What is your household income, how much is benefits, and how are you coping?

[Gabrilla]

Genuinely curious after so many threads on here about benefit changes. Please feel free to name change!

I’ll start:

Salaries for both of us total 90k. Only benefits are £102 month child benefit, though we also get tax-free childcare and 15hrs free at nursery.

Total income is about 6k a month, mortgage and bills 3k, nursery 1k, commuting costs £500, groceries cost £500, husband pays CMS and other bits to his children totalling about £500 leaving us about £500 for everything else.

Feels like we’re constantly penny-pinching.

I do absolutely claim disability benefits. I just said I don't get PIP because I don't.

I think the point is that you could still make this argument whilst not using such wildly inaccurate figures as you have. There are not people on this thread 'with a 10th of that' and you must know that.

If you still think the point stands in cases where actually, the difference is much smaller or even non-existent due to top up benefits, say that. Make the case honestly.

Also, as nothing you've said indicates that you'd be able to care for any more young DC on top of your own, you'd potentially need to claim help for childcare if you were working. With my taxpayer hat on, I'm not sure how much difference it would make to the common good for you look after someone else's DC instead of your own.

Good thing I'm not looking to care for anybody else's children then isn't it 😂

In real terms, sure the gap is smaller. But there’s a huge difference between money earned and money given to supplement someone’s income, and surely people can see that too.

It is my genuine belief that if you can afford to live in the house you want, and send your kids to the childcare provision you want, without needing to rely on government support to do that - you’re in a decent position and shouldn’t whinge about it.

The person I described is topped up to around £3k a month. My salary is higher than that, but I see every penny of it, and spend it in the way that I want to. I also have more of it left after I’ve paid bills etc.

Being bothered that someone is “topped up” to even anywhere near the level that you just have available is just a weird outlook IMO.

And is exactly why PIP is being addressed and made more difficult. It’s like a parody!

Household income apx £110k gross from a mixture of jobs and other income streams. Mortgage £520 going up to £570 next month after rate changes. Receive cb for 2 and are in the magical period in-between childcare and uni.
We are doing OK considering!

We had significantly more disposable income when DH was a solider, we got subsidised housing, I worked PT and we got UC. It was a lovely life.

Now we earn just a bit more than 100k jointly and have much less disposable income. Two in nursery at £2.5k, our three bed midlands semi has a mortgage of £1.7k a month. Although long term we will be better off, it stings a bit short term that we work so much harder for less.

Because working as a childminder is exactly the same as caring for your own children isn't it? Or even grandchildren.

Total earned income both parents 40k combined. Only claim child benefit for 3 children. Eldest at uni doing medicine so support him with groceries and laundry.
biggest outgoing in groceries at 900 pcm (6 people)
every day bills 600pcm. (Including all insurances car etc) We live very basic , no Netflix, SIM card £6pcm for me and 12 for dh. No gym, childcare, no holidays. Old cars and phones. council tax band A. No rent or mortgage.

i could only dream of the incomes I read on mumsnet. Dh had brain tumour so work has reduced right down and back op, but don’t get pip. I don’t keep well but don’t take sick leave I work part time 23 hrs p/ wk. I will increase this when younger two are older as we really need the money.

While you're entitled to hold the opinion that you do about 'clear difference', I'm not sure there's general agreement on that one no. Speaking as one who's both higher income than average and a recipient of multiple benefits, the money is exactly the same when I spend it.

But the point remains, whatever you think, either give honest numbers or don't give them at all. Don't bullshit.

Yep!

I'm on circa £21.5K net, plus child benefit for 2 x 7 year olds. No maintenance from ex.
No holidays. No extra curriculars. Life is simple, dull and quite stressful!

This is insane to me. Just picking one example for a number of posters who say they have a great quality of life whilst being substantially topped up by benefits. Why do you not feel you should go out and earn more money?! Well, I know why...

My household income is about £8k pcm outside of London and we have about £3k pcm to do with what we like. But I work day and night in a high stress job which often takes me away from my family. You can't have it both ways but it would literally never occur to me to think the state should top up my lifestyle. Surely life on benefits should be a bit crap to incentivise work!

Weirdly I was totally against it until I encountered those two. Now I get it!

Your outgoings must be astronomical!!
we’re taking home under half of what you’re earning and we go away 4 times a year and also husband goes away twice with friends!
we also manage to save, got a car and 2 other vehicles on the road!

I’ve never ever had a 7 year old car in my life - more like 15-20 years old.

im sorry but I just can’t take this seriously.

Get £500 car, and downsize - £3k for mortgage abc bills is insane.

theres four of us stuffed into a 3 bedroom house.

Not benefits bashing. I hope I don't ever have to rely on them but...

I'd love to know how people think it's OK that benefits take them over the average working wage? Benefits are meant to help you get by. They aren't meant to give you the same quality of life as someone who works full time, otherwise why WOULD people work?

I know low wages is another discussion.

I also don't get ESA 🤣

I’m a high earner.
However I am a single parent, no maintenance, no child benefit, pay all my own expenses.
The tax system penalises single earners compared to couples! Also we are always tired as we have to do everything!

Also is this income before or after tax ? Because the marginal tax rates are very high in parts. Also the tax rates penalise one high earner over two medium earners. No child benefit etc.

Correct. Because all of those things are work which I've been declared unfit for according to medical professionals, the DWP and Social Security Scotland. Who are all fully aware that I have four children and are far more qualified to make that decision than you are. Thankfully.

I know it isn’t a race to the bottom but I genuinely lolled at the “car is seven years old”.

My 58 plate car will be seventeen years old in December. You’d have a heart attack taking mine in for its MOT.