No Benefits for parents

flashy · 13-06-2008, 13:41

Got a call on Thursday from a nice lady from the social informing me that in November this year the government are stopping giving benefits to single parents who's youngest kids are over 11 , they MUST go back to work, she asked me a few questions on the phone and said would i like to go to an open day that they have going on in Blackburn college at the end of this month, which i said yes to, at this open day they are going to inform parents of hidden benefits aparently, things that the people down the job centre dont tell you about, she knew that i'd been looking for work anyway and seemed rather pleased that she'd got a happy person on the other end of the phone...has anyone else had the call yet?

i am please with this but will it make other mums have more kids just so they can stay on the benefits system that bit longer? i bet it will

onlyme · 13-06-2008, 14:13

I think before they start forcing mothers back to work, they should make it 'doable'. You have to earn a really good amount of money to go back to work, because once you pay childcare, rent etc, its hard to make working worthwhile

flashy · 13-06-2008, 14:58

i think what they are saying Nik is that kids of that age can look after themselves? was telling my dad about this yesterday and he said....'and are they going to create jobs for all the millions of people that they are telling to come off benefits' i suppose he has a point

Neil · 13-06-2008, 15:02

Quote:

Originally Posted by flashytart

i...'and are they going to create jobs for all the millions of people that they are telling to come off benefits' i suppose he has a point

With all the Poles going home after they have made the money they wanted there should be work about.

Are they saying you have to earn something and they will top it up still?

flashy · 13-06-2008, 15:09

yeah i think so Neil, thats why i'm going to this open day at the end of the month, theres tax credits and all that i think, i've been looking for a job for a while now so i'll just go to see what sort of jobs they have on offer, doesnt bother me in the slightest really but i bet this has panicked some parents

Less · 13-06-2008, 15:20

Quote:

Originally Posted by Neil

With all the Poles going home after they have made the money they wanted there should be work about.

Are they saying you have to earn something and they will top it up still?

Didn't we only get Polish Plumbers?

Is Flashy Corgi registered?

If she is she can afford a live in Nanny.

polly · 13-06-2008, 16:45

I am sure that if the goverment gave employers help with the cost of employing people, at least for a limited period, then employers would create suitable jobs.
These jobs would not have to be full time and could be focused around school times or even centred on home working.

onlyme · 13-06-2008, 18:18

I'm still not sure its a good idea. Think about the youth culture today, and the problems society has with it. Turning aload of 11 year olds on the streets whilst they're mams are at work isnt really going to help, I wouldnt have thought.

During schooltime, its not as bad as the holidays, and where else can you get the same amount of holidays as the schools in a working environment.

I think I was probably about this age when I started 'looking after myself' during the day, but I know a lot of kids that at 11years old would not be safe or mature enough to do so?

churchman phil · 13-06-2008, 18:23

Quote:

Originally Posted by polly

I am sure that if the goverment gave employers help with the cost of employing people, at least for a limited period, then employers would create suitable jobs.
These jobs would not have to be full time and could be focused around school times or even centred on home working.

Are you proposing even more taxes??

harwood red · 13-06-2008, 23:30

As flashy has said the amount of financial help that is out there to get back to work is alot more than people realise.

The question of immature 11 year olds (said immature as some 11 year olds are very mature) left on there own is covered by childcare up to the age of 16 that can be claimed as part of your working/child tax credit awards.

There is also a 4 week cross over regarding benefits to allow people to adjust to going back to work, there's help with costs for attending interviews and purchasing smart clothes for interviews which is monitored.

A point I really want to make which is especially relevant to people in rented housing..when notifying housing/council tax benefit that you have started work and have put a claim in for tax credits, they CANNOT wait until your tax credit award comes through to work out your housing benefit entitlement, they have to base it on your wage and then when your tax credit award is sorted they have to reassess your benefit claim and can only treat any back payment of tax credits as savings and upto £6000 is disregarded!! Also any maintenance you may receive from a former partner is not classed as income for tax credit purposes but is for housing/council tax benefit purposes

Any queries on how your benefits could be affected please ask on here or by pm

polly · 14-06-2008, 07:40

Quote:

Originally Posted by churchman phil

Are you proposing even more taxes??

Certainly not, just better use of the taxes we already pay for peop0le to do nothing all day.

flashy · 14-06-2008, 07:49

[quote=harwood red;592524
Any queries on how your benefits could be affected please ask on here or by pm

[/quote]

its so bloody confusing Lesley, it kinda makes me dread having to fill a million forms in, and what hapens if i get behind with rent? what happens if i cant manage off just my wage until the tax credits come through? was discussing this with my mate yesterday and those are the questions we came up with

lancsdave · 14-06-2008, 07:56

Quote:

Originally Posted by harwood red

The question of immature 11 year olds (said immature as some 11 year olds are very mature) left on there own is covered by childcare up to the age of 16 that can be claimed as part of your working/child tax credit awards.

Offical childcare for under 11's is difficult enough to find, over 11's is nigh on impossible

onlyme · 14-06-2008, 09:11

Quote:

Originally Posted by polly

Certainly not, just better use of the taxes we already pay for peop0le to do nothing all day.

Think you'll find, especially in this thread that is aimed for single mothers, you are not paying taxes for someone who does nothing all day.

And with childcare, tax credits still only pay 80% max of childcare, less if you have a decent income. I got caught last year by earning too much to claim childcare payments, but by the time I'd paid that, housing etc I would have been as well off by not working

lancsdave · 14-06-2008, 09:46

Quote:

Originally Posted by onlyme

Think you'll find, especially in this thread that is aimed for single mothers,

Does this mean the government are guilty of sex discrimination and single fathers don't have to find a job ?

It's definatley aimed at single parents regardless of gender