£35k tax free for working 20 hours a week....

[BitchyWitchy]

In response to the 'Benefits' thread, I thought I would post this...

We took the decision to reduce DHs hours a few months back as we realised we are better off with him working part time than full time and this is what we get WEEKLY (4 DCs):

Wages (20 hours per week) £209
Housing Benefit £188 (leaving £7 for us to pay)
Council tax benefit £19 (leaving £3 for us to pay
Tax Credits £196
Working tax credits £13
Child benefit £60.50

Thats over £35K tax free! DH's fulltime wage was £34k before tax.

Also get free prescriptions and dental care, discounted kids activities and leisure centre membership. DH is home 5 days a week and I am loving having him around to help out with the DCs and doing stuff with them which he could not do when he worked 50 hours a week! 3 DC are at school so we get quality time with the youngest.

We are also doing free OU degree courses so we can get better paid jobs in a few years.

Wish to bloody god we did this earlier when we were BOTH stressed out working fulltime and brought in LESS that what we get now after childcare.

We shall enjoy this until 2013 I can tell you! I don't give a monkey's what anyone thinks of us. DH is still working after all and who would really continue working fulltime knowing they get all this? It may not be right but while it's on offer, should we refuse it?

ROFL. Love it!

Yeah, well I've heard some ALDI food is OK

Shuffling papers isn't all that a store manager does believe me, but maybe he isn't high up enough in the chain to see that.

As for your 13 years experience, that'll be worth squat after 5 years out.

from Bitchywitchy "I say again, do you really think that if we did not claim WORKING benefits that the government would give MORE to people who need it? I really do not think it works like that. They would just cut the budget and add it to their expenses claims probably."

The government does not just print money to hand out (not until recently anyway). It collects money from people like me who pay £2000 on my £12000 in earnings for the year, to give to people who can't bothered to work more. And that pisses me off. I have 4 children as well. I have not claimed benefits since I was 19 because I've always had enough to eat since then. I've had at times to rely on the kindness of friends for housing, but I've never felt poor enough to claim benefits. The only thing that redeems paying tax for me is that it does also go to people who really need it. The defence spending and the funding of corrupt MPs is a bit of a bummer.

"they cannot cut down on what he does or the stores would not open" - PMSL - he's obviously a security guard!!!! In a shop that has very short opening hours!!!!

Nope, he collects trolleys!

One of my friends commented wryly that she felt she'd lost five years of seniority for every year out of the workplace. She took two years out and went back to a role that she'd had twelve years previously.

It takes years to climb up the greasy pole, and seconds to slide down it ...

He has the keys to the door

scaryteacher - she's off out to McDonalds for her lunch now so she might miss that!

He is a supermarket secret agent.

"The name's Bummed, Bitchy Bummed".....

PMSL at supermarket secret agent! And at "keys to the door". LOL - he opens the doors and locks them at night - an exciting split shift thing going on!!!

It is a responsible role, key-holder. He probably has to have a bit of a lie down before and after each shift.

You know - what actually I did half my hours in my "job" and they kept my pocket money salary the same, and even begged me not to leave = that's how indispensable I am

Unfortunately the pocket money salary doesn't stretch much further than 2 weeks worth of shopping so I'll have to get a proper job next year to supplement it where I'm sure I won't be anything like as indispensable

You see, that's the problem Riven. You are are in a genuinely difficult situation and your dh's career has suffered massively. Added to which you are not able to do the kind of work for which you are qualified. You deserve every penny you get and I'm sure it is miserly.

Then someone like the OP comes along mouthing off with her fantasy land nonsense and actually makes things worse for genuine people like you. She should be ashamed.

What's this carers allowance for ADHD, someone spoke off? How much and who can claim it? [hconfused]

Buggar, I should have followed through with getting a diagnosis years ago instead I ignored the teachers, struggled, working full time whilst dealing with a 'challenging child'. All OK now though.

Mumsnet have decided that byou can't be confused at Halloween!

Words fail me on this one.

Have read entire thread...

Agree with others that the cut in hours will be great news for your partners company but I cannot see them increasing as easily! You will find it more difficult to compete in a job market with only an OU degree and no recent work experience. Your partner will be less respected in his company for taking a cut in hours and not helping out at busy times, especially in retail where a staff member willing to come in an hour early or stay an hour late at short notice is invaluable!

I have got a new job for 37.5 hours with approx 10 hours commute a week. DP works 30-35 with no commute, ten minute walk in the morning. I get only slightly more money now I am working full time than when I was on 20 hours a few months ago as my childcare costs are higher. I have a dc that will be going to school next August so I will have much more money then and am prepared to struggle on until then.

I have never claimed HB even when I was a student and DP earned £13k and I was on a £4k loan. Got money from tax credits and child benefits but it did not cross my mind to ask for this. I want to support myself and my family so we cut down on things we did not need in the house, and we survived!

Some people have been querying whether the HB stacks up.
Does anyone know ?

Basically OP is claiming they get £25k/year other benefits and then £10k/year HB, assessed on that £25k income.

Seems a bit odd. Is it OP's house or are they renting ?
Anyone work in housing ?

I have one question, if you are soooo very happy with your situation why did you name change?

OP, do you know how the "average family cap" will affect you ?

Riven, thanks, phew we didn't lose out then. Sorry didn't mean to sound flippant. I was and am sure that any ADHD traits were mild and didn't warrant extra money.

Wondered why I couldn't be seasonally confused. [hgrin]

She name-changed becuase what she's doing is actually fradualent.

Reducing your hours simply to be able able to claim benefits is intentionally depriving yourself of income - and that's against the DWP rules.