Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Protection built in.

Meet the Other Phone.
Protection built in.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Benefit bashing

341 replies

LovelyBath77 · 29/07/2017 20:50

To think MN can be a bit benefit bashing at times. Even if people are rightfully claiming / ill / poor etc.

Recently, I have seen someone having a hard time although ill and having a baby and considering claiming tax credits. I also have had a hard time although illness (both me and DP) and low wage means claiming some tax credits.

I can understand the rage for those fraudulently claiming benefits or the like but why for those legitimately claiming? or AIBU?

OP posts:
PurpleMinionMummy · 31/07/2017 19:31

If he pays £500 a mth into a pension on 39k he won't be taking home anywhere near £2900 a month. Nearer £1900.

Not sure what mortgage payments have to do with anything.

MissAlabamaWhitman · 31/07/2017 19:41

You are aware Donut that we're all of us, all too aware of the reasons why people you drip feed on threads?

making it up as you go along

DonutCone · 31/07/2017 19:48

Oh no, does someone on the internet not believe me?

Shall I go and cry? The fact is, you can earn up to £4000 and get free money from the state. You can increase that money by deducting, voluntarily, pension contribution from that? How can that be right?

MissAlabamaWhitman · 31/07/2017 19:52

He takes home £2100 if he pays £500 a month in to his wholly imaginary pension.

I don't begrudge him his hypothetical extra £100-200 per month tax credits.

Although I do feel foolish paying this amount of credence to your rabid fabrication Confused

MissAlabamaWhitman · 31/07/2017 20:03

it's about as fair as tax relief on private pension contributions in my opinion.

why I insist on deigning to grace you with my opinion is, at this point beyond me

dottymay · 31/07/2017 20:07

I have no idea what this thread is about any more. .... now for something completely different!

I'm 36 weeks, I'm not eligible for SMP my other half earns 32,000 a year but asking him for picket money is a little soul destroying.

Any tips on something that could keep me going September (due date) till January (going back to work) so my debit card dosent laugh at me when I get it out of my purse.

I know it may seem daft when my other half earns so much but I've worked and paid tax for 11 years surly asking for a 4 month hand out is acceptable?

HelenaDove · 31/07/2017 20:09

Pocket money? Its family money You are having a child together. Why are you having to ask him for money?

CherryChasingDotMuncher · 31/07/2017 20:13

dotty that's ridiculous that you even have to ask, you're having his child! Of course he should be giving you money!

Child benefit is around £82 per month, when you have the baby they give you an application form. And google 'tax credit calculator' to see if you're entitled to anything there.

MissAlabamaWhitman · 31/07/2017 20:13

Maternity Allowance?

It's the same rate as the weekly SMP rate and you are usually entitled to it if you have worked for 26 weeks out of the last 66.

You apply through the job centre so far as I'm aware.
I'd link to the eligibility criteria but my phone is old and shit.

But really, take the help off of your partner.
You are bearing and birthing his child, it's not taking handouts for him to support you and your baby.

Your mat leave is awfully short, and I say this as somebody who took only thirteen weeks with my third child.
Can he not support you to take six months or so?

PurpleMinionMummy · 31/07/2017 20:16

Have you looked at maternity allowance Dotty?

dottymay · 31/07/2017 20:35

That came out slightly wrong, he would never say no to giving me money and os quite happy for me to take time off January is my idea as my mum has offered free child care for 1 day a week so I can talk to some adults.

My maternity leave is so short coz I'm a supply teacher for an agency and I'm due 5th of September, it didn't make sense to stop before the end of term even tho I've only been booked 13 days since January.

It's more my pride that's stopping me asking feel like I'm not pulling my weight, he's paid for everything and I've just done some hovering lol would make me better if I had a little something of "my own" coming in as well as his support

Does that make sense?

dottymay · 31/07/2017 20:41

P.s. thanks for the advice I will look into child benafit and maternity allowence xxx

HelenaDove · 31/07/2017 20:41

dotty im getting the impression from your posts that you feel that you have to feel grateful for what is a basic requirement. Its his child too.

dottymay · 31/07/2017 22:02

I don't think that's the case.

We moved into our first home in January and found out we were pregnant the same month I haven't worked much since and he has taken the financial stress since with very little complaining tbf he's been amazing and hes never denied buying anything for the baby and I can ask to use his credit card or money to tide me over.

My insecurities are where this comes from I've always worked and always tried to support myself and it hurts my pride a but to have to ask I guess. Even being pregnant I feel like I'm not pulling my weight.

He would never deny anything and quite often tells me to stop being so cheap and not to worry about scrimping coz he's paying but it's hard to not think that way when I don't have as healthy a bank ballence as he does. Xx

MissAlabamaWhitman · 31/07/2017 22:43

Stop thinking of it as his bank balance.

In fact stop thinking of bank balances, you're very shortly about to have a baby. You're not supposed to be adding to his bank balance, you're giving him a child. That's priceless.

dottymay · 31/07/2017 23:19

There is a very long story to explin why I think like this including several dickish ex boyfriends loss of several jobs and homes and a few years of anxiety and depresion.

It's all in my head I know nd my other half is a dream of a man who does not think the same way.

Thank you for all the support tho and the info xxxx

DJBaggySmalls · 31/07/2017 23:31

HelenaDove Mon 31-Jul-17 19:15:57
Just seen a post from someone on Universal Credit who has been sanctioned because he has to attend Jury Service.

Would that now be a reason to be excluded from jury service? Because if it is, its excluding a whole class on economic grounds.

HelenaDove · 31/07/2017 23:39

Its from a closed fb group hes been told if he doesnt turn up to JC because of jury service he will get a 6 month sanction.

HelenaDove · 31/07/2017 23:44

Baggy that could well be the idea behind it. Fill the jury only with people from higher up the socio economic scale and maybe that will make it more likely that poorer people will be convicted when they come up before the bench.

unlimiteddilutingjuice · 01/08/2017 07:11

Decision makers guidance para 21309, volume 4 Chapter 21.
Availible online here:
www.gov.uk/government/publications/decision-makers-guide-vols-4-5-6-and-7-jobseekers-allowance-and-income-support-staff-guide

Claimants who have to attend jury service are to treated as availible for work.
Court obligations come first and Trump everything else. It is outrageous that someone was threatened with a sanction for jury duty.
They should write to DWP compliant resolution team, quoting that guidance and attaching a copy of jury duty letter.
I would be tempted to notify my MP and the judge in the case.
I have known judges write to people's employers treating them with contempt of court for "not allowing" employees time off to be jurors.

Bunnyfuller · 01/08/2017 09:01

I would suspect the claims of being sanctioned is actually an excuse for not wanting to do Jury Service. The majority of the form stuff is like an Internet form and has boxes for that kind of thing

Witsender · 01/08/2017 09:09

39000 per year is approx £2400 per month after tax. You would need to be on circa 49000 to come home with 2900 after tax, well out of the tax credit brackets.

So 2400 minus 500 is 1900. Add this imagined 250 they are on 2150. Check your sums before making up stuff talking about your friends.

HelenaDove · 01/08/2017 13:40

Bunny i really dont think hes lying. Hes in the fb group doing his nut. The form uploaded to his account apparently says "due to not being able to look for work"

I dont feel its fair that i should copy and paste here as its in a closed fb group.

But he is doing his absolute pieces on there.

unlimiteddilutingjuice · 01/08/2017 14:30

I assume he's already put in a mandatory reconsideration...
Can you give him the link to the guidance so he can include this in his argument?
I think this is definitely MP territory.
The decision is completely wrong in a very clear cut way and he should be able to get it overturned very quickly if someone can put some pressure on them.

unlimiteddilutingjuice · 01/08/2017 14:34

HelenaDove
PM me if he wants some help to draft something. Very happy to put together a draft complaint letter/ mandatory reconsideration letter