to wonder whether this person could be living on tax credits

[GoldenHaze]

Absolutely NOT a benefits-bashing post. I'm very jealous and wish I was in this position!

My friend is a SAHM and her DH is a freelance designer. They have a nice house, a cleaner who comes in every week and pay private school fees for their eldest (youngest is a baby). Another friend (who I suspect is being a bit gossipy/bitchy) told me that they live on tax credits.

Is this possible? I don't think they have a lot of spare cash and don't go on flashy holidays or anything, but they certainly don't go without.

I sincerely doubt that Tax credits affords anyone to pay hefty private school fees and a mortgage Where do pepole get these benefit myths from?

I think it might be a myth too, shineynewthings. The friend who told me is a bit gossipy.

It' just left me wondering.

What is your question/issue really? Very hard to live on tax credits so I'd be surprised. Child may have a scholarship or bursary. Really don't think it is any of your concern.

Nonsense. Anyone who has the income to fund private school fees is waaay too well off to be on tax credits. Anything they do get is probably a very small amount, if they get tax credits at all.

My question is whether it's possible that tax credits could pay for such a good lifestyle.

No, it's not any of my concern. I'm just curious.

Thanks, I think it's clear then that my friend either has the wrong end of the stick or is just being a snide.

BTW, if my friend was receiving benefits, I don't begrudge her. She looking after her family well and she's not the sort of person to fiddle anything.

I'd stop listening to gossip and revisit whether a malicious gossiper is a good bet as a friend.

No bloody way, tax credits arent that high !

Thanks all. I'll steer clear of the goss (unless it's very juicy! ) in future.

For all you know the Grandparents or another family member could be funding the private school.

Well DP and I are above the TC threshold, both work FT in reasonably well paid jobs, have one child and couldn't afford private education. We could stretch to a cleaner if I didn't spend so much on wine.

Maybe they get £100 TC a year or something and have a miniscule mortgage, or their parents pay the fees?

I get tax credits and certainly don't have that lifestyle so recon its just gossip.

There could be a hundred and one reasons, the GP could pay school fees, their mortgage could be paid esp as freelance he could of had high and low years, there could be inheritance. Tax credits does not take into account savings, assets etc. You could not live that life without other circumstances on tax credits.

Don't worry. They're probably just drug dealers.

ooo I want me some a them there tax credits

Lawks I surely do

Perhaps they are money launderers.

Or sell cocaine to kiddys on street corners.

that would be better gossip than tax credits, and would explain how they can afford their lifestyle.

Ring your snidey mate back up and tell her mumsnet told you they were drug lords, see how quickly that gets around.

I reckon the SAHM is earning a bit of cash in hand taking mucky phone calls in washing.

That'd cover school fees, surely?

We have a joint income well below the average and tax credits don't even cover ds's nursery fees.

I suppose it is possible if they live on bread and water. Depends on how they budget really. For private school you're looking at around £5,000 per term. So £15,000 per year. What's the cut off point for tax credits these days.

No, it is not possible to live such a lifestyle on tax credits.

HTH

£5k per term are pretty bargainous school fees I think.

I guess possibly the husband is telling them he's earning nothing, so he'd get £50ish in WTC, plus some CTC and CB for the kids and council tax benefit/housing benefit.