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AIBU?
DH and I going part time to deliberately reduce wages
Bucketheadbucketbum · 18/03/2023 13:35
Just working out the free childcare hours and actually DH and I will be muxh better off if we both dropped to 3- 4 day week to deliberately reduce our incomes. Would obviously be nice way to live too! Anyone else doing same? Seems mental but we've looked at it 100 times over and it's true!
Am I being unreasonable?
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DannyZukosSmile · 18/03/2023 13:58
You won't be the first to do this. I know someone who purposely does a smaller amount of hours every March or April, to drop her normal monthly wage of £1150-ish to £800-850, so she can fill in an HC1 and get full help with health costs all year. Free prescriptions, free dental, £60 voucher towards glasses, free eye tests, help with travel costs to hospital or specialists etc....
£350-ish wage loss to potentially save multiple 100s over a year. (£750 to £900 typically.) She doesn't have to worry about a filling dropping out or a tooth chipping or needing multiple prescriptions etc, as it's all covered.
That's how ridiculous things are in this country. You are only OK if you're a very high earner/rich, OR if you are financially poor, coz you get lots of help from the Government.
I know a few people who are/were on less than £20K a year joint income whose young adult children got 1000s thrown at them in grants and bursaries, and they had more money at uni than many students who had parents on £45-55K a year joint income. The ones whose parents were proper loaded were OK, but the students of the middle earners were fucked, because they got NOTHING, but their parents were not well off enough to give them anything.
@Bucketheadbucketbum Ignore the naysayers and the haters calling you grabby and lazy etc... they're just jealous and bitter. Most people would give their left arm to work only 3 days a week and have more time with their children. And as I say, it's the SYSTEM making you do this. If most jobs paid a lot better and gave people good money/plenty of surplus income, people would not be inclined to do this.
Bucketheadbucketbum · 18/03/2023 14:07
whatyoulookingfor · 18/03/2023 13:38
Can you just go part time in your jobs?
Seems crazy that you can do this but if it works 🤷🏼♀️
Yes we can - we both do sessional work , just drop some sessions. Never have before because didn't want to drop wages but now in that "squeezed middle" where actually if earned less would pay less tax and get more benefits! Mad house!
Bucketheadbucketbum · 18/03/2023 14:07
Owlatnight · 18/03/2023 13:59
That's great news that you will both be able to spend more time with your children when they are little. Good for your relationship too if everyone is less stressed
Yes exactly! I think I'll go to 3 days DH to 4
derbylass81 · 18/03/2023 14:08
Fragrantandfoolish · 18/03/2023 13:39
Well of course it works, I assume what you’re saying is you will deliberately reduce your income so you can get free child care?
its no different to any other deliberately not working so you can get benefits
Yes, this is my thought.
Horrible that people can be so brazen about this.
Bucketheadbucketbum · 18/03/2023 14:09
DannyZukosSmile · 18/03/2023 13:58
You won't be the first to do this. I know someone who purposely does a smaller amount of hours every March or April, to drop her normal monthly wage of £1150-ish to £800-850, so she can fill in an HC1 and get full help with health costs all year. Free prescriptions, free dental, £60 voucher towards glasses, free eye tests, help with travel costs to hospital or specialists etc....
£350-ish wage loss to potentially save multiple 100s over a year. (£750 to £900 typically.) She doesn't have to worry about a filling dropping out or a tooth chipping or needing multiple prescriptions etc, as it's all covered.
That's how ridiculous things are in this country. You are only OK if you're a very high earner/rich, OR if you are financially poor, coz you get lots of help from the Government.
I know a few people who are/were on less than £20K a year joint income whose young adult children got 1000s thrown at them in grants and bursaries, and they had more money at uni than many students who had parents on £45-55K a year joint income. The ones whose parents were proper loaded were OK, but the students of the middle earners were fucked, because they got NOTHING, but their parents were not well off enough to give them anything.
@Bucketheadbucketbum Ignore the naysayers and the haters calling you grabby and lazy etc... they're just jealous and bitter. Most people would give their left arm to work only 3 days a week and have more time with their children. And as I say, it's the SYSTEM making you do this. If most jobs paid a lot better and gave people good money/plenty of surplus income, people would not be inclined to do this.
Yes exactly . It's madness that the system is so skewed. Government must be losing so much money making it like this!! I'm sure we are not the only ones
Dorisbonson · 18/03/2023 14:10
LizzieSiddal · 18/03/2023 13:41
Sounds like you don’t care that other tax payers will be working to pay for your child when you could actually afford to pay for it yourself.
Each to their own I suppose.
Why is that any different to people who work in good jobs living in councils houses paying less the private sector market rent?
Bucketheadbucketbum · 18/03/2023 14:11
7Worfs · 18/03/2023 13:40
The better option is to put the excess income in a pension through salary sacrifice if your company allows. Then it won’t count towards your income to get the free hours.
