Should child benefit be means tested?

Fran

russjacks,

Have you applied for Working Tax Credits?

russjacks

dont get me wrong i did'nt say i was on any sort of poverty line, we both work extra hours if we have to. its just always seems to me that it would be people like me that would suffer if it was means tested. but why should my daughter suffer for us both working.

grumpyeggman

russjacks,
i think your daughter can still get the £30 a week staying at school whatever your status.
i agree with you that is the normal 40 hour week, paye,working "bod",who has the burden of carrying those above him and below him.


just looked it up,sorry i'm wrong about the e.m.a. as it is means tested.
£30,800 is the max you can earn to qualify.

before_hollywood

littleange_com wrote:

Benefits should only be for people who desperately need them in my opinion, and I'm not quite sure how you can determine that easily. I'd say most people don't desperately need them. I just don't think people should have kids if they can't afford them, or if they can't afford to spend time with them either. I don't think my boyfriend and I will be able to afford to buy a house at this rate nevermind have kids.

i know what you mean, the divide has got ridiculous imho

JimmyTheWig

B
Give it to everyone.

The amount paid should be increased but should be taxable, so that average earners would end up with a similar amount of benefit as they do now.


Jim

A_little_stressed!!

I do believe in things being means tested (child benefit, maternity grants etc) as there alot of rich people out there who will take these hand outs if they can, often finding ways around the system to get them any way. I know someone who works even though she get whatever maternity pay she is entitled to off of the government. She also gets alot of hand outs, and was telling me the other day what a bargin her babies new bobble hat was
HER;"oh yes, it was only 25, reduced from 75"
ME:25, pence, where on earth did you get that?
HER: no pounds, £25, its lambs wool, Ralph Lauren

I laughed out loud, then realising she wasn't joking made my self scarce then sniggered for at least an hour!!!!

My point is means testing is essential, but the cut-off point should be higher, there is that middle gap in society that doesn't get help who really deserve it!

tee_pee_2

means tested is too complicated, but I do belive their should be a cut off point, so if you are earning £50k pa. You are not entitled to CB. Maybe this fugure will be disputed but if millionaires can claim CB something isn't right.

2Princess_Mum

Although a little late, and in defence of my sweeping statements, I would just like to clarify a few points that a few (as expected) were offended by.

Fran - Yes, not everyone wants to pursue a higher education, but if that is the case, the money should fund an alternative choice for the child of parents whom didn't need child benefit, that would have give a positive contribution to the economy that provided the benefit in the first place.

A parent on benefit insistent on continuing to have children would think twice if the financial help were restricted. My suggestion was that child tax credit should be awarded only to the first child; I did not say that child benefit should be awarded to the first child only. If you read the post again, I clearly stated what £11.70 (the amount of child benefit for the second and subsequent children) would purchase.

For the record I don’t think those on benefits are inferior to me, as my post clearly states that I too am currently in receipt of these benefits, and when I have to attend Jobcentre Plus, and other departments relating to benefits, I am seen no differently to the rest of those in the queue. The point I was making is, on the basis of what I see when I go into these offices, is that there are many people on benefits who are kitted out in designer gear, jewellery, (they AND their child, who is yet to establish a vocabulary) using the taxes of hard working folk to make their lives as luxurious as possible, when, being on benefits, for me, is the most humiliating and demoralising time in my life. When I was working, I admit I had many grievances about the benefits system, and had a very negative attitude to what it meant to be a young single mum on benefits in a council flat. Although I agree many do not like the situation they have now found themselves in, and for a lot of people on benefits, the financial incentive to take the first step back into the workforce is pitiful at best, it should not be the responsibility of the taxpayer to make the unemployed feel it is “worth” going back to work. The worth is the satisfaction gained from earning your own money, being able to support your child, and being an example to your child by showing them that if you want to have a certain standard of living you have to work hard to get it.

I made a decision to make many cutbacks, because I HAVE to. My statement about buying clothes from certain stores and hanging on to my eldest’s clothes is a decision I made irrespective of whether I was dependant on the state or not. Having a disposable income and choosing where to spend/save/invest it should be an important factor in deciding your long-term financial goals. I’m all for saving money, and if I see something that I know I can purchase cheaper elsewhere (especially clothes) then I’ll go where I know I can get something similar for less, and it will serve the same, if not a better purpose. Neither my children or myself wear jewellery because it does not benefit our existence. I refuse to spend money on things we don’t need. I don’t smoke, drink, and therefore am able to maximise the little that we get until I am able to go back to work after the birth of my third (and final) child.

In reference to the crisis loan, I realise it was an error I made referring to the loan as such, and it was a budgeting loan that was applied for. But I believe that because it is public money being loaned, the applicant should prove what they want it for. You wouldn’t get a mortgage if you couldn’t prove where you work or what you earn, or that you are financially able to make the repayments, so why shouldn’t the same apply in this case?

And yes, I probably have received help from this site from a jewellery-ridden benefit claimant, but I bet you’d be hard pushed to find one who actually uses this site if you went down to your local Jobcentre Plus.