Can't Afford To Work?

[san070160]

My Partner has just interviewed a young man for a full-time job. It's not much over the minimum wage, but he seemed very keen and was offered the position. However, he has sinced made enquiries regarding his Benefits, and has worked out that if he takes the job, he will actually be worse off, as he'll lose most of his Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit. He lives in Rented Acommodation with his wife and two children, and he really wants to return to work after a period of illness. But he literally can't afford to! How mad is that?

[sandyRoe]

He won't be enjoying a life of luxury on benefits.

[san070160]

£2.65 per hour? What an insult? So you'll have to carry on "keeping" him till he can earn more. It's not fair on him! and it's not fair on you. But well done to him for at least trying. Hopefully, it will pay off in the long run. Fingers crossed.

[overthetop]

I appreciate that Sandy. But he will still be unemployed and on benefits.

[sara3]

thanks san.. he wants to do well so I hope it works out, but so far they've totally taken the p***!

[tonyav]

sara3
slightly off topic, but my son (16) has just started his apprenticeship.. at £2.65 an hour. I feel he is being exploited.


When I started my apprenticeship in 1971 I was paid £5 per week for the first year, and I bloody well felt I was being exploited as well.

[pixie373]

If he's got a family, would he not just get different benefits? I'm sure working tax credit depends on what you earn and housing benefit and council tax benefits are scaled aren't they? I thought they had changed it to ensure people were better off being in some sort of work.
Think he should actually ring them back and clarify.

[cassa333]

Agree with you Pixie. The benifits are scaled. And phased out after a year. Learn to live by the cut of your cloth perhaps.

In the real world you have to pay your own rent/morgage, council tax, rates etc etc etc. In the alternative real world those working pay it for you.

[cazzz1975]

Its very hard to keep a family on only one minimum wage, which probably explains why he refused the job. If his wife also worked full time that would probably take the pressure off him being the sole bread winner.

[Boto]

As already stated he would be able to claim working tax credit/child tax credit and the other benefits are scaled also.

Employers do not have to stick to the minimum wage - they can pay as much as they want/can.

[ummmm]

The problem in many cases is extortionate rents.

[cazzz1975]

extortionate rent, extortionate utility bills, food bills, travel costs... the list goes on

[ummmm]

But you can reduce the others as best you can. You can't reduce rent.

It's also very easy for people to say move somewhere cheaper. Moving is quite expensive.

[pixie373]

You can get housing benefit towards rent though...

[ummmm]

Wouldn't that depend on much you earned?

[cazzz1975]

I believe housing benefit is capped, the private rental sector charges a heck of a lot more in rent than the benefits cover. social housing is over subscribed, its that bad that the councils have some homeless families living in bed and breakfasts for over a year.

[pixie373]

I believe it all depends on what you earn. Out of all my friends, the majority have children, myself included. And not one family had decided to stay out of work to be better off. Im most cases, both partners are working and sometimes needing to do some overtime and sometimes a bit of a struggle. But from pride, as much as anything else, i can't think of anyone who genuinely thinks they would be better off not working at all.

[ummmm]

Which is all well and good if they've managed to stay in work. The problem arises when someone loses their job and have no choice but to claim benefits. Finding a job at the same pay can prove extremely difficult.

[ToraToraTora]

The government should sort this out. The benefits are far too complex and numerous. Broadly speaking it should not be possible to be better off not working than working. I thought the low paid got various top ups so they where better off by working and the governement saved something on the benefits, things like WFTC for example so how does it work now?

[themas]

sara3 - if this is a proper apprenticeship your son is learning his trade and should be getting a lot of help in his working hours to do so. It is the sort of thing which used to be very common in this country until somehow (a past Government changing things?) apprenticeships fell by the wayside. Now - thankfully - attempts are being made to bring them back. If he is being trained properly I don't think he is being exploited - he will have a lot to learn & his value to his employer will be far less than a fully trained & experienced worker.

[sidkid]

How much would he be earning if he was learning his trade in a college?