MSE News: Higher rate tax payers to lose child benefit

JimmyTheWig

What a great first post, looby! Nice one.

gem4

I've trawled through all the posts and there seems to be a general agreement that child benefit should be changed but not in the way suggested.

Its a pity the new government aren't as keen to ask our opinions on the way forward with regards to this as they were when they asked for suggestions of where to make cuts in the beginning.

My personal opinion is that it should be cut but its definately not fair to base it on one earners income. It should be on joint income.
And it should also include the income of people living on benefits.

Or why not pay it for the first 2 children? Years ago you had to make sure you could afford children before you began a family.

If it was scrapped completely everyone working would lose income but those people on benefits would get more because the benefit system operates like a seesaw......one goes up the others go down so you keep the same amount. Thats not fair either.

It needs to be tweaked a bit.

loocyloo

sorry if this has already been said, i've not had time to read all the posts!

lots of people on here seem to agree

if CB is going to be cut, thats fine, i will be affected, but i too think it should be based on joint income. And why are the govt saying it will be too hard/complicated/difficult etc to manage to do it that way? alot of people receive tax credits, so ALL the information required is ALREADY available!

Blue22

looby38 wrote: »

I believe CB should remain a universal benefit for families, children are and should be seen as an investment for the future workforce.

Hi Looby, I'm new too and I agree with that statement 100%. Your post also highlighted another group that would be very badly hit by the proposed change in CB, that is large families.

I ran a few figures through entitled to and found that a family with 5 children with one person earning 44K would have a total cash income (nett wage + CTC + CB) of about 33K, if these changes went ahead.

Whilst an identical family with one person only earning 22K would see an income of 32K.

So £22000 extra gross but only seeing an extra £1000!!

Blue (Mother of 8)

pennylikespounds

Blue we have 4 children and are looking right now as a result of this announcement and the tax credit one that my husband cut his hours from a 50 hr wk to a 3 day 30 hr week so we still qualify for CB. Also it means if I can work longer hours and we still qualify for CB and CTC. Could you do this? Our income should be roughly the same.

Wouldn't have done this if CB had been cut for all but we feel such mugs that a family will still be able to 'earn' 35k gross on benefits that our moral spirit has been dampened.

jlPike's comment a few pages back got me thinking too that those that paid in for a private pension will see no state pension when they come to retire just an increase in N.I Thinking on pulling that too and investing elsewhere.

may not please everyone on this thread though especially those that believe our 4 children were a choice

shop-to-drop

Children certainly are a 'lifestyle' choice to families that just miss out on top up benefits. Each extra child makes a huge negative impact financially and will do for the next 18 years. Child benefits just helped a tad and were a recognition of the huge impact on finances that the child is. The sacrifices aren't just financial either our lives are completely orientated around the children. We do very little for our own wellbeing. The last few days have taught me much including how disrespected we are for having children by so many of the childless.

My wish to bring my children up well is in no way selfish either. I have always had it in mind that I want them to be good citizens and grow up as useful members of society. Paying taxes, and having useful roles in society and eventually to be able to provide the next generation after that. It surprises me that this isn't the general view and shocked me that someone in a caring profession boasts that their career choice was a purely financial, selfish one.

Indie_Kid

pennylikespounds wrote: »

may not please everyone on this thread though especially those that believe our 4 children were a choice

If they weren't a choice, what were they?

looby38

I would like to understand how people think the more children you have the less each one seems to cost you. Yes children are a lifestyle choice but they are very much needed for the future society, we should protect them and do our best to provide for them. I totally agree parents should be 'encouraged' to get out of what seems to be avicious social cycle of benefit reliance but don't tar everyone with the same brush. I have been forced to claim benefits due to my situation, which have helped alot. I have however just lost 50% of the help I receive towards my mortgage because of the cuts. After I looked into moving and opting to rent (my only option due to being a mature student) I am told that I can't do this and then claim LHA because technically I make myself homeless. the risk?? I may end up losing my house anyway because I can't afford it. So whilst those of you think us 'scroungers' haven't been hit by anything, actually we have, even though I am on benefit for the right reasons and won't be in 2 years time. I have written to my local MP to express thiese concerns, guess what?? After 4 weeks he replied he will pass my concerns on to Ian Duncan Smith mmmmmmm, am sure that will get something done!! NOT!!

hiney777

sh1305 wrote: »

If they weren't a choice, what were they?

sch1305 what choices have you made in life? do you claim any benefits

shop-to-drop

hiney777 wrote: »

sch1305 what choices have you made in life? do you claim any benefits

Wouldn't that be interesting to know!