MSE News: 'Re-think' over child benefit changes

zagfles

JimmyTheWig wrote: »

Why not tax it on the person who is receiving it?

Because it wouldn't be worth bothering, as families with 2 HRT payers are relatively rare.

Caddyman

JimmyTheWig wrote: »

But, presumably, these people use other money (e.g. their wages) to spend on the children. It's all swings and roundabouts.

You are of course right, but what about the people who don't work?

clearingout

Caddyman wrote: »

I've personally known families who appear never to use child benefit for the actual benefit of their children, but instead use it to fund personal adult habits.

what a crazy comment! Most people I know are not in the habit of discussing their family budgeting with anyone other than their other half (and even then often not!). What you really mean is that whilst people drink and smoke, order takeaways, go on holidays, run more than one car or wear expensive clothes, they mustn't 'need' child benefit and are therefore using it for their own benefit?

I am all for taxing higher earners and looking at taking away a universal benefit from the most wealth in society. But I in no way am able to judge my neighbour's financial circumstances and whether or not they 'need' child benefit, regardless of how much I think they earn.

Caddyman

clearingout wrote: »

what a crazy comment! Most people I know are not in the habit of discussing their family budgeting with anyone other than their other half (and even then often not!). What you really mean is that whilst people drink and smoke, order takeaways, go on holidays, run more than one car or wear expensive clothes, they mustn't 'need' child benefit and are therefore using it for their own benefit?

You are of course perfectly entitled to think what you wish about my comment but please don't presume to know what I really mean, you do not know me.

The key words in your statement were 'most people I know'. Clearly, you cannot know everyone.

Very difficult sometimes not to be judgemental of others, especially when some of my own neighbours have openly scoffed at me for working whilst ramming their state funded lifestyle down mine and others throats.

jellyhead

The thing that I like about child benefit is that once it's set up it is reliable and you can count on it if, for example, you were thinking of leaving an abusive partner.

I suppose they are assuming that well off people are more likely to have things they can sell to raise the cash to feed their children in the short term until benefits are sorted out - but what if you make the decision to leave while you're out of the house and only have what you're wearing at the time, with no access to your jewellery box/laptop/etc?

Chomeur

Do parents get child benefit on top of any tax credits?

zagfles

Caddyman wrote: »

You are of course perfectly entitled to think what you wish about my comment but please don't presume to know what I really mean, you do not know me.

The key words in your statement were 'most people I know'. Clearly, you cannot know everyone.

Very difficult sometimes not to be judgemental of others, especially when some of my own neighbours have openly scoffed at me for working whilst ramming their state funded lifestyle down mine and others throats.

And why do you think they scoff at the idea of work? Because for them it's not worth it - if they work, most of their benefits get reduced. So it's not worth working.

Child benefit is different, you don't lose it if you get up off your backside and work. If all benefits were universal like child benefit now is, and everyone benefitted from working, then there'd be far fewer people "scoffing" at the idea of work.

The more means testing we have, the more families there'll be "scoffing" at the idea of working or working more, and so losing even more benefits.

zagfles

Chomeur wrote: »

Do parents get child benefit on top of any tax credits?

Yes.......

Chomeur

zagfles wrote: »

Yes.......

Wow. Frankly I think that if these plans had gone ahead it would have made sense for any parents earning say £50K p.a. to quit work and take up a stress free business (cake baking or painting or something) with a view to making £10K p.a. and then get all the benefits and have plenty of time to spend with their children.

shirlgirl2004

jellyhead wrote: »

The thing that I like about child benefit is that once it's set up it is reliable and you can count on it if, for example, you were thinking of leaving an abusive partner.

I suppose they are assuming that well off people are more likely to have things they can sell to raise the cash to feed their children in the short term until benefits are sorted out - but what if you make the decision to leave while you're out of the house and only have what you're wearing at the time, with no access to your jewellery box/laptop/etc?

That's a big assumption. I would be included in the "well off people" category but if I left OH I would have nothing to sell that would be of value. Just because your income is good doesn't mean to say that money is wasted on gadgets, laptops and nice cars.