child tax credits, child benifits etc.

[dizzyblonde]

i earn a good wage for a single parent. and as said before benefit from tax credits and hard graft..Have a mortgage on a small but nice house, and am extremely proud that I kick ass when it comes to what I have achieved since me and the ex split....
I really would prefer to sit on my bum at home, cause then my son would benefit from having his mum around. I would also prefer that big corporate companies would give me a break and stop demanding that I work over my usual hours during the week for a pitence, patronising me with the words 'you can get help with childcare'

I'm on a commitee for a day nursery and know all about day nurseries and even they can't cater for before 5am and until 10pm. I feel discriminated against and bullied, when they know how many hoops i have to jump through to earn my keep.
In order to keep 'the company' pleased i now have to try and work my additional 200 hrs before xmas (or at least a big chunk) and if i don't i will be 'disciplined' then you wonder why people cheat or can't be arsed. unlike me who gets stressed and try her best



Rant over the blonde lost the plot

This discussion got me wondering, so I logged on to the Inland Revenue's website and entered relevant data.

I'm delighted to report that I think I'm entitled to claim! I'd never thought I was entitled, but lo and behold I can get about £200 off the Government.

So I'm gonna apply!!! Woohoo!! I like getting things for free!!

Am I a scroat? Probably, but I don't care.

most people can Ed you just have to try and see i got my dad pension tax credit a few years ago @ 30 some odd pounds per week and he was delighted, he's worked hard ****ty hours all his life so why shouldn't he take the money?

http://www.taxcredits.inlandrevenue.gov.uk/HomeNew.aspx

do you qualify?

[Supervox]

I've just spent 20 minutes typing out a 'sensible, rational' reply to TW's post - & then thought B*LL*CKS - why should I reveal my finances to the world just because some whinging ars*h*l* who is so far up himself he can probably see his own teeth from the inside, thinks that people shouldn't get Child Tax Credits !!

As for the claim that it was a 'beer related post' - COBBLERS !!

Originally Posted by Supervox

I've just spent 20 minutes typing out a 'sensible, rational' reply to TW's post - & then thought B*LL*CKS - why should I reveal my finances to the world just because some whinging ars*h*l* who is so far up himself he can probably see his own teeth from the inside, thinks that people shouldn't get Child Tax Credits !!

As for the claim that it was a 'beer related post' - COBBLERS !!

Me thinks that TW joins Fernando Alonso in being unceremoniously demoted down Super's xmas card list.

not one to mince your words then super

[Bluepete]

Mrs Bluepete and I get child tax credit. She is a teacher and has been for 13 years, most people on here know I'm a traffic cop and have been in the job for ten years. We both earn a reasonable wage and have a reasonable house.
However, last year the 'revenoo got their sums wrong and wanted over £600 back.
Luckily, Dad used to be a tax inspector for the revenue and now runs a tax advise company. Needless to say, the bill has been resolved.
This is not because I don't feel I should pay it, but because the system that is used to calculate credits was bought already out of date and is so wrong so often that they can't prove what, if anything, that we owe.
An analogy would be me, doing my job using a radar kit from the 80's that hadn't been calibrated in a decade to dose speeders. Then when someone complained, I wouldn't have a leg to stand on. Whereas those who accept it, just pay up.

[quote=krhall;1335886] My wife has recently had to return to work full-time because of this so now my children are suffering as they have to go to child care from 0730 to 1800 each day. My child care bill exceeds £900 per month, so for the first few months my wife is working just to be in her overdraft.


On the other hand my sister lives in a large 3 bed council house with a massive garden, always has cash on the hip, has every vice you can think of and doesn't work........so I ask you what is my incentive to do what do and why am I not helped a little bit as I am trying to do the right thing. A little tax break would be lovely and certainly help out.

quote]

For me my incentive was self respect, you are TRYING to manage, thats what counts and why I didnt give up work and live completely on benefits. That was my personal choice, and I don't blame anyone who can have a similar lifestyle without working, but it wouldnt be good enough for me ... the way I see it, yes for now they are doing ok, but for as long as they are not working, it is the best it is going to get ... if you work, you dont know what doors can open up to you, so for now you are only just managing, but it can only get better,

It is very scary looking at a small wage packet, but still having to give the kids food or the dreading word .... christmas! But it is also very satisfying when you look at your small house with a small garden (and a motorbike!) and can genuinely think to yourself "its not much but its mine .... and I earned it!"

I'm sorry your wife has had to go back to work full time, if that is not what she wanted, and I have to say I am surprised as this system is supposed to encourage the option of part time work if desired for the mum

[timwilky]

Originally Posted by BluePete

Mrs Bluepete and I get child tax credit. She is a teacher and has been for 13 years, most people on here know I'm a traffic cop and have been in the job for ten years. We both earn a reasonable wage and have a reasonable house.

It is exactly this sort of scenario that I don't understand. Both you and your wife work and get reasonable salaries. The tax credit system then recognises that you need to have amount greater than the income tax system has allowed you to have in order to bring up your kids. Hence the credit.

Surely the fairer system would be not to have taxed you so much in the first place. This is my argument about raising personal allowances to reflect this. The current system says a personal allowance is :- £5,225 earnings above this are taxed. the minimum wage is £5.35. So for a 40 hour week over 52 weeks you earn £11128. Is it right that somebody on the statutory minimum wage should pay tax on over half their annual salary.

Additionally, where a couple decide that one should stay at home to look after children/elderly parents etc. The tax system should recognise that there are still two people and allow the non works allowance to be transferred.

Yes I do have a problem with the "won't work" attitude of some people. But I think more could be done to help low earners out of benefits by recognising the true costs of living and not taxing people on earnings below this cost. even if the cost is recouped by increasing the rates for earnings above the threshold. This would be a far fairer system than taxing low earners