To be quite shocked at how much benefits bil receives!

[Santandery]

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.

I hate all this get a better paid job nonsense. It actually is nowhere near as easy as people think. I look most weeks through our local paper at the jobs advertised and guess what at least 90% of them are less than £25k a year, 80% are less than £21k a year. Yet I live in a large, city where rent / house properties are expensive. It is not possible for that many people to have these very well paid jobs.

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.

Yet I have already been told upthread I should. Or shouldn't have had children. But then again I probably don't work hard or have any work ethic so what do I know.

I hate all this get a better paid job nonsense .... OP said her BIL had chosen not to take a better paid job, that’s why people are mentioning it

Totally rational decision on his part.

Why on earth would anyone work any extra when earning between extra between £16k and 40k in this situation is beyond me. He will be taxed at a marginal rate of ~73% because of the taper. It makes no sense unless you're earning ~80k to bother with making more effort.

There are so many distortions in the tax system it's inevitable that people will make these decisions.

@Battleax
Yes instructed by a judge, what should I have done, ignored his instruction?
My work ethic wasn’t hibernating, ex h and I made a life choice for me to look after the home and the children whilst working part time.
Who said anything about being middle class?
Judgey and rude.

There are many people getting a lot of money on benefits

Others far far too little and having O wait for weeks is disgraceful

It needed changing but unfortunately it’s not helping or often isn’t helping those at the bottom

I complete with people I work with (in mh) pip forms and I am astounded how much some receive on top of other benefits, ESA etc

@Babyroobs Absolute rubbish! Those paying rent do NOT get the same as those not paying it!! If no rent to pay then you don't get Housing Benefit or the UC equivalent.

Please stop making things up

Heyduggeesflipflop Sun 06-May-18 11:15:33

...." 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"

www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2059238/Army-veteran-Mark-Mullins-wife-Helen-driven-suicide-poverty.html

"Don't be silly, we have low wages because Tax credits were introduced"

BOLLOCKS the low paid jobs came first. I remember applying for jobs in the late 90s and there were jobs in the JC paying 1.50 an hour and and £50 a week and NO these wernt for teenagers or apprentice positions.

The abolition of the wages councils in 1993 didnt help.,

people will find it a shock once the kids are finished in fulltime education but not always

one of mine is of to uni and ive done some calculations and i will be better of as i spend far more than what i get on CB/Tax credits and am mortgage free

thats where i think some will get a big shock if they are renting and get HB which will give an allowance to each person

also some might not spend the full amount of TC on that child so that will also make a differrence

Judgey and rude.

Not at all. I couldn’t care less what you do, but you really should try not to be such a hypocrite about it.

I don't think OP is quite shocked. I think she is quite jealous.

Totally agree with the poster who remarked upon how well the divide and conquer ploy is working.