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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To be really really pissed off with the benefit system?

188 replies

Inshock73 · 05/01/2016 16:35

I just want to have a rant really....

I've worked since I was 15 (part time) and full time since I was 18, that's 24 years, I've paid hundreds of thousands in income tax and now find myself with a much wanted first baby at 42 and in a tricky financial position. I was on a contract in my last employment and that was terminated when I went on maternity leave (all legal and above board) and I've been on SMP. My SMP has now stopped so I've enquired as to whether I can get any financial help so I can be at home with her until she's one, which is another four months. Basically no I can't because my partner is considered to be earning enough, he earns the national average. I'm so angry! I know several people who are lying to the benefits agency, living with partners and claiming they're not! How is this benefits system fair? I don't believe you pay in to get out, I'm only looking for help for just a few months until I go back to full time work and start paying income tax again!

Rant over.

OP posts:

coffeeisnectar · 05/01/2016 17:26

Google tax credits calculator. It will tell you if you are eligible.

Osolea · 05/01/2016 17:29

Personally, I think in this day and age it is a luxury to be able to stay at home when you have children. Some people have that luxury paid for by the state, most fund it themselves. I know that time off work isn't a holiday, but it's not exactly hard work either, and I am talking from experience. The state doesn't currently need to encourage us to have more babies, so there's no reason why the state should pay for us to have babies. If we want them, we should fund them.

Shutthatdoor · 05/01/2016 17:31

although it used to be 6 months with our older ones, not just paid but return to work or lose your job.

Are you expecting employers to keep jobs open indefinitely????

Runningupthathill82 · 05/01/2016 17:33

Sorry, what?! Your DH earns around £26k a year and you want benefits on top of that so you can stay at home?

You sound completely out of touch with reality. Our total household income is around your DPs wage. Hence why I only had 4 months off on mat leave. Which I'd planned and saved for beforehand.

I don't understand why you think the state should subsidise a full year off work for you. If you're such a high earner that you've paid "hundreds of thousands" in income tax then surely you also earned enough to save for your maternity leave?

MyGastIsFlabbered · 05/01/2016 17:39

I get that you're pissed off but honestly, not all of us on benefits are lying/cheating the system.

ottothedog · 05/01/2016 17:39

Have you checked yet if you can claim contributions based jsa?

NanaNina · 05/01/2016 17:41

I am usually critical of the benefits system but I can't think why the OP was expecting to be paid some kind of allowance so she can stay at home with the baby. I was thinking income support until I read she had a DH earning an average salary and couldn't believe that she thought she should get benefit in that situation. I'm sure thousands of women would like to stay at home if such an allowance was available.

abbsismyhero · 05/01/2016 17:42

you would be entitled to contribution based JSA for six months you would however have to look for work

Chewbecca · 05/01/2016 17:44

I don't think that's what benefits are there for, so you can choose not work for a time.

You can choose not to work if your household income is enough to pay the bills without your wages.

IMO, benefits should be there for people who don't earn enough to pay the bills on their wages because they are so low or for people who cannot find work for whatever reason.

shouldhepay · 05/01/2016 17:45

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Fratelli · 05/01/2016 17:46

I and many other parents would love a full year off. The benefits system isn't there for that otherwise everyone would.

Asskicker · 05/01/2016 17:47

I really fail to see how any of this is the benefits systems fault.

Surely, as you knew you were returning to work, you looked at nursery costs etc.

You changed your mind and want to stay off longer than planned. It's not the benefits systems job to facilitate this.

Also if you have paid hundreds of thousands in tax, you have been a very high earner and really should have more in savings or assets. I think believe you have paid hundreds of thousands at all.

TrinityForce · 05/01/2016 17:50

I was horrified at how I couldn't manage on mat leave too, and afterwards.

No support, absolutely sweet FA.

I've always heard "these 16yo's getting pregnant for the house and money" I actually thought the system WOULD support me for a year.

It didn't, I was genuinely upset at the time and really surprised.

Sorry you're struggling to get your year off, OP. I hope you manage it somehow.

originalusernamefail · 05/01/2016 17:52

Bank loan? If you are on good money when you go back it could be a good way to extend your leave / consolidate any debts? I could only stay off for 9 months with DS as I hadn't saved enough as I naively thought I would be ready and happy to go back then. This time (and as its my last DC) I've saved up to try and stay off for my full entitlement but may have to re-assess later, thems just the breaks I'm afraid.

Lurkedforever1 · 05/01/2016 17:54

Yabu. Benefits are there to provide an existence, and tax credits are there to top up a low wage to a living wage. They aren't there to top up a national average wage so you can live in the way you would with 2 wages.

As your partner earns the national average, as a family you have the same income as many families do with 2 working ft on low wages, and a higher income than a family with tax credits and one low wage coming in. And it's perfectly possible to manage on it. If you want a higher income then quite rightly you need to earn it.

I'm usually the first to defend benefit claimants, but as a lone parent with just average income I would be massively pissed off to find a couple with the same income as me were receiving benefits on top because one didn't want to work.

NewLife4Me · 05/01/2016 17:55

OP, have just seen your dh are self employed.
For Gods sake get him to employ you as his Book keeper, then you are both working and can both claim tax credits.
I became dh book keeper years ago, same amount of money coming in but divided by 2 and you are both employed.

Speak to your accountant, if you don't have one do get one. You save far more than they cost and it's their job

PiperIsTerrysChoclateOrange · 05/01/2016 17:59

I think income support should be in line with Maternity leave.

Currently an unemployed parent can have 5 years of fix payments without attempting to find a job while a employed parent only has 9 months of maternity pay.

DyslexicScientist · 05/01/2016 18:04

Yanbu.

We have a benefits system that discourages people from saving its shit.

redhat · 05/01/2016 18:12

Although unless you actually are the bookkeeper that would be both tax fraud and benefit fraud

expatinscotland · 05/01/2016 18:12

Currently an unemployed parent can have 5 years of fix payments without attempting to find a job while a employed parent only has 9 months of maternity pay.

A lone parent. Any employed lone parent is free to jack in her job and claim. It's the life of Riley, surely.

GreatFuckability · 05/01/2016 18:14

I keep myself and 3 kids alive on way less than the national average wage. And that's with some benefits. If you cant, perhaps you need to look at your lifestyle.

Lurkedforever1 · 05/01/2016 18:19

So then piper have you found lots of support for your opinion income support payments should be increased to equal out to maternity pay?

Asskicker · 05/01/2016 18:22

Currently an unemployed parent can have 5 years of fix payments without attempting to find a job while a employed parent only has 9 months of maternity pay.

You think mat leave should be five years?

Asskicker · 05/01/2016 18:23

Currently an unemployed parent can have 5 years of fix payments without attempting to find a job while a employed parent only has 9 months of maternity pay.

You think mat leave should be five years?

EddieVeddersfoxymop · 05/01/2016 18:29

Why should my husband and I pay for you to stay home, just because you want to? You should have saved, like everyone else who wants that long off. Benefits are there to spurt those in feed, not those that fancy extended maternity leave. Sorry OP, YABVVVVU.

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