to wonder what MN's view is on this?

[ciabattav0nbreadstickz]

I know a couple, not friends but I know of them.

Both of them worked until recently, one full time, one part time.

They have had a baby. The mum has, for all intents and purposes, given up work. The dad now works p/t because they get more in benefits if he only works p/t. So they get more or the same income as they did before having the baby when he was working f/t and she was working p/t than they do now with only one of them working p/t.

Aibu to be curious as to how the population of MN view this?

I know that the general consensus seems to be that if you have kids you shouldn't claim any more benefits that you actually need to survive and that you should pay for your kids yourself if you can.

But equally so I've seen similar threads where a couple have been praised for being savvy enough about the benefits system to work out that they have had a better income by working less.

So which would in be in this situation?

Fwiw I don't necessarily agree with it but that is less a comment on the couple themselves and more of an issue with the way the benefits system works that means it is more financially viable for many families in many situations to do this.

I have nothing against benefits and have claimed them myself so no judgement against the couple!

cat

ps cat I LOOOOVE your posts

with or without autocorrect

I think it just shows how ludicrous the cost of childcare is and how pitifully low wages are compared to the cost of living.

Fair play to them. I say that as a high rate tax payer.

I think it's unacceptable that so many employers pay such shockingly low wages.

I would be amazed if they are any better off or even bringing in as much.

Plus the benefits system won't allow him to continue working part time if he can work longer hours.

They may have other income you are not aware of ...perhaps from relatives or he may be able to work paternity leave into his hours giving him more time at home. I don't k ow and more to the point neither do you.

The view of MN is that if the OP posts in AIBU then the OP should be given a telling off or ridiculed, irrespective of what they actually said.

If you want a sensible discussion, you should go to one of the other boards. For the best, phrase your query (or whatever) as if you have no personal opinion (actually stating you have no personal opinion will not work). On MN, no-one is allowed to judge in an OP, but if they do expect to have themselves judged till kingdom come for daring to be judgemental.

But regarding your actual OP, that is shocking and it would be good - but not possible - to know previous wages, hours, etc.

Honestly? There may be stuff going on in their lives (income, disability, whatever) that you're not aware of, but if your description is accurate, my beef is with the system that enables this rather than with two people availing themselves of it.

Yes, it does seem that way purple

I have lived on benefits and it was definitely not a comfortable life with loads of disposable income, which is why I'm confused that someone would actively choose to do, which is seems like they have done. Obviously I don't know 100% of the details of their circumstances but it just doesn't quite add up to be with what I do know.

The guy had a reasonably well paid, f/t job (think managerial position - they used to boast about how much he earnt) and chose to reduce his hours to p/t in order to spend more time at home, which is fair enough.

There is no disability and childcare is not an issue as they have live-in help and lots of family/friends who regularly help out.

Hummus, I am also at the system which allows it. That's my real issue, not the people that take advantage of it, if the money is there and people are eligible to claim it them fair play to them but it seems somehow unfair that some have the option of not working and are still able to support their families and others don't.

Thank you, cote, usual and muddah.

Sorry if it seemed like ridiculing. Saw it more in manner of Sainsbury's meals with a twist thing: how about livening up your mid-week benefits thread with a splash of cherry vodka? sort of thing.

There is no such things as MN view. Hth.

And you are deliberately being a goady fucker, as you very well know.

No, I not! I'm genuinely interested to know what people think on MN, as the people I know in RL take very different view to most things.

So you don't know any actual figures then OP?
Your post is absolute bollocks.

Care to expand on why? I'm obviously not going to post someone else's financial details all over the internet, nor my own for that matter. My reluctance to do this is not indicative of me making it up.

Oh, the devil made mumsnet for idle hands to do.

If you want to while awY the hours between now and teatime death, you can do an advanced search for an answer to your question.

You've missed the high tide for this topic.

So they get more on benefits and one pt job than they used to from two ft jobs. And they pay for live in help. On benefits and I pt salary.

OK. Yep. I believe that . They aren't immigrants, by any chance are they, OP?

Steady on thecat, calling Justine the devil is almost as bad as letting your goat watch Sky on the plasma telly

@ Steadyon

WILL you stop hothousing that rabbit!!!!!!!

She enjoys it, Bertrand. Honestly, I have to beg her to stop. I wish she just enjoyed Mincrsft and YouTubers like ordinary rabbits.

My view is that you need to quite clearly ring his workplace and tell them to stop sending you his payslips, at the same time, call the Tax Credits folks and tell them the same. Obviously you are in receipt of these, since you know so much about these people's finances.

Tbh OP from what you have posted I would suspect they get income other than benefits. They have live in help etc...you cannot do that on benefits and no way is he bringing in enough to cover a previously good salary. There is another income somewhere.

Tax credits are not THAT generous and if he is working part time then he won't be getting income support or anything else. Possibly housing benefit if they rent and the rent is expensive. Even then he is likely to be called in to be assessed. My exH is self employed and when he wanted to claim HB towards his rent they had him in for an interview and he was clearly told he would have to look for other work if his SE income was not covering the rent. That was in the last six months so if your friend's husband has not been called in the. Chances are they are covering g rent etc out of their income and tax credits alone won't be enough. They must have another income.

Skipping over all that YANBU to expect someone to work if they can but if they have an independent income then who knows.

It was actually 1 f/t job and 1 p/t job previously Bertrand. And no, not immigrants, but I am if that makes any difference

The live in help is a relative, so not paid. They do get housing benefit (spoke about it online) but they don't pay all of the rent (due to the other adult living in the house).

Yes Bunny, I should definitely do that, because that's obviously what has happened. Not that people generally talk about finances or anything.