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

[IdRatherBeInBed]

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. - (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"

tbh, You can live quite comfortably on an income of 17k a year, without any benefits, so i do think its a bit cheeky of your sister to be upset about not getting more.

You need money for rent,council tax, water, electric, gas, food and clothing.

Everything else, in my opinion, is a luxury and nobody should expect the government to provide extra money so that you can have gym membership or to run a car.

Btw for those who get tax credits what exactly is your total income a year including these, any other benefits like HB alongside your (joint if applicable)wages please?

About 13K coco including the benefits.

Thank you.

Anyone else?

single and i get altogether 11,000pa that inculdes tax credits i dnt get housing money
With just my wages i could pay the rent and council tax and have enough for shopping at a push but i could not afford childcare
The benifits i get go on childcare thats it
I dnt get luxturys i save 10 p/w for babys birthday and christmas
We manage and its fine i was just sayin i could not work if i didnt get childcare payed

There's is NO way someone gets £400 PCM on a 50k annual wage, I have just pissed myself at this statement.

Myself And DH run a business which is struggling. We would rather ride out the recession with a bit of help from tax credits since for 25 years DH has paid taxes and this is what a decent welfare state does, sometimes you have to pay more than you would like but just maybe once in your life you may need help back. People on tax credits don't sit there at night counting their millions, they are just grateful they can feed their kids. Anyone saying otherwise is damn fucking lucky they aren't in that position. Hey let's abolish the welfare state and go back to the Victorian times and put our kids in the workhouses so we can survive. .

Ah coco - would you care to sponsor me? just click on my name.

The answer to your question is thus:

erm... our household income was 12,500 all together last year.

I can honestly say I wouldn't even put in a claim if I earned 50K. I wouldn't put in a claim if I earned 25K come to think of it.

This thread has actually infuriated me and the Daily Mail inspired attitude in it sums up all that is wrong in this country or rather should I say "cunt"ry.

I earn £1000000000 a year and get £4000 per month tax credits

Thank you for all the mature answers.
Motherpanda do both you and your partner work then or are you a LP?

usual, you get nearly as much me. It's not enough is it? Even the Butler agrees we should get at least twice that.

fannybanjo - are you upset about those relying on tax credits, or those who are against those relying on tax credits? Both seem a bit daily mail to me, so i'm confused.

Do me a favour coco on the "maturity" stuff.

Asking posters to divulge their incomes and the TC they get is grossly offensive, not to say divisive.

You have shown a level of compassion on this thread which is akin to a small toad living in my pond. Which surprises me, bearing in mind that you have "been there".

You have refused in the most obstinate way to admit that you were wrong in your argument about "relying" on TC.

Give it up, yeah? Also. Click on my name and sponsor me - Heh

DooinMeCleanin Its not enough is it ,I've had to sack my pool cleaner

Cocoflower, yes we both work, however my partner was unemployed for a period last year, and I was only able to find part time work. We live in an area seriousley affected by the recession where full time jobs are impossible to find - so we both have to commute an hour away to work, so actually, almost half of my monthly income goes on travel.

This year things are looking up though, DH is employed, and I'm on maternity allowance (so dont have to spend anything on commuting).

I am looking forward to being able to claim tax credits once our baby is here, as at the moment we dont get any, but i do see it as an extra, and see the money as going towards helping us with our baby. If they did get taken away, at least we know we can live very comfortably on a very small income.

Shirleyknot: Im sorry to have to tell you this but I think you must have forgotten to log out and a 12 year old is using your account

Mother panda read my earlier post at 22.11 explains!

shirleyknot- i do feel a bit off about giving out personal financial info now... hmmm... why did i do that?

MotherPanda Im expecting too -exciting times! I hope I will get maternity allowance (or the equivilant for self employed) but knowing my luck it wont happen so Im not relying on it either!

It's a bit pitiful when you have to resort to such an argument Coco. To be fair though, your comprehension of the entire thread has been somewhat...infantile. Still, in words you might understand..No tax credits for people poor means people die of hungry.

Teacher training clearly isn't what it was.

Sorry about that.

You are quite odd.

Just because you cannot understand a simple point I made other can that your problem.

Dont apologise for anything apart from why you feel the need to be so nasty.

fannybanjo - thank you, i didnt realise it was you who had posted that.

I hope people realise I'm not critisising those who need benefits, only that there are different levels of need and i don't think its right for those who have enough to get by to moan about what tax credits they might get (ie, you have enough for the bare essentials, so be grateful for any extra help you are being given).

Whilst my DH was unemployed, he was unable to get jobseekers allowance because the govermnet deemed that we had sufficient to live off - the government rate is around £105 a week for a couple, thats £5460 a year.

so, if you earn more than £5460, You could have enough...