So worried- regarding all the usual CTC, WTC etc x

[topazicatzbet]

His wage doesnt go in my pocket though at the end of the day lol. I earn roughly about 5grand a year which is nothing. It may say he gets 19k on paper but in reality he doesnt- he comes home with around 1200 every month but 800+ of that goes on our rent and bills. The system basically encourages you to raise a child as a single parent.. daft!

not really hun, im a single mum and will only be entitled to £21 a week.
next month my wage drops by £400 while on mat leave but i wountg get anything extra, god help me when it drops to only smp.

 

[littleblonde]

If its based on low income then how can couples who both work full time and pay nursery get WTC. Surly between them they would earn at least 19000 which is what my oh earns before tax?anyone no?

Thats why i thought you got it if you both worked

 

[wannabemamma]

Because if both are working and they are paying childcare...they will get the childcare element of tax credit which will pay the majority of their childcare, and that is prob it. The husband and I won't be entitled to anything really if I am SAHM which I think I will be, if I went back we would be able to claim for childcare. So if you both work AND are paying for childcare (i.e.: if your mum does it for you you can't claim) you can claim.

TBH £19k is seen as a good salary. We all know much goes in tax, but it does for everyone proportionately so that's life. £1200 after tax is an ok salary, I know many who will support their family on less. Perhaps look for a cheaper house, cut expenses etc? Unless in dire circumstances I don't think people should take benefits for granted. I know this sounds really mean (and I REALLY don't mean it to) I just mean so that you can stop beating yourself up over this and find a way to move forward with what you've got. xx

PS: I know it sucks, we had hoped for help while we were re-training but we can't get it because we previously had well paid jobs, and we own our house (mortgaged) so we can't.

 

[littleblonde]

Because if both are working and they are paying childcare...they will get the childcare element of tax credit which will pay the majority of their childcare, and that is prob it. The husband and I won't be entitled to anything really if I am SAHM which I think I will be, if I went back we would be able to claim for childcare. So if you both work AND are paying for childcare (i.e.: if your mum does it for you you can't claim) you can claim.

TBH £19k is seen as a good salary. We all know much goes in tax, but it does for everyone proportionately so that's life. £1200 after tax is an ok salary, I know many who will support their family on less. Perhaps look for a cheaper house, cut expenses etc? Unless in dire circumstances I don't think people should take benefits for granted. I know this sounds really mean (and I REALLY don't mean it to) I just mean so that you can stop beating yourself up over this and find a way to move forward with what you've got. xx

PS: I know it sucks, we had hoped for help while we were re-training but we can't get it because we previously had well paid jobs, and we own our house (mortgaged) so we can't.

I think my original post was misread. What i was triyng to say is that you can get wtc the child care part ,if you are both working and paying childcare. Which is what i meant to say. Id only be able to work if i got this else i would be basically be working to pay childcare and wouldnt be any better off. Im not beating myself up. The whole who is intitled to what confuses me. We get about 1000 a month after tax. We have been looking for cheeper housing but its not that easy, else we all would. We live in a 1 bedroom place as it is and have been looking for ages for somethins cheeper. I have no debts of my own as i paid them off. But the cost of living rising all the time, its very easy to say cut back but its not that easy to do.

Anyway

My original post was just meant to read as my understanding of WTC is that both of you have to work and you need to pay childcare cost. Then in some cases you got a percentage of you childcare paid. That was how i understood it. Which i think is a good thing. It then means that people who dont have family to look after there baby(s) can work and not have to pay all they earn on childcare