Child benefit to be scrapped for higher rate tax payers from 2013

chris_m

Doctor_Gloom wrote: »

I'd scrap child benefit for everyone. This country and the world in general is way over-populated and this overpopulation is destroying the environment, causing wars, etc. We shouldn't be encouraging people to have more and more kids, it's madness.

I'd limit it to the first two - if you want more you pay for them. Possibly make it a bit higher than it is now for the first, half the amount for the second and nowt for any more then that.

longtimelurker_2

I'm 25 and getting disenfranchised. It feels like whenever I try and do the right thing, the rug gets pulled out.

Worked damned hard, went to a top university and got a good degree - university all paid with student loans. Emerge to difficult jobs market, work hard, get good job. Housing market insane so renting in a climate that's unstable for tenants (have had to move 5 times in 5 years) and scraping every penny into savings for a deposit. Get married, want to have a family and are on track to reach higher rate tax payer status in precisely 2013 and... BAM. This! It just feels like such an insult that every time I get somewhere, the benefits and assistance that existed for other people just evaporates. Education, housing, family... dread to think what'll happen to my pension.

Thumper7

This thread has been an fascinating read. I can honestly see both sides.

One thing to bear in mind is that Child Benefit is not paid forever, it stops when the child reaches 19.

Also consider the two income families both earning just under the 44k limit at some point one wage rise is gonna take them over that limit, especially if the government do not move the goalposts.

StevieJ

longtimelurker wrote: »

I'm 25 and getting disenfranchised. It feels like whenever I try and do the right thing, the rug gets pulled out.

Worked damned hard, went to a top university and got a good degree - university all paid with student loans. Emerge to difficult jobs market, work hard, get good job. Housing market insane so renting in a climate that's unstable for tenants (have had to move 5 times in 5 years) and scraping every penny into savings for a deposit. Get married, want to have a family and are on track to reach higher rate tax payer status in precisely 2013 and... BAM. This! It just feels like such an insult that every time I get somewhere, the benefits and assistance that existed for other people just evaporates. Education, housing, family... dread to think what'll happen to my pension.

So you think that HR taxpayers should be on benefits?

mudshark

StevieJ wrote: »

So you think that HR taxpayers should be on benefits?

Should HR tax payers have benefits? I mean they get free education for their kids how wrong is that? And as for free health care - what a ridiculous nation we live in.

Or maybe that's not really the point.

Alan_Cross

So the twin, massive intellects of Osbourne and IDS come up with this dog's breakfast???

I can't find a room soundproof enough to contain the guffaws....

lostinrates

longtimelurker wrote: »

I'm 25 and getting disenfranchised. It feels like whenever I try and do the right thing, the rug gets pulled out.

Worked damned hard, went to a top university and got a good degree - university all paid with student loans. Emerge to difficult jobs market, work hard, get good job. Housing market insane so renting in a climate that's unstable for tenants (have had to move 5 times in 5 years) and scraping every penny into savings for a deposit. Get married, want to have a family and are on track to reach higher rate tax payer status in precisely 2013 and... BAM. This! It just feels like such an insult that every time I get somewhere, the benefits and assistance that existed for other people just evaporates. Education, housing, family... dread to think what'll happen to my pension.

OK, well, I empathise, but in reality people like us are very lucky. To have access to education, even having to pay for university ourselves, is more than many others worldwide get. To appreciate it is priceless IMO. To have found love comparatively early in life, and to be in a successful career that will put you in the higher tax bracket..these are things to be proud of and grateful for.

You will be able to afford a baby, and luckily have this advantage of warning that the CB you might have expected is not to be budgeted for. And you have time to prioritise pension now.

Although around your age and mine (early thirties) in our adult lives we've seen people get stuff we won't get, which is ''unfair'' but our ups and downs will be different I suppose.

longtimelurker_2

lostinrates wrote: »

OK, well, I empathise, but in reality people like us are very lucky. To have access to education, even having to pay for university ourselves, is more than many others worldwide get. To appreciate it is priceless IMO. To have found love comparatively early in life, and to be in a successful career that will put you in the higher tax bracket..these are things to be proud of and grateful for.

You will be able to afford a baby, and luckily have this advantage of warning that the CB you might have expected is not to be budgeted for. And you have time to prioritise pension now.

Although around your age and mine (early thirties) in our adult lives we've seen people get stuff we won't get, which is ''unfair'' but our ups and downs will be different I suppose.

Thank you

I know I'm being unreasonable and downright silly in a whole-world context, but suppose my emotions got the better of me. Thank you for sympathising in spite of this! I know MSE can be a harsh forum and maybe I shouldn't have posted what I did in the first place

Sometimes, just sometimes, I feel annoyed at all my classmates who got pregnant at 15 as they're nearly all on their third or fourth child in stable council housing now. Makes me feel like a fool for working hard.

lostinrates

longtimelurker wrote: »

Thank you

I know I'm being unreasonable and downright silly in a whole-world context, but suppose my emotions got the better of me. Thank you for sympathising in spite of this! I know MSE can be a harsh forum and maybe I shouldn't have posted what I did in the first place

Sometimes, just sometimes, I feel annoyed at all my classmates who got pregnant at 15 as they're nearly all on their third or fourth child in stable council housing now. Makes me feel like a fool for working hard.

I have felt the same very often myself, and I think a lot of people who feel frustrated and furious today will probably reflect and feel just...mildly resentful or philosophic about it when the heat of the moment has gone. I know I have over other issues.

MSe can be harsh, but it can also be tremendously valuable in terms of support and in adjusting ones sense of ''luck'' for better or worse. I have had my politcal and ethical views altered at times here, so I'm grateful for it.

You're not a fool for working hard. Would you really have wanted to miss university, meeting your partner to have 3 or four kids and that life?

kabayiri

I wonder if this will change the work patterns for some people?

If the 2 adults in the family each have a good job but work part time to stay under the threshold, then it could prove cost effective in some cases?

Some friends who already do this say they have a better work life balance anyway.