A chara, - A man earns £29,000 per annum. He and his wife have very small children and a big mortgage. They have chosen that she stay at home fulltime to care for their children.
He can earn an extra £11,000 per annum overtime to help pay the mortgage. After tax and PRSI he will take home £117 per week overtime.
If, instead, she got an evening job earning £11,000 per annum she would take home £157 per week (after deducting £12 because she would lose the stay-athome spouse allowance). From the same gross amount she would take home £40 per week more than him.
This couple's right to choose incurs a Government penalty of £40 per week. Why? - Is mise,
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BreandAn O Loingsigh, Loughlinstown, Co Dublin.