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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To ask about child tax credit cuts.

478 replies

yellowbird11 · 23/10/2015 16:09

Is it inevitable and if so will it affect everyone? what a massive worry to all of you who are going to be affected.My DD works 16 hours a week and has 1 child. She'd love to do more hours as her child is at school but isn't able to. Can anyone give me any idea how much she'll lose, and when? I'm so worried for her because I know without these tax credits they'll be barely able to eat and keep warm. How can these Tory bs sleep at night?

OP posts:
blondiebonce · 23/10/2015 17:12

I have a 15 month old daughter and I am a single mother. I work 17 hours a week because that is when her Dad can have her, and because my job has shifts that are 4-5 hours long (hospitality). Am I not working hard enough? I work 4 days a week. Do you resent helping me feed my child when I'm already doing the best I can?
Though might be my fault her Dad used to spend our joint income on beer and betting. My bad choice?

Ffs please. Tax credits were put in place for a reason. I don't receive mine and think "WOOO! Shopping spreeee!" I think "oh thank goodness. Can't wait to not have to rely on these one day".

Dark - you're attitude is scary, really.

Darkbehindthecurtain · 23/10/2015 17:13

Do enlighten me as to why, blondie

Owllady · 23/10/2015 17:14

I was a manager in food retail and believe me, people want more than 16 hours a week but it's difficult to give them more than that. It's not of people's choosing

I think some of you would be surprised how well qualified some people are who work in retail. Circumstances and extra responsibility at home often dictate what options are open to us.

KingJoffreyLikesJaffaCakes · 23/10/2015 17:14

I have a low paid, menial job.

I look after people's elderly and ill parents and grandparents.

I love them, I make them laugh, I'm quick to spot any decline in health and I keep the safe.

Want me to stop? Really??

CookieMonsterIsOnADiet · 23/10/2015 17:14

Yellow, there are more employers out there than just her current one. Just because NMW full time isn't enough for her doesn't justify only working 16 hours. That leave at least five days to gain other employment or retrain to earn a better wage

Blaming the state for her decisions is wrong.

As a parent wouldnt you want her to be self sufficient rather than moaning other tax payers aren't giving her enough?

Childcare costs crop up a lot, it's better for taxes to be used for workers childcare than to pay people to not work or just do a few hours. After a certain time childcare won't be needed and the person will likely have paid tax, gained promotions etc and self support after. On sixteen hours for years, unless a high earner little or no tax will be paid and the adult will still be claiming long after the children are grown up.

Pyjamaramadrama · 23/10/2015 17:15

We need people to work in low paid menial jobs.

Manor would you prefer to live in a society where only the well off can afford to have a family?

BrandNewAndImproved · 23/10/2015 17:15

Some people are so deluded.

I used to work 16 hrs a week, I actively chose to work 16 hrs a week. I previously worked longer hours but my childminder gave notice and the afterschool club was still full and no other cms in the area did after school pick ups from my dcs school. It was a choice between 16 hours to fit in school time or sign on.

Luckily I've passed my driving test during that time and got a promotion. Spending 2 and a half hours on a bus everyday so I could go do my 3 and a bit hours a day job was really hard.

I will still rely on tax credits even though I now have more hours anD more money. I didn't chose to be a single parent being subsidised by the state but unless you pay for your dc health, education, build your own roads, won't ever use the police or fire service you're subsidised by the state to so get off your high horse.

RoobyTuesday · 23/10/2015 17:16

Manor - does it occur to you that if everyone 'did better at school' and chose to get a great education and a brilliant job then there wouldn't be anyone to do the jobs that we actually need people to do. Yes, turns out we do need people to stack shelves in supermarkets, serve us in restaurants, clean our hospitals and schools, work in factories to produce the things that are essential to our everyday life. Not t mention caring for us when we are too old or I'll to look after ourselves. The list goes on. Your argument is too simplistic.

ManorGreyhound · 23/10/2015 17:16

You are wrong to think the answer to everything is to make better choices / work harder / do better at school. Yes most people would agree that is a wonderful thing to aspire to but it is not possible for everyone due to life circumstances and choices and you are naive if you believe otherwise.

Ok, it is a fair comment that this is a simplistic analysis, but can't we try to work towards it? As long as we subsidise people struggling financially via the welfare system, we trap them in this cycle of poverty as there is a valid alternative in a life on benefits.

