Parents of ten say jobs don't pay in Handout UK
KEEPING IT IN THE FAMILY: Pete, Sue and their 10 children.
THIS jobless mum and dad with TEN kids highlight Britain's barmy benefits system - they'd have to earn a whacking ?67,000 A YEAR to match what they get from the state.
Sue and Pete Davison, who haven't had a job between them since 1997, want to work. But they are trapped by our crazy handouts culture that pays them nearly ?45,000 a year. Meanwhile it's tax paid by the average worker - earning just ?25,428 - which foots that bill.
Pete, 43, last worked 13 years ago when he was made redundant from a factory job.
He said: "At the same time Sue was in a bus crash and became unwell so I started to care for her and the kids.
"But I am ready to get back to work. There just aren't the jobs at a salary which would it beneficial. I can't work in McDonald's for little more than minimum wage." The couple's children range in age from 20-year-old daughter Amy, now working at an old folk's home, down to little three-year-old Trinity.
Between those two are Joshua, 19, Scarlett-Louize, 14, Zeferam, 13, Eellan, 11, Emir, ten, Neo, nine, Cadell, seven, and Jadzia, five.
At their four-bedroom council maisonette in Doncaster, South Yorkshire, mum Sue, 38, admitted: "People might say we're only having kids for the benefits. But that's nonsense.
"I'd always wanted a large family and we have very little money at all left over. The house isn't dripping with mobile phones and computers. I have a laptop which the kids fight over to help with their homework.
"Our weekly food bill is often ?300. Pete likes the odd glass of beer but he doesn't go to the pub.
"I might take the kids to the pictures but we go early when it's cheaper. We have days out to the seaside and picnics rather than holidays. If we had loads of money we'd be living in a big house but that's not the case.
"Everything goes on feeding and clothing the kids plus household bills.
"Our one luxury is the ?35-a-month Sky TV. The biggest thing we give the kids is free, though - and that's our love and attention."
HOME FREE: Their maisonette
Of course there is criticism of their life at taxpayers' expense.
Sue, who hopes to train as a social worker, agreed: "People do judge us. But we really are trapped by the benefits system. We're both keen to work but the jobs just aren't out there with the level of income we need."
The couple delivered a cautious welcome for government moves to make it more rewarding for claimants to switch from benefits to work.
Pete said: "The government plan to allow people to keep more of the money that they earn, without losing all their benefits.
"It seems like a good idea.
"But I'd have to see how it all added up in relation to any job I could land."
The family's current tax-free handouts include ?76-a-week HOUSING BENEFIT, their ?700 COUNCIL TAX bill, ?390-a-week child TAX CREDITS, CHILD BENEFIT of ?104 a week and SCHOOL MEALS to the tune of ?63 a week.
Pete gets INCOME SUPPORT of ?80 a week. But ironically the family is financially better off since Sue sadly lost a leg this year after complications following a fall at a leisure centre.
Pete is now her full-time carer with a weekly allowance of ?53, while Sue gets ?97 a week in DISABILITY PAYMENTS.
It all adds up to ?44,820 - they'd have to earn ?67,000 gross to take that home after tax.
An employed family on a gross income of ?44,820 would see just ?30,000 of it after tax.
With nine kids under 20, like Sue and Peter, they would then be entitled to ?16,685 in tax credits - making them just ?1,865 a year better off for putting in all the effort of going to work.
Matthew Sinclair, Research Director at the TaxPayers' Alliance, said: "It's an outrage that ordinary taxpayers have to support an income for families like this, way beyond what most earn themselves.
"The Government must urgently reform benefits and stop this abuse of our money."
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
KEEPING IT IN THE FAMILY: Pete, Sue and their 10 children. THIS jobless mum and dad with TEN kids highlight Britain's barmy benefits system - they'd have to earn a whacking ?67,000 A YEAR to match what they get from the state.
Sue and Pete Davison, who haven't had a job between them since 1997, want to work. But they are trapped by our crazy handouts culture that pays them nearly ?45,000 a year. Meanwhile it's tax paid by the average worker - earning just ?25,428 - which foots that bill.
Pete, 43, last worked 13 years ago when he was made redundant from a factory job.
He said: "At the same time Sue was in a bus crash and became unwell so I started to care for her and the kids.
"But I am ready to get back to work. There just aren't the jobs at a salary which would it beneficial. I can't work in McDonald's for little more than minimum wage." The couple's children range in age from 20-year-old daughter Amy, now working at an old folk's home, down to little three-year-old Trinity.
Between those two are Joshua, 19, Scarlett-Louize, 14, Zeferam, 13, Eellan, 11, Emir, ten, Neo, nine, Cadell, seven, and Jadzia, five.
At their four-bedroom council maisonette in Doncaster, South Yorkshire, mum Sue, 38, admitted: "People might say we're only having kids for the benefits. But that's nonsense.
"I'd always wanted a large family and we have very little money at all left over. The house isn't dripping with mobile phones and computers. I have a laptop which the kids fight over to help with their homework.
"Our weekly food bill is often ?300. Pete likes the odd glass of beer but he doesn't go to the pub.
"I might take the kids to the pictures but we go early when it's cheaper. We have days out to the seaside and picnics rather than holidays. If we had loads of money we'd be living in a big house but that's not the case.
"Everything goes on feeding and clothing the kids plus household bills.
"Our one luxury is the ?35-a-month Sky TV. The biggest thing we give the kids is free, though - and that's our love and attention."
HOME FREE: Their maisonetteOf course there is criticism of their life at taxpayers' expense.
Sue, who hopes to train as a social worker, agreed: "People do judge us. But we really are trapped by the benefits system. We're both keen to work but the jobs just aren't out there with the level of income we need."
The couple delivered a cautious welcome for government moves to make it more rewarding for claimants to switch from benefits to work.
Pete said: "The government plan to allow people to keep more of the money that they earn, without losing all their benefits.
"It seems like a good idea.
"But I'd have to see how it all added up in relation to any job I could land."
The family's current tax-free handouts include ?76-a-week HOUSING BENEFIT, their ?700 COUNCIL TAX bill, ?390-a-week child TAX CREDITS, CHILD BENEFIT of ?104 a week and SCHOOL MEALS to the tune of ?63 a week.
Pete gets INCOME SUPPORT of ?80 a week. But ironically the family is financially better off since Sue sadly lost a leg this year after complications following a fall at a leisure centre.
Pete is now her full-time carer with a weekly allowance of ?53, while Sue gets ?97 a week in DISABILITY PAYMENTS.
It all adds up to ?44,820 - they'd have to earn ?67,000 gross to take that home after tax.
An employed family on a gross income of ?44,820 would see just ?30,000 of it after tax.
With nine kids under 20, like Sue and Peter, they would then be entitled to ?16,685 in tax credits - making them just ?1,865 a year better off for putting in all the effort of going to work.
Matthew Sinclair, Research Director at the TaxPayers' Alliance, said: "It's an outrage that ordinary taxpayers have to support an income for families like this, way beyond what most earn themselves.
"The Government must urgently reform benefits and stop this abuse of our money."
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Comment