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Original poster

Why are the government BOTHERING to push single parents back into paid work?

491 replies

Coldtits · 17/12/2008 22:34

If you have two children, pay for £35 a week childcare and work 16 hours at the minimum wage you get

£70 a week working tax credit
£117 a week child tax credit
£30 a week child benefit
any maintenance your ex partner/s give you
And some of your rent paid if you are renting

That's a total of £217 of government money PLUS whatever they pay towards your rent.

Without working you get
£60 income support - with whatever maintenance your ex gives you being knocked (less £20) off this sum
£90 child tax credit
£30 child benefit.

SO, this is £180.

It costs the government LESS for me to stay at home and not work, they way the current set up is.

Why, when they are screaming from the rooftops about single parents going back to work, would they make it financially advantagious to THE GOVERNMENT for them not to? Why have they done this?

OP posts:
Lauriefairyonthetreeeatscake · 17/12/2008 22:35

they are doing it to appease daily mail readers.

they shouldn't.

wrinklytum · 17/12/2008 22:36

Because they are mad HTH

NCRedBreastedBirdy · 17/12/2008 22:37

Because you are also paying more into the system in tax and ni. Also, you are not always going to earn at that level. Some will always earn more, some will gradually earn more.

I don't get it for other reasons though!

beanieb · 17/12/2008 22:38

Don't you get housing benefits?

southeastastra · 17/12/2008 22:39

i think that wages paid now, are equalavent to wages paid 10 years ago. it's a national scandal that people just seem to accept

Tinker · 17/12/2008 22:39

More tax in coffers. Good example to kids to see soemone working? Sometimes? In some situations?

Original poster
Coldtits · 17/12/2008 22:53

Not at 16 hours on the minimum wage, you don't pay any tax, it's only 90 a week.

I don't know about housing benefit, it would depend what your rent is. It's variable, because some (like lucky me) live in properties that are less than £300 a month to rent, and others are forking over £600 for a house not really any nicer.

OP posts:
FairyMum · 17/12/2008 22:55

I read today (In the DM I think.LOL) that david cameron is opposing it. At least something sensible from Cameron. Its ridiculous from the government and especially in these times. I work and its hard enough when you are married and my Dh is currently a SAHD. I cannot imagine what its like for a single parent. And how exactly are they going to pay for childcare?

Original poster
Coldtits · 18/12/2008 08:15

Well, that's my point really ... the government will pay 80% of your childcare costs if you are on a very low income.... Up to £130 a week for full time IIRC

So that could be ANOTHER £260 a week on top of the government funding they're already paying out in order to tempt you back to work in the first place.

I mean, why? Tax and NI at this level of earning are absolutely negligible.

Isn't it just so people can be seen to be Doing Something? Is this just pointless busywork, designed to wreck our health and cut the pension fund?

OP posts:
jellybeans · 18/12/2008 08:29

I hate this Gov due to it's policies such as this one. David Cameron is so right on this.

Original poster
Coldtits · 18/12/2008 22:21

Bump

OP posts:
combustibyulelemon · 18/12/2008 23:31

Er, because they want people to actually contribute something to the economy rather than be a drain? Because they don't think that people should be allowed to sit on their arses for 16 years (it's 12 now) because they gave birth? Because they want to tackle deprived areas where children are growing up with the expectation that they'll live on benefit, as their grandparents and parents have done.

hippocampus · 18/12/2008 23:37

Because they have to be seen to be doing SOMETHING and single mothers are an easy and noticable target. There are many, much cheaper ways of giving mothers and their children aspirations and qualifications. this government has specialised in ill-thought out knee-jerk policies.

Original poster
Coldtits · 18/12/2008 23:52

Combustibyulemon, do the sums.

Single mothers are more of a financial drain on society when they work. How are they contributing?

OP posts:
MLWfirsttimemum · 19/12/2008 02:58

Think the idea is that you'd work more than 16 hours a week and contribute tax etc. Also totally agree with combustibyulelemon's view.

hannahsaunt · 19/12/2008 03:03

Maybe it's not about the money but about the ethos? Maybe it's good for single mums to get out of the house for a few hours a week and do something else? My mental health improved leaps and bounds going back to work esp after ds3. It's not always about the money.

jellybeans · 19/12/2008 12:50

I don't like the idea that only paid work is of value. I think that is why many people in our society are undervalued (ie the elderly, disabled etc). In my opinion, lone parents are already doing a full time job! Also, something like 70% of lone parents of older kids are in work anyway, not much less than the general population. It's just a Gov excersise in tying to look tough for DM types.

IllegallyBrunette · 19/12/2008 12:55

I agree with you that it is cheaper for the govermnent for us to stay at home, but I think part of it is that they want parents to be better role models for their children so that they don't think it is their god given right to leave school and sit on their arses on benefits.

They don't make it easy though thats for sure. I am mega stressed about my new job and I haven't even started yet.

DungunGirl · 19/12/2008 12:58

Like someone else said...TAXES and NI payments.

Even if you get £40+ pounds more a month in benefits, you will probably find you are paying that if not more in taxes anyway!

AND they will argue that you will be better off as if you are on low salary, most if not all your childcare will be covered by the state as well.

This is my view on it anyway. I have looked into this as I am a working mum and have had days when I wish I could just give it all up and stay at home with my son....but unfortunately financially cannot be done...

IllegallyBrunette · 19/12/2008 13:02

You don't pay tax if your only doing 16hours a week.

AnarchyInAManger · 19/12/2008 13:05

I've been saying this for years.

And the other bit I really really don't get is why I,as a lone parent, am under more pressure to get out there and work than my ex, as a single man with three non-resident children by three differnt women, is

I have every intention of working in the future but for now, when DD is still small and we are recieving no help, financial or practical, from her father, I will stay at home and look after her.

newpup · 19/12/2008 13:20

Because if you bring children into the world they are your responsibility not the states!

Because it is not your right to have children and then expect the state to support you while you stay at home with them!

IllegallyBrunette · 19/12/2008 13:28

So they are paying us to go to work instead newpup, and it is costing them more in alot of cases

TinselBaublesMistletoe · 19/12/2008 13:32

My children don't really cost anything. I'm getting the same benefits for being disabled as I was before I got pregnant (I'm not entitled to anything for being a parent) and the standard CTC/CB that I would get anyway.

The Govt does seem to be diddling itself, they need to look more into what money is going out. I also think now is not the time to be pressuring people into work when a lot of people are being laid off, the work just isn't there. I've looked into how much I'd need to be earning to go back to work and it's not something I could manage.

newpup · 19/12/2008 13:34

Respect.

Responsibility.

Role model.

Surely you should want to go to work to support your children. Why do the government have anything to do with it?