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.

Why ask a question when the answer is so obvious.
No rent
No mortgage
= more money in pocket
geddit

"Surely we shouldn't get the same amount that someone who has real living costs to pay, does?"

It would cost more to have to check and administer. Tax Credit is set for a time period. So if your family chucked you out next week, it wouldn't be fair if you had to manage on less money until it was time for a new claim.

If you had no family and the Child's Father wasn't contributing, you would struggle. Just count yourself lucky.

I know it is. But it was only £80 a week.

We'd all be loaded if we lived with family for free

I couldn't live on what you do OP, not even close.

Time to move out of mummy and daddy's house!

Penguin

Quite be opposite

Op has a good thing going

Save save save

Not really.. she's an adult..

Also, can't you work full time if your going to stay at your parents? Then you won't need the benefits system to top you up.
If they are able enough to have you and you and your child in their house, they could help with child care so you can work full time.

Surly getting all that money in benefits is designed so you can live independently?
Or are you just planning on staying there indefinitely or till you have a new partner to live with??

Also, can't you work full time if your going to stay at your parents?

No, because I don't live with my parents and they work full time. I'm living with my grandmother

I'm not planning on staying there forever, nor am I planning to find a new partner to 'move out with'

I've got a little in savings for a deposit if need be and I couldn't stay anymore, and I'm planning to go full time when DC is older

Why would I make life harder for myself by going back to work full time now? Bizarre

Why would I make life harder for myself by going back to work full time now? Bizarre

Oh the irony. So why should life be harder for you by receiving less money?

Rebel I never said that. I was intrigued as to why people who had living costs and a house to run wouldn't get more

I never said I should get less

I was only having a discussion, since many people really struggle who are receiving tax credits

I’m so glad there’s a post on this. I totally agree. I’m currently with my partner, we have 3 DC but I would be so much better off if we separated!!!
I also think this is why there are so many benefit cheats. Many couples pretend to be separated so they can survive!

But that's exactly what you are suggesting. The way the system works others won't get more,you would just get less.

If you were paying rent and bills I think you might struggle on that income.

I'd be minded to try and save a sum equivalent to rent, utilities and council tax on a 2-bed property, so that when you move out you don't have to suddenly drop your living standards. Where I live, rent and council tax would account for over a grand a month (and I don't even live in London).

I totally agree. I’m currently with my partner, we have 3 DC but I would be so much better off if we separated!!!

Not if you were paying double the rent & bills!

That's why benefit rates for couples aren't simply double the single person rate.

@callingalllovers can’t believe how unfair people are being towards you. Don’t be angry at her be angry at the government.

My best friend is a single mother in benefits and she has more disposable cash a month than I do and both my partner and I work full time.

When you become single and have a child many doors open for you. If I left my partner I’d be entitled to-
Housing benefit
Free council tax
Reduction on my my gas & electric bills
Child tax credit
Free childcare

It’s not so much the money you are given, a lot is to do with the amount you will no longer have to pay. I’d save about £1500 a month if I left my partner. That’s not including the benefits I would receive as a cash transfer to my bank.

@lakielady look at my last post. My childcare alone could cover my rent and bills. If I left my partner I wouldn’t have the childcare costs any more. P.s. I would have to quit my job to be entitled to all these benefits.

I was intrigued as to why people who had living costs and a house to run wouldn't get more

That’s not what your OP was about. Your OP was purely framed as “couple v single”. But if you’d brought your DP with you to live with gran, you’d both be better off than people who live is independent adults.

You’re waffling now.

When you become single and have a child many doors open for you. If I left my partner I’d be entitled to-
Housing benefit
Free council tax
Reduction on my my gas & electric bills
Child tax credit
Free childcare

They’re not “doors opening to you” () ; They’re safety shutes deploying to catch your children because, presumably, you are on a low income.

(Who is giving discounted gas and electricity to SPs by the way? Never heard that one. Is it to all low income households?)

@battleax if they aren’t doors opening then I shouldn’t be entitled to more £ and be better off than when I am employed and in a relationship.
Yes if you are on a low income your supplier ‘tops up’ your ££. This is during the winter months.

My childcare alone could cover my rent and bills. If I left my partner I wouldn’t have the childcare costs any more. P.s. I would have to quit my job to be entitled to all these benefits.

Right. So what you’re really saying is “If I left my partner and quit my job, I’d be poor and would therefore qualify for benefits”.

What’s wrong with you that that sounds like “doors opening” to you? Door to the poverty trap maybe.

I think you’re goading squeeze. Either that or you’re hopelessly misinformed.

Because a means tested criteria for outgoings would be a bloody nightmare to implement they fuck up enough as it is
Here's a few scenarios.

1. Mum of 2 kids escaping abuse moves into parents 2 bed house, mum sleeps on floor and kids are squashed into double bed in spare room. Meant to be temporary, for a month or two maybe? But now she only gets minimal benefits to cover food and a contribution to the household kitty. Say £100- £150 a week? Her kids suffer for how long before she can actually afford to house them properly...? At best she's at the councils mercy, which in some areas is ok (I personally waited weeks, not months, but I know in some places you wait years).

1. Teenage mum lives with her parents for support. Gets minimal money, so has no savings. Has a bust up with parents and is made homeless... again, at the mercy of the council. Which may or may not work out ok, but even if she does manage to secure housing she will have absolutely nothing to furnish it with and will have to wait weeks for benefit claims to be reassessed...

I could also see, under our current system, substantial benefit cuts if they work out that the average single parent has say, £30 a week spare. (What do you need it for, if it's spare, after all?!)

Sound like a good idea?
I don't think so!

Do you pay any of that £800 to your grandmother? Very few single parents live rent free. Or functional adults for that matter. Why not find out the average rent in your area and give that to her? Would that relieve your conscience?

Or I’m a single parent on 15k a year and £750pcm rent. Give some to me if you like?

I’m open mouthed that somebody thinks that benefits are doors opening.

I fully agree. My self and DP both working delight top up of family income support. ( Ireland ).

This does not include a qualified adult but takes both of our wage into account. So we receive 30euro a week, One of our neighbors also 2DC single mother is nearly 1000euro better off than us, They go on holidays twice a year, nice car we have nothing in comparison.

I sent an email to the department of social protection telling ghem they actually cause familys to break up for financial reasons.