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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To be gutted we're not entitled to any financial help?

481 replies

DeanaPiana · 21/04/2017 13:48

Myself and DH have a combined income of £46000.

I have done numerous calculators and apparently, I am not entitled to Child Tax Credits or Working Tax Credits when baby gets here.

A few sources have even said I shouldn't go for Child Benefit as it wouldn't be worth it in tax returns Shock

We didn't budget for a baby thinking we would get extra help to finance them etc, but I thought we were entitled to at least a little something and I have to say, I feel gutted. We live in a high cost area, London, and rent here too. We want to move out into a more rural/outer area in the next 2 years max but that just doesn't seem possible now. No way we can afford to save that much. We don't even have a lot of outgoings. Our rent is over 1K a month and that is considerablly cheap here.

Just doesn't seem fair at all Sad

OP posts:
Original poster
DeanaPiana · 21/04/2017 14:08

I think people are reading the OP wrong

We didn't budget for a baby thinking we would get extra help to finance them etc,

Means

We didn't put together a budget for the baby that was based on us getting extra help to finance them etc,

Exactly this. I am wondering how much the chilcare costs are here in the hospital. It is on-site so perhaps more than average. I am entitled to salary sacrafise vouchers, yes.

OP posts:
sobeyondthehills · 21/04/2017 14:08

OP

I don't normally reply to threads like these, because you can't compare incomes, its unfair to.

However I have just had my ESA appeal denied, probably followed by PIP. Plunging us below the poverty line.

Give your head a wobble

Obsidian77 · 21/04/2017 14:09

You both have jobs and you're "gutted" at not getting more financial help?
In your mind, what income levels would be an appropriate cut-off point and (more importantly) how would you fund this?

stopfuckingshoutingatme · 21/04/2017 14:09

you will get child benefit OP, and there will likely be childcare vouchers or some help with early years

Tomorrowillbeachicken · 21/04/2017 14:09

Perhaps you should have researched these things before getting pregnant?

Original poster
DeanaPiana · 21/04/2017 14:09

Why not aim to be a contributor rather than a taker?

I have paid my taxes since age 16. I have never been a taker, thanks.

OP posts:
ZilphasHatpin · 21/04/2017 14:10

Is this a joke thread? Confused

You have a joint income of £46k and you wanted a little something extra?? What for exactly? What essential living costs can you not cover yourselves on £46k? What did you think tax credits were for? Holidays? Pocket money for your maternity leave so you can be a 'lady wot lunches'? Hmm you seem to have massively misunderstood the purpose of tax credits.

For perspective, I am a lone parent of two children (who aren't babies and cost a shit load more than babies) and in total I have £18k to live on and it's fine. We don't suffer. I'm positive you will find a way to struggle on.

RedandWhiteStripe · 21/04/2017 14:10

2x £23k salaries do not go far at all in London. I think you should be entitled to help.

Ewock · 21/04/2017 14:10

You earn 46k between you and you think that you should be entitled to some help? Seriously? This can not be for real. We earn less than you and manage. We live within our means and have what I feel is a nice life. I honestly can't believe youa re moaning about this when there are so many others who earn so much less and just get on with it!
Only advice I can give is the same as pp, claim child benefit it's the only thing you will be entitled to but it will help a little.

Missdread · 21/04/2017 14:10

OP, you should claim child benefit and get your partner to start accruing childcare vouchers for when you go back to work. Your income is not massive for London and renting here will be taking a huge chunk of your money, despite what some people on here are saying.

katronfon · 21/04/2017 14:11

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

willothewisp17 · 21/04/2017 14:12

Hmm unbelievable...

usernumbernine · 21/04/2017 14:12

This seriously has to be a wind up. No one can seriously think on an income of 46k that they should be getting assistance in the form of tax credits. Surely?

PushingThru · 21/04/2017 14:13

God, you can almost see the bitter spite and divide and rule oozing out of this thread. Tory Britain - what a shithole.

usernumbernine · 21/04/2017 14:15

Forty fucking six thousand pounds a year is a good income. That's average wage ish for both of you and a lot more than I and plenty more like me earn every year.

