to be utterly disgusted at people's comments re. welfare cuts

[HappyGoLuckyGirl]

Yes, I'm aware that our welfare system needs reforming. I do not profess to know how this should be done.

I've just read a few articles on the proposed cuts that primarily focused on reducing tax credits. The vitrol is appalling. I can't believe this is the country I live in.

I am a single mother working 40 hours a week also mid way through a 5 year part time degree. I earn slightly over minimum wage. Things are tight enough as it is, with the tax credits I get (80% of which goes on my weekly childcare bill) and now they are planning to reduce them.

I am trying to better myself so I don't always have to rely on benefits to get me through the month and yet I'm being punished! Why are working people being targeted? How is that fair in the slightest? If I wasn't so furious I would cry.

And as for people saying that employers should raise workers wages, I can say with 100% surety that if I approached my employer and asked for a living wage (increase of £8k+) I would be flat out refused and or fired. And I work in a skilled job! What hope do people who work for a large multi-national company have?

I am very this morning.

Lotus that's not hard work that's no life balance. If you want to fine, but a 60 hour week should not be the standard.

Also nice gloat about no maternity leave, some of us have hyperenemesis and SPD that makes pregnancy a pretty difficult time, some of us need cesarean section, you're lucky you had easy pregnancies.

Loads of tax sorry what? You don't pay "loads", you're only taxed top rate on anything you earn OVER £150,000. You don't need that money. I say this as someone who grew up very privelaged, and never wanted for anything. My family never resented paying higher rate tax because we recognise we are fortunate and that in order to alleviate suffering wealth must be distributed fairly.

Anyone who is moaning about paying the top rate of tax is quite clearly a selfish arse

Hyperemesis

Lotus is a lawyer. Hence why I am shocked by the deliberately misleading statements she keeps making. Shocked!

Bully for you Lotus. DS1 would love to work only 60 hours a week just lately, his life would be a fecking a breeze if he could. He doesn't even get paid the NMW because he is a soldier and they are exempt. He can manage fine, because he is single and has no commitments at the moment, but his mate has a wife and 2 kids. He needs either a decent pay rise or tax credits. What the fuck do you suggest he does?

Ledare, typical. Although I'd expect a more coherent argument!

Thing is lotus probably earned you wage after 15hrs per week and thinks your all slacking.

Fairy, you're being a wee bit disingenuous wrt a soldier's wage tbh.

In basic training they are on a pittance, but as soon as they hit level 1 post basic (and after a year's service) they hit £18k +, with yearly increments.
Not bad for a young person starting out on a career, really.

The weekly hours worked are only that high during training and ops too, and occasionally when on a guard duty etc.

You are quite right OP. The language used against people who dare think that our country needs to live within its means IS disgusting

Is that Downtheroadfirstonleft, or Disingenuousfirstonleft?

Really Vanilla?

Their wages don't change to £18k at that point. For what DS1 actually does £18k is a not a good wage. Working 60 hours a week is incredibly common. DS1 has had 4 weekends off out of the last 14. He is not in training or on OP's. He has an exercise this week where he needs to stay awake for 36 hours.

I'm not being disingenuous at all. I've been married to a serviceman for 21.5 years. I know all the shit they and their families put up with inside out!

Unkindness is apparently the new national pastime.

We're doing really well at being charitable in the UK since we decided we knew better than God. Haven't lost our way spectacularly or anything.

Keep voting Tory now everyone, before the plebs get your stuff.

I am a service person of 20 years, and my husband has been in nearly 30 years Fairy, so I too know how it all works.

Level 1 private on lower pay band is £18, 125 per annum.
Basic entrant rate is £14, 637.
Basic entrant is only for duration of training - as soon as they get private, they go onto level one. It is a tri service pay scale and there are 2 pay bands at the moment.
They go up every year in increments - the highest amount for a private on lower pay band is £23, 138 after 7 years - not to be sniffed at really.

link here for army pay scales table

You are being unnecessarily misleading.

Life is shit at the moment...it really is...and then I come on here and see the likes of Lotus moaning and making such awful statements its hard to believe.

It's sad that some folk are so lacking in compassion. Even my autistic son realizes that some people do not have life easy. He has more compassion in his little finger than some of you have in your entire body.

I am patiently awaiting the budget and the continued demonizing of people claiming benefits...however legitimately.

It's easy to judge others when it doesn't affect you.

Basic entrant is only for duration of training - as soon as they get private, they go onto level one.

So, what are you saying Vanilla, they get the increase at the end of Phase 1 or Phase 2? Because I can categorically tell you that it is neither. I know the exact date DS1 got his pay rise. I am not the one being misleading, you are.

Level one is usually when you are a private and have completed one year of service.
Private level one would be after phase I and phase II training (basic and trade training).

I maintain, that £18000 + is a fucking good wage for a job which requires no qualifications to enter.

If he is genuinely only getting £14k and is a private equivalent who has served over one year and has completed all of his initial training (basic and trade) then I suggest he takes it up with his admin as they are not paying him properly.

I have not said anything which is untrue. The fact is that the British people have spoken and we all want this. Yes a few don't but this Conservative Government has a mandate to make the country live within its means which is what we all seek to achieve in our families too. We know it makes sense.

No political party cares more nor does the most for the least fortunate as the Conservatives. Under Labour there is always less money for the poor as they manage the state badly and the less fortunate suffer for it. It is the Tories who really care and that is one reason they were voted in.

Level one is usually when you are a private and have completed one year of service.
Again, you are wrong!

£18k might be a good wage when you have no dependants, but when you have a family it's not. I still maintain for what DS1 does it isn't but you are entitled to your opinion.

His job requires qualifications btw!

YA - sooooo -NBU.

I care fulltime for a disabled person, we have been hit with a spare room tax for a room adapted for medical eqiipment and things, I save the Gov millions a year on my pitiful carers allowance, I cant go and get a 'proper' job as i myself am disabled yet have to care for a disabled person on top of that.

The Gov/DWP dont see a fulltime carer as a proper job.

and we struggle enough because there are so many things we should be helped with as disabled people but arent so i have to fork out for expensive medical things.

And theyre cutting us back YET AGAIN. fecking feckers dont give a shit bout hard working people (including carers). they NEVER cut their own wages and expenses and second homes and many cars do they?

I fucking HATE them.

Lotus 22% of the population wanted this.

The Tories don't care about the poor!

It sounds like you rely on TC just to a certain extent and I believe the suggestion is £1400 a year average reduction which is £26 a week of after tax income. You could work in the day on Saturday and Sunday as well in the week as I do.

His job might require qualifications, but many trades on the lower pay band do not - which is why I referred to the lower pay band.

If your son is a private with over 1 year's service and he has completed all of his initial training (basic and trade) then he should be level one and be going up year on year. If he is not, then something is wrong - maybe your husband will be able to explain all this better than I am.

I linked to the pay scales on an earlier post btw.

Given that everyone under 40 grew up in a Thatcherised Britain, it's hardly surprising so many find it hard to believe it's possible or desirable to run an economy more fairly.

I am forty and vividly remember at least the later years of Thatcherism. I wouldn't vote Tory if you put a gun to my head.

Whoever said the Tories do a great divide and rule number, that is it absolutely.

Lotus WHY should people have to work 6 days a week to survive? How is that a life?

And who is supposed to look after her disabled child while she does that?