To wonder why people in receipt of Working Tax Credits are considered in the same vein as "benefit scroungers"

[shrunkenhead]

I was under the impression that those people in receipt of WTCs DO work (hence the name) but are poorly paid so the government bump it up with these credits so they can afford to live. So you have to work to claim them.... However lately I have heard several people say they are glad the government are slashing these benefits and talk of them along similar lines to JSA/DLA etc etc generally benefit bashing "just get a job" etc etc.
So, am I missing something? Have I got it all wrong? I thought WTCs were all about "making work pay"....?

[Samcro]

DLA is not an out of work benefit.

[AllThePrettySeahorses]

Because they're obviously not working hard enough/need to shift their lazy arses and get a better job/are just generally lazy if they have to be subsidised by the taxpayer/ad nauseum. Most of which are said by people who wouldn't know hard work if it bit them (most of the current government for one).

[shrunkenhead]

But Iknow people working 40+ hrs a week and still receive WTCs, they honestly couldnt physically do any more hours or work any harder.
I know DLA is not an out of work benefit but peoplein receipt of it dont work and are usually unfairly judged in the same benefit bashing channel 5 type way.

[easterlywinds]

I'm in two minds about it. I thinking WTC/ctc was not very well thought out. It's actually holding some people back. I know several people who work and receive these benefits. However they then reach a stage where if they earn more they lose their benefits so they see any extra work as working for nothing. I don't blame them for this. People want to do extra work and see extra money, I know I would. There needs to be a system in place to help low earners without creating this barrier that means extra work doesn't pay.

However I don't like the way these recent cuts announced in the budget are being made. Low earners seem to be losing such a lot of money and it's going to hit people hard especially people who aren't good at planning ahead and budgeting.

[ollieplimsoles]

I also have mixed feelings about it, low paid people are going to lose money due to benefit cuts (according to my facebook feed, got lots of people talking about their circumstances) but I know a few of these people wont work anymore than 16 hours a week because it affects their wtc.

[AliceDoesntLiveHereAnymore]

I know DLA is not an out of work benefit but peoplein receipt of it dont work and are usually unfairly judged in the same benefit bashing channel 5 type way.

Actually, many people in receipt of DLA DO work. What in the world makes you think they do not?

Tell you what... take some time to educate yourself about the various benefits, and THEN come back and discuss it. It will save us all a load of time explaining the basics to you.

[MaggieJoyBlunt]

I believe most DLA recipients work.

[MaggieJoyBlunt]

So maybe there's your answer. Misunderstanding? Misinformation?

Lack of empathy and the trendiness of bashing people, too.

[AliceDoesntLiveHereAnymore]

Maggie I went with "many" simply because there are children that receive DLA as well, and obviously they are not working.

[ilovesooty]

Get informed please as others have said. Plenty of people in receipt of DLA work. For new claimants it's now PIP, by the way.

[MaggieJoyBlunt]

Children are such lazy, scrounging sods, aren't they?

Yes, I was just reinforcing your point, really. Didn't mean to sound like I was arguing.

[DontDrinkAndFacebook]

I don't think anyone does say they are scrounges do they? What most people say is that they want people to be able to work full time in a job that is adequately and fairly paid by the company instead of being subsidized by taxpayers to work part time to achieve the same overall income.

[Spartans]

As pps said many (most excluded children) work.

Which is an example of people not understanding benefits and judging people who get them.

There are lots of different views on wtc. Amongst them that business have used them as an excuse to not pay staff decent wages. They have ended up as a sub for business rather than helping out the workers.
Which was known at the time they launched.

It some ways they put people off taking on extra work as people will be no better off of or worse off.

It's very complex and there are lots more issues than I can explain before I have another coffee

[Dunkling]

WTC can be taken advantage of.

I worked with a woman who changed work between shops because she realised instead of working the 39 full time hours she had been, she could work one of the minimums, 30 hrs, the new manager was willing to drop her too, claim WTC, and be the same well off. So taxpayers funding her deliberate lifestyle.

[shrunkenhead]

I will apologise, I admit I have no experience of DLA (or PIP as I now know it's called, thank you ilovesooty).
My question was about WTCs, and knowing Mumsnetters are a knowledgeable bunch, was hoping to be enlightened.

[FayKorgasm]

I think some people like to lord it over others,makes them feel like they are better. Or they appear to think those in receipt of benefits should be grateful for the scraps from the table and not be begging for more. Its a very nasty trait.

[AliceDoesntLiveHereAnymore]

Children are such lazy, scrounging sods, aren't they?

Well, mine are currently lounging on the sofa....

Yes, I was just reinforcing your point, really. Didn't mean to sound like I was arguing

I didn't think for a minute that you were arguing. No worries.

[BPDhistory]

Just to help you understand ..I am set to loose £985 a year from when WTC come in.. I am more trapped as the threshold has lowered when money starts getting taken off.

I feel more trapped..More money is taken off me per £1 I earn ..I am a LP, with MH problems and can only do so much.

I would also like to point out that some people need to do the low paid jobs. it might of been more beneficial if the government increased the minimum wage at least at the same time but that is not happening.

[shrunkenhead]

Right, I'm getting it now, they are open to abuse and yes, ideally if companies paid them decent wages then there would be no need for them.

[shrunkenhead]

I agree some people do low paid jobs for whatever reasons.

[Spartans]

I thought they were raising the nmw?

[FayKorgasm]

I do a low paid job because I have dc to feed and I am not in a position to pass up a wage in hopes of a better wage. Hopes do not fill the fridge.

[SoozeyHoozey]

Because a lot use them to top up part time wages instead of working full time.

[AliceDoesntLiveHereAnymore]

Ideally, I'd like to see the NMW raised to a living wage level. Then the government could set it so that small businesses (say those under a certain size - based on number of employees for example) get reimbursed for a portion of the wages. Then the bigger businesses are again carrying the weight of the expense proportionately (as they should) and smaller businesses are not crippled by the rise in NMW.

[InexperiencedDisneyMum]

We get Ctc and are due to lose about £1300 per year. It has not been publicised properly and many will have a big shock.

I don't know if it is true but there is a message doing the rounds on facebook regarding WTC. They are saying because of new national living wage nobody will be eligible for WTC.