Tax Credits

[Colr]

Gordon Brown's flagship tax credits programme "brutally discriminates" against two-parent families and actively discourages single parents from forming stable relationships, a damning report says today.

Frank Field, the former Labour minister, has produced findings that show how the Government's campaign against child poverty has "stalled" by making it more financially attractive for lone parents not to seek partners.

His most telling conclusion is that a single mother working 16 hours a week, after tax credits, gains a total income of £487 a week, while a two-parent family on the minimum wage has to work 116 hours for the same income.

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Frank Field is a respected if rather academic figure. Has he got a point.

Its well skewed against folk in the SouthEast as well but that's a personal gripe.

[ldrphibby]

this reports that couples with a combined income of up to £58000 are eligible for tax credits.
i wonder why then we are not eligible with me working full time earning £27000 and my partner at home caring for the kids? (shiftwork makes childcare almost impossible)
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[egb_hibs]

Originally Posted by Colr
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Gordon Brown's flagship tax credits programme "brutally discriminates" against two-parent families and actively discourages single parents from forming stable relationships, a damning report says today.

Frank Field, the former Labour minister, has produced findings that show how the Government's campaign against child poverty has "stalled" by making it more financially attractive for lone parents not to seek partners.

His most telling conclusion is that a single mother working 16 hours a week, after tax credits, gains a total income of £487 a week, while a two-parent family on the minimum wage has to work 116 hours for the same income.

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Frank Field is a respected if rather academic figure. Has he got a point.

Its well skewed against folk in the SouthEast as well but that's a personal gripe.

i've tried to make this point on here a few times. but then i'm neither respected nor academic
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[Colr]

Originally Posted by ldrphibby
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this reports that couples with a combined income of up to £58000 are eligible for tax credits.
i wonder why then we are not eligible with me working full time earning £27000 and my partner at home caring for the kids? (shiftwork makes childcare almost impossible)
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You should qualify.
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Have they knocked you back?

Interestingly, I had a letter from the tax the other day saying I had over paid my tax a few years back and asking me if I wanted the money back (fill in wee form send it off).

The thing that got me was the overpayment related to a self-assessment where they had worked the tax out and told me how much I had to pay them.

So effecftively, they have fecked it up, taken my money interest free for 3 years and then made me apply to get it back. If it was the other way round I would be paying interest and fines on any amount due.

Unbelievable.

[Smurf]

Tax credits help those at the bottom end and whilst not perfect is a major help to those lower paid in society.

Critics should divert their attention to those large institutions who should pay but don't pay tax.

[Colr]

Originally Posted by Smurf
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Tax credits help those at the bottom end and whilst not perfect is a major help to those lower paid in society.

Critics should divert their attention to those large institutions who should pay but don't pay tax.

Or people like Philip Green who spends his weekends in Monacco so end up paying his tax there not here but still has the cheek to bleat for government money to set up a college to train his own staff.

[Smurf]

Originally Posted by Colr
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Or people like Philip Green who spends his weekends in Monacco so end up paying his tax there not here but still has the cheek to bleat for government money to set up a college to train his own staff.

Exactly.

[SKII]

Working tax credits need both parents at work for a minimum of 16 hours a week. If there is a parent full time at home, regardless of income, you will not qualify for the childcare component - which makes up the majority of the credits iirc.

Folks on the combined £58K will get not a lot from the system towards childcare - definitely less than £50 per month.

[Colr]

Originally Posted by SKII
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Working tax credits need both parents at work for a minimum of 16 hours a week. If there is a parent full time at home, regardless of income, you will not qualify for the childcare component - which makes up the majority of the credits iirc.

Folks on the combined £58K will get not a lot from the system towards childcare - definitely less than £50 per month.

On the basis that you have no childcare costs?

[Sean]

Originally Posted by Smurf
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Tax credits help those at the bottom end and whilst not perfect is a major help to those lower paid in society.

Critics should divert their attention to those large institutions who should pay but don't pay tax.

My household's tax burden has increased year on year for fecking yonks. Thats this Government's fault, no-one elses. Thats where I'll direct my ire thank you very much.

[Smurf]

Originally Posted by Sean
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My household's tax burden has increased year on year for fecking yonks. Thats this Government's fault, no-one elses. Thats where I'll direct my ire thank you very much.

I'd agree Sean. The Tax burden has increased pretty substantially. I was laughing watching Question Time last night when Labour Party deputy hopefuls were calling for increased taxation...

But i bet you want to see more public spending?
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[egb_hibs]

Originally Posted by Smurf
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Tax credits help those at the bottom end and whilst not perfect is a major help to those lower paid in society.

Critics should divert their attention to those large institutions who should pay but don't pay tax.

it's not an either / or thing. and the incentivisation of relationship breakdown is an act of legislative madness so profound it needs to be addressed.

[Sean]

Originally Posted by Smurf
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But i bet you want to see more public spending?
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Well there's the rub mate, eh?

If I could see tangible improvements in the likes of the health seervice, education service, social services and public transport then I'd keep my gob shut and happily pay my dues.

When it seems like the whole country is treading water to stop being flushed dwn the shitter however......

[ldrphibby]

Originally Posted by SKII
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Working tax credits need both parents at work for a minimum of 16 hours a week. If there is a parent full time at home, regardless of income, you will not qualify for the childcare component - which makes up the majority of the credits iirc.

Folks on the combined £58K will get not a lot from the system towards childcare - definitely less than £50 per month.

so the system would prefer that my children were cared for by strangers rather than their parents?
we have applied and been told that we do not qualify regardless of my partner's work status as i earn too much!!!
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