Re Tax Credits - anyone else?

[buddhasbelly]

Has anyone else breathed a sigh of relief this evening? The money I was standing to lose (single working parent circa £1500) was quite terrifying.

Yes same here. I work full time, study part time and have a child with autism who is in receipt of DLA - I literally couldn't work any harder or earn any more right now to make up the shortfall I felt a huge weight lifting on hearing the announcement.

so glad a weight has lifted noisy - is there any other more active thread about this? I had a look but other than the full autumn statement I couldn't see one.

My work (big public institution) couldn't offer me any more hours. My job is a specialist skill and I often have to work different days to suit the role so a 2nd job wasn't really a viable option. I want to stay with the company as there will be room for progression in a few years when dd starts school. I earn above the minimum wage (if broken down to hours) so the minimum wage rise would have had no effect on me yet I earn below the tax threshold changes - I really felt like I was in a catch 22.

Today has given me a much needed stress relief on the whole situation

Me too! My credit card bill is already looking pretty sick and have an ex who's 'gone self employed' as they do to avoid paying CM, so yes I sighed a huge sigh of relief.

mine too ginger (re self employed ex). I wanted to write that I was dancing around but it's not even that feeling, I didn't realise how panicked I was about it until I heard the news it wasn't happening. It is like a release from a very dark situation

Can't believe this topic is so quiet on here... After not being able to move a few weeks ago for threads on the proposed changes you think more people would be happy tonight....
It worries me to be honest as I am dam sure cuts will come in some form or other to TC's over the coming years and agoan people will be 'surprised'

The cuts will still be happening to Universal Credit, which people on Tax Credits will be moved on to over the next few years. So it's a temporary reprieve, rather than Osborne abandoning the idea of the cuts.

From what I've read, the 2 child cut off will still stand too.

The cuts will still be happening to Universal Credit, which people on Tax Credits will be moved on to over the next few years. So it's a temporary reprieve, rather than Osborne abandoning the idea of the cuts.

^ this.

People saying it has been abandoned is misleading. It has just been delayed.

the headlines say he has dropped the idea? and the two child cut off is only for people wanting to make a new claim not for people who have been claiming all along

Don't believe a word of it, words and goal posts can be changed.
Does anybody know exactly what will happen with UC? Nobody seems to know anything, no recent reports and those from earlier this year are mostly speculation.

Buddha

The reports about UC and being self employed looked quite bleak, if the gov decide to go along with their original proposal

The headlines are misleading. Universal credit rates are being/will be reduced, and this will affect everyone on tax credits over the next few years as they move over to universal credit. They're just delaying it, and knew that they'd get the positive headlines.

The two child rule will apply to any new children born after Apr 2017, and any new claims. This would include families who already have 3 or more children but are not claiming tax credits, but whose circumstances change and they have to claim in the future.

Below is fromega the BBC website in answer to the question is it the end of the cuts for low income families

No. Changes to the criteria of Universal Credit- a benefits system that sees tax credits and five other benefits merged into one in the next few years - were voted through recentlyand will also put a squeeze on some families.

ginger and Budha

Actually for you, if you are being messed about by your ex's UC will help maybe.
It is far harder to claim if your business isn't legit and making a good turn over.
They won't be able to claim they are earning less and have to declare monthly rather than annually.

I agree - I don't trust GO any more than I could throw him - They're coming!

I remember the last Tory government and the hardship I and public services went through under their governance. He's only just warming up

I read the official document whilst the kiddies were yelling and screaming in at each other in parliament - was I the only one thinking it was totally unprofessional??

If anyone feels the need it is here

There's a lot in there that people haven't picked up on.

Things like the welfare cap now includes all disability benefits (before they were excluded). It now only excludes JSA and passported benefits for JSA only and those on sanctioned or zero rate universal credit and pensions and something called DEA - everything else is now included and, i believe will be used to slash the welfare bill.

There is also under welfare a section about the disabled being "failed by welfare" as too many are not in work so 1.3 million more people (which will be those in support group) will be expected to find work (currently not expected to).

Sorry wrong thread

Just been on Twitter - I'm cheered up a bit

#WeStandWithCorbyn

Some really lovely tweets on there

hee hee Becca I often post on wrong threads - at least yours was linked to gov spending rather than me who posts on totally wrong threads.

Thanks to the PPs who mentioned the UC aspect; my mind seemed to have forgotten this, but at least it's a temporary reprieve which in itself will make a huge difference in the short term. Long term i'm hoping to go full time - let's hope my work will find the hours.

I'm concerned about UC and the two child rule, I don't think it's very clear. With tax credits they said any new claims after April 2017 will be 2 children only, but yesterday they said tax credits will be replaced by uc in 2018. So when our tax credit claim gets moved over, will it be classed as a new claim so we only get it for 2 children? Or is it existing claim still as we are expecting dc4 any day now. It all seems very dodgy, not much clarification. Yesterday seemed just a temporary sigh of relief. And like pp I earn over minimum wage but under tax threshold and although bump will qualify for the 30hours free childcare in 3 years time, our other 3 will all be in school so all those measures that David C said would ease the burden, don't apply to us

Unfortunately Jamtartandcustard cuts will work there way in over the next few years - whether under UC or not. Maybe look to boost your earnings or increase your skills to boost your earnings for when this time comes. 4 Children are expensive!

Jam if you claim tax credits or UC with a break of less than six months you will not be a new claim. Moving from TC to UC is definitely not a new claim.

Becca where does it say the benefit cap includes dla? Are you sure? No one is reporting this.

Sorry Becca I confused welfare cap and benefits cap. Two very different things

I don't think dla , pip etc was ever excluded from the welfare cap. Pip was always intended to cut the benefit bill.

To clarify