On what planet, Tory or Labour, would a couple on that kind of income ever be entitled to tax credit help?

AudTheDeepMinded · 21/04/2017 14:15

Right everyone, give your heads a wobble. I think OP has been told what,s what now, stand down everyone and lets have a bit of netnuns fluffiness and love.

Hugs

usernumbernine · 21/04/2017 14:17

Seriously this has really upset me. I was off long term sick and living for me and two kids on an income of £83 and some odd pence a week, plus my tax credits.

And the OP thinks people like me should lose out and have less because on £46,000 joint income, her and her partner wanted a little bit of something to put towards small costs?

My god in heaven you have no bloody clue.

wigglesrock · 21/04/2017 14:19

You're having a baby and you haven't even looked to see how much childcare will cost at your workplace? You're not troubling the great thinkers at the minute are you.

Original poster
DeanaPiana · 21/04/2017 14:21

I understand we aren't on the povery line but as some posters have said, £46K really doesn't stretch that far at all.

A joint income of £46K is loaded if you live Up North. Here? Quite the opposite.

I have friends who have quite a few children and earn less, yet get more in tax credits and seem to be living very well indeed. I didn't make any complaints like I wanted to burn down the next leader who doesn't grant me extra cash. I really was just wondering.

Honestly, it is hardly a post of a vicious nature and I just wanted advice without the snidey comments.

OP posts:
whomovedmychocolate · 21/04/2017 14:21

Don't forget OP you will get a FREE Bounty pack Grin

cathf · 21/04/2017 14:21

Envy is not an attractive emotion.
Why do people think that the fact they have a lower income entitles them to be so rude and bitter?
Honestly, middle-income middle-class ought to become a protected characteristic - I can't think of any other sector of society which has to put up with so much bile, prejudice and nastiness and be expected to just take it.
A joint income of £46,000 is not a fortune anywhere. Yes, people have incomes of less than this, but that doesn't mean the OP's income is the massive amount others seem to think it is.
I don't earn this, but I aspire to, as do most of the people who have had a go at the OP.
Envy.

usernumbernine · 21/04/2017 14:21

It would have been nice, a wee bonus, a wee something extra for the OP. They could have had a wee holiday, or dinner out once a week, or a take away now and again. Wouldn't that have been nice for them to have had, that wee bit of something to put towards small costs.

Meanwhile, in my world, I'm shopping in Lidl, working out the cost of running my car and thinking really it will have to go, needing winter shoes and living in converse and crocs because I can't afford boots, I don't have a winter coat so I layer up and smile and say that's fine I'm fine, if the kids aren't here the heat isn't on in the house and I go to bed with a hot water bottle, but sure. The OP needs a wee bit of something so that's grand. Take it off people like me so she can have her wee meal out or a wee holiday and her bit of something towards her small costs.

whomovedmychocolate · 21/04/2017 14:23

Seriously OP, I'm a single parent, I live in the south and my income is not that high but you know what, you just deal with what you have. Kids ARE expensive. It's a good idea to get to grips with finances now sure, learn about the costs - oh wait till you see what school shoes cost!!!

But you'll cope. And if your circumstances change we are lucky enough to have a welfare cushion - but it's a cushion because you are on the floor, not because your sofa is a bit squashier than it used to be :)

thegoatwhogotthequiche · 21/04/2017 14:23

We had CTC and CB in the past...without them we would not have been able to get by, I think that's point of them though...they don't dish then out for people to be able to pop a few pounds into saving each month.

You could have look and see if you are entitled to housing benefit though? this website (turn2us.org) will give you a pretty accurate calculation.

willothewisp17 · 21/04/2017 14:24

posts like this are a total insult to people who genuinely do struggle. yes, I imagine it would be 'nice' to get a little extra help, but really that should only go to those who need it and not out of the pockets of less fortunate people! where would you draw the line op? would you still like that little extra help at 60K per year???