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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:
VileyRose · 07/05/2018 08:16

I think my SIL has written this about me Shock we get extra TC because my son is classed as severely disabled. I don't think people can be so nasty, it's not fraud? I wouldn't give it another thought tbh.

Chipszndipz · 07/05/2018 08:24

Really why do you care so much as to post about this on the internet ? There will be a reason he is entitled and you are not . Honestly though maybe concern yourself with your own financial situation , instead of concerning yourself with others ? Seems a bit sad .

SilverDoe · 07/05/2018 08:25

Funny how posts like these come up whenever there is a thread saying how damaging UC is going to be for low income people... Hmm

Biscuit
Ivegotfamilyandidrinkcupsoftea · 07/05/2018 08:27

Viley personally i think if help is offered to you for your dc you should take it and use it to make their lives as easy as possible, its very easy for others to judge what they dont understand. You SIL likely doesnt realise the daily impact of your childs disability

givemesteel · 07/05/2018 08:33

Whoever invented the system where you could still get benefits if you work 16 hours or less a week was an idiot, as of course it means that Alot of people just do 16 hours and refuse extra work even if available.

34k after tax is 50ishk before tax (haven't calculated so a guesstimate) so for a couple to get that when one is only working part time does make a bit of a mockery out of another couple who both might be working ft for 25k each.

Momo27 · 07/05/2018 08:44

True, givemesteel.
And it’s also very shortsighted, because while tax credits and benefits give you more cash in your pocket in the here and now, they do nothing to protect you longer term.

I wonder how some people are going to manage when their kids grow up, which means certain benefits will just stop, and when they reach their older age and suddenly realise they’ve got nothing but a crappy state pension to try to live on. Or indeed when there are changes in govt policy. I know a couple of people who’ve deliberately kept their working hours no higher than 16 or so per week, and yes it is a bit galling when they’re capable of more, and more is available. But really they’re victims of a messed up system, because they’d be far better off working to their potential, getting promotions and opportunities for more interesting work, and ultimately setting themselves up in the longer term rather than basing their finances on govt whim

Okaynowimconfused · 07/05/2018 08:52

OP did he have his four children before April 2017? If so then around 10k tax credits sounds about right.

We are expecting our third child and it appears will get an extra £40 a month. (DP receives a similar income to your BIL). If we had him before April 2017 we would get over £200 extra a month. They changed the system but I beleieve it doesn't affect those who had children before that date.

NeverTwerkNaked · 07/05/2018 18:13

Choosing to stay in a low paid job may feel like he is winning at “playing the system” now but he may regret it when the childddn are grown and the credits drop away and it is too late to climb the career ladder. Plus he will have missed out on bigger pension contributions etc.

Battleax · 07/05/2018 20:32

Whoever invented the system where you could still get benefits if you work 16 hours or less a week was an idiot, as of course it means that Alot of people just do 16 hours and refuse extra work even if available.

I should imagine a lot of that thinking was driven by the sky high cost of childcare.

There’s a ceiling on the £ amount of childcare that Tax Credits will subsidise and it’s nowhere near the cost of a FT place for one child, and proportionally LESS for two or more children.

So it seems the govt didn’t want to support FT childcare subsidy for the low paid. Hence they had to make PT work an allowable basis for claiming top ups.

The cost of housing and childcare being so high, whilst low wages have remained remarkably low, has bent low wage economies completely out of shape.

Hopefully the introduction of the “30 free hours” will ease things a bit.

Battleax · 07/05/2018 20:38

Choosing to stay in a low paid job may feel like he is winning at “playing the system” now

Do you think so?

When I read that it just sounds like a scary, juggling kind of position to be in and all I think is “ thank god we’re not trapped in a low pay nightmare like that”.

Justanotherlurker · 07/05/2018 21:19

Choosing to stay in a low paid job may feel like he is winning at “playing the system” now

Extreme anecdotes are used by everyone to try and win a point, but there is a reason why the benefit cap was introduced and is supported by the main political parties.

