IMPORTANT. To ask if MNers are aware of this re Universal credit&SAHP’s?

[UnsolicitedCockPics]

So up til now on tax credits one parent can stay home while the other parent works.
And for almost 20 years it’s been seen as completely acceptable

An example is a family with 3 dc
The FT working parent earns approx £26,000. The SAHP receives approx £100 a week in tax credits

Not only on Universal credit will that amount be much less (approx 30% iirc) but the previously SAHP will be made to attend the job centre and job search as a condition to receive Universal credit

The aim is so NOBODY is on “benefits”

There seems to be an assumption from the general public that this will only affect people not in work. THAT IS NOT THE CASE

[AlpineButterfly]

I really don't see why it's a requirement for anyone to be a sahm unless they choose to. DH works 6am-4pm. I start work at 4.30pm-9pm. Then at weekends he's at uni we also have student maintenance loan and tuition fee loan which helps we're working to better our lives and although we have some tax credits now, it won't be forever. It's very scary - the thought of moving over to UC in may.

So we have no childcare costs, both work and are bloody shattered both boys are under two. I tell myself that things will get better in five years when DH qualifies

[Eliza9917]

UnsolicitedCockPics Thu 11-Oct-18 09:33:56
Yes I believe it is children over 4 SAHPs will be expected to job seek

It’s bollocks IMO and unfair, after all it’s been allowed for the last 20 years

Why is it unfair that people whose kids are in school should stay at home and rake in money when they could go to work?

Why should the taxpayer pay for them to stay at home when they don't need to be?

[londonstories]

I think sahp is a great choice and if families can afford it, why not? I don't think the state should subsidise parents of school age children to do this though. We would obviously all love to be at home with our kids but we have to cut our cloth accordingly. We couldn't afford for one of us to not work.

[londonstories]

I don't think both of us working has a detrimental effect on my son and my parents both worked and I am fine.

[HelenaDove]

This disability canpaign group summed it up for me.


Black Triangle
‏ @blacktriangle1
17h17 hours ago

"Sign and share finally middle England has woken to fact they will be affected and are scroungers too"

[UnsolicitedCockPics]

I didn't post for a debate about the rights and wrongs of sahms claiming tax credits, although this being mumsnet i am not surprised it has. Nor do I think that this is particularly awful considering the many other problems with UC like people dying of starvation for example. My point is that I just think that it has not been explained to people currently receiving tax credits in their original form, that there is a massive change to this policy.

my original point is more that this is going to come as a big, sudden shock to many families, especially the loss of money that they may rely on

Also the poster that proudly states she went back to work 2 weeks after her baby was born. well that is hardly what we should be aiming for fgs how ridiculous

[UnsolicitedCockPics]

@helena

Is that meant to be a link? looks really interesting, that is kind of what i am saying, that people who really would not consider themselves scroungers, now are (in the eyes of the present government, and most of mn it seems)

[bigKiteFlying]

My point is that I just think that it has not been explained to people currently receiving tax credits in their original form, that there is a massive change to this policy.

I was vaugly aware of it coming - as I remember a conversations with family about it - but I do agree most people have no idea.

[Rufusthebewilderedreindeer]

My point is that I just think that it has not been explained to people currently receiving tax credits in their original form, that there is a massive change to this policy.

Yep

[Starlings27]

Those of you bitching about SAHMs, do claim child benefit (if you're eligible) don't you? Or do you refuse any kind of benefits for yourselves out of principle.

We don't claim any benefits at all. So am I allowed to bitch now?

I have a DS at pre-school, and I work part time. When he goes to school, I'll change my hours so I can do pick-up every day, and DP will will do drop-off (to breakfast club). One reason I went back to work after DS was born was deliberately to ensure I would be able to work part-time when he went to school, rather than staying at home and then struggling to get a job when he didn't need me at home any more. I appreciate that I am privileged to have been able to do this, but it was also a choice, taken to ensure I was not reliant no neither my partner nor on benefits. Realistically, how long can the government fund SAHMs whose children have gone to school? Does anyone really think it will be easier for them to get a job once the kids go to university and they've been out of the workforce for 18 years or longer?

[Xenia]

"Also the poster that proudly states she went back to work 2 weeks after her baby was born. well that is hardly what we should be aiming for fgs hmm how ridiculous"

Why not? It worked fine. I expressed milk at work and breastfed in the night. Why are you against it? I am not saying it works for everyone but nor does staying at home work for all men and women either.

[Puggles123]

But if you are receiving them and the information is ‘out there’, why can’t you make sure you try and keep informed?

[PrimalLass]

It's not exactly recommended for babies to be separate from their mothers all day at 2 weeks old.

penalise women who would prefer to stay home with fairly young children

It's not penalising them. It's choosing to not pay for it any more.

[abacucat]

Xenia most women are still bleeding and in pain after two weeks.

[Xenia]

I wasn't in pain and it is a massively easier to sita t a desk than mind a 3 year old 1 year old and new baby which we had at one point with no help at home on hyour own. Work is a doddle compared to that unless you are rich and have servants or family near by to look after you.

Anyway that is a side issue. Most mothers don't choose to take 2 weeks off although plenty take just a few months and go back full time for the sake of the child, the family, the state and for many other reasons.

What is clear from the thread is what most studies by the Tories and Labour found at the last election - large numbers of Tory and Labour supporters very much behind these changes despite what a vocal left wing minority seems to think.

[flopsyrabbit1]

Xenia sounds like you couldnt wait to get away from them

[peardropexplodes]

Can the OP link to the details of the changes please?

[ivoclarangela]

In that scenario I would recommend a) have more than 3 children ASAP so you don’t go on to universal credits or b) become self employed for 16 hours a week so it’s at least flexible and in your hands c) goback to study. All keeps them off your back for a while.
I’ve been sacked twice as a single mum in the past 6 months for “single mum reasons” stuff that would never have happened when I was married ... it’s almost impossible to hold down a proper full time job with a school aged children, it was far easier when they were babies

[DrCoconut]

Certainly where I live there has been a huge shift in attitude over the last 20 years. In the 90's people getting jobs and starting to claim tax credits instead of JSA (or whatever it was then) were seen as getting off benefits. My mum was a SAHM to my little brother as were the mums of many of his classmates and it was seen as normal not scrounging. Typically mums returned to part time work when their kids were in year 7+ and gradually increased their hours so that they were earning enough when their TC ended.

[HellenaHandbasket]

"raking it in" 😂

And those who espouse working around each other, you do realise that that isn't always possible don't you?

[BitchQueen90]

@hurricanefloss as a single parent, I was expected to go back to work when my DS started full time education. The government wouldn't subsidise me to be a SAHP then. So why should they subsidise those SAHPs who have the advantage of being in a couple?

[ivoclarangela]

@BitchQueen90 maybe they got that wrong then and instead of it being a race to the bottom to see who’s worst off, we pull together and everyone with children gets to decide what works best for them

[Gromance02]

What is the figure for a net contributor? £27k or £35k? Does that mean that every single person who earns less than that costs the economy more than they put in? Yes.

[UnsolicitedCockPics]

Certainly where I live there has been a huge shift in attitude over the last 20 years. In the 90's people getting jobs and starting to claim tax credits instead of JSA (or whatever it was then) were seen as getting off benefits. My mum was a SAHM to my little brother as were the mums of many of his classmates and it was seen as normal not scrounging. Typically mums returned to part time work when their kids were in year 7+ and gradually increased their hours so that they were earning enough when their TC ended

^^ This

[KittenFaces]

actually Xenia I would possibly comment that there is something wrong with swanning off and leaving a newborn asap You seem to focus on your needs and what you wanted. what about your tiny child who would have been starting the attachment process, having you away for long periods of the day from infancy could have been detrimental to their welfare...

why even bother having a child if you couldn't wait to leave them?