A second Budget: 8th July

merlin68

They will affect you