Removing it in its entirety overnight obviously isn't a good idea but there has to be some middle ground between the Workhouse and the system that we have today.

Darkbehindthecurtain · 23/10/2015 17:17

King

I don't.

You do a fantastic job :)

But I would be against somebody choosing to work two days in that sort of role and topping up the remaining 3 in benefits, and that is a general point, not linked to anybody on here personally.

megletthesecond · 23/10/2015 17:17

sonnet a two parent family has two adults who can juggle hours and annual leave, possibly two lots of local in laws and two lots of aunties and uncles.

I only have one parent who can help me. No one else in the family around to help at all. One day half term childcare is costing me £30. I can't even claim tax credits for it because it's just a weeks change. And don't suggest I can ask other school parents, rushing off to work 3 days a week doesn't leave me much time for chatting at the school gate. My mental and physical health is struggling so having 2 days to get everything done (can't do it at the weekends because dd is largely uncontrollable) saves me from cracking up and costing the country more. I almost screw work up daily as it is because I'm exhausted and isolated.

expatinscotland · 23/10/2015 17:17

I have never understood this sadistic desire to punish people from being less than perfect. One's life is never enhanced by others' misery.

dreamingofsun · 23/10/2015 17:17

i can understand extra responsibilities if you have disabled children. But if its just 'i've got young kids and single parent therefore i can only do 16 hours and i can't get ex partner to look after them any longer than this', i'm struggling to have much in the way of sympathy. especially since i'm exhausted having worked 30+ hours and am paying for this lifestyle through tax. And i'm being called a tory XXXXXX. 5pm on a friday is the worst time to slag people like me off as they are at their most tierd and grumpy

CookieMonsterIsOnADiet · 23/10/2015 17:18

Blondie, you could use childcare? You'd have no choice but to if the state didn't give you money and that's exactly why the cuts are due.

If we all only worked a few hours when the NRP had the children we'd have no workers and no money for any benefits.

Fairylea · 23/10/2015 17:18

Graduates are amongst the largest groups of the unemployed at the moment. "Doing well in school" does immunise you against poverty.

My dh is a graduate. He works 55 hours a week as a deputy retail manager for a high street name for barely more than minimum wage - and he does not get paid overtime as he is salaried.

My ds has severely autism and will never "do well in school" in the way Manor implies, clearly he should have tried harder not to have a disability HmmHmm

Darkbehindthecurtain · 23/10/2015 17:18

Yes, I have to agree with you there, dreaming

Fairylea · 23/10/2015 17:19

Doesn't not does obviously.

wasonthelist · 23/10/2015 17:19

I worked out that last year, I personally paid nearly £10k per 7 minute GP appointment that I had.
I'd love to see your working on that one - are you for real or just on a wind-up?

Darkbehindthecurtain · 23/10/2015 17:20

Also, WHY do people say 'I have to feed my child'? Hmm

We don't have 'feeds', do we?

Makes them sound like animals. Hate that phrase!

Sorry!

Pyjamaramadrama · 23/10/2015 17:21

Manorgreyhound I disagree about the trap, whilst I claimed tax credits I increased my working hours as my child got older. I also got a better paid job, my tax credits decreased.

Like with any universal service unfortunately some will abuse it/use it more.

Rules can be tweaked to prevent this such as the Tories had already changed the minimum required working hours.

BrandNewAndImproved · 23/10/2015 17:21

It's so easy to say get childcare it gets subsidised by tc.

I live in a big city, there is no space in the afterschool or breakfast club. There are no childminders who want to look after school aged dc as they have limits on how many children they can look after so they're obviously going to chose having full time young dc over school aged ones.

Childcare costs are only part of the issue.

Bungleboggs · 23/10/2015 17:22

Manor- I know someone bringing up a child alone who was the victim of rape and will be affected by these cuts! What do you propose she could have done differently to prevent this situation.

dreamingofsun · 23/10/2015 17:22

Brandnewand - but these are issues for everyone, not just those on TC. Others have to overcome these problems.

fanjoforthemammaries7850 · 23/10/2015 17:23

I think the reason people are hostile to Tories on threads like this is their looking down on others that they see as doing menial lowly jobs and implying they personally fund them with their taxes.

EnthusiasmDisturbed · 23/10/2015 17:23

maybe employers can pay their staff better

the government could do more to control the spiralling housing costs

rent caps could be put in place

just a few suggestions as to how people who are on low wages life could be improved and less need for government support