Couples with kids vs single parent

[emzy]

Originally Posted by BERNADETTE

I understand what you are saying and don't think this is any way a reflection on single parents. It does however seem unfair that a single parent only needs to work sixteen hours before getting top up benefits and a couple have to work forty eight hours to be entitled to same benefits.

The 48 hours is between them though, when I worked I was working around 60 hours a week most weeks so 48 would have been a short week for me. That works out really as 1 working full time and the other maybe doing a few hours. If they do less hours anyway they get child and working tax credits, so long as they work over 30 hours. The example they used in the article where she was better off single may be true in a way but she does not work and her husband is self employed which is variable and can sometimes be awkward to work with the benefits as they calculate it from your previous years earnings not off what you are earning at present

[BERNADETTE]

Originally Posted by emzy

The 48 hours is between them though, when I worked I was working around 60 hours a week most weeks so 48 would have been a short week for me. That works out really as 1 working full time and the other maybe doing a few hours. If they do less hours anyway they get child and working tax credits, so long as they work over 30 hours. The example they used in the article where she was better off single may be true in a way but she does not work and her husband is self employed which is variable and can sometimes be awkward to work with the benefits as they calculate it from your previous years earnings not off what you are earning at present

Right that explains it a bit better, didn't know the minimum hours worked was thirty before a couple could claim.

[emzy]

Originally Posted by BERNADETTE

Right that explains it a bit better, didn't know the minimum hours worked was thirty before a couple could claim.

Yeah, to qualify for a higher rate of working tax credit you have to work a minimum of 30 yrs per week, there is a lower rate but guess they do this so people dont sponge as much, maybe a way of controlling it a little, i dunno, can only say what i know from experience

[Less]

Originally Posted by emzy

you have to work a minimum of 30 yrs per week,

Without getting my calculator out I would guess that the 30 yrs per week would have to be leap years!

[emamum]

Originally Posted by emzy

Yeah, to qualify for a higher rate of working tax credit you have to work a minimum of 30 yrs per week, there is a lower rate but guess they do this so people dont sponge as much, maybe a way of controlling it a little, i dunno, can only say what i know from experience

thats just how it feels when you have kids em

[emzy]

Oooops - Simple mistake, trust you to pick up on it Less

[Less]

Originally Posted by emzy

Oooops - Simple mistake, trust you to pick up on it Less

Hey, at least it shows that I, and at least one other actually pay attention to the contents of your threads!

[onlyme]

Originally Posted by BERNADETTE

I understand what you are saying and don't think this is any way a reflection on single parents. It does however seem unfair that a single parent only needs to work sixteen hours before getting top up benefits and a couple have to work forty eight hours to be entitled to same benefits.

I dont think they do. They would be entitled to working tax and child tax dependant on income, as long as one works over 16 hours I think

[emzy]

Originally Posted by Less

Hey, at least it shows that I, and at least one other actually pay attention to the contents of your threads!

Good point! - Its appreciated, thanks

[BERNADETTE]

Originally Posted by onlyme

I dont think they do. They would be entitled to working tax and child tax dependant on income, as long as one works over 16 hours I think

Not really up to scratch on the rules just going off what Emzy said.

[Yolanda25]

i dont get working tax as me and my partner work he works full time i work part time, i have always been told that if i didnt work i would get more benefits, but thats not what i want, i want to be able to earn the money myself, i dont think it would be fair if only my partner worked, i like going to work thinking im doing something for the family as well even though is not much,and before someone shouts at me i am not saying nothing bad about people who has kids and dont work (just so we are clear )

[onlyme]

Yeah sorry Bernie, hadnt seen page 2 of the thread when i posted my reply

[emzy]

Originally Posted by onlyme

I dont think they do. They would be entitled to working tax and child tax dependant on income, as long as one works over 16 hours I think

am sure, (but could be wrong) that you get working tax credits if you working more than 16 hrs a week but you get a higher entitlement if you work over 30 hrs a week (all pay dependant of course)

[lancsdave]

Originally Posted by onlyme

I dont think they do. They would be entitled to working tax and child tax dependant on income, as long as one works over 16 hours I think

Thats correct. However a couple can work 30 hours between them to qualify for the 30 hrs a week extra credit whereas a single parent has to do the 30 hrs on their own.

[lancsdave]

It would be interesting to see where they get their figures from. I have just put myself through the tex credits system as

Single parent with one child working 16 hours on minimum wage, net income for year would be £10,290.

Married with one child and wife not working, 40 hrs a week on minimum wage, net income would be £14,172.

I don't know how housing benefit would apply to the lower figure if both situations could claim it, but I do know the single parent would get a 25% reduction in council tax.

As I said before very bad report. Would have been better if they gave better examples.