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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To be shocked about tax credits....

81 replies

butterflyroom · 03/09/2012 18:22

I earn slightly too much to receive tax credits following government changes. My colleague who earns less than me, told me that she receives working tax credits AND child tax credits of around £80 per week. I am shocked at how much this totals monthly!

AIBU to be shocked and to wonder why I work hard and full time to earn more when it's probably not financially that beneficial to do so?

Hard hat at the ready.......

OP posts:
ValiumQueen · 03/09/2012 18:23

Do you both have the same number of children? Do you both pay the exact same childcare? Do your partners earn the same?

Socknickingpixie · 03/09/2012 18:24

it very much depends on how much less than you she earns

ValiumQueen · 03/09/2012 18:24

How much less does she earn?

DesperatelySeekingPomBears · 03/09/2012 18:25

I think the same sometimes, I also have a colleague who, without tax credits, is ever so slightly worse off than us. With tax credits, she's about £150 a month better off, same number of kids etc etc. But hey ho, them's the breaks, I just count myself lucky that we can pay the essentials every month without any fuss.

Original poster
butterflyroom · 03/09/2012 18:26

Same circumstances apart from take home wage. Infact until recently I was paying more child care. I don't begrudge her, was just surprised at the amount....

OP posts:
PureMorning · 03/09/2012 18:27

YANBU she should live in a shack and beg for food. How dare she get nearly as much as you!

janey68 · 03/09/2012 18:27

YANBU in questioning a system that can act as a DISincentive for people to work a full working week. There are many layers to this issue, but the principle that the more you work, the more you should earn is pretty basic isn't it

NarkedRaspberry · 03/09/2012 18:28

Ayone just above the cut off point for benefits/tax credits/tax gets screwed. It's always been that way. By earning £1k extra you can end up worse off.

WhatYouLookingAt · 03/09/2012 18:30

Yanbu to wonder how people can get more money from tax credits than from earning.

But you know you're going to get loads of wanky posts asserting that you want people to starve in the street while you wipe your arse on fivers, and then someone will start wittering about goats......

Original poster
butterflyroom · 03/09/2012 18:30

PureMorning - with CTC she takes home about the same as me. I work longer hours and have more responsibility yet we earn the same due to her benefits. NOT saying live in a shack - that's silly. It just surprised me.

OP posts:
ValiumQueen · 03/09/2012 18:31

Tax credits have a nasty habit of asking for money back too.

Socknickingpixie · 03/09/2012 18:32

whatyoulookingat she gets the tax credits because she works

noisytoys · 03/09/2012 18:34

I gave up work because I was better off not working dons hard hat. My husband works full time but I don't want to miss out on my pre schoolers babyhood out of principal of working. I have my whole life to work when they are too old to want me at home

PureMorning · 03/09/2012 18:34

She is earning - she works to.

NameChangeGalore · 03/09/2012 18:36

This is why you should NEVER discuss your financial circumstances with ANYONE.

ValiumQueen · 03/09/2012 18:37

I worked out the other day if up I dropped to 25 hours from full time, and dropped childcare accordingly, I would be £5000 better off per year, but I would be relying heavily on benefits that may change, and my career prospects may be adversely affected. I am sure your colleague would rather be in a senior role and actually earn more.

Northernlurkerisbackatwork · 03/09/2012 18:37

I have a friend who was able to drop their hours knowing that tax credits would make up the difference. That did seem a bit galling to me I will admit - because who wouldn't like to work less for the same BUT then the thresholds dropped and now they don't qualify ad of course she wishes she hadn't dropped the hours. OP - you're in a better overall position than your colleague, don't dwell on this.

WhatYouLookingAt · 03/09/2012 18:40

missing the point PureMorning. On purpose?

GhostShip · 03/09/2012 18:40

I'm on minimum wage (13.5k) and don't get tax credits. Too young. It's annoying because I've worked from leaving school, before that actually

WhatYouLookingAt · 03/09/2012 18:41

and Sockknocking too.

PureMorning · 03/09/2012 18:41

Not at all just don't like to poor bash.

She works so she clearly earns.

Socknickingpixie · 03/09/2012 18:43

what point am i missing?

smellyolddog · 03/09/2012 18:43

I've just got off the phone I'm shafted as we need to pay back thousands, not sure how we will, wish I'd never even bothered claiming when they started.

Adviceinscotland · 03/09/2012 18:44

"then someone will start wittering about goats" GrinGrinGrin

You mean you don't find the constant goat "jokes" oh so humerous and witty? (thank fuck it's not just me)

bogeyface · 03/09/2012 18:46

How many children do you and she have? Does she have a disabled child? Is she a single parent and you have a partner?

It depends on alot of factors.

YANBU to be a bit naffed off that she gets that and you dont, but YABU to trot out the old "I wonder why I bother working ......" again

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