Are we entitled to anything?

[Ryoko]

I am still under contract at work but haven't worked full-time since Feb 2010, all I've done 3 days worth of Sunday work since then for about £37 each time as my pay is less then what child care is in the area so there is no point working.

otherwise I just get £30.88p a week in Child Benefit and Tax Credits.

DF works full time for 25k a year, rent with a private landlord, pay full council tax etc, probably spend about 900-950PCM on rent and bills.

Are we entitled to anything more? or any reductions in anything? DS is 18 months old.

Take a look at this calculator and put your details in. That should give you an idea.

I suspect not. We are on similar, slightly more tax credits because we were earning much less last year.

I think £25k is the cut-off, and above that the most you will get is £10 ctc and £20 chb (which you currently receive). It's annoying, but better than nothing, we are in a very similar situation.

Oh well, it's all a farce thats shouldn't be based on gross, they need to take into account how much everything costs, London makes a big dent that wouldn't affect others earning the same amount elsewhere so much, high rent prices, council tax and public transport etc.

thanks for the replies, appreciate it.

simple, move if you don't like it. Sorry to be harsh but we'd love to earn £25K.

If it was based on disposable income, everyone would simply make sure they spent everything they earned. Gross income means everyone is judged equally.

We have earned slightly less than that this year - husband earns £23k and I have been on maternity allowance all this tax year so far. We get just above the min CTC - but we have calculated that from April we will lose that. So far from getting more, you may end up soon getting much less.