We looked at this but pension rules are so strict with tapering and other things it doesn't work out
twitterexile · 18/03/2023 14:12
Dorisbonson · 18/03/2023 14:10
Why is that any different to people who work in good jobs living in councils houses paying less the private sector market rent?
LizzieSiddal · 18/03/2023 13:41
Sounds like you don’t care that other tax payers will be working to pay for your child when you could actually afford to pay for it yourself.
Each to their own I suppose.
It's not.
Sneakyblinders · 18/03/2023 14:12
i think there's a bit of a difference between factoring in 'free childcare' when making a change to working hours - for example if you were part time before considering going up to full time hours.
but for both of you to deliberately drop down to 3/4 days a week for the sole purpose of claiming these benefits I find really distasteful.
RB68 · 18/03/2023 14:14
Or you could frame it as having a better work life balance where you actually get one on one time with your kids. I do know a couple that did this they both worked 3 initially then when older 4 days a week and spent the other days being around for the children especially as round here there doesn't appear to be after school care on Fridays
Bucketheadbucketbum · 18/03/2023 14:14
darjeelingrose · 18/03/2023 13:51
Not necessarily, my DH and I have jobs where it is easy to reduce then increase hours, and you just get paid less, the OP may well have similar.
AllIwantforChristmas22 · 18/03/2023 13:46
A bit short sighted, childcare is not forever. Also I doubt the numbers add up tbh.
Yes exactly this situation. Do less hours = get paid less but no impact on seniority or progression etx.
Cornettoninja · 18/03/2023 14:14
The government really should have made these reforms conditional on receipt of certain elements of UC if their aim was actually to remove barriers to work 
people get all knicker twisty about benefits going to the ‘wrong type’ of people but then tie themselves in knots to make sure they qualify for something they don’t actually need.
Parker231 · 18/03/2023 14:15
Fragrantandfoolish · 18/03/2023 13:41
Surprised at the responses. I wonder if it’s because it’s child care. If someone posted me and my husband are going to go part time so we can claim universal credit id suspect the responses would be different
Are you confident that your childcare provider will offer the new hours - many won’t as they won’t be able to afford it as the government contributions are so low. There are likely to be less childcare providers not more.
NoSquirrels · 18/03/2023 14:16
Bucketheadbucketbum · 18/03/2023 14:07
Yes we can - we both do sessional work , just drop some sessions. Never have before because didn't want to drop wages but now in that "squeezed middle" where actually if earned less would pay less tax and get more benefits! Mad house!
whatyoulookingfor · 18/03/2023 13:38
Can you just go part time in your jobs?
Seems crazy that you can do this but if it works 🤷🏼♀️
Are you “squeezed middle” if you’re earning over £100K a year?
Babyroobs · 18/03/2023 14:17
Yes I think a lot will do this , drop to 3 days a week now that the free hours would fully cover it. Who wants to be working full time with young kids, it's gruelling. Not unreasonable to expect one of a couple to work full time though. I just feel sad there wasn't this level of help around when mine were small, we worked around each other for years which really took it's toll. I don't begrudge others now getting the help though although think it will backfire for the government because many on good wages were managing the childcare costs and will now do as you are suggesting..
Dorisbonson · 18/03/2023 14:19
DannyZukosSmile · 18/03/2023 13:58
You won't be the first to do this. I know someone who purposely does a smaller amount of hours every March or April, to drop her normal monthly wage of £1150-ish to £800-850, so she can fill in an HC1 and get full help with health costs all year. Free prescriptions, free dental, £60 voucher towards glasses, free eye tests, help with travel costs to hospital or specialists etc....
£350-ish wage loss to potentially save multiple 100s over a year. (£750 to £900 typically.) She doesn't have to worry about a filling dropping out or a tooth chipping or needing multiple prescriptions etc, as it's all covered.
That's how ridiculous things are in this country. You are only OK if you're a very high earner/rich, OR if you are financially poor, coz you get lots of help from the Government.
I know a few people who are/were on less than £20K a year joint income whose young adult children got 1000s thrown at them in grants and bursaries, and they had more money at uni than many students who had parents on £45-55K a year joint income. The ones whose parents were proper loaded were OK, but the students of the middle earners were fucked, because they got NOTHING, but their parents were not well off enough to give them anything.
@Bucketheadbucketbum Ignore the naysayers and the haters calling you grabby and lazy etc... they're just jealous and bitter. Most people would give their left arm to work only 3 days a week and have more time with their children. And as I say, it's the SYSTEM making you do this. If most jobs paid a lot better and gave people good money/plenty of surplus income, people would not be inclined to do this.
Get screwed as a higher earner. At 99.9k a year salary you get net 5500 a month, at 120k you get 6000 a month eg the extra 1666 a month you earn only gets you another net £500 a month - taxman has £1166 you get £500. You lose out free childcare at 100k. The government are decreasing the supertax threshold from 155k to 120k so we will pay another 5% on that bit too. At 155k you lose tax benefits on pension contributions.
