why is the tax credit and benefit system so unfair???

Hi, I work for benefits (housing & council tax benefits) and I couldn't agree with you more, the goverment need to seriously revise the way they pay benefit which will also eliminate the benefit trap that so many people get stuck in.

For a working couple with children getting Tax Credits (working and child tax credit) and Housing and Council Tax Benefit for every £1 extra that they earn:-

Working Tax Credit deduct 37p

Child Tax Credit deduct 37p

Council Tax Benefit deduct 20p

Housing Benefit Deduct 65p

Total deductions is £1.59p, so for every £1 extra you earn you end up 59p worse off so whats the sence in working more only to be worse off. I earn about 30k a year I have 3 kids and the only reason I get more tax credits is because my son is disabled, the govenrment should do more to reward those who go out and earn a living and struggle to support their families because the current system just doesn't work

The answer to your question is very simple! This country is geared to look after either those who are already very rich or to look after those who have no intention of working at all. The system is flawed. The lowest paid job in the country shoul pay twice as much as the highest paid comparable benefit claimant then there would be an incentive to work. You cannot blame anyone who can get more money for not working as opposed to having a job and struggling to live.

I work full time & gross 18k a year, my wife works part time as she's doing a college course & earns about £5k a year. We were turned down for tax credits as we apparently earn too much, I pay £140 a month council tax, my wife has to pay for her own tuition, books & exams , but she's only one of 2 on her course that pays: The others are doing it for free as they're on benefits of some sort. It's the norm that as soon as you get 1 form of benefit, they'll chuck everything else at you as well.

Just face it: Your tax pays for scroungers & farm subsidies!

Because we live in an unfair world. You think we get ripped off by people and other companies! The government are the biggest rip off and we can't do anything about it. Can you blame people that commit tax fraud and do other illegal activities to stop the tax man taking upto 40% of there income!

Blame Nu fing Labour. I am single but engaged and living with my g/f together we have wages of 27k and we fight like mad to pay everything. I worked out if we both went on benefits we would be better off and have money left over

I agree. We just miss the working tax threshold. We struggle sometimes to make ends meet. We have 3 kids and I would dearly love to put them into child care sometimes but just can't afford it. I totally agree that the system is unfair.

She has a council house. You have a mortgage. In 20 years you'll own your property. She won't. Big difference.

Because they tend to reward single parent households.

Because government takes the p** . Its ridiculoushow they determine who gets money!!

because its not a system for people to rely on. stop complaining