General Chat

Winter, Because we are in the forces but unmarried at the moment,were engaged. When I got pregnant I was given a 2 bedroom house to live in, Chris was told, when our child was born that he was only allowed to stay 3 nights a week!!! Which he does, there are a few people who do keep an 'eye' on us to make sure he only stays his 3 nights!!!!, he has to live in the block the rest of the time!

The sad fact is if the Employers were made to pay a decent wage, we wouldn't have to claim anything in the first place. Why can't they pay us then claim it back from there taxes or goverment. Jan

if you are a single parent and the partner stays three night or less, it won't afffect you benefits. If they stay more than three nights it is affected. I know of girl who has 3 kids different fathers to all three, her current partner only stays three nights a week (so they reckon) and she gets everything, housing benefit, council tax benefit and income support.

Hi Kerry If it is not too personal a question. Why is your partner only allowed to stay 3 nights? Aileen

Ok Mike, I accept you meant it as a joke :o) but this subject has been brought up before. I understand people feel they are paying for it through their taxes, but surely I`m paying for my own benefits too!! I don`t pay my bills with any of the money I get from Inland Revenue. My bills are paid from my wages!! All that money goes on our son as he is our priority!!! Plus I have worked for the forces for 4 years and we get no b****Y thanks for what we do!! I knnow thats the same in every job.sorry xxxx

Both my hubby and myself work full time and we have 2 children. We also get child working credit and help with child care costs, but like Sarah says all money coming into the house is used as needed, We couldn't afford to live any other way, and before anyone says anything we don't drink, smoke or go out so money is not wasted and we don't have acredit card so we don't live beyond our means, but we still struggle to pay all on time. Jan

i call that working the system to ur advantage. but everybody knows someone that does it.and my hat goe`s off to them all cuz it`s a hard life we live in this country. derek

Kerry, I presume you're refering to what I said 'jokingly' to the PM Dave Bennett? I asked why do people get pension credits/child credits and I as a single person get NO credit? It was a joke! lol But hey he gave me a £100 in his manifesto!!

I don't think anyone considers you a scrounger Kerry for taking what is offered. I didn't read the original thread but assume that someone was saying they found it hard to pay their bills and they don't qualify for benefits. I am sure it wasn't meant to be personal. however, by getting the benefits, they do indirectly help you to pay your bills surely? I don't begrudge you getting it and I am not having a go. I admire you for working and bringing up your little one. Goodnes it takes me twice as long to post now after Jim's thread. I have proof read honest!! Ann glos

All parents be them single or married are entitled to Child Benefit. Other Benefits eg, Family Tax Credits are all means -tested. Therefore i would have thought very difficult to claim if the case was not genuine.

he is here 3 days a week as thats all he`s allowed.I pay the rent,bills etc. I AM CLASSED AS A SINGLE MOTHER

Derek, I SPOKE to Inalnd Revenue personally!!! Chris does not live with me as in a married couple, Inland revenue rang my CO to confirm our living situation, hence their decision!

co-habiting together u r not single and r classed the same as married people.

Bella, as were in the forces and not married but have a child together. They let Chris live in the house 3 days a week!! I rang up Inland Revenue about this and they said I was still classed as a single mum

Hi Kerry I didn't see the other thread so assume that someone was having a go about people getting benefits. Of the 3 benefits mentioned, as far as I am aware child benefit and child tax credit are available to almost everyone. Child benefit is a set rate, and child tax credit is means tested but even when my hubby was on a good salary we got a small amount of this credit. As you say, the money is for the upbringing of your son and I agree with you but surely using it to pay bills is in a childs best interests too. In our home all money (money earned by me and hubby and tax credits) go into the 'pot' and all bills, mortgage, nursery fees and food shopping etc is paid. I know some people who save the child benefit for their child in the future but we simply can't afford to do that. If that money allocated for the children wasn't used then the children wouldn't eat! Sarah x

Single mums who co-habit (with father of child) are surely not classed as 'single mums'.........are they?

I just saw someones post on another thread,saying about pension credit/child credit etc and saying they need money to pay their bills!!! I get child benefit/child tax credit/family tax credit!!! This money is for my son and for riasing my son, ie paying his nursery, nappies, clothes, milk etc. we DO NOT spend this money on ourselves! I have worked since I left school(forces) and am not a scrounger. I resent the fact that people complain that we get this help!!! It`s not cheap having a child, and I know that`s no excuse! Although I have a partner I am still classed as a single mother until we are married!!! Sorry for going on but some people are on benefits for genuine reasons! If I didn`t recieve these benefits, I would struggle to pay nursery fees etc etc!!! It`s the people that commit Benefit fraud that give people a bad name! Kerry xxxx (Now getting off my soap box.....for time being)