To think this comment from an advisor at HMRC just shows how things haven’t changed with sexism

[whatsbowb]

I called to make payment back for child benefit that I owed. It was around 600 quid. I was calling to make the payment and it was taking forever, the guy on the phone acknowledged it himself and I was in no way rude to him, just the entire process was long winded. I said flippantly, it’s hardly worth even claiming CB by the time it takes to do something so simple. To which he said ‘well ask a single mum on low income that question, it’s important to them.’

Sorry what? Single mum? Heaven forbid a single dad might need support? Or is it just women that we put in this light?

I am single parent so I don’t know if I internally took offence to this comment because of that? Or am I right that this ‘single mum’ phrase is often a put down?!

Unprofessional response from the HMRC call handler. Even though I expect that because of the poor systems they have and the complicated tax/benefit system, the amount of abuse they get is awful and completely unacceptable.

I notice that @whatsbowb completely ignored this point.

Women are more likely to be the main care and so claim CB.

Men as primary carers and claiming CB are far rarer, especially if the mother is alive.

And he gave one example of someone who it would mean alot to. The example was female. He doesn’t need to give more than example to make you believe he isn’t sexist.

@BarbaraofSeville

Thanks for that explanation! That actually makes a bit more sense now as to why they do it this way. I'll be in the 50-60k bracket next year and will have to pay some CB back for the first time and just thought it sounded like a ridiculous system. But your explanation helps this to make a bit more sense!