Planning on getting myself arrested to stop SMP

[Kasal]

...haha im joking but seriously, im really annoyed. Ive just worked extra hours for the last 8 months (the last 6 weeks of which are 6 of my weeks that they use to work out smp) and plan on working extra for the next two weeks to make sure i got SMP as my usual hours didnt cover SMP by £2 or something rediculous. Anyway ive just done a benefit calculator based on my partners earning (£0) my pittence earnings of £128.73 on SMP and apparently im entitled to £108 a week tax credits but get only £4 off my council tax and £16 a week towards my rent.

so i did the same benefit checker putting that we were both unemployed with twins blah blah, and with that i would get full housing benefit, full council tax benefit, £108 tax credits, £100 income support a week!

so basically when i go back to work on the same pay roughly i will be 20 hours down a week and a hundred quid out of pocket as opposed to if i sat at home and reaped the rewards im so annoyed and wished i hadnt even tried to get smp now

rant over!

 

[MrsRH]

...haha im joking but seriously, im really annoyed. Ive just worked extra hours for the last 8 months (the last 6 weeks of which are 6 of my weeks that they use to work out smp) and plan on working extra for the next two weeks to make sure i got SMP as my usual hours didnt cover SMP by £2 or something rediculous. Anyway ive just done a benefit calculator based on my partners earning (£0) my pittence earnings of £128.73 on SMP and apparently im entitled to £108 a week tax credits but get only £4 off my council tax and £16 a week towards my rent.

so i did the same benefit checker putting that we were both unemployed with twins blah blah, and with that i would get full housing benefit, full council tax benefit, £108 tax credits, £100 income support a week!

so basically when i go back to work on the same pay roughly i will be 20 hours down a week and a hundred quid out of pocket as opposed to if i sat at home and reaped the rewards im so annoyed and wished i hadnt even tried to get smp now

rant over!

the system is rubbish, sometimes isn't it

x

 

[babycrazy1706]

...haha im joking but seriously, im really annoyed. Ive just worked extra hours for the last 8 months (the last 6 weeks of which are 6 of my weeks that they use to work out smp) and plan on working extra for the next two weeks to make sure i got SMP as my usual hours didnt cover SMP by £2 or something rediculous. Anyway ive just done a benefit calculator based on my partners earning (£0) my pittence earnings of £128.73 on SMP and apparently im entitled to £108 a week tax credits but get only £4 off my council tax and £16 a week towards my rent.

so i did the same benefit checker putting that we were both unemployed with twins blah blah, and with that i would get full housing benefit, full council tax benefit, £108 tax credits, £100 income support a week!

so basically when i go back to work on the same pay roughly i will be 20 hours down a week and a hundred quid out of pocket as opposed to if i sat at home and reaped the rewards im so annoyed and wished i hadnt even tried to get smp now

rant over!

sometimes it can seem like we're being unfared by working but really n truely £128.73 + £108 +£4 + £16 = over £250 a week!!!!!
how can you not be happy with that!!?
when i start claiming smp/tax credits etc i'll be so grateful- alot of countries get no where near this and USA seems to only get 6 weeks paid maternity when we get 39!! we also get £81 every 4 weeks for child benefit. i do think its about time we all start counting our blessings and be grateful that we do get help and are not just left to struggle!!
we are lucky really!

 

[aimee-lou]

£108 a week is pretty darned excellent for tax credits! With twins you'll get £30 a week in Child benefit too!

I know it can seem unfair, but look at the figures realistically, and claim what you are entitled to. Get yourself on the system, and the system will help you when you need it. That's what it's there for! I'm on MA for the next 9 months, then I don't know what will happen, but I know that I will be going back to work. Don't let yourself get jealous of other people, they don't have what you have, and they never will!

 

[Kasal]

i know you think i should be great full but of that £250 a week i have to pay £100 for rent, so im left with 150 a week to get a weekly shop in for 2 adults, milk for 2 kids then food eventually, pay other bills gas elec water, council tax is £21 a week so im going to be living bare minimum.

i wouldnt mind but why then should someone who has never worked in their life get the full £360 a week? what incentive does that give me to go back to work after maternity? i will as i like working and would soon get bored i jsut think that it should be done fairly that you can earn some money without being penalised or loosing it in benefits surely more people would then go out and find part time work at least!

 

[babycrazy1706]

I see what ur saying...I thought theyd changed it now so that someone on benefits would never be better off than sum1 thats works?? Thats what they were supposed to be doing?

 

[Kasal]

yeah so did i yet on news on wednesday it said that single mums will be £3k a year worse off!

 

[xxembobxx]

Can your partner not work? That would increase your income.

When working out tax credits ou should disregard £100 for each week you receive SMP. So if you are planning to take the full 39 weeks of maternity leave in the same tax year you should deduct £3900 from your income. This will obviously be less if you don't receive full SMP.
https://www.hmrc.gov.uk/taxcredits/...-tables/work-and-child/work-no-childcosts.htm