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AIBU?

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Original poster

Bloody W**NKing Tax credits! Or Government should I say

513 replies

Hai1988 · 06/07/2011 16:59

Just had my new tax credits award and have just found out that my DH's Working tax credits are being stopped as he has already had his lot for this year, £800!!!

My DH does not have a very well payed job at all and after rent and bills we have f**K all left and the weekly income of £140 really helped that is now just over £50.

So angry We need that extra £80 a week, I know it may not sound much to some but it did make a big difference to out life's.

Who ever voted Tory I hope your happy with yourselves that now so many family's are probably gonna struggle now.

Sorry not really an aibu but really needed to vent and wondered if anyone else is suffering with tax credits this year because of the dam government.

OP posts:
unpa1dcar3r · 08/07/2011 15:01

Name one person who landed 30k by doing nothing?!

My youngest daughter!
Sticks right in the craw of my older daughter who has the degree! O.k. it's not quite 30k but it's a bloody good wage for someone with no quals.
(incidentally this daughter has 2 jobs-2nd PT- and a small child, plus her partner works 12 hr shifts. Mine all have excellent work ethics I'm pleased to say, esp with quite a few youngsters feeling the world owes them a living)

Sorry didn't realise your posts were directed at anyone in particular, just responded with my humble opinion!

Cocoflower · 08/07/2011 15:06

Well then she is lucky as that is very rare indeed without at least a degree.

"esp with quite a few youngsters feeling the world owes them a living"- thats the point I mean- its this attitude I am agaisnt. Not people who need help- the attitude of " I am owed this though I am capable, who will give it to me then?"

My siblings are like this- they want everything for nothing and the attitude has got them nowhere, though recently they have become a lot better and finally getting somewhere....

JoySzasz · 08/07/2011 15:15

Coco

My main thought is that MW must rise.

Some of my other posts and responses have been slightly jokey,as I explained I was originally thinking in dollars not pounds.

You are still failing to grasp that some people can not better their lot,no matter how hard they try.

If the MW went up and all benefits stopped,there would be a lot more money to 'play' with ( for the Government)

As you have done so well (by working hard) why not just be content?
Your posts sound a little bitter? for someone who wanted this improved life you don't sound very happy?

I am not in a difficult MW situation right now,my DH does a shitty job but it provides for us to live an average American life.

I am not blinkered enough to think just because my family regularly change and improve things that all people are able to.

Rocky12 · 08/07/2011 15:19

Joy - I dont get what you are complaining about tbh. You live in the US. You say your DH looks after you comfortably, you have brought a house. Why do you suddenly look 1000's of miles into the distance and think - why dont I put a post on about how cleaners in the UK should be paid the same as teachers??

Sorry to be harsh - but anyone can be a cleaner - anyone. You have to train to be a teacher, years of training. Its not for everyone. You are dealing with a whole generation of young people who have the view often from their parents that the world owes them. They deserve respect, they can bring their mobiles into class, they can talk and disturb the rest of the class, they can turn up late or not at all, they dont do homework because they dont feel they have to and if they are given any hassle ie. breaking the school rules - a parent will come in and defend them to the hilt, dont pick on my son etc. They might even become threatening. I dont think that a cleaner has ANY of these issues. Stop moaning and get rid of that massive chip on your shoulder.

JoySzasz · 08/07/2011 15:20

coco how do you propose costs come down...seems just as silly and as impossible as my suggestions dosen't it?

I will remind you again,just because today you have many people agreeing with you,does not suggest you have it nailed and all wrapped up.

Cocoflower · 08/07/2011 15:27

I sound bitter! The second ironic post.

Aren't you the one who kept bringing up cleaners a declared you had a chip on your shoulder!

If you think bitter means not accepting this "the world owes me attitide" then I cannot help you. My other post were factual explaining about supply & demand; bitter? No. Factual; yes.

Whilst I have sympathy for those in genuine need I don't have sympathy for everyone like you ask.

