To think work no longer ‘pays’

[Cuppasoupmonster]

This is a controversial topic so I’m expecting a few biscuits to be thrown at me so I’ve got my hard hat on. Inspired by the ‘benefits overhaul’ thread.

I often see on here that working and owning your own home is always better than claiming benefits and living in social housing. But it seems like the perks are long gone if I’m honest.

It feels like every day I’m dragging myself up at 6am to take my daughter to nursery (when I would much rather have her at home with me), just to pay our enormous mortgage and bills, before breaking even at the end. We haven’t had a holiday in 5 years. A few months ago I went into my overdraft for the first time in about 6-7 years despite the fact my spending is no different. What are the upsides again? Is it just that we get to choose the care home we die in (perhaps)? Because right now I’m feeling pretty pissed off with the whole thing and wondering if anyone else feels the same.

They never let facts get in the way.....

Agreed. Its disgusting and makes me despair that people can be so lacking in basic human empathy and compassion.

It is they who are failures in life. Not benefit claimants.

@Maverickess yes enforced child payment taken off at source and a public flogging to boot for not paying up. I would love to see it be a crime to not pay punishable by prison or chain gangs. I would love to see town billboards with picture of the parents who don't pay child support.

On a practical level I would mandate schools and nurseries have to provide wrap around care including holiday camps etc and make it free. Shared houses for families can work, especially things like supported living for people in your sort of situation. You could even do them like halls of residence with shared childcare facilities. I would happily pay more in tax to fund situations like that so parents can work, rather than fund out of work benefits.

Critically illness policies for businesses include cover for those more vulnerable and as they are group policies they are significantly cheaper as the risk is spread. Businesses can also insure having to provide sick pay (think it's up to 6 months at full pay).

I'm not inhumane I do think we need a safety net I just think it goes to far as it is. It allows barriers to work to be over come by being funded not to work instead of removing those barriers.

I know I am privileged. I get to go away when I like, I have a mortgage which will be paid in 25 years, I have a pension pot and I can go out for dinner whenever I fancy it. Does work pay for me? Yes.

AND it is a total rip-off which, had I a lesser paying job, I would be furious about. Because of my situation I have to pay:

1. Ridiculous interest rates that aren't in my control much of the time for the mortgage
2. VAT
3. National Insurance
4. Income Tax
5. Fuel Duty
6. Vehicle Tax
7. Council Tax
8. TV licence
9. Stamp duty (when I bought the place)
10. Inheritance Tax when I die (my daughter will have to pay)
11. Prescriptions

Those are just the ones I can think of. It's ludicrous. I feel like the middle earners take an absolute kicking at every turn. We aren't entitled to much at all, we haven't got enough to be "rich" and comfortable and at the same time we keep the country going. We subsidise big companies paying lower earners shit wages (universal credit etc).

What incentive does anyone in my position have to work? If I were not with my partner who is also in the same pay bracket as me, I'd be screwed. I often feel that the rich can off-shore and have expensive lawyers who can get tax breaks and the poor get hand-outs. When do people who are in my spot get any kind of leg up?