Continued from HERE

I can see that it may not be obvious to those who have a partner on a high salary, but I am not in that position and can only speak from my experience.  I believed that the Government now pays towards childcare for those mums that want to work but found childcare too much of a drain on their salary.  I have not needed to use childcare so may be wrong.  I am lucky that when my children were under school age, my Mum looked after them while I worked part time.

Also, being in a low wage bracket at the moment, we actually benefit from the working tax credit.  I suppose it depends on what your income is in the first place, but then I have always under stood the Labour Gov. to be doing more for the lower earners.

If I was working full time, earning a very good salary (and I was in this position before I had chilldren), then maybe I would be complaining about the taxes, but then I do believe that it is fair to take from those who can easily afford it (and did even when I was one of them) and help those who can't.

Fiona

They give you a percentage toward childcare from the age of 3 and only during term times...meaning folk get whacked with a massive nursery bill from August and most of September!

but then I do believe that it is fair to take from those who can easily afford it (and did even when I was one of them) and help those who can't

I wouldn't mind if it were toward those that can't. What I object to is paying toward those that WON'T.

Yes Chloe, I TOTALLY agree with you there!

Fiona

<<<<<<<<<<<<They give you a percentage toward childcare from the age of 3 and only during term times...meaning folk get whacked with a massive nursery bill from August and most of September!>>>>>>>>>>>>
They give every child over age of 3 free playschool places up to school age, which constitutes paying for 3 hours a day at a registered establishment.
But Child tax credit pays up to 70% of childcare for children from 6 weeks, right up to 12, (Maybe longer if you find someone registered that will have them after that age) Even in Holiday time. In holiday period my childcare is over £120/ week for 2 children, 3 days a week. There is no way I would be able to afford to work, if they didnt pay school holidays as well :)
All wage dependant though!!!!!!!!
Lea :)

The trouble is that they DON'T take from those who can eaily afford it. They take from anyone over 10k ;) They give back far less than they take as well

If you think that you actually benefit from the new tax at the moment, get an accountant to work out how much your other half is having taken off him in increased NI and tax ..then see how much you are getting ..you will soon see that there is a discrepency ;)

I really wish I had a husband on a high salray ..but I don't. I get £71 per week credit from the Gov ..hubbies wages decreased by FAR more than that though ;)

Clever old labour ..they have really managed to pull the wool over the eyes of the people with this one :D

Its all part of the cloning process Mel...I'm really starting to worry that The Matrix was a true representation! Tong Blair is an agent.

Trying to imagine Blair in a long leather coat and black shades now Chloe :D

Thats one scary image there Mel....I'd far rather imagine Canoe Reeves in it... :D

Chloe that certainly isn't the case.  I get help with my childcare ALL year round.  I get a 70% contribution as my previous post mentioned.

Personally, I wouldn't be in the positive situation I am in now, with a job and a house of my own, if it wasn't for the current government.  They have helped my situation greatly. 

Not when you earn over a certain amount they don't - and nor when your partner earns over a certain amount and you don't....despite him not being responsible for the children.

... but that is the whole purpose of means tested benefit!  Help is graded according to income but there has to be a cut-off point.  There are many of us who live on very low incomes and really benefit from the help given taking us off the poverty line. It would be nice to be in the position of having an income that high, I would be able to prioritise my workload in a different way.

Working tax credit does benefit some people, not always the right people though.  I know someone who is a single parent with 3 kids, who brings home more for 16 hrs a week work than my partner and me do for both working full time.  The children all go to school/out of schools club 5 days per week from 9am to 5.30pm when the mum works 3 days per week from 10am -3-4pm.  I don't deny anyone help if they need it but above example does not need all she gets.

Michelle

If your income is the same a hers Jazzywoo then you are entitled to Tax Credit too!  Putting your children into after school club is just as much as an option.

We dont have any children Jackyjat, I should of made my post more clear :) .  It just makes me mad that there are people like that who are gifted enough to have 3 beautiful children yet the time they can spend with them they choose not to.  I am not saying everyone who has children and works does this but there are ALOT of parents who do.

If this woman gets tax credit then she obviously has a lower income than someone who doesn't receive it.  It follows that she might actually need to work.  I do agree that there are plenty of people who would choose to work over and above looking after their children.

I would choose to spend more time with my precious children over ANYTHING else but I need to put a roof over their head and food on the table without the help and support of a partner.  I therefore have to leave my youngest in childcare and work full time (as well as study for a degree).  Without help from the government I would be on Income Support in council accommodation with little or no prospects.

Tax credit is taxable. My OH is self employed, I work part-time as a SEN EA. He claims tax credit. In April of this year his tax bill was much higher than the previous year when we were not claiming tax credit. We were told this was the governments way of getting back the money they give you! So in other words, we might have a few extra quid each week, but OH has to give it them back when his tax bill is paid in January!! The only 'benefit' we get having tax credit is free prescriptions and, touch wood, we have never needed that benefit yet!

Missie, in effect you are getting more!  Tax Credit opens lots of doors for other things on top of free prescriptions.

Free wigs, free surgical stokings......
Oh and the better benefits
Free dental care it you are with an NHS Dentist.
Free Eye tests and Help with glasses (And everyone should have regular eye tests from about a year old. Even if you have no problems with your eyes as they can find things that may cause problems in the future and treat them early, ie eye disease, glaucoma etc etc)
Sorry will shut up now!!!!!!!!
Lea :)

.. free adult education courses ... help with travel expenses for your childrens travel to college ...

Haven't had a wig or surgical stockings, had 2 dental checkups, got no children travelling to college, no education courses, no doctors visits. Don't need child care costs as I'm off when they're off.  A quick calculation we received £3300 in tax credits and his tax bill was £3000 more than last year. My earnings stayed the same and his rose by £400.(£3700 when you add the credit) So as far as I can see we, or rather he, paid it all back and I got 2 free dental check ups out of it ? I'm not arguing with anyone just saying how I see it.

The only surgical stockings I have ever seen are the ones I refused to wear following my C-section :D :D

Free dental care it you are with an NHS Dentist

LOL :D :D

I think it means both the NHS dentists in the country, Chloe! ;) :D

No problem with NHS dentists here - not that I'm telling you where I live, just in case you all decide to come and queue outside :D

Daisy

LOL @ JG and Daisy

When I started this thread I thought there would be a few interesting comments but never imagined it would evoke such a diverse debate.  One thing's for sure, when it comes to expressing opinions, champdoggers are among the best ! 

I'm half thinking of printing all these posts and sending them to the Government, just to let them see the effect their policies have on ordinary people.
But I suspect this wouldn't be allowed under the data protection act ;)

I think the tax credit system seems to be geared towards two parent families. I am a single parent with 4 children and was on income support before I started working part time just over a year ago. I get both working tax and child tax credit and after a meeting at the local job centre with the single parent advisor I was assured I would be better off. I now find with the mortgage rate rises I am no better off than on income support in fact if anything I am worse off. On income support your mortgage interest is paid and you are council tax exempt. I now have to pay my mortgage and council tax although I do get a 25% discount on that. I dont receive any maintenance from my ex partner. I think that you should get some allowence towards your mortgage and a bigger reduction off of the council tax. Also I cant go back on income support because they wouldnt pay my mortgage for nine months if I did and I would have major arrears.