in thinking that the Government cannot possibly ensure people are better off working than on benefits unless they increase wages massively?

[TheJollyPirate]

TBH I cannot see how the Govt are going th achieve their aim to make sure "nobody is better off financially on benefits than in work".

I work part-time as I have a son with a disability. I take home £849 and get Tax credit of £190 plus Child benefit of course - Working Tax credit adds another £50 - all in all just over £1100. I am just over the limit for housing benefit and all other help although if DLA is approved for my son that may change a bit.

One of my families gets housing benefit of £700 a month plus tax credit, plus income support, plus child benefit. On paper at least they out-strip me and unless wages drastically improve (oh - was that a recession I just saw over there) then nothing much CAN change. The Govt are talking big but cannot deliver no matter what they say.

I will stay worse off financially than the family I work with who will remain unemployed because wages are NEVER going to amount to enough for them to get work and maintain their home. Not their fault and I am more fortunate in other ways but financially - nah - they are doing a bit better than me (but probably only just).

I am watching the Govt but not holding my breath on this one.

Or do you know different?

If so - explain because I am being a bit thick about it.

Well my uncle went down and picked the place he wanted took down the forms told them how much it would cost and they have paid it.

I'd like to see you doing care (shift) work, or cleaning, or paper rounds to support yourself as a single mum with 2 children

You get 80% of your childcare paid for if you're on low income - not all of it

Now if you'll excuse me this "no work ethic" single mother needs to go to her Drs appointment

TOccatonfudge - As I said then move away. I have had to do it and I started saving for a bedsit deposit at 14 out of money I earned in a cafe I worked in. I was only on £2.80 an hour and then had to move away at 18. Its the way it is I knew I probably would never be able to make more than the minimum. As I said in a previous post you do often get extra money for London. A colleague got £400 more than me for the same low wage job in London as I have said in a previous post.

sunshine...you have dc,do you claim child benefit? its not compulsory to,there if you need it tho??

but for the majority Altinkum it works as per the guidelines. Since the introduction of the LHA (replacing the very varied rates of HB) it's become much simpler.

Move away - no I think ou need to get a grip in reality - and I hope you never do find yourself as a single parent........because I don't know of anywhere in this country you could NOT claim benefis and work doing a paper round, or a 10hr a week cleaning job and support yourself with 2 children.

but that percentage generally has pretty good damn reasons for needing extra space or whatever (generally SN/disability) - I'm not sure how people can get riled about that.

Yah it is 80% but I use the child tax credits to bunk it to 100% and that leaves me with a fiver a week from tax credits. It can be done. I went back to work after 2 weeks with my first doing agency waitressing in the day and flyering for the bars at night as I was also a student at the time. I am only doing part time (30 hours) now as I am soon to give birth. I was doing 60 hours when I was pregnant with the first over 3 jobs but you do what youve got to do. I am not commenting on your individual case but I am just saying I dont think that benefit claimants should be able to live in real houses if no one else can afford one. (Also my mum worked as a care assistant/waitress 48 hours a week when I was growing up to be able to afford her flat where I used to live.)

I am 26 I just got married young.

'If I became a single mum I would move me and the kids in to a bedsit before skanking a house for free and I would carry on working.'

Good luck getting one to rent. Because it's illegal to rent such a place to that many occupants.

I'm sure some rogue landlord probably would.

indeed a landlord such as that probably woudn't bother making sure the gas and electric were safe, or fixing the leaks, or sorting out the damp which can cause health problems.

But hey........you wouldn't be claiming those benefits like us bloody scroungers would you

'I am just saying I dont think that benefit claimants should be able to live in real houses if no one else can afford one.'

Where are they supposed to live then, pray tell? A workhouse?

ahh but Riven.........key question - has she got a 40inch plasma tv.

Riven - As I said able to work she is obviously above retirement age so she doesnt count

a free house? people in coubncil houses pay rent. its not free.

expatinscotland - I will never be able to afford to live in a real house and neither will any of my working friends. My best friend lives with her boyfriend and a baby in a 1 bed flat because she bought it and wants to pay her own way. They both work full time on the minimum for it. I respect her more for doing that than I do a lot of the other people I know.

well I don't know about no work ethic - but I'm f*cking stupid.

Had put the reminder on my phone for my Drs Appointment for 11.10........but just found my appointment card as I was getting ready to go and realised it should have been 10.10 - I missed my bloody appointment

i have a fake house. its a figment of my imagination

Again, where are they supposed to live?