Child Benefit cut

[Shinny]

Why does my 200k per annum mother and step dad need child benefit? Why does my 150K+ uncle need child benefit?

[Uncle Liam]

Isn't this really an argument against taxation and benefits in general ? it dosen't effect me so why should I pay for it ?

You should recognise and factor in that these lower middle class families are contributing a far greater amount than you are...

[dakyras]

Cry babies.

[dakyras]

Cry babies.

[oafc0000]

http://www.thedailymash.co.uk/news/society/middle-class-to-sell-thair-children-201010043135/

[oafc0000]

And taking more than I am as well. The fact is, if you earn a comfortable living, you shouldnt be dependant on the state. Child benefit should be used for essentials, not waterbabies lessons. And frankly, if you are earning over 44k and rely on child benefit then clearly, your budget needs adjusting.

[oafc0000]

it's not a case of relying on child benefit for things like waterbabies lessons (for example). Kids cost money, there's no question about that. There's the nappies, food and clothes... the basics for starters. Every parent has to pay for these, so there's some help from the state. If you've got some money at the end of the day, what's wrong with giving your child some therapeutic and healthy swimming lessons?

Now you can construe that as the state paying for the swimming lessons if you like

personally, I'd like to see free swimming sessions for all kids, especially babies

Edited October 4, 2010 by oafc0000

[Jason447]

I can see this coalition losing the next election over this.

Once again, those people who work hardest and pay more taxes get penalised. I have worked hard to get near the £44,000 limit in my job,

I still pay hundreds of pounds for my student loan every month for an education which people like George Osborne undoubtedly got for free.

I have to pay extortionate council tax fees, and massive nursery fees so that my wife can work and isn't a burden on the welfare system. We also struggle to pay the bills every month, so this will hit us hard.

I drive through council estates and see houses with satellite dishes and brand new cars outside, luxuries I cannot afford. Yet they are on benefits that my taxes are paying for.

To cut the burden on the country, they need to stop the lazy layabouts sitting on welfare and get them back into work. We'll be paying them fewer benefits and they'll be paying their taxes. That's how you get this country out of the mire it's in.

They need to stop penalising the hard-working.

[oafc0000]

I drive through council estates and see houses with satellite dishes and brand new cars outside, luxuries I cannot afford. Yet they are on benefits that my taxes are paying for.

[Jason447]

the people who pay more taxes work harder??

how quaint

[oafc0000]

so you represent everyone do you?

do company directors, who probably pay quite a lot in taxes (not enough though!) work harder than nurses (just one example of a few hundred I could come up with...)?

it's too stupid a sweeping statement

[MrZigster]

This subject comes up regularly in certain circles round my way. Child Tax Credits were brought in because of the admirable aim that "no child should be brought up in poverty", but we all tend to agree that whoever set the income threshold at £40k+ pa (or whatever it is) must have been living in cloud cuckoo land. Makes us incredulous it does. £40k pa is not poverty. It's twice what the average person earns. I mean seriously, who came up with that figure? Some civil servant on £50k a year, or who was brought up in a household with two parents both on good wages? We worked out that what I pay in tax each month, I may as well give straight to my mate who gets the equivalent in Tax Credits. Though I obviously agree with the ideal that no child should be brought up in poverty, I still find it hard to believe that people in relatively well paid jobs are getting these payments.

I mean, I think my gross may have just touched £20k last tax year, and I don't get any state handouts. Getting on the housing ladder is an impossibility. Maybe I should have sprogged?

[Jason447]

so you represent everyone do you?

do company directors, who probably pay quite a lot in taxes (not enough though!) work harder than nurses (just one example of a few hundred I could come up with...)?

it's too stupid a sweeping statement

Edited October 4, 2010 by Jason447

[gratedenini]

Hmm, on the face of it, a fairly simple and one thats fair. BUT I think child benefit should be given to all no matter what their income, as a way to recognise the burden of caring for children. If we cut the child benefit no matter what the income is, we might as well take away the state pension for everyone.

EDIT: It's hardly saving a great deal of money anyway - £1bn in the grand scheme of things isnt a lot, when the government is trying to save a lot more money by cancelling contracts to build aircraft carriers.

[oafc0000]

By the way... The £44k is made up of...

£37k salary + £7k tax free amount... = £44k...

So if you have a company car and earn more than £37k then its going to go for example...

[oafc0000]

Torys to set a maximum limit on the amount of benefits someone can receive... At the national average salary...

[gratedenini]

Torys to set a maximum limit on the amount of benefits someone can receive... At the national average salary...

[oafc0000]

That makes sense doesn`t it. That will stop in one fell swoop the detractors of the Benefit System who are always shouting from the roof tops about these scroungers who wont work etc.

It is absolutely wrong that people are claiming all sorts of benefits for this and that (and i dont blame em if its available---how could you?) and therefore having a very comfortable living.

Conversely.. me. I get £50 a week plus my rent paid and council tax.

On one hand, as i keep repeating--I`m not Haitian,Chilean or trying to survive in Pakistan etc and so am grateful for that... but... 50 snots a week is not a lot. Its tough.

(my) life on benefits isn`t the picture of luxury that is painted...although it does allow me to watch Monarch of The Glen and Upstairs Downstairs et al

den

[oafc0000]

The problem with politics...

Oct 09 "we will protect child benefit"

Oct 10 George cuts child benefits.

[dakyras]

The problem with politics...

Oct 09 "we will protect child benefit"

Oct 10 George cuts child benefits.

[RABun]

I drive through council estates and see houses with satellite dishes and brand new cars outside, luxuries I cannot afford. Yet they are on benefits that my taxes are paying for.

To cut the burden on the country, they need to stop the lazy layabouts sitting on welfare and get them back into work. We'll be paying them fewer benefits and they'll be paying their taxes. That's how you get this country out of the mire it's in.

They need to stop penalising the hard-working.

[Gre]

The problem with politics...

Oct 09 "we will protect child benefit"

Oct 10 George cuts child benefits.

[oafc0000]

I'm no Tory/policitians in general supporter, but perhaps cutting it from 'those who don't need it' means 'those who do need it' can still have at the full level, instead of cutting part of it from everyone.

Obviously the hard threshold is a silly idea; 2 parents each earning pa + £36,999 getting benefit while 1 parent earning pa + ££37,000 not getting benefit is ridiculous. (And anyone who is able to will be income shifting and giving dividends/interest to their partners as quick as they can)

The better solution on the face would be a sliding scale (as it would be to encourage people to get off benefits & go to work, but thats another story.) Howevever, would the cost of implementing this be too much to justify?

Edited October 4, 2010 by oafc0000

[RABun]

Of course a couple earning just over 44000 a year with small children under school age will be paying approximately 18000 on average for full time child care and thats with just one child.

So in effect they are actually earning £26000 per year.

They will have lost any tax credits they might have received because they are over the 32000 threshold.

If they live outside of london then travel in everyday it is on average 2500 a year travel costs. Mine is nearly 1000 more than that a year.

Council tax on a 2 bed flat is 1200 a year and rent/mortgage can be 750 - 1000 a month.

Count up all the other costs and it is not difficult to see that there are people really struggling on this amount of money. The £80 a month they will be missing isnt much but it might mean having enough money for nappies once all bills are paid.

Edited October 4, 2010 by RABun

[Gre]

Philip Hammond said in Apr: "We've made a decision to rule out means testing child benefit. We think the universality of CB is very important."