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Original poster

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:
The80sweregreat · 06/05/2018 11:08

Oh - was t sure about the new rules for children.
If he had to find rent or mortgage payments it would be a lot harder for him to manage I guess as four children can’t be cheap ( I assume they are school age)

NapQueen · 06/05/2018 11:08

So a couple have 4 kids and have a total if 34k. That doesnt sound so bad?

Original poster
Santandery · 06/05/2018 11:08

In contrast I have a friend who has 2 kids and she was receiving DLA and has to from through the pip application process and has been turned down. her husband is on a low wage , not sure exactly how much but this has meant they are looking to downsize their already small house as they can't afford the rent and living costs. I'd rather ppl like them got more money from the benefits system.

OP posts:
gamerwidow · 06/05/2018 11:09

It's within the rules. Tax credits are based on income only it doesn't matter what his outgoings are. He is very fortunate to have no housing costs. I can't imagine even with no housing costs £34k goes far with 4 kids to provide for.
He'll get a rude awakening when his kids grow up and he loses the money and finds out it's too late to develop his career. His choice though some people think the investment in the future is worth it and some don't.

ChorleyFMcominginyourears · 06/05/2018 11:09

It sounds right to me, if he's not getting anything that he's not entitled to then he's doing nothing wrong. I have 3 children and get tax credits with a disability element as one of my children is disabled that equals more than he gets for 4 so it looks like he's just lucky with low outgoings etc. Most people are entitled to tax credits and child benefits depending on their earnings.

GETTINGLIKEMYMOTHER · 06/05/2018 11:09

No mortgage as he bought through buy to let??

You still have to pay for BTL properties!

Do you mean that he bought it very cheaply ages ago and paid the mortgage off by renting it out?

Atthebottomofthesea · 06/05/2018 11:10

Sounds about right. He is simply claiming what the current system allows. And it is the 'fault' of the system that means he potentially could be worse off despite earning more.

Baubletrouble43 · 06/05/2018 11:10

Thats odd because I'm sure if you earn over around 20k you dont receive tax credits. Or at least we weren't entitled. Maybe help with childcare but no working tax credits.

ThreeJoeys · 06/05/2018 11:11

poster Heyduggeesflipflop

Grin
Babyroobs · 06/05/2018 11:11

Yes people who have no housing costs can do pretty well out of the benefits system because you get exactly the same as someone else paying 1k rent a month assuming all other factors are the same !! Of course the person with high rent may be getting some help through housing benefit too. It really is shocking that for so many years tax credits have only taken account of earned income and not of savings or housing costs , or whether you live in an expensive part of the country or cheap. I know it would be a logistical nightmare to base it on these things. The fact that you can have 100k in the bank and still claim tax credits because it is only based on earned income is shocking in itself. You only would have to declare interest over a certain amount.

Babyroobs · 06/05/2018 11:12

Bauble trouble - The threshold for 4 kids is around 45k so anyone earning less then that could claim. It is even higher if paying childcare costs.

Baubletrouble43 · 06/05/2018 11:13

I see. Our application was with one child.

Homemenu1 · 06/05/2018 11:14

I think either he is winding you up, or you are winding us up. Either way there’s no way he gets that’s much. Use the online calculator to see the results.

Heyduggeesflipflop · 06/05/2018 11:15

.... just got off the phone to Jeremy. He says this thread is bollocks and that all poor folk have to walk at least 25 miles per day to walk to their nearest food bank. Then they have to purify water from the streams nearest to their dilapidated government owned homes (for the very few who don’t have to live in burrows of course)

He knows this because Mary from Croydon wrote to him and told him so

Justposting · 06/05/2018 11:16

I am currently out of work with 3 children, I only receive child benefit and child tax of a total £150 a week for all the kids, I have no other income as am a single parent and I live on this £150 a week to do my groceries pay bills and pay for the kids nappies clothings etc, I am often left with less than a fiver at the end of the week, as my weekly shop cost me around £60 then count towards bills and children essentials I have been rejected benefits not sure why? And am not sure how to go about it. This is my whole income with 3 kids.

Mummyoflittledragon · 06/05/2018 11:16

Does he declare the b2l income? That should be factored in. If he does, I’m surprised at how much he receives. If it is because he has a big mortgage on it, mortgage tax relief is changing. So his tax credits will go down.

Original poster
Santandery · 06/05/2018 11:17

Of course he isn't doing anything wrong. It's the stupid system that seems very unfair. He is very very lucky and I can understand why he would not want to get a higher paid job either! His commute is only a 20 minute walk!

OP posts:
neddle · 06/05/2018 11:20

We have five kids and an income of £23k. We get £230 a week, so that’s £12k a year.
His figures sound right.
Now my youngest is 3, I’m working from home with a new business and hope to turn a profit this year. Then our benefits will go down as my earnings increase.

NotUmbongoUnchained · 06/05/2018 11:24

just why don’t you get income support?

Shrodingerslion · 06/05/2018 11:24

think either he is winding you up, or you are winding us up. Either way there’s no way he gets that’s much. Use the online calculator to see the results.

To be quite shocked at how much benefits bil receives!
Heyduggeesflipflop · 06/05/2018 11:27

On a serious note, I don’t underestimate the personal bureaucracy involved in simply understanding these entitlements, let alone then applying for them.

Our whole tax and welfare system needs fundamental reform

Missingstreetlife · 06/05/2018 11:28

Don't think he's living the high life tho.
I have a friend on disability who has more disposable income than my pension. Sometimes tempted to judge how they spend it, actually they are entitled to every penny, and if they choose to spend mobility on posh phone and tv over taxis, that's for them to decide

Godowneasy · 06/05/2018 11:29

The Op has already said that her BIl bought through 'right to buy' and not 'btl' so it would be good if people could stop commenting about btl.

Unless he lives in a very cheap area, he is likely to have some sort of mortgage still, so £34K a year including child benefit is very little to support a family of five long term.

Don't forget that there will be tax and other deductions on the £21K salary

MumofBoysx2 · 06/05/2018 11:30

I suppose it's not so much about what benefits he receives (ie probably on a par with other people) but what his outgoings are. He is the one who has paid for the house, unlike the others you are comparing him to. So he has helped himself to a huge degree. Good on him.

Viviennemary · 06/05/2018 11:30

Benefits should be taxed IMHO. Some benefits are but not all. It's wrong that people say on 14k a year are taxed and yet people get huge amounts in untaxed benefits.