Is this possible ?

[modeller]

I was speaking to a decorator who said he only had to work 16hrs a week which plus his benefits brought him £280 and his rent is paid . He said it was a great life with plenty of time off. I don't know if thats all true but he had no reason to lie.

[ummmm]

So he's a benefit cheat?

[ummmm]

Or is he getting WTC?

[jackthehat]

The Working Tax Credit system will 'make up' his wage providing he works 16 hours or more.

His personal circumstances (spouse, children) will also be a factor in the money he receives.

[Old_Geezer]

Not a financially rewardnig life, but rich in time.
Looks like he's cracked it. In his old age the State will pay for his needs while the rest of us lose the little we painstakingly scrapped together in order to pay the bills.
It's a strange world.

[hc4361]

Very much doubt it. He could get JSA for 6 months and work 16 hours a week. After 6 months it stops or is means tested.

People working 16 hours or less can claim Income Support but this is means tested and takes in to account the amount of earnings. In fact the authorities are very wise to this and need a good reason for not being able to work more than 16 hours.

I suppose if he is a single parent then it could be true.

[Booldawg]

we have a cleaning contractor here that encourages the 16 hour per week workers. I suppose they can get away with paying minimum wage as they're topped up by benefits.

[hc4361]

Booldawg, no benefits if they have a partner in work though.

[ummmm]

That would depend on how much the partner earned.

[Zeuhl]

True OG.

I think the increasing unsustainability of the system will mean that more and more people will feel that a lifetime of conforming to the ideology of 'get qualifications - work hard - pay your taxes - obey the rules = and you will be treated fairly and looked after in sickness and old age' has actually been a massive confidence trick.

Could be an older profile for rioters and looters in the future.

[Quizmonster]

Sounds just like the Thatcher years...a tradesman with "Loadsamoney!" for little actual work because of government policies.

[geo0939]

QM, perhaps you will remember an expression of Thatcher's "There is no such thing as society"? There were no handouts from her government, just "Greed is good".

[factor-fiction]

Geo0939- Isn't that a myth about Thatcher saying "there's no such thing as society"?
And state benefits were available in Thatcher's era, so that point was nonsense.

[Quizmonster]

Factor, click http://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Margaret_Thatcher and scroll down to the Section titled 'Third Term as Prime Minister' and then to the part which opens, 'They're casting their problem...'