People like my violent ex who left us homeless,does not pay a penny towards his daughter and gets given a home and its his "right". He has not done a thing to help himself. If anyone asks me to feel sorry for someone like him and help him then damn right I will be unhappy.

janey68 · 08/07/2011 15:29

Unpaid- you have just contradicted yourself there. Your dd may have no qualifications, but you say she has an excellent work ethic- well, thats something! I imagine she is also ticking the boxes for all the other things the job requires- turning up on time, meeting targets etc. Its just nonsensical to say people land 30k jobs for doing 'nothing'.
Unfortunately the country has ended up in a situation whereby some people put so Many self built barriers around themselves- eg only being prepared to live in the area they were born, or wanting to start earning decent money without investing in the necessary skills/ qualifications , or like the op, not wanting a Job unless it allows her to do the school run- is it any wonder some people make themselves unmarketable!

This isn't about whether people are academic or went to the 'right' school etc (I didn't!) - in fact the person I know who earns the most has barely any formal qualifications.

Rocky12 · 08/07/2011 15:29

If people cannot better themselves - and I dont believe it for one moment - then that is life.

I have a relative who has married a very wealthy man. She moans continually about her life, how busy she is, how difficult it is to manage a large house. Dont know why, they have a legion of cleaners, child care and gardners. I really cannot see her point of view at all but sometimes you just need to be accepting of your life if you really CANNOT change it (but I think everyone can!)

You certainly cannot demand that you get the same sort of pay as a more qualified person. I have interviewed a number of people over the years, some just dont get on well with people or are likely to be troublesome, some dont have the right experience, one lady looked like she had slept in her clothes and one chap needed to take a bath more often (he smelt terrible and when he took his jacket off - yuk!)

JoySzasz · 08/07/2011 15:32

Rocky ,I am British I am returning to the UK in the future.

You are wrong, not anyone could be a cleaner, you would only have to take a look at the classrooms my DH oversees to see that.Wink

A cleaner doesn't have the same issues as a teacher obviously Hmm a cleaner has different ones.

I have many friends (here in the US) that are teachers,I mix in many different circles...I know it is a thankless task on many occasions.

I don't have a chip,not really.I have a massive advantage as I have mixed with very wealthy and those on the breadline ...it is just my point of view :)

And I didn't make a post about how teachers should be given the same wages as cleaners ...it was something that was blown out of my wanting to increase UK min wage to $15 -I know now that that would put cleaners in the same bracket (in the UK)
I forgot they don't make so much there.

But,I still think CLEANERS shop-workers (and the like) are still as important as teachers ...I won't budge on that!

Cocoflower · 08/07/2011 15:33

I agree with Rocky. Why make yourself into a keyboard warrier anyway? Your not even in the UK.

You dont see the day to day reality -so its all very odd.

You certainly have a chip- a huge one.

At least you can say "seems just as silly and as impossible as my suggestions dosen't it" so thats admitting something.

Well no, people who actually live here ALL agree house prices need to come down as glitter also points out that is a major culprit. Thats why we are working on affordable housing schemes for a start.

JoySzasz · 08/07/2011 15:38

Coco, please see my latest post.

I am British and will soon be living and trying to survive in the UK very soon.

I left in 2005.

Rocky12 · 08/07/2011 15:40

Janey - your comment about going to the right school. Well I'll reveal something. We are both working, we dont have any children from previous relationships, or previous marriages, we married late, had the children late and neither of us have ever been out of work but we live in the South East and consequently it gives us choices. We have chosen to send our children to a famous school to give them the chance to get the very most from education and also yes, there will be people that went to the same school who will help them I believe. I went to a bog standard comp which had no aspirations for their pupils. I dont want this for my children.

We have been given an opportunity to get the biggest leg up for our children. I dont bleat about wanting to be a SAHM or that I want to work part time or that I need time to do the school run. I cannot have everything.

And no life isnt fair but no one said it was.

Cocoflower · 08/07/2011 15:42

Well I have a feeling you are probably very worried about how you will survive when your back then after 6 years away, so imagine some of those posts are fuelled by worry?

Which is understandable!

Look Joy your DH sounds very hardworking I am sure you will be fine. Infact you will be pleased to know lots of cleaners in my area now do charge £10 per hour if they do private work.Lots of people who seem to do the best out of cleaning also set up agencies.

