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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

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

877 replies

GutenTag · 30/07/2016 07:24

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?

OP posts:
LynetteScavo · 30/07/2016 07:52

If you'd unexpectedly found out you were pregnant I could understand your feelings, but ttc knowing this and feeling disappointed - yabu.

I would have loved 4 DC - couldn't afford it. Such is life.

TheDailyMailareabunchofcunts · 30/07/2016 07:52

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Creampastry · 30/07/2016 07:53

Tough shit!

PridePrejudiceZombies · 30/07/2016 07:53

We would all love to afford the luxury of being a SAHP but you can't grumble about expecting the government to compensate more when you could go out to work to make up the shortfall.

Er, no we wouldn't. Speak for yourself. And don't assume OP getting a job would financially benefit the household, either with just the existing two children or with three. We've not had nearly enough information to ascertain whether that would be the case.

That said, if this is in any way genuine, it's fine to feel however you want, but I'd think very carefully about having a third if you're already in a position where you rely on tax credits and would find it hard to do without them OP. Also, you totally have received other benefits because if you qualify for tax credits, you qualify for child benefit and it's easier to claim. I've no axe to grind by the way, I claim it myself, but let's call it what it is.

IJustAteTheKidsFoodAgain · 30/07/2016 07:53

What I meant to say is you are lucky to have two children, I get how horrid it is to really want another and not be able to have one but if you can't afford it, don't do it, there was no point to my previous post Blush

ForTheLoveOfMod · 30/07/2016 07:54

I would love a second child even but we cant afford to (comfortably, without tax credits) so we're not having one - it's disappointing (well, upsetting too if I'm honest) but it's responsible.

Alfieisnoisy · 30/07/2016 07:56

Your numbers sound dodgy and I suspect this is a thread made up for benefits bashing. £1000 for two children but a jump to £4000 for three? Sounds like you have your figures wrong.

If you can't afford a third child don't have one.

If you want a third child go ahead but accept that your current income has to cover the costs.

SillySongsWithLarry · 30/07/2016 08:02

I was wondering how OP got £1000 for 2 children. I have 2 children, one of them has the sever disability premium on tax credits and it is nowhere near £1k per month. There is no way a third child would bring in tax credits of £4K. Unless it's £4K per year and not per month.

TheRealKimmySchmidt63 · 30/07/2016 08:02

This has got to be a windup

FlyingElbows · 30/07/2016 08:03

I'd live to know how your "godsend" jsa stopped you from being homeless. It's a pittance which sure as hell wouldn't pay a mortgage or if it did would leave you with absolutely nothing. Op do your research before you start posts like this. People who claim jsa and have mortgages are entitled to zero help to pay their mortgage until several weeks after claiming when they can get help to pay the interest. There's no housing benefit and free living for people with mortgages who need to claim jsa.

HateSummer · 30/07/2016 08:04

I have 3 children that I had without thinking about tax credits/money issues etc. They're getting older now and things are getting expensive. School uniforms, shoes, food, days out.

I've started working this summer after 7 years and am paying £600 a week for childcare. Yes. A WEEK. I can only pay for this childcare because I had money saved up from when I used to work with 1 child. You should really think this through and save up before having a third. I mean you need a really big chunk in your bank for rainy days if you're having a third.

pudcat · 30/07/2016 08:05

Don't have more children if you can't afford them. Why should I pay for your children?

PridePrejudiceZombies · 30/07/2016 08:06

I presumed she meant 4k per year. Which could fit, tbh. Not saying this isn't a journalist, but 4k for 3 kids might be right. If they get about £100 a month with two kids now, her DH is on about 30k. With a household income of 30k and 3 kids, you get 4k a year. Check the tables.

www.gov.uk/government/publications/tax-credits-entitlement-table-working-at-least-16-hours-and-no-childcare/tax-credits-entitlement-table-working-at-least-16-hours-and-no-childcare

TheresaMarie55 · 30/07/2016 08:08

Yabu, don't really know what you expect people to say. I totally agree with the new rules. If you want more than two children you have to be able.to afford it. Do you not realise the financial strain on the government if everyone decided to have a third child and got an extra 3k. I am pregnant with our third and before we planned the baby we.made sure we, not the government, could afford this baby.

WorldsBiggestGrotbag · 30/07/2016 08:08

Yeah YABU. I'm currently a SAHM to 2 children. We don't get any tax credits or child allowance as DH earns well over the threshold. We still can't afford a third unless I go back to work (which I will soon).

ABloodyDifficultWoman · 30/07/2016 08:10

It's started early today Confused

buttertoffee · 30/07/2016 08:10

yabvu

If you cannot afford it then go back to work for a couple of years. you will then get maternity pay/allowance. or don't have another.

or don't have a third. you are not working but expecting the tax payer to part a third child. if £250 is that much to you, why don't you work in any case?

neonrainbow · 30/07/2016 08:11

I must be so naive. Im astounded the government would pay a family on £30k with a sahp £4k in a year. Get a job. Being a sahp is a luxury.

honkinghaddock · 30/07/2016 08:15

The 1k to 4k is about right if you are going from 2 children to 3 children and earning in the high 20k's.

SaggyNaggy · 30/07/2016 08:18

Want some Cake with that whine op?

user31101993 · 30/07/2016 08:19

Biscuit ... Don't have another baby if you can't afford it. Also remember tax credits are based on your previous years which if you OH was on JSA would have been a lot less. Now he is working your TC might dropped?

ExitPursuedByABear · 30/07/2016 08:20

What are tax credits?

DownstairsMixUp · 30/07/2016 08:22

Yabu. My dh has a business which is slow at the moment (fairly new) and I'm going back to uni. We can't afford a 3rd so we won't have one. Hmm why do you think the government should pay for you?

GeorgeTheThird · 30/07/2016 08:22

Op? Op?

Afreshstartplease · 30/07/2016 08:25

I do wonder how much the birth rate of third+ children will drop from April

I don't think we could afford another child without tax credits support for childcare