To be gutted that I won't be getting tax credits for 3rd child?

[GutenTag]

I'm just wondering what people's opinion is really.

We are trying for a 3rd child and I won't be getting any tax credits for this child as the government has changed the rules so that from next year tax credits are only paid for up to a maximum of 2 children.

I currently receive around £1k of TC for the kids and I would have received £4k for the 3rd if the government hadn't made the changes.

That would have meant an extra £250 a month. It's a lot of money for us. My DH works and I'm a SAHM. We have a £100k mortgage on a small house in a deprived area of town. We get by. We don't have much money left each month and I need to save literally for everything. I'm really really gutted. I really wanted 3 kids and this has meant that I'll be financially alot worse off now.

Of course I don't expect the government to "pay" for my children but it would have really helped, that's all. It would have eased the pressure off.

Just for the record we have never received any other benefits apart from JSA when DH was made redundant last year which was a godsend as we would have been homeless otherwise.

Do you think AiBU to feel/ think like this?

Certainly for children already born.

Well, that's why there has been some notice given.

But that is it? Notice has been given for existing claimants. However, those currently not claiming who have3 or more DC will be screwed if they fall on hard times in the future.

So do I extrapolate from that that you think the current system whereby the money increases with each child should go up? I'm sorry but it's crazy!

If you work in an office and get pregnant with a child you can't afford no one attacks the company for this yet if your source of payment comes from the government and the same situation happens then it's fair game to make noises about starving children forced into workhouses!

However, those currently not claiming who have3 or more DC will be screwed if they fall on hard times in the future.

But why is it then for the government to provide for this ?

Yanbu OP to be upset that you won't get TC for 3rd yet people have for the past years. The same as people having to pay 50k for university now and it used to be free.

Cost of living has gone up hugely and wages have stagnated. For me I don't have a problem with SAHM claiming tax credits or lone parents working minimum hours. But I was a sahm for a long time and maybe if I had been forced to work would have felt differently.

The government knew about the second earner penalty but decided it was worth it to have at least 1 person in work in a couple amd lone parents in work. For couples with more than 2 children it is often not worth second person working.

We manage on a low middle income but it does annoy me when people on min wage think we are loaded. We would actually be better off on min wage plus TCs. The people on less than us with same no of children are topped up to the same once we have paid tax. But as I said earlier as I get to do my preference (SAHM for 16 yrs plus now p/t) I am not resentful. Better they get equal money to us than they get less.

We should look at inequality levels and the money creamed off at the top. Yet we all fight over a few crumbs at the bottom. Who is to say the much normalised 40 hour week is right anyway? Why not 16? 30? Redistribution of wealth through TCs does have many good points.

Well I would have hoped that if we live in a decent society we take care of children whose parents fall on hard times. Clearly that is not the case.

We do. Housing benefit, child benefit, free school meals and tax credits for the first two children.

^ yes what willow said. Do you think it should be unlimited?

What about the 3rd child already born?

If you are well enough to fuck surely you are well enough to work. Once again, stating the obvious.

If 4K is make or break I'm guessing you should just think twice about quality of life for the two children you do have.

I mean let's face it .. Why should tax payers pay for your third child just because you can't afford it?

Yabu to expect people who do work to fund you not working... If you want number three so badly get a job .. 250 a month shouldn't be hard to achieve

It just seems like there is inequality in the system. Those ready claiming with say4 DC will continue to receive payments based in 4 DC. Yet those with4 DC who are currently self supporting will only be able to claim for 2 DC in the future. That is wrong imo.

So highland you suggest no reform then?

The bare facts are, we know not every pregnancy is planned.

If you know an unplanned pregnancy will have a hugely detrimental impact on your family, to the extent that your existing children will be left 'in poverty' then if the contraception being used fails there are some difficult choices but these choices shouldn't only be the forte of those working and not reliant on benefits.

Otherwise we are effectively saying that a certain class of people can't be expected to organise contraception or budget and can never be asked to think about terminating a pregnancy - but if you work, you can. Hardly fair!

Highland, same with pension age, uni fees etc

Yes I do think that's wrong, re old and new claimants.

What would have been better would be to have two levels of JSA, one for single adults and one for adults with children. A set amount regardless of the number of children. People are likely to look for and take any sort of work if benefit payments are at a bare minimum.

Ditching income support and tax credits would free up millions with the added bonus of getting people to actually work.

You do realise that the idea is that you look after yourself & the family you chose to have? Benefits are for people that have fallen on hard times.

Yes I have a sibling screwed on all counts. She worked hard for many years supporting herself. Than she fell on hard time due to redundancy. She currently receives JSa and will continue to do so until she is 66 due to govt screwing women born in the fifties. Unless she is lucky enough to find work

Angelo's to me that is where the problem lies. A family with 3 or more DC at the moment self supporting will receive the same support as those with 2 DC. Imo that is wrong.

You do realise employers used to pay enough for people to live on ? Who wants to train as a teacher for example, work hard and realise you can't afford kids without going cap in hand to the government I mean really ?

Responsible adults who want children only have a number of children that they can support financially.

If you are well enough to fuck surely you are well enough to work

Charming

Not only entirely lacking in charm but patently untrue!

Very untrue.

I have a friend who has severe physical disabilities. She is now single as her problems have got worse. It didn't stop her having a sex life of sorts when younger.

And no she absolutely cannot work at this time unless any employer is prepared to accept her attending hospital appointments frequently and sometimes ad hoc.