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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

AIBU to think that saying the new childcare proposal discriminates against SAHP is like saying JSA discriminates against the employed?

731 replies

AnnieLobeseder · 06/08/2013 14:46

So I know it's fairly old news, but the new government proposals to help working parents with childcare costs have been popping up on my BBC newsfeed this week.

Now there are plenty of things wrong with these new proposals, such as the "help" only being available for parents with under-5s to start with, and that students don't count as "employed" so if you're both/one of you are students and need childcare while you're at college you get no help at all. At least they're apparently going to count being a carer as "employed" so families where one parent stays home to care, they will get help with childcare.

However, what I don't understand is why these aren't the issues being highlighted, but instead, just people whining that SAHPs will lose out. Erm, please correct me if I'm missing some fundamental point here, but isn't that because SAHPs, by their very nature, don't need childcare!! That's why they stay at home - to look after their own children.

I've seem quotes that this is a "carrot dangled at SAHMs to tempt them back into work". Um, no, who the heck would put themselves into a situation they don't want for the sake of claiming a benefit they don't really need?

So to my mind, it's like complaining that you aren't entitled to JSA because you have a job, and saying that having JSA for those who need it is "dangling a carrot in front of people with jobs to tempt them into unemployment".

AIBU?

OP posts:
motownmover · 08/08/2013 19:04

I wonder if some of the posters so in favour of this govt and it's policies also think mat leave pay should be scrapped? It we extend their arguments then and you are a WOHM but go on leave then why should the govt pick up the tag??

If you are going to take Stat Mat leave and put yourself in a position of a SAHM then why do you need Stat Mat Pay??

I'm sure if Google and Amazon were forced to pay a bit more tax in one of their major markets then things would improve.

motownmover · 08/08/2013 19:05

Wow Petey I know lots of women that have sent their child into childcare when they were sick!

I know lots of people who get paid full pay when sick.

At every company I have worked for it has been the case.

peteypiranha · 08/08/2013 19:06

You have to remember most working parents dont get paid to be off so will only go off if they are literally on deaths door. I have had 4 days off in 5 years through sickness because unless I was dying I would go in for the money. I even went under general for a childbirth complication op and went to work the next day. I really dont know any wohms having the breaks that you seem to think they have. You have to be pretty motivated to be able to do it all.

Wishihadabs · 08/08/2013 19:06

Peter you have 2 dcs in ft preschool childcare and you don't work ?

peteypiranha · 08/08/2013 19:08

I do work? I do 48 hours a week over 7 days at present.

motownmover · 08/08/2013 19:09

Petey most employers do make staff take their holidays?

It seems to be a bone of contention to bring up that SAHP's might need a break or childcare. I find this really bizarre.

Wishihadabs · 08/08/2013 19:10

Sorry your post of 18:23 confused me ....as you were

peteypiranha · 08/08/2013 19:10

I take my holidays but I look after my children to wohms that is called a break Wink

motownmover · 08/08/2013 19:12

Yes holidays are paid time where you not working in your employed job! Smile

Wishihadabs · 08/08/2013 19:13

When we had a nanny she came in (for a shorter day) when I was sick.I felt why should the dcs miss out on their normal activities. My last sick day was 2010 btw.

morethanpotatoprints · 08/08/2013 19:14

Annie.

Why do you find it so difficult to understand why a sahp might need some occasional childcare. I have never used it and struggled on regardless when mine were little because childcare was so expensive.
Some people don't have family near, or are sp, or partner works away, there are many reasons why. It is also for the benefit of the dc, I can't see why you'd have a problem with it. Oh, I forgot, the children of addicts, or disabled.
Childcare isn't just nursery neither. I know a young carer aged 9 who is H.ed because she can't go to school. She cares for her father and has no mother. Without the odd after school club she wouldn't meet any children. Ok, you might think rare case, but there are many reasons why the children of a sahp might need some respite.

Wishihadabs · 08/08/2013 19:17

Morethan this tax break is for under 5s

motownmover · 08/08/2013 19:20

I want to know if the women on this post who got paid to be a sahm by way of their statutory mat leave feel bad and they should not have received it as it was their choice to have children and chose to stay at home with the baby?? After all you only have to work for 26 weeks to qualify??

Wishihadabs · 08/08/2013 19:25

I never received smp my employer recouped some of the cost of my OMp which I received conditionally on returning to work. Also Dd the term before she went into reception (October born so aged 4.7) preferred to go to nursery than stay home with me on my days off.

peteypiranha · 08/08/2013 19:25

So a wohms break is doing what a sahm does and a sahms break shoils be doing nothing? Hmm

peteypiranha · 08/08/2013 19:27

I didnt take smp with dc1.I did with 2 but I wouldnt be bothered if I had it or not personally as would just have gone to work.

soverylucky · 08/08/2013 19:31

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

motownmover · 08/08/2013 19:34

Annie's header for this thread? She is the person that mentioned sahm's in her opening post?

Original poster
AnnieLobeseder · 08/08/2013 19:40

Oh for goodness sake, motown, there you go deliberately misunderstanding me again. I and other have already said that we understand how SAHPs could need childcare for various reasons including those you mention. When I say that SAHPs needing childcare for a break is laughable, I literally mean fancying a little R&R. Cos WOHPs never get this either - annual leave is usually spent, you know, being a SAHP. It's the idea that your average voluntary SAHP does something so utterly unique and exhausting that they are in special need of R&R over the rest of the population that has me in giggles.

I've also said that I'm happy for anyone who pays out £1000 a month on childcare to get £100 back off that expense.

As for whether I think SMP should be scrapped - no, of course I don't. Instead I think that everyone should receive it to help cover the extra costs of a new baby, whether they were working when they got pregnant or not.

OP posts:
motownmover · 08/08/2013 19:51

There you go again Annie you can't help it - I have never said that SAHP need a break over WOHP.

Shitsinger · 08/08/2013 19:53

Another WOHP here on holiday ... with my DC Grin
I also have never used childcare but I really am happy that WOHP will get a tiny bit of help with childcare.
As for feeling bad because I took Mat leave - nope !
and why should I Hmm

motownmover · 08/08/2013 19:56

Well I just wondered if some of these people so outraged that SAHP's have had access to ccvouchers as a tax break when they should just be looking after their children.

Probably when the very same people claimed cb and ccv and stat mat pay while on mat leave.

Shitsinger · 08/08/2013 19:58

Who was outraged Confused?
I am a WOHP who has never used any form of childcare - my choice.

Shitsinger · 08/08/2013 20:01

They get mat leave as a result of WOH - is that a terrible thing ? Should they be forced back to work the day after delivery ?
You sound very bitter tbh.

soverylucky · 08/08/2013 20:03

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.