SluttyButty · 07/05/2018 21:30

Ooh lovely, a bank holiday benefit bashing thread. I'll just comment here so I can read properly tomorrow whilst my husband is at work and I languish on the sofa taking it all in 🙄

awishes · 07/05/2018 21:46

It’s not about the claimant really, it’s about a system which allows that amount of top up when the claimant (household) could perhaps in fact work for that £10k.
I was told i had to maximise my income by claiming tax credits when my husband left me. Despite having a substantial amount of savings and in a part time job as his salary previously gave our family a good lifestyle, I was awarded nearly £6k per annum. That cannot be sensible when there are people living in poverty.
Needless to say I secured a promotion and full time hours because I was able to (and have a good work ethic).
I realise this isn’t always possible but it shows the flaws in the system.

user1471439240 · 07/05/2018 22:18

Tax credits for three children, one parent working at least 16 to 24 hrs or 32hrs between two parents part time will gross the equivalent of a full time salary of £45k.
This is double the average salary.
Initially the rules around hours were much more lax, this resulted in the benefit cap which forced people to work some hours to negate the cap entirely.

NeverTwerkNaked · 07/05/2018 23:04

just and battleax ... you missed my point totally. The point being that op perceives her bil as getting a good deal when in fact I really don’t think he is, he’s leaving himself vulnerable to policy changes and will have a smaller pension than if he had taken the promotion.

Homemenu1 · 07/05/2018 23:25

Hopefully the introduction of the “30 free hours” will ease things a bit. unfortunalty that low cost per hour for each of the 30 hours has caused many small independent Pre schools to close down and the big chains to put up the prices on younger children not eligible for 30 hours, really hadn’t worked

ivykaty44 · 07/05/2018 23:30

UC will roll out live in October 18 and BIL will be migrated into UC after this date at some point...

Elusiveone · 07/05/2018 23:33

Well to add to this. Unpaid carers save the economy billions each year and all we get is £62 a week. Hardly right is it

Battleax · 07/05/2018 23:45

The point being that op perceives her bil as getting a good deal when in fact I really don’t think he is,

Oh, as in OP thinks he’s “playing the system” rather than her BIL thinks that? Yes, makes sense.

TBH, OP doesn’t seem very financially literate so I’m not sure why we’re all engaging with her madness so earnestly.

ivykaty44 · 07/05/2018 23:46

Unpaid careers save the economy the same as the NHS bill

Battleax · 07/05/2018 23:50

It’s not about the claimant really, it’s about a system which allows that amount of top up when the claimant (household) could perhaps in fact work for that £10k.
I was told i had to maximise my income by claiming tax credits when my husband left me. Despite having a substantial amount of savings and in a part time job as his salary previously gave our family a good lifestyle, I was awarded nearly £6k per annum. That cannot be sensible when there are people living in poverty.
Needless to say I secured a promotion and full time hours because I was able to (and have a good work ethic).
I realise this isn’t always possible but it shows the flaws in the system.

So what you’re saying is you claimed Tax Credits yourself despite substantial savings and only got in touch with your hibernating “good work ethic” when you lost access to your ex partner’s high salary?

But your criticising the system nevertheless because poor people should....what? Suffer? Be more like you (with your moveable ethics)? Be more middle class? What?

This is a strange thread.

Battleax · 07/05/2018 23:51

You’re ^

UnicornRainbowFluffball · 08/05/2018 00:13

I can't get wound up about a family with a full time worker/sahp to young kids claiming benefits.

It's not possible or feasible for everyone to get a higher paid job. Would you expect a nurse on tax credits to get higher paid job? Or a teacher? Doubt it.

higgyyellow · 08/05/2018 00:19

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

I'd rather ppl like them got more money from the benefits system.

But they will get tax credits relevant to their income and 2 DC as well? It won't be the same amount as BIL because BIL has 2 more children in the claim.

You can't compare someone not getting PIP to someone getting tax credits, it's not the same.

umizoomi · 08/05/2018 00:58

Okaynowimconfused does that extra cover your extra costs?
Is your only income your DP's £21k (ish)?