Most high earners live in the SE so get screwed on higher house prices and stamp duty, we get screwed on train fares too.
For all the tax we pay, the NHS is knackered, schools teach woke fake biology, police don't investigate burglaries or stolen vehicles. The answer everyone has is to put taxes up - on who?
So for all this, I left the UK for work last year. I had planned to come back in 2 years but am terrified about Labour winning the next election and putting taxes up even more.
Sleepygrumpyandnothappy · 18/03/2023 14:22
Really surprised at the responses here. It’s not unusual or unreasonable for two people with big jobs (both the op and her partner appear to be earning over £100k) to cut down their hours to spend more time with young children. And here they have a financial incentive too. NI contributions etc will still be very high.
DP will likely cross £100k before our DS starts school - hopefully I will too - and of course this is in the mix.
Bernadinetta · 18/03/2023 14:22
Dorisbonson · 18/03/2023 14:19
Get screwed as a higher earner. At 99.9k a year salary you get net 5500 a month, at 120k you get 6000 a month eg the extra 1666 a month you earn only gets you another net £500 a month - taxman has £1166 you get £500. You lose out free childcare at 100k. The government are decreasing the supertax threshold from 155k to 120k so we will pay another 5% on that bit too. At 155k you lose tax benefits on pension contributions.
Most high earners live in the SE so get screwed on higher house prices and stamp duty, we get screwed on train fares too.
For all the tax we pay, the NHS is knackered, schools teach woke fake biology, police don't investigate burglaries or stolen vehicles. The answer everyone has is to put taxes up - on who?
So for all this, I left the UK for work last year. I had planned to come back in 2 years but am terrified about Labour winning the next election and putting taxes up even more.
DannyZukosSmile · 18/03/2023 13:58
You won't be the first to do this. I know someone who purposely does a smaller amount of hours every March or April, to drop her normal monthly wage of £1150-ish to £800-850, so she can fill in an HC1 and get full help with health costs all year. Free prescriptions, free dental, £60 voucher towards glasses, free eye tests, help with travel costs to hospital or specialists etc....
£350-ish wage loss to potentially save multiple 100s over a year. (£750 to £900 typically.) She doesn't have to worry about a filling dropping out or a tooth chipping or needing multiple prescriptions etc, as it's all covered.
That's how ridiculous things are in this country. You are only OK if you're a very high earner/rich, OR if you are financially poor, coz you get lots of help from the Government.
I know a few people who are/were on less than £20K a year joint income whose young adult children got 1000s thrown at them in grants and bursaries, and they had more money at uni than many students who had parents on £45-55K a year joint income. The ones whose parents were proper loaded were OK, but the students of the middle earners were fucked, because they got NOTHING, but their parents were not well off enough to give them anything.
@Bucketheadbucketbum Ignore the naysayers and the haters calling you grabby and lazy etc... they're just jealous and bitter. Most people would give their left arm to work only 3 days a week and have more time with their children. And as I say, it's the SYSTEM making you do this. If most jobs paid a lot better and gave people good money/plenty of surplus income, people would not be inclined to do this.
Boo hoo, poor you only earning £6000 a month, what a hardship.
shattered25 · 18/03/2023 14:23
lljkk · 18/03/2023 13:54
Can someone talk me thru why what OP plans to do will hurt other tax payers?
Oh it's just apparently tax pays for everything in England and no one wants to pay tax for anyone to possibly benefit of their minimal contribution but they also expect to reap benefits of every service available. As obviously their tax contribution has not only paid for every child, disabled person and pensioner but also paid off every healthcare, operation and care home fees they may have too 😂
Bernadinetta · 18/03/2023 14:23
Sleepygrumpyandnothappy · 18/03/2023 14:22
Really surprised at the responses here. It’s not unusual or unreasonable for two people with big jobs (both the op and her partner appear to be earning over £100k) to cut down their hours to spend more time with young children. And here they have a financial incentive too. NI contributions etc will still be very high.
DP will likely cross £100k before our DS starts school - hopefully I will too - and of course this is in the mix.
They’re not doing it to spend more time with the children- the children will be in childcare.
Sleepygrumpyandnothappy · 18/03/2023 14:25
Bernadinetta · 18/03/2023 14:23
They’re not doing it to spend more time with the children- the children will be in childcare.
Sleepygrumpyandnothappy · 18/03/2023 14:22
Really surprised at the responses here. It’s not unusual or unreasonable for two people with big jobs (both the op and her partner appear to be earning over £100k) to cut down their hours to spend more time with young children. And here they have a financial incentive too. NI contributions etc will still be very high.
DP will likely cross £100k before our DS starts school - hopefully I will too - and of course this is in the mix.
I assume the child will also drop from five days to two-three!
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