How middle class families pay 49% of income in taxes - The Telegraph

drc

ninky wrote: »

depends what you describe as a low earner? also if you are a low earner and your partner isn't you don't get these benefits.

if it's so fantastic being a low earner i'm sure high earners always have the option of a pay cut.:D

Likewise, low earners always have the option of improving their lot, studying and earning more, rather than getting benefits to top up their wage. That's what my other half did to become a higher earner .

silvercar

Simple question (because entitledto asks too many questions). What would a non working couple with say 3 kids age 16, 14 and 12 get in income support and child tax credits? Forget every other help to pay rent and council tax and EMA and prescriptions and dentists....because they are outgoings that means they don't see the money. I want to know how much money they have in their pockets each week to spend on essentials like food etc. Assume no disabilities and no savings, just the basic income support and child tax credit.

Johnny_Doe

Make council tax "income based" - I earn an average amount but have saved hard for a large 5 bed house , don't see why I should pay more tax on something I saved hard for?

silvercar

Johnny_Doe wrote: »

Make council tax "income based" - I earn an average amount but have saved hard for a large 5 bed house , don't see why I should pay more tax on something I saved hard for?

Because you have something to see for your saving. If you'd saved hard for top holidays each year, you wouldn't be taxed on them.;)

silvercar

silvercar wrote: »

Simple question (because entitledto asks too many questions). What would a non working couple with say 3 kids age 16, 14 and 12 get in income support and child tax credits? Forget every other help to pay rent and council tax and EMA and prescriptions and dentists....because they are outgoings that means they don't see the money. I want to know how much money they have in their pockets each week to spend on essentials like food etc. Assume no disabilities and no savings, just the basic income support and child tax credit.

Answered elsewhere:

They would not get IS, it is JSA £102.75

£143.00 CTC [estimate]

So that is £12779 a year.

I stand corrected, I thought it would be more disposable income.

Still think it off that they would get £1600 a month in LHA in my area, but I accept that managing utility bills and food and clothes and transport and supporting the kids on £1065 a month would be tough.

marklv

The_White_Horse wrote: »

people who earn nothing should get nothing - all this empowerment stuff makes me sick. rent should be paid direct as should bills and then food stamps for low class rank food only. no cash for these scum bags. no need for it.

Food stamps only redeemable at Aldi or Iceland, I suppose. Or maybe Tesco Value products at a stretch.:rotfl:

Why not go further? Restrict the calorific intake to 1000 calories a day, so the fat ones will lose weight and skinny ones just die away. Imagine the savings for the state! :rotfl:

marklv

The_White_Horse wrote: »

there should be 0% stamp duty on any house bought as a main residence. why should you pay tax to buy a house !!!!!!?????

I can unserstand on second homes, or even shares, but not on the home you live in.

disgusting.

Incredibly, I agree with you for once.

marklv

lostinrates wrote: »

DH pays higher rate, and it has been the consensus of the board that we are middle class. I think thats a fair assumption tbh.

Class has nothing to do with money. Class is about attitudes, manners, upbringing, etc. A footballer can be on £5 million a year but he will still be working class - that will never change.

marklv

Degenerate wrote: »

Is middle class just an income bracket these days?

I grew up on a council estate, raised by a single mother, dependent on benefits. I didn't go to university. Worked as a labourer for a couple of years, then managed to get a bottom-rung job in a utility company. After a few years I worked my way into a specialized technical role.

I've been a higher rate tax payer since my mid 20s. Am I middle class?

Socially, no, but economically most certainly. Having said that, people can change their class if they take up the attitudes and manners of a given class. Not easy, but it can be done. The rakish actor Leslie Phillips was born in a working class household in Tottenham in 1924 and spoke with a thick cockney accent, but upon becoming an actor he took elocution lessons and changed his entire personality to better suit the parts he was playing. The rest is history.

marklv

zappahey wrote: »

I envy you and your 3%, it's 12% here. Flat rate.

But homes are cheaper in Belgium are they not?