Help Needed, what are we entitled too

Darksparkle

gemmajones1221 wrote: »

We do get Child tax credits but not looked at anything else as I dont think we are eligible, After the 3 years we would both defo go back to full time its just at this present time we are stuck between a rock and a hard place, I just posted on here to see if anyone else had a similar experience

I only asked as you said you’ve never claimed anything.

kingfisherblue

Sorry Gemma, but you are looking to exploit the system - asking the best way around the benefits system to work as little as possible whilst maximising benefits is exploiting it. You are both able to work, but you choose not to. If you don't want to use childcare, you could get an evening job - that way, you would be better off, your partner could look after your children when you're at work, and you will have an up-to-date reference if you decide to wok more hours once your children are in school.

I would love to work and not rely on benefits, but my husband left me to bring up our three children alone, and one has severe, lifelong disabilities. I'm very grateful that we have a welfare state that supports people such as myself and my son, but if I was able to return to work tomorrow, I would. Unfortunately my ex lives too far away to help with my son's care. If he lived closer, I would be trying to sort something with him to give me the opportunity to go back into employment.

Tabbytabitha

You should never rely on state benefits unless you have no other choice - they can be withdrawn at any time.

FBaby

So do it. You won't be the first. You'll even chuckle amongst alike parents about how stupid those who work are when you have such a better lifestyle than they do and they are the idiots.

Then time will pass, before you know it your kids will be adults, and suddenly you'll realise that your entitlement to benefits will be so minimal, your lifestyle will become that of misery. You'll realise that all you can do is minimum wage jobs, that are unstable, not fun, but that's all you'll be able to get considering your miserable CV, and then you'll be even more miserable when you'll have no occupational pensions.

Then you'll come and moan about how terrible the government is for not looking after vulnerable people like yourself and how those who've opted to work long hours should be taxed heavily on their pension and investment because why should they enjoy the fruit of their hard work when you've got nothing.

OP, don't fall into that trap, it will catch you at some point. It's only 'not fair' for a few years, it becomes very fair when your kids are older.

sheramber

A contradiction

Now before I start I don’t want anyone thinking we want to go on benefits as we are a very proud family, however this cant be normal, to be so broke every month

...................

The way I see it is the fact we have never claimed, been ill or anything whatsoever so which the amount of money we have put into the system its about time we finally used it for the 3 years the kids are at home anyway (until school) we may as well just do the 24hrs betwon us both and watch the kids grow as opposed to us both killing ourselves and the kids spending god knows how many hours with a stranger in childcare.

gemmajones1221

Fbaby some of your post sounds depressing, im talking about 3 years not 30 years! If you conform the the current system it doesn't work, maximum output to gain minimum input, I may as well do the opposite and enjoy life right? who wouldn't.
There is serious problems with this in the system that needs to be addressed thats all im saying

Lioness_Twinkletoes

gemmajones1221 wrote: »

who wouldn't.

I wouldn't and I didn't. I worked full time, as did my husband, and we juggled childcare. Now, my son works for the LA and is gobsmacked at how much some people get in handouts and how they always 'need' more. He states he is so pleased and proud that we, as a family, aren't like that. That's worth an awful lot to me.

If you want to maximise what you can take from the 'savings pot' then go right ahead. If you want to minimise your skills and abilities to ensure you can take as much as possible from the taxpayer, by putting in minimal effort go right ahead. But don't tell us - or yourself - that you're not deliberately milking the system because that would be a lie. And don't come bleating to us that it's all gone horribly wrong either.

GlasweJen

And in 3 years time what employer will be impressed enough to offer your husband a good full time job back after 24 hours or less at minimum wage? You’ve already started deskilling by being at home, do you imagine employers will be lining up to offer you school time hours at decent pay when your kids go into education? Because guess what, they won’t be.

Darksparkle

gemmajones1221 wrote: »

Fbaby some of your post sounds depressing, im talking about 3 years not 30 years! If you conform the the current system it doesn't work, maximum output to gain minimum input, I may as well do the opposite and enjoy life right? who wouldn't.
There is serious problems with this in the system that needs to be addressed thats all im saying

I wouldn’t. My husband works full time and I’m 3 hours short of full time. We have one child who is in childcare 4 days a week and we receive child benefit and childcare vouchers from our employer. However if they were to decide I couldn’t claim these tomorrow then we’d be absolutely fine because we ensure we work enough and earn enough to support our choices and family.

You seem to be assuming you’ll be able to just jump straight back into employment after 3 years.

FBaby

Everyone say they will do it only for a few years then it becomes a few more because you'll still be no worse off claiming maximum benefits so the same attitude will apply. Then your confidence will go the prospect of work more frightening. Your skills won't be up to date, you'll face competition from people who have not been out of work for years.

Then there is course the moral issue as to support a family relying heavily on tax credits there will be at least one exactly like yours thst will opt to do the right thing and try to work as many hours they can You mention fairness how is that fair?