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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to think that too many people rely on the Tax Credits for their income.

593 replies

IdRatherBeInBed · 19/05/2011 11:42

Bit of background first

My sister and her boyfriend has got back together after they split up last year. She was then claiming income support.

He has moved back in with her so her benefits have all stopped. she works 13.5 hours a week, he works over 30 hours. They earn £17k between them. Which lets be honest in this climate is not alot of money.

Shes just called Tax Credits to let them know hes moved back in and wanted to know what she would be entitled to WTC wise. Due to her HB/CTB stopping. Her rent is £500 per month, CT £100 per month. She is entitled to £4.90 per week.

I am sad for her because after all rent, ct, bills have gone out shes isnt left with anything. her food bill for the month has had to be cut to £200 per month. She has a car on finance (through my dad) which is shagging her tbh due to engine size (she got it when still with partner before splitting up and he had to get a 1.8 sport^^) her insurance with just her on it is £115p/m. Hmm - (she isnt 25 yet)

Anyway she called them last week to ask how much she could be entitled to, they told her £80 per week so she was like
"ooh we can afford this, we can afford that" so went out and spent £100 on clothes for her, him and nephew. I told her not to rely on what they have said because it could be wrong but she wouldn't listen and was saying 'it will be right'. Today she rings me bollocking me as to why she is only entitled to £4.90 per week.

FFS why bollock me - i dont work for them.

WIHBU to have said to her 'cancel your £24p/m gym membership, get rid of the car or change it if you can, stop getting things from catalogues that you cant pay for and get your arse of a boyfriend to stop spending money you don't have on shit like £5.50 magazines each week, stop getting shit for the garden you dont need, you don't need so many fucking flowery things to make a garden look nice.

Or what i come across as a complete and utter bitch.

She is one of these who says "oh i have no money" but yet has enough for new clothes or go out for a meal, or takeaway"

OP posts:
Original poster
IdRatherBeInBed · 19/05/2011 11:42

sorry its long.

OP posts:
poorbuthappy · 19/05/2011 11:44

that doesn't sound right at all! £17k, and only £20ish per month?
Or have I missed something?

TotemPole · 19/05/2011 11:46

I'm confused.Confused

He moves back in, she phones them and is told she is entitled to £4.90 a week. Then she phones them again and is told it's £80 a week.

Did she give different circumstances each time?

ShirleyKnot · 19/05/2011 11:49

I'm just going to answer the question in your thread.

YABU - what's the point of WTC if you don't rely on them? Confused

squeakytoy · 19/05/2011 11:49

sounds to me like she already has plenty of spare cash if she can afford a gym membership, £20 a month on unnecessary magazines, and takeaways...

TotemPole · 19/05/2011 11:49

BTW, she should contact TC people first to let them know her & OH's earned income. Then she should contact the HB office to let them know her total household income including the TC award.

You could suggest that she spends less on non essentials. But it's their money so it's up to them.

I also don't understand why she thinks you're somehow responsible for the mix up Confused Unfair for her to have a go at you for it.

5inthebed · 19/05/2011 11:51

What Shirley said.

stickytoffeepud · 19/05/2011 11:52

why does she work so little?

smokinaces · 19/05/2011 11:54

If she only has 1 child, £200 a month on food shopping is perfectly adequate.

and if she cant afford it anymore, the car and the gym membership will have to change.

WTC to me are essential. Without them I would not be able to work. Or afford much more than beans on toast. so on that YABU

But your sister just sounds very irresponsible IMO. YANBU to think she's being a bit of a twit - and she is being out of order to have a go at you about it all.

RitaMorgan · 19/05/2011 11:55

If you don't need to rely on them then surely you shouldn't get them? They're not for luxuries.

Sassybeast · 19/05/2011 11:55

Stone the bitch. Going out for a meal indeed. Who does she think she is ?

OP - yes - you sort of come across as a complete and utter bitch. Perhaps you'd prefer her kids to live on the breadline?

ShirleyKnot · 19/05/2011 11:57

Maybe she can only get a job that has that many hours stickytoffeepud?

I know that there are billions of jobs that fit round childcare arrangements and that but...oh...wait.

niceguy2 · 19/05/2011 12:06

Don't get me started on Tax Credits. They were without a doubt the most stupid system invented by the Gordon Brown to get a nation hooked on benefits and therefore be Labour voters.

Anyway, in this instance I don't think tax credits are at fault. The problem is your sister's (and her partner's) attitude to money. Sadly the younger generation seem unable to wait and have been brought up with the attitude of "spend now, worry later".

To be honest, there's nothing you can do but stand at the sidelines and let them learn from their own mistakes. They won't listen to what you say, at best they will nod and agree then ignore you. At worst, they'll stop talking to you for always "nagging".

People like your sister will learn the hard way but it will be a painful lesson for them.

I have friends like them. One is up to her neck in debt, they remortgage the house regularly to clear the debts but now there's no equity in the house. Hasn't stopped them from putting another fancy foreign holiday on credit, nor a brand new convertible. Another always has money to go out, buy new pets, latest wedding tat but when it comes to paying say the phone bill, pleads poverty.

The problem is not income, it's priorities.

purits · 19/05/2011 12:11

Don't get me started on Tax Credits. They were without a doubt the most stupid system invented by the Gordon Brown to get a nation hooked on benefits and therefore be Labour voters.

Nail. Head.

Original poster
IdRatherBeInBed · 19/05/2011 12:12

Actually no id like to see her not struggling. She rang up the other week when her and boyfriend were thinking of getting abck together, the guy asked for THIS YEARS income, she gave it (jointly at £17K) he told her £80 per week.

Shes called today when hes moved in and they are entitled to £4.90 - so from the other week to today shes shagged herself by thinking shes going to be getting £80 per week from when he moves in - but she wont be she'll get £4.90.

I get a mouthful EVERYTIME she calls them and is given an answer she doesn't like. Shes rung me this morning Gobbing at me asking 'well how come XXX and XXX get £80+ per week and their partners worked the same last year its not fair - she thinks because her mates get £80 per week and their partners live with them then she thinks she should get it. I have explained everyone has different circumstances.

Maybe i am sounding like a bitch but i get fed up of her ringing me and bollocking me because she doesnt get what she thinks she should. so i was saying

why do people rely on TC as an income when he changes every year.

OP posts:
Original poster
IdRatherBeInBed · 19/05/2011 12:14

i dont mean rely on them, rely on them iykwim? i mean you have to at some poiont realise that they are not for life. due to wage changes, job changes, government changes etc etc. Last year we hardly got any TC but this year we get more than id ever though - we rely on them but i know next year we wont due to a cchange in income.

OP posts:
aliceliddell · 19/05/2011 12:15

niceguy2 - Tax Credits, bad idea? Yes, because Gordon should have repealed the anti-trade union laws and raised the minimum wage. Bad employers have got off lightly, subsidised by public spending when they pay less corporation tax and evade/avoid tax they should pay.

feckwit · 19/05/2011 12:16

There are several issues here but starting with your question of whether YABU to think too mny people depend on TC - yes you are. We live in a country with huge income divisions. Some very important workers are never going to earn what others do. I have huge admiration for anybody who gets up and works 40 hours a week cleaning toilets for minimum wage for example. I would never begrudge them paying less taxes - or in other words receiving tax credits. AND shock horror I think even poor people should be allowed to go out and have fun sometimes!

In your sister's instance, I think £5 a week is wrong, I think she will get more than that (have a look at www.entitledto.co.uk). I can understand why she is cross though, the amounts are completely different and the info from tax credits should be consistant (chuckle, if only...).

She is, however, unreasonable to have a go at you, you've done nothing wrong (except maybe not offer much sympathy?).

Oh and I LOVE the comment above asking why she does not work more, some people are so far detached from reality it is untrue...

Bloodymary · 19/05/2011 12:17

Why oh why is she having a go at you? Confused

whitechocolatebuttons · 19/05/2011 12:17

thinks niceguy2 is david cameron

ShirleyKnot · 19/05/2011 12:19

niceguy2 - "Don't get me started on Tax Credits"

OK.

I'd be interested in how you think a mother of two kids, for example, working 40 hours per week and taking home...let's say £280.00 / week is supposed to pay for childcare/rent/utilities/food?

I'm truly interested.

Frazzledmumwithsmudgedmascara · 19/05/2011 12:20

Yes, thousands of people do rely on tax credits. It isn't a bad thing though as lets face it, many jobs are very poorly paid. I feel quite sorry for people that are depending on them totally as judging by the changes that have happened so far with the new government, I think it's only a matter of time before there is another great shake up of the tax credits system. How are people supposed to manage then?

MarioandLuigi · 19/05/2011 12:21

Is she paying back an overpayment? Their joint income is a little less than ours but we get alot more than that (although we do have a disabled child element included)

purits · 19/05/2011 12:21

Tax Credits, bad idea? Yes, because Gordon should have repealed the anti-trade union laws and raised the minimum wage.

Yes, he should have had the courage of his conviction on Min Wage. What is the point of loading all that bureaucracy and admin onto employers if it is not a living wage.Angry
I could point out that, actually, NuLab undermined their own policy by allowing in workers from the acession states (which other EU countries did not) who undercut wages.

MumblingRagDoll · 19/05/2011 12:21

It is because she only has one child....if they had 2...then they would hve got a lot more. Something to do with the family element.