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AIBU?

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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:
TheSecondComing · 20/05/2011 20:02

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DillyDaydreaming · 20/05/2011 20:02

Reasons people might not be on MW

They got "the breaks"
They had the time and opportunity to study
They had support to study
They were bright enough to keep up with the requirements of their training course.
They had good parenting in childhood (not always a given I know but it helps)
They were good organisers able to juggle the needs of a family, study and work
They had a clear vision for their future and went for it
They were able to think ahead and remain motivated
They felt hope for their future.

Sadly I deal with many who struggle to see any hope because of the hand life has dealt them.

RitaMorgan · 20/05/2011 20:03

How are you supposed to retrain if you have to work for a living? I'd love to know you'll pay the rent and childcare for me. How did you afford it coco?

Cocoflower · 20/05/2011 20:03

Er....

If you not academic you do these things called practical jobs or trades.

DillyDaydreaming · 20/05/2011 20:05

Yes Coco - and sometimes these jobs are MW!!!!!! Oh God I cannot keep up with this thread now lol

TheSecondComing · 20/05/2011 20:05

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ShirleyKnot · 20/05/2011 20:05

You seem to be misunderstanding what I mean by personal comments. If I did an advanced search of your posts over the last week and dragged stuff up here from other threads or looked at your profile and dragged things up from that in an attempt to bolster my point, then most people would think that was Bad Form.

Cocoflower · 20/05/2011 20:05

Thats true Dillydally

Plently of people struggle through no fault of there own.

But the key is you dont give up hope. The most successful people faced the biggest challenges

MrsPlesWearsAFez · 20/05/2011 20:06

I am a lone parent currently completing mysecond year of a three year undergraduate degree at one of the best Universities in the country.

I am able to do this thanks to a large bursary and... er child tax credits!

I am not retraining for free and will qualify with student loan "debts".

With the new changes to the higher education system (and knock on effects to bursaries) I would not have been able to afford to do the same had I applied or 2012 entry.

ShirleyKnot · 20/05/2011 20:06

Dilly. Lol indeed.

DillyDaydreaming · 20/05/2011 20:08

I think Coco- the key word there is "Hope". You had hope and that's great because it saw you through (much like me).

The biggest hurdle I face when dealing with some young single parents out of work is the lack of hope in their lives and for some of them it's a huge hurdle which they might never overcome.

Thankfully I see many who DO see a future and who ARE making plans... but some are not and never will.

Cocoflower · 20/05/2011 20:10

How are you supposed to retrain if you have to work for a living? I'd love to know you'll pay the rent and childcare for me. How did you afford it coco?

Rita of course while you retrain you will rely on help these costs like I did . But the point is you are, in the long term going to be improving your situation.

If people are genuinley asking "how do we improve", then yes on the journey to improve you need help I dont see how you couldnt really.

TheSecondComing · 20/05/2011 20:11

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thefirstMrsDeVere · 20/05/2011 20:13

Sure someone has already made this point but just in case.

WTC are brilliant for families who want to keep working and paying tax, being economically active but are limited by their circumstances.

Years ago me and OH would be on full income support if we were in our current situation. Now we can both work part time - him due to disability (no troll faces not a 'bad back' -your inverted commas not mine), me due to being his and DS's carer.

Win win, our employers get the benefit of our considerable experience, the nation gets our taxes, our kids get to grow up in a working household, we get something back for paying half a century's worth of taxes between us AND we dont starve.

Hurray!

If the thread has moved on wildly from the first two pages, sorry but you know, Friday night, cba, blah blah.

RitaMorgan · 20/05/2011 20:14

Who pays the costs though Coco? Please do tell me as I'd genuinely like to know if I can get rent/childcare/living expenses etc paid.

Cocoflower · 20/05/2011 20:17

Nothing wrong with people in genuine circumstances like disabilty getting help. Can't see what else you can do. Its hardly the disabled persons fault.

Nothing wrong with people getting help while they retrain. Again what else can you, your only trying to better yourself.

Ninxy · 20/05/2011 20:17

Your / You're
There / Their

I'm a former teacher. A real one. IIRC this sort of thing is expected to be known by children in year three.

We all have our bugbears. Mine is the deplorable state of the education system. It says far more about this country than an over-reliance in benefits does. And it is obviously going to get much worse.

Grin at Xenia being held up as an example of someone who has been disadvantaged. Not that I doubt she has always worked hard and utilised the many privileges she has received.

Cocoflower · 20/05/2011 20:18

Who pays the costs though Coco? Please do tell me as I'd genuinely like to know if I can get rent/childcare/living expenses etc paid.

What course are you intrested in Rita?

Ninxy · 20/05/2011 20:19

Oh hello Mrs DeVere, hope you don't mind but you said this on the thread about motability cars and I have saved it to wheel out because it was so very well-put:

thefirstMrsDeVere Wed 18-May-11 11:29:37

I also agree with have a culture of entitlement. The most bizarre thing is that those with the greatest feelings of entitlement seem to be the ones who are doing quite well.
They just want what someone else has got.
They dont need a council house (and would die if they had to live in one), they dont need a mobility car (why would you if you could choose your own and it was yours - not leased?), £50 quid a month in WTC would only pay for a couple of starters on a meal out.

BUT they want it all anyway.

There are people who feel entitled from all walks of society but we always seem to focus on the poor/uneducated/unemployed ones.

I find this new type of entitlement far more disturbing.

RitaMorgan · 20/05/2011 20:20

I would consider anything if it was financially viable.

TheSecondComing · 20/05/2011 20:23

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Cocoflower · 20/05/2011 20:23

Did you see my posts much earlier about NHS courses? That is the main one that pays for the courses and you get a busary and chance to do bank work.

doley · 20/05/2011 20:24

This has got very interesting since I went on the school run :)

Apparently I am coco ?

How on earth is that possible ?

shirley ... have you not been guilty of dragging things up from previous threads yourself ...mine for example? TUT TUT TUT .

I did take a nose at your profile BTW ,I am a bit Envy of your Sindy stuff ~all I wanted in the 70's !

TheSecondComing · 20/05/2011 20:26

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MrsPlesWearsAFez · 20/05/2011 20:27

The retraining thing is not black and White.

If you are on a low income the Open University is a great option.

I received offers from four Universities, but on working out the costs of housing etc vs the income from Student Finance and the bursaries provided by each institution, could only afford to attend two of them.

Not to mention the initial cost of relocating/house deposit/childcare deposit.