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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To be quite shocked at how much benefits bil receives!

212 replies

Santandery · 06/05/2018 10:46

Before I begin, this isn't a benefits bashing post. I have been on benefits during hard times and am extremely grateful that we have this in this country. I am just very surprised at how the system is very messed up. It seems fair and unfair too if that makes sense.

It's after discussing this with family that I came to realise. I am quite shocked at the amount that BIL is getting. He has 4 kids, earns around 21k and receives around £13k in benefits. £10k from tax credits and around £3k child benefit. So his total income is £34k! He has no mortgage as he bought a house through buy to let. I know all this because he told us. He also refuses to get a higher paid job as he says he'll receive less tax credits so the extra commute responsibility isn't worth it to him. The increase in income woukd be quite small anyway.

I just think that's a bit too much to be honest. I mean there will be ppl in smaller homes with mortgages with similar size family who earn more in wages but because of tax take home less money.

I think this is really unfair.

OP posts:
FASH84 · 06/05/2018 10:50

Is he a single parent and do any of the kids have disabilities? This doesn't seem accurate. Is it his comfortable reason for not pushing himself at work, if others think he should?

Appuskidu · 06/05/2018 10:52

Does the children’s mum work?

overgrownwelshwoman · 06/05/2018 10:53

That doesn't sound right. Is he a lone parent? Everyone gets child benefit (if the earn under £50000) so I don't you can count that.
I earn the same as him. I don't get any benefits, as my DH earns a decent income, but I could see that if I was a single parent, I'd find it difficult to manage on my take home pay alone.

WazFlimFlam · 06/05/2018 10:55

What do you mean he has no mortgage as he 'bought through buy to let'?

Santandery · 06/05/2018 10:56

No he is not a single parent, his wife is a sahm.

OP posts:
The80sweregreat · 06/05/2018 10:56

He must have jumped through a lot of hoops to get so much especially as he doesnt have a mortgage or anything. does he have a partner or a single dad? I dont know anything about benefits or the new UC being rolled out, but from what i have read on here its not easy to claim for and is usually a lot less than this and i thought it was only paid for the first two children as well?

AveEldon · 06/05/2018 10:57

Sounds about right to me

Tax credits are about income
They don't take into account housing costs

SleepFreeZone · 06/05/2018 10:57

Lucky him!

Ivegotfamilyandidrinkcupsoftea · 06/05/2018 10:58

Tbh it sounds about right to me

NotUmbongoUnchained · 06/05/2018 11:00

If he’s u der the threshold then they’ll be able to claim the full amount. 10K a year is around 200 a week, for 4 kids? Seems about right. Can’t really count CB as most people get that.

Santandery · 06/05/2018 11:00

WazFlimFlam as in he has been fortunate enough not to have a ridiculously large mortgage so he doesn't have that as an added cost. It's a separate issue from benefits but it all adds to the cost of living Vs income.

OP posts:
bookmum08 · 06/05/2018 11:02

I am confused by the 'no mortgage' thing too. Buy to let means you are buying a property to rent out and the tennants are essentially paying the mortgage (for the owner) on that property with their rent. So where does the bro in law live?

Santandery · 06/05/2018 11:03

The80sweregreat He has his kids before the 2 child rule came into affect.

None of the kids have disabilities etc.

OP posts:
Fatted · 06/05/2018 11:03

I don't think you can argue about child benefit, seeing as he has 4 kids. It sounds about right for tax credits as well. I just think he's fortunate not to have a lot of outgoings.

Appuskidu · 06/05/2018 11:03

How has he bought through buy to let without a mortgage? I don’t understand that.

PretABoire · 06/05/2018 11:04

I imagine op means right to buy

Santandery · 06/05/2018 11:04

Sorry! I didn't mean buy to let! I meant right to buy! It's a council property.

OP posts:
Pepperypig · 06/05/2018 11:05

The thing is once the kids are a bit older he will not get the same benefits and he might well then regret not getting a higher paid job.

RedForFilth · 06/05/2018 11:05

Don't worry OP one day there won't be any benefits even for those in dire need!

blackteasplease · 06/05/2018 11:05

Im assuming the buy to let paid off his mortgage first and then he moved in afterwards? Is that right?

blackteasplease · 06/05/2018 11:06

Oh i see, x post.

0hCrepe · 06/05/2018 11:06

Maybe you mean right to buy?

Fatted · 06/05/2018 11:07

I do kind of see your point. DH and I both work and have a bigger take home salary. But the fact we probably have less each month is purely down to our outgoings and what we choose to spend the money on. You also don't know what his outgoings are. Just because he doesn't have a mortgage, doesn't mean he's not spending a fortune on a house!

Heyduggeesflipflop · 06/05/2018 11:07

Hold on a minute!

Do you mean to tell me that we aren’t living through the evil Tory fourth reich?

I thought poor people were chased through the streets of our nation by lackeys of the government wielding flaming pitchforks and clutching copies of the daily mail.

I must write to Jeremy and let him know so he can call off the corbynistas!

blackteasplease · 06/05/2018 11:07

Are you saying, OP, that this seems unfair when some single parents perhaps who can't work as kids have SEN or are little get so little? That would seem a reasonable observation.

I couldn't really bring myself to care what he is getting in isolation though.