We’d like to remind Forumites to please avoid political debate on the Forum.

This is to keep it a safe and useful space for MoneySaving discussions. Threads that are – or become – political in nature may be removed in line with the Forum’s rules. Thank you for your understanding.

Debate House Prices


In order to help keep the Forum a useful, safe and friendly place for our users, discussions around non MoneySaving matters are no longer permitted. This includes wider debates about general house prices, the economy and politics. As a result, we have taken the decision to keep this board permanently closed, but it remains viewable for users who may find some useful information in it. Thank you for your understanding.
📨 Have you signed up to the Forum's new Email Digest yet? Get a selection of trending threads sent straight to your inbox daily, weekly or monthly!

Cutting the Welfare Bill

Generali
Generali Posts: 36,411 Forumite
10,000 Posts Combo Breaker
in Debate House Prices & the Economy
The welfare bill in the UK (and most other 'industrialized countries') is thought by many, including me, to be unaffordably high.

The obvious place to start cutting is with the biggest spend. Can anyone guess without the assistance of Google or his friends what that might be? To give you a clue it amounts to well over half of the non-NHS/education part of the cost of welfare in the UK.
«134567…12

Comments

  • Derivative
    Derivative Posts: 1,698 Forumite
    edited 22 January 2012 at 2:00AM
    I would probably say either JSA or state pension.

    edit: Google tells me state pension is about 30%. JSA is <3% for both income and contributory - oops.
    Housing benefit is the second biggest after state pension at 10%.

    Data in http://www.ifs.org.uk/bns/bn13.pdf.
    Said Aristippus, “If you would learn to be subservient to the king you would not have to live on lentils.”
    Said Diogenes, “Learn to live on lentils and you will not have to be subservient to the king.”[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica][/FONT]
  • LydiaJ
    LydiaJ Posts: 8,083 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture Combo Breaker Mortgage-free Glee!
    edited 22 January 2012 at 3:48AM
    Generali wrote: »
    Can anyone guess without the assistance of Google or his friends what that might be?
    EdgEy wrote: »
    I would probably say ....

    edit: Google tells me ....

    I think when Generali asks if people can guess, he wants lots of people to have a go before anyone posts the actual answers, so you might want to delete part of that!

    PS I would have guessed HB/LHA and CTC/WTC.
    Do you know anyone who's bereaved? Point them to https://www.AtaLoss.org which does for bereavement support what MSE does for financial services, providing links to support organisations relevant to the circumstances of the loss & the local area. (Link permitted by forum team)
    Tyre performance in the wet deteriorates rapidly below about 3mm tread - change yours when they get dangerous, not just when they are nearly illegal (1.6mm).
    Oh, and wear your seatbelt. My kids are only alive because they were wearing theirs when somebody else was driving in wet weather with worn tyres.     :)
  • RUN_RABBIT_RUN
    RUN_RABBIT_RUN Posts: 426 Forumite
    got to be housing benefit all the way, its the single biggest payment that the government will make to anyone in need
    'Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.'
    GALATIANS 6: 7 (KJV)
  • Carl31
    Carl31 Posts: 2,616 Forumite
    Ninth Anniversary 1,000 Posts Name Dropper Combo Breaker
    Im going with chid benefit?
  • Joe_Bloggs
    Joe_Bloggs Posts: 4,535 Forumite
    edited 22 January 2012 at 10:33AM
    Im going with chid benefit?
    Find your glasses before you try to type or get a bigger screen. Consider utilising a web browser that incorporates a spell checker.

    Welfare is a euphemism for financial support to those in need. I recently received a document for someone who had convinced the authorities that they lived at my address. The forthright reply is in the post.

    J_B.
  • Carl31
    Carl31 Posts: 2,616 Forumite
    Ninth Anniversary 1,000 Posts Name Dropper Combo Breaker
    Joe_Bloggs wrote: »
    Find your glasses before you try to type or get a bigger screen. Consider utilising a web browser that incorporates a spell checker.

    Welfare is a euphemism for financial support to those in need. I recently received a document for someone who had convinced the authorities that they lived at my address. The forthright reply is in the post.

    J_B.

    sorry bro, upset your morning have I with my blatant disregard for the English language?

    I'm on my computer now, i was on my phone earlier, taken heed of your advice, i will never do it again ;)
  • lvader
    lvader Posts: 2,579 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Combo Breaker
    It might not make a huge difference to the total figure but the cap is the biggest priority for me, it is rediculous that someone not working and on benefits can take home as much as someone paying high rate TAX.
  • Joe_Bloggs
    Joe_Bloggs Posts: 4,535 Forumite
    Chid could be the new word that combines child with kid. Watch out for the unexpected when you are trying to see what you are doinf with your mobile phone and attempting something else.
    .
    J_B.
    Yes I did type doinf but mistakes happen..
  • Mrs_Bones
    Mrs_Bones Posts: 15,524 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Photogenic Combo Breaker
    No doubt I'll be proved wrong but I'll differ from general consensus and say one of the biggest spends is Tax Credits of what ever form. I think they were one of the worst things invented. Now nearly everyone seems to be on them in some way, including people who on the face of it take home a very large wage.
    [FONT=&quot]“I've learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” ~ Maya Angelou[/FONT][FONT=&quot][/FONT]
  • StevieJ
    StevieJ Posts: 20,174 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Combo Breaker
    Generali wrote: »
    The welfare bill in the UK (and most other 'industrialized countries') is thought by many, including me, to be unaffordably high.

    The obvious place to start cutting is with the biggest spend. Can anyone guess without the assistance of Google or his friends what that might be? To give you a clue it amounts to well over half of the non-NHS/education part of the cost of welfare in the UK.

    At least you are doing you're bit, I take it you agree with not uprating (inflation) the state pension for emmigrants to certain countries ;)
    'Just think for a moment what a prospect that is. A single market without barriers visible or invisible giving you direct and unhindered access to the purchasing power of over 300 million of the worlds wealthiest and most prosperous people' Margaret Thatcher
This discussion has been closed.
★ ★ ★ Meet your Ambassadors

🚀 Getting Started

Hi new member!

Our Getting Started Guide will help you get the most out of the Forum

Categories

  • All Categories
  • 352K Banking & Borrowing
  • 253.5K Reduce Debt & Boost Income
  • 454.2K Spending & Discounts
  • 245K Work, Benefits & Business
  • 600.6K Mortgages, Homes & Bills
  • 177.4K Life & Family
  • 258.8K Travel & Transport
  • 1.5M Hobbies & Leisure
  • 16.2K Discuss & Feedback
  • 37.6K Read-Only Boards

Is this how you want to be seen?

We see you are using a default avatar. It takes only a few seconds to pick a picture.
Update Your Picture