Help Needed, what are we entitled too

Loz01

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

Who says you would both be able to walk back into a full time job after being off for 3 years? My friend took 18 months off work to have a baby and couldn't get a full time job after that! Her old job had gone and when she applied for similar jobs, no one would employ her bc she'd been out of the workplace for a year and a half.

Happydays3

Personally, do whatever it is to make your family work, the 'system' everyone goes on about had not been designed by idiots I imagine. It's there for a reason. When you close your doors at night, the people on this forum are not there, but your family is, the people on here won't help feed your family. They will only tell you to stop "playing the system" if you both want to work part time and watch your kids grow up, do it. It's not illegal is it.
It's tough being in that situation, I can see that. People always get attacked on this forum. Gets on my bloody nerves.
Could get knocked down by a bus tomorrow....!!!!!!. people need to lighten up. Happy new year lol

gemmajones1221

Happydays3, Thanks so much. Reading your post put things into perspective

Many of these comments are by simple minded Conformists, the type of people who stand in a queue just because you are supposed too and is what is expected of you and what has always been done, Its time to break the trend

Its time to take some risks and if that means us using what is available then we will. Unfortunately the system is broken and hopefully one day will start a revolution. With lower wages and more work society will be so depressing they must first destroy our ability to revolt.

Here is to 2018 being a year of less work and more life

BorisThomson

gemmajones1221 wrote: »

Happydays3, Thanks so much. Reading your post put things into perspective

Many of these comments are by simple minded Conformists, the type of people who stand in a queue just because you are supposed too and is what is expected of you and what has always been done, Its time to break the trend

Its time to take some risks and if that means us using what is available then we will. Unfortunately the system is broken and hopefully one day will start a revolution. With lower wages and more work society will be so depressing they must first destroy our ability to revolt.

Here is to 2018 being a year of less work and more life

Minimising your work and ruining future prospects to rely on benefits is definitely risky, but it's about as far from revolutionary as you can get.

Best of luck with your new year!

ohreally

gemmajones1221 wrote: »

we may even get some housing benefit and council tax reward

I was going to say award, but perhaps you're right.

brewthebear

BAD attitude thanking a post that suits what you want to hear.... why should you do sod all practically and expect to get as many benefits as possible get a life in 2018 get a part time job and live within your means

wegle

I can somewhat sympathise with how you feel in your situation as I'm going through something similar at the moment.

I'm a single mum and currently work 4 days a week. I recently received a great promotion which came with a payrise, but I'm actually worse off in terms of the amount of money in my purse, than when I was earning less. I also recently decided I would return to full time work as the opportunity was given to me at work and guess what, again in terms of the money that ends up in my pocket I am going to be worse off.

So yeah I appreciate that it sucks. However... It's a short term pain for a long term gain. Children are living at home much longer these days, university costs, first cars, house deposits, all things that come along long after the tax credits and child benefit have dried up. Getting back into the professional field after a long absence is very hard. My cousin, a qualified surveyor, has been a SAHM for 9 years, and is finding it impossible to find work. Free childcare kicks in when they're 3 which makes a massive difference. I get the want to stay home and watch your children grow, I really do, I would love to spend everyday with my son, but the reality is I can't afford to, you can't afford to, so we have to do what is best for our children in order to provide for them, not just for the next few years but for their whole lives.

So my recommendation would be to see if you can pick up some evening work, or work from home possibly. That way you can still be around for the kids but you can boost your household income. Post an SOA on the debt free wannabe board, they will go through your expenses with a fine toothed comb and find savings you never thought possible. Maximise your income and minimise your outgoings.

I don't want to get to "high horsey" as I don't think that's fair but I would like you to consider a thought. Our benefits system is getting cut and gutted every year. Mostly supported by the general public due to the idea of benefit scroungers and people playing the system. The benefits system should be there for those that most need it. How would you feel if someone in genuine crisis was not able to access the system and help they need because all the money had gone to people who are able to work more but choose not to?

And very lastly, the best thing I ever did was earn enough to not need to claim housing benefit. That was the biggest pain in the !!!! to claim ever and could I have afforded to at the time, I would of just stopped it anyway to save all the hassle. So I'd suggest doing whatever you possibly can to avoid having to claim that.

FBaby

Many of these comments are by simple minded Conformists, the type of people who stand in a queue just because you are supposed too and is what is expected of you and what has always been done, Its time to break the trend

You mean those in the same situation than you who confirm to paying a large chunk of their income towards tax so that non-conformists people like you can have a better lifestyle than them?

You are clearly having a debate of conscience. Deep inside you know that you want to do is wrong. Remember your first words:

Now before I start I don’t want anyone thinking we want to go on benefits as we are a very proud family,

But then you can do like everyone else, let your conscience believe that others are idiots whilst you're the clever one using the system and justifying it because in the end, you've probably managed to convince yourself that you 'deserve what you want'.

Call it what you want, convince yourself as much as you want, but the end result is the same, you will expect people working as hard as your husband currently is to pay for your much wanted easier lifestyle.

FBaby

wege ,I've been in the same situation than you, finding myself originally worse off for working more and yes, at the time, it is really demoralising, but like you, I focused on the future rather than the present.

It is an amazing feeling to get to the point when I was able to help my eldest pay for driving lessons, and then pay for her insurance as her 18th birthday present, and even though I haven't fully looked at how much it is going to cost me to support her through Uni (and no doubt have a mini heart attack when I do), I am so relieve that I will be able to support her to do so somehow.

People nowadays only consider instant gratification and assume that the future won't matter because hey, if the system is there to support them at this point of time, it is bound to be there again later when they find that they really need it and if it isn't, they'll just deal with it then and moan about whatever government in place because it's not still supporting them to have the lifestyle they've grown used to.

I've already heard it, a mum saying how it was unfair that the government didn't pay for her DD to have driving lessons and that it's the fault of the government if she can't get a job because she can't drive (even though we live in a town), taking no responsibility to the fact that she opted as a single mum to be on IS even after her daughter started secondary school, and of course blamed the government again when she did have to go on JSA because she couldn't get a job that suited her since she'd been out of work for over 15 years (and little experience before) so from her perspective, it's not her daughter's fault that she can't get a job to learn to drive and it's not her fault that she can't pay for her daughter's lessons.

babyblooz

I would recommend listing all your expenses and outgoings. There are sometimes easy ways to 'trim' your expenses a little and free up a little money each month and the people on here are really helpful with their suggestions. You can change your energy supplier, shop at a different supermarket, sell a few things on ebay etc. but their comments can be so helpful and not really difficult to do.

Also, try to think about a little part time job. My friend worked a couple of hours a week behind the bar in a local pub. Another worked two nights a week in a chippy. Even an extra twenty quid a week can make a difference.