To think you shouldn't be better off a single parent living with family than being in a working couple? **Title edited by MNHQ**

[CallingAllLovers]

In a nutshell, I'm working 17 hours a week and getting £700 take home salary, plus £82 something Child Benefit. I have one DC.

On top of this, I get about £800 it so in tax credits.

I'm now separated from my husband so living with family.

I'm far better off financially than I was when both myself and H worked and ran a home together.

I have a friend who's really struggling, her DH and her both work full time with one DC. Another friend in a similar situation with two DC.

I was incredibly panicked when leaving H, I often kept staying when things were really tough due to being petrified of how skint I would be.

But it's not the case.

I did wonder why the money I get was so high, then I was told tax credits don't care about your bills/outgoings, just your childcare.

AIBU to think I shouldn't be better off than someone working full time, or a hard working couple working full time?

I realise this thread sounds really goady, but I'm not trying to be.

It just seems like people are penalised for working more/having a partner.

Do you pay for childcare?

epic Yes I do

I still can't believe that you're basically getting too much money. Not just that,but because you feel it's too much,no one else should get it either.

If you're living with family are you paying rent?

Not every single parent will be better off than in a couple because a lot of them will be paying high rent/mortgage costs. Obviously you aren't.

Once you move out of your parent's OP I think you'll find you'll be struggling to make ends meet. And I'm not saying that unkindly

Just RTFT. OP come back when you're living alone paying rent/bills etc, you may feel a lot differently then.

You're not making a fair comparison. You need to compare a single parent living with family with a working couple living with family before you can claim anyone gets more money than someone else. Otherwise it's just goady nonsense.

I still can't believe that you're basically getting too much money. Not just that,but because you feel it's too much,no one else should get it either

I didn't say no one should get it because I feel it's too much

What I'm trying to say is, I know HMRC can't track and find out everyone's outgoings.

But surely living alone vs living with family is a big factor to consider, just like paying out for childcare vs not paying out for childcare?

I personally think those who're single and running their own household should be getting more than me. Not less.

@VioletCharlotte I presumed the figures the op. provided are per week as she said she works 17 hours a week then states her salary.

68 Apologies, they're monthly figures, money wise

Op I'm assuming your family aren't charging you rent, bills etc. Please correct me if I'm wrong. That's not the case for everyone.

I know alot of families who cannot afford to house and feed their grown up children and grandchildren. And it would be unfair of the government to expect them to.

The single parents I know that are living with family pay rent to their parents, pay some of the bills and buy all their own food. Now obviously it would still cost them more to live on their own but they still have living costs.

You could just pay a decent amount of board.

IRL, it’s unusual for adults, and especially parents, not to having living costs. If you find yourself in that position, it’s because another adult is subbing you.

Easiest answer is to simply pay your way (or donate same amount to a suitable charity, if your benefactors won’t accept payment).

To be fair that's only about the same as a couple both working for minimum wage, so I imagine if you were living in a house paying mortgage or rent and bills you wouldn't be as well off as you think and that's probably where the difference lies!

How do you managed to get £800 as a contribution to your childcare? How much is your childcare bill?!
I’m a single mum of one DS, my childcare bill is £300 p/m and receive £204 p/m wtc and ctc combined. I don’t understand why you receive such a substantial figure.

Pop I do technically have living costs, as I pay for my own food shopping for myself and DS. I also run a lot of errands for who I live with whilst DS and I are out during the week/shopping/generally out and about

Battle Obviously I'm not going to give the money to charity. I'm comfortable but not swimming in it!

Frog Childcare is £50 per day, and I use it for 2.5 days a week.

I suppose it depends on your actual salary too, as mine and yours could vary.

This has nothing to do with you being a single parent and everything to do with you living off your family. Couples who live off their families are in the exact same situation as you ie getting money with few outgoings. Ditto singles or couples who bought houses back when they were cheap. You don't have the same living costs as most people. That's why you have greater disposable income.

And buying food and going on leisure shopping trips with your baby is not the same as living costs that involve rent. Are you taking the piss?

Youve I agree, so shouldn't HMRC take into account if someone lives with family or lives indecently?

Doesn't seem too difficult a thing to check. It's either one way or the other.

Youve Of course not, I'm just explaining what I contribute to the household that I'm staying with

@CallingAllLovers because you could be living with family and paying money or living with someone else and not paying a thing. Or on your own and paying for everything. Or whatever other combination.

But the entire premise of your thread is incorrect. You've framed it as single vs couples comparison, when really the discrepancy lies in living costs. Round here a two bedroom flat + council tax+bills would set you back £950 a month. So your family are saving you £950 a month. Nothing to do with the government or being single.

@CallingAllLovers so what's your plan for when you do get your own place? Presumably living with family is only a temporary thing? How on earth are you going to manage rent and bills and £500 a month child care??