Single working mums who receive tax credits. Help please.

**Angel Cake** · 01-06-2012, 12:37pm

I've just done the online tax credit calculator to see what I might be entitled to and I'm in disbelief by what it has estimated that I could receive. I've double checked that I wrote the correct working income for myself and it's estimated a lot more than I thought

Its a very personal question but I was hoping other single working mums might be able to tell me what they receive as I don't know any single mums to ask and its all very new to me and I keep thinking I've done the form wrong somewhere. Feel free to pm me if you can help me please.

**S-J** · 01-06-2012, 01:30pm

Not a single mum but didnt realise you were now AC.

**helpimfalling** · 01-06-2012, 01:35pm

I was one but I didn't work and it depends on that and how many children you have

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**RedTiger** · 01-06-2012, 01:52pm

I get more from tax credits than I actually earn in my job especially as TC's aren't taxed - I work 17.5 hours a week, and get about £10k in tax credits per year. That's with 3 children.

**Angel Cake** · 01-06-2012, 02:07pm

The calculator said around £6k a year for me so it is quite possibly correct then?! It also doesn't give the option to input maintenance payments, do they not count as an income?

**Angel Cake** · 01-06-2012, 02:08pm

Originally Posted by S-J

Not a single mum but didnt realise you were now AC.

Thanks hun, nothing official has happened yet as I'm concerned how I will support the children as they are my priority which is why I've been looking at tax credits.

**Faith** · 01-06-2012, 02:32pm

Originally Posted by Angel Cake

The calculator said around £6k a year for me so it is quite possibly correct then?! It also doesn't give the option to input maintenance payments, do they not count as an income?

/sore point- it does count the other way though- as in it counts as our family income for TC, even though it's paid directly to ex. so she gets more tc, despite having a much higher household income

And 10k a year tax free

We'd be much better off if DH moved out

:notfunny:

**bubblewrap** · 01-06-2012, 04:36pm

Originally Posted by Faith

And 10k a year tax free

We'd be much better off if DH moved out

:notfunny:

I'm not sure what the :notfunny: smiley is supposed to be, but you're right, your statement isn't funny. There's much more to having a partner than money. I'm sure many single parents would swap your 10K for the opportunity to have someone around for them and the kids.

**Tekkencat** · 01-06-2012, 04:54pm

Originally Posted by bubblewrap

I'm not sure what the :notfunny: smiley is supposed to be, but you're right, your statement isn't funny. There's much more to having a partner than money. I'm sure many single parents would swap your 10K for the opportunity to have someone around for them and the kids.

absolutely - i was in this exact pos - i lost a little less than that amount - would I change it - would i feck

**popinjay1** · 01-06-2012, 05:05pm

I get just over £1k a month in tax credits. I too was totally dumbfounded as I was fully expecting to have to sell the house.. Etc when Dh and I split up. I work 16 hours a week and have 4 children.

**RedTiger** · 01-06-2012, 05:16pm

Originally Posted by Angel Cake

It also doesn't give the option to input maintenance payments, do they not count as an income?

No, they don't count maintenance payment as income for TC calculations.

**Faith** · 01-06-2012, 05:40pm

Originally Posted by bubblewrap

I'm not sure what the :notfunny: smiley is supposed to be, but you're right, your statement isn't funny. There's much more to having a partner than money. I'm sure many single parents would swap your 10K for the opportunity to have someone around for them and the kids.

That was to enforce the point I wasn't being flippant, which on re-reading I thought it might. I just think the system must be a bit skewy if a person is better off as a single parent, by choice or otherwise. In fact I think there's at least one damsel who lives/lived seperately from her dh as they'd lose so much if they moved in together.

But that's not anyone here's issue or problem. I'm just taken aback whenever I see the figures...

**PoppyHoney** · 01-06-2012, 06:20pm

I get a third of my salary again from the tax credits people (when they're getting it right

). I work full time, with one child who has after school care only.

If you want to know more then PM me, it can be a bit of a minefield!

**PoppyHoney** · 01-06-2012, 06:22pm

Originally Posted by bubblewrap

I'm not sure what the :notfunny: smiley is supposed to be, but you're right, your statement isn't funny. There's much more to having a partner than money. I'm sure many single parents would swap your 10K for the opportunity to have someone around for them and the kids.

Quite.

**Jeany** · 02-06-2012, 09:19am

Originally Posted by bubblewrap

I'm not sure what the :notfunny: smiley is supposed to be, but you're right, your statement isn't funny. There's much more to having a partner than money. I'm sure many single parents would swap your 10K for the opportunity to have someone around for them and the kids.

While I agree with you that many single mums would love to have a partner around that isn't really relevant to what Faith said. How is it right that a working couple are worse off than a single working parent due to tax credit payments?

**bubblewrap** · 02-06-2012, 09:27am

Originally Posted by Jeany

While I agree with you that many single mums would love to have a partner around that isn't really relevant to what Faith said. How is it right that a working couple are worse off than a single working parent due to tax credit payments?

I didn't say it was right, or fair. The whole system is wrong imo, would not like to be the person who has to try to fix it.

**Velvet Chain** · 02-06-2012, 09:36am

Originally Posted by Jeany

While I agree with you that many single mums would love to have a partner around that isn't really relevant to what Faith said. How is it right that a working couple are worse off than a single working parent due to tax credit payments?

I don't think that a single mum on tax credits would be better off than a working couple - at the end of the day if you are a working couple you are bringing in two wages, a single parent is bringing in one and still has the same amount of outgoings effectively. So £10k a year is probably still a lot less than most men earn (am saying men as we are all women).

**Angel Cake** · 02-06-2012, 09:51am

Thanks for all the replies, I didn't want to start off a debate about the whole workings of the system. What I would receive in tax credits are nowhere near what my husband earns a year but for me, knowing I would get te extra financial help from tax credits is a big relief to me.

**Jeany** · 02-06-2012, 10:09am

Originally Posted by Velvet Chain

I don't think that a single mum on tax credits would be better off than a working couple - at the end of the day if you are a working couple you are bringing in two wages, a single parent is bringing in one and still has the same amount of outgoings effectively. So £10k a year is probably still a lot less than most men earn (am saying men as we are all women).

That isn't taking into account housing and council tax benefits. A single parent working 16 hours per week, for 8 per hour, with 4 children paying 600 per month rent would have a tax free income of 31000. That is not including any maintenance payments from children's Dad.

**bubblewrap** · 02-06-2012, 10:33am

Originally Posted by Jeany

That isn't taking into account housing and council tax benefits. A single parent working 16 hours per week, for 8 per hour, with 4 children paying 600 per month rent would have a tax free income of 31000. That is not including any maintenance payments from children's Dad.

Really? Wow, I need to move to a more expensive area and get me a couple more kids!