not work shy and have held a full time job since I was 16, it's tough trying to do the right thing but until I feel sure my daughter feels happier about being left, I will make sacrifices. She is left for short periods of time, 20 mins here and there and she is getting used to it, I think she just needs the extra support at the moment.