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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

benefits - can anyone advise?

667 replies

namechangerrr · 21/10/2010 22:20

hi i am a regulare but have name changed for this. i was wondering if anyone would e able to help me here. i have seen on the news about benfits being cut/capped but cant seem to find any exact figures.

was wondering if anyone could be able to help me and see if my benefit will be capped or cut, so that i can be prepared for this.

i recieve weekly:
£135 child tax credit
£48 cb
£65 incone support
£145 hb
£12 ctb

i no this seems like a huge amount when written like this but in reality it isnt. once i have paid gas, elec, water rates (£28 per week!), tv licence etc there is not much left for food/nappies.

i would be very grateful if anyone could help. i am not intending to be on benefit forever and i do want to better myself for myself and my children.

OP posts:
misdee · 21/10/2010 23:11

ilove, you may be entitled to some help with your rent and council tax.

dh is a low earner, (supermarket) and we get some help.

LeninGhoul · 21/10/2010 23:11

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Original poster
namechangerrr · 21/10/2010 23:12

oh so ilove is entitled to some benefit then! judge away!

OP posts:
GypsyMoth · 21/10/2010 23:14

so i'll be on £350 a week assuming i cant get a job by then? one dc is the same amount as with 5 dc then??

wonder if child maintenencd and EMA are included in that

LeninGhoul · 21/10/2010 23:15

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MaMoTTaT · 21/10/2010 23:15

yes I agree with misddee and Lenin -I'd look to make sure you're getting all

the HMRC calculator is dodgy as f*ck ime Grin

I'd check on entitled to to make sure you're getting what you should be.

kissingfrogs · 21/10/2010 23:15

namechangerrr, isn't it a crying shame that people are always ready to gripe about how-much-i've-got and how-much-you've-got? They never have the goodwill or compassion to be happy that you do get support (whether it be from the state or whatever).
I for one wish you well and hope that you and your 3 children get every penny you can to make your lives as good as possible.

Original poster
namechangerrr · 21/10/2010 23:16

sprinkle i wouldnt worry about it too much now, i think tis mostly speculation tbh.

OP posts:
LeninGhoul · 21/10/2010 23:16

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MaMoTTaT · 21/10/2010 23:16

Lennin - I think it's from next year that they're reducing it to when youre youngest starts school.

LeninGhoul · 21/10/2010 23:17

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LeninGhoul · 21/10/2010 23:19

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Original poster
namechangerrr · 21/10/2010 23:20

thankyou kissingfrogs your post has bought tears to my eyes.

it feels like i cant win here. either be a benefit scrounger or stay with exh who was earning a wage and abusing myself and my dcs. i thought that what the welfare state was here for? to support people at times when they especially need it.

i am fully intending on being employed by 2013! providing there are any jobs still going

OP posts:
MaMoTTaT · 21/10/2010 23:20

yep was announced in the budget whatsit earlier in the year - my LP advisor mentioned it to me as well in my work focussed interview last month.

actually just checked \link{http://www.dwp.gov.uk/policy/welfare-reform/lone-parents\here} - they say they're going to implement it early 2012 - not next year

emmyloulou · 21/10/2010 23:21

Bloody hell, all for clamping down on benefit fraud etc and making work pay yadda, yadda.

Hence why I think the 24 hour limit now for couples is a good idea, if there are 2 people why should only one work minimum hours etc BUT benefits are supposed to be there for people who need them if they roll up on hard luck.

Op fell on hard times, the state picked up the bill so her and her kids are not totally destitute for the forseable future, this is where money should be going to help people as a safety net.

Don't know why people are being so mean tbh and as for playing the violent relationship card, words fail me.

Anyhoo op you will get to a stage soon where you won't need benefits hopefully and it can be done, but for now you need them so people should just take their judgey pants off.

MaMoTTaT · 21/10/2010 23:21

though it does also say that if youre child is under 12 you can restrict your search to work within school hours hahahahahahahahahahaha

GypsyMoth · 21/10/2010 23:24

all it said yesterday about EMA was that it would be 'replaced'........more money to change it around a bit!!!

GypsyMoth · 21/10/2010 23:25

only work within school hours is in the school itself!!!

the village Alpha females have taken all those jobs!!

RumourOfAHurricane · 21/10/2010 23:27

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GypsyMoth · 21/10/2010 23:32

i dont think the thread has been as bad as some!!

people seem to be going easier on us benefits bunch now they know its all going to be cut!!

allhallowsandwine · 21/10/2010 23:38

have not read all threads and so dont know if its been answered yet but my unerstandingbis that it has been capped to £500 per week inclusive of all benifits and tax credits. hope that helps.

LeninGhoul · 21/10/2010 23:40

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LeninGhoul · 21/10/2010 23:42

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readywithwellies · 21/10/2010 23:46

Hi Namechangerr,
I don't see why the need to name change for this but that is your prerogative. If like you say, you are only on benefits due to circumstances, I certainly would not judge.

I work ft and earn a similar income to you. I don't know how the changes are going to effect you, I can understand how it would worry you, if my income was reduced I would worry.

However, if you can get 21k on benefits, why the hell would people choose to work? This isn't your fault, I would claim every penny I was entitled to. In general though, I hope the benefits get cut and I hope you get yourself out of your situation and start contributing back into the system that has kept you in a lifestyle nowhere near the poverty line. Benefits should be there as a safety net not a trampoline.

Lauriefairycake · 21/10/2010 23:46

I'm surprised (and glad) it's so much. That means that if you spend a hundred on food and toiletries then you have a hundred left to spend on clothes/shoes/activities.

That's a lot better than back in the 80's when my mum had £30 a week to feed/clothe/bus fares/utilities the 3 of us.(we didn't have heating though so I guess utilities were non-existant).