Rocky12 · 08/07/2011 15:44

Joy - maybe you need to stay where you are, bearing in mind what you know about cleaners and their wages then why on earth would you choose to move to the UK. We are going back to this 'choices' issue again.

Any really - what on earth do cleaners have to worry about?? Easiest job in the world tbh. I do our cleaning. If I had a choice of doing my current role or cleaning in terms of ease - cleaning everytime!

Rocky12 · 08/07/2011 15:45

£10 per hour is the going rate for cleaning around here. But dont move to the back of beyond and wonder why you dont get that rate. You have to be where the work is.

DoesBuggerAll · 08/07/2011 15:48

The barriers to entry for the professions that I was talking about (and was mocked for mentioning) are not the training requirements per se but other restrictions (sometimes qualification related). The number of barristers is limited by their professional body and the number of new entrants is deliberately restricted in order that their salaries are kept artificially high. Yes you need to be fairly bright to be a barrister (you can be a nice but dim one though if you or daddy have connections) but if there were a free Market in barristers then many many more would be able to practice. This would benefit society by reducing the cost of barristers. These sort of sharp practices in any other field would find little support amongst the public ( dockers, print workers etc). When the rich and powerful do it then it's for our own good apparently. That's alright then.

JoySzasz · 08/07/2011 16:02

Rocky and Coco...

My DH actually doesn't do 'regular' cleaning he is employed to provide floor maintenance at a local high school -he works with heavy machines most of the time.

At night he is the 'supervisor' and oversees the ladies that do clean...it is strenuous work and many of them need his help to unblock loos etc...

It is never about a little light dusting! :)

When we return to the UK, we will have more options, more appropriate for his skills and abilities. Living in the US has been a massive eye-opener for both of us...and I am impressed that he worked so hard in a job that people look down their noses at sometimes Wink

Back in the early 80's (before he went in to the entertainment industry) he did own a cleaning company ( he sold it) ...so your earlier suggestion is helpful coco

I come from such a diverse background ...in my family history (extended also) we have just about every job covered!

Rocky12 · 08/07/2011 16:14

I can unblock a loo... with two DS's my skills are needed. I got a plumber once to show me how to do it. Works every time but you will need some rubber gloves! And the plumber said ALWAYS buy the proper toilet plunger. People apparently often buy a sink plunger which isnt as good!

Sorry - dont fancy looking through all the posts - do you work Joy?

JoySzasz · 08/07/2011 16:20

I used to, I was a model/actress for 20 years!

I am a stage school brat Grin

Coming from a self-employed status is tricky when looking for work,that is one of the main obstacles my DH found.

Anyway,I haven't worked outside the home since '03 when we had our second son...one day I will find something for sure.

Original poster
Hai1988 · 08/07/2011 16:39

think this thread has gone slightly off topic

OP posts:
JoySzasz · 08/07/2011 16:40

yes,sometimes that happens :)

Original poster
Hai1988 · 08/07/2011 16:41

ha ha Smile

OP posts:
DoesBuggerAll · 08/07/2011 17:38

I always find it funny that the poor need a work ethic whereas the rich require bonuses. Odd that.

Alibabaandthe80nappies · 08/07/2011 17:50

The merely 'not poor', comfortable, and well off also require a work ethic.

I'm sorry if that doesn't fit with your world view DBA Wink

unpa1dcar3r · 08/07/2011 18:00

Unpaid- you have just contradicted yourself there. Your dd may have no qualifications, but you say she has an excellent work ethic- well, thats something! I imagine she is also ticking the boxes for all the other things the job requires- turning up on time, meeting targets etc. Its just nonsensical to say people land 30k jobs for doing 'nothing'.

No I haven't. The point was being made that to earn good money people have to gain qualifications. My point was that this isn't always the case and that sometimes it's not what you know but who you know. As in the case of my daughter (can't be doing with all these stupid acronyms, what the hell is DD anyway; dead daughter/darling daughter Confused)
She doesn't have to meet any targets, just basically turn up on time and leave on time. It's not a challenging job at all, in fact it's rather boring for her. And she got the job through someone she knows who already works there. Simple as that.