What are tax credits for

[Bugsareinthebrook]

My BIL has just changed his job to something with less Responsibility (so less pay) and dropped to 4 hours a week purely for more family time. This allows him to claim tax credits to ‘top up his money’. His partner is a sahm so it’s not for childcare. I can’t but help feel that is not what tax credits are for and that basically as people who work hard and always have our tax is going to him while we work our guts out. .
I’m happy to be flames but I don’t think it’s fair.
What are working and child tax credits for?

@Bugsareinthebrook

Wel I like to give you all something to vent your venom to on a Sunday morning .....

Hardly venom. If you can't take being told you're unkind, don't be unkind.

Of course its benefit bashing, she is complaining that her bil and sister get this and they dont.

there are plenty of people like you op, unfortunately.

what is wrong with more family time?

what about work life balance

As PP said, they must already have been in receipt of tax credit as you can't make a new claim. Any new applications would be UC.

@Babyroobs she has no idea how many hours her BIl works, just that he now works 4 days which may well still be full time hours. She also clearly had no idea if this was his choice or has come about for another reason. I would guess they are not close and she is filling in the gaps without knowing very much at all.

But presumably his old more responsible job still exists - so someone else will be doing it and that promotion may have taken them above benefit levels.

It all balances out in the end - if everyone on benefits suddenly decided to work full time there would not be enough jobs to go around.

and you dont even claim, so you have money, well good for you!

Babyroobs exactly my point but clearly there a lot of people who think differently to me in here. The system is invaluable, we are lucky to have it but it irks that it’s just so he can spend more time with his child . The child has a full time parent at home. I know that they are not coining it in , that it’s just enough to live on but it feels like they are playing the system .
I hope it’s short term until they can sort themselves out .
And for those people who ask - no in can’t claim child benefit - my husband earns too much because he worked hard, made the most of his opportunities and has a high paid job.
I also don’t agree with stopping child benefit but that’s what you get when you vote conservative- which I didn’t

OP it’s not clear from your post whether your relative really qualifies, but in general yes people do make lifestyle choices to take advantage of the safety net. And that has a negative impact on people’s opinion about the welfare state. The last 10 years and the political choices are prof of this. So the apologists are making excuses for those who make these lifestyle choices and cause damage for those who really need it. Classic short sighted, irrational thinking.

[quote Thesearmsofmine]@Babyroobs she has no idea how many hours her BIl works, just that he now works 4 days which may well still be full time hours. She also clearly had no idea if this was his choice or has come about for another reason. I would guess they are not close and she is filling in the gaps without knowing very much at all.[/quote]
Oh sorry , the original post said four hours a week and I hadn't read the whole thread.

one day your husband might lose his job op
you never know what is around the corner

be less judgmental

@Tomatoesneedtoripen

and you dont even claim, so you have money, well good for you!

Just because people don't claim benefits doesn't necessarily mean they are rolling in money ! The thresholds are pretty low unless you have loads of kids or high childcare costs.

And for those people who ask - no in can’t claim child benefit - my husband earns too much because he worked hard, made the most of his opportunities and has a high paid job.

get him!

I’m not against the welfare state - far from it if you knew what I did for a living . But for those people who actually need it

Well done to your oh for been so high up the ladder, as long as he doesnt fall off it.

Why would it matter ? Unless you want to rat on your DS then I would try and forget about it! Different priorities thats all .Are you sure with Covid that he hasnt had to cut his hours to keep his job? I would not care two bloody hoots! If they have DC are you not glad there is a safety net avaliable ? surely you would want DN to be properly catered for and not be hungry /or in need of a warm winter coat or school shoes?

I’m confused how you have great knowledge of the benefits they are claiming but don’t have a clue how many hours he works or if he even did reduce them (it’s quite possible he compressed them).

no in can’t claim child benefit - my husband earns too much because he worked hard, made the most of his opportunities and has a high paid job.

Good for him, I know many, many people who have worked incredibly hard, made the most of their opportunities and there was no very well paid job for them at the end of it.

Can’t you just enjoy your good fortune and stop worrying about what other people do.

I’m not against the welfare state - far from it if you knew what I did for a living . But for those people who actually need it

The idea of the deserving poor vs the undeserving poor suggests that poverty is due to failings of the individual rather than failings in society and circumstance. As pointed out in the thread, you have no idea of the reasons behind him dropping to four days, no idea how many hours this equates to, and no idea of their long term plans.

Op you could stop work, if you wanted to going by your other posts.

Why would I want to give up work? I do know how many hours he works and I do know the circumstances.

You know what you've been told, if they have even an inkling about how judgemental you are then I'd out money on it not being the full story.

Do you get on with your sister and bil?