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AIBU?

to wonder whether this person could be living on tax credits

35 replies

GoldenHaze · 27/09/2011 16:02

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.

OP posts:

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Kladdkaka · 27/09/2011 18:22

I read on the BBC website that the national average was £10k which means there must be some real bargain basement ones to counter balance ones like Eton.

adamschic · 27/09/2011 18:10

You can now claim HB more readily for mortgage interest, maybe he is declaring a miniscule income and claiming everything but really earning a fortune.

NinkyNonker · 27/09/2011 18:07

And I'm prob thinking of secondary, ooops.

NinkyNonker · 27/09/2011 18:03

Really? The school I went to was more, I guess I was only thinking of that. And I see others quote much more on here. I stand corrected!

eaglewings · 27/09/2011 17:58

It would be possible for them to get tax credits and pay for private school fees if

They pay no mortgage or rent
They have savings ( not taken into account when assessing eligibility only the income from the savings)
They have a small earned income

They would then not be living on tax credits, but being subsidised by them.

Question is, what is it to the gossip?!

Kladdkaka · 27/09/2011 17:56

NickyNonker £5k per term is above the national average for school fees.

My old school current charges £3945 per term for none boarders
My brothers' charges £4835 per term
Kate Middleton's primary school (where I worked in my gap year) charges £4600 per term

porcamiseria · 27/09/2011 17:36

of cpourse they dont live on tax credits!

iklboo · 27/09/2011 17:35

It seems if anyone us a SAHM and they own anything or go on holiday or have a car, someone always brings out the old chestnut about them getting a million quid a week on benefits (I mean people in RL who know nothing of the person's circumstances).

Thingumy · 27/09/2011 17:32

We get £10 a week tax credit and jointly only earns £31k a year.

Bolleux

StrandedBear · 27/09/2011 17:29

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

StrandedBear · 27/09/2011 17:28

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

RitaMorgan · 27/09/2011 17:23

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.

NinkyNonker · 27/09/2011 17:00

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

LineRunner · 27/09/2011 16:56

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

HTH

Kladdkaka · 27/09/2011 16:50

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.

RitaMorgan · 27/09/2011 16:47

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

JenaiMarrHePlaysGuitar · 27/09/2011 16:43

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

That'd cover school fees, surely?

GetOrfMo1Land · 27/09/2011 16:23

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.

zukiecat · 27/09/2011 16:21

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Hullygully · 27/09/2011 16:20

ooo I want me some a them there tax credits

Lawks I surely do

tethersend · 27/09/2011 16:18

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

squidworth · 27/09/2011 16:17

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.

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mumsamilitant · 27/09/2011 16:14

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

JenaiMarrHePlaysGuitar · 27/09/2011 16:13

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?

worraliberty · 27/09/2011 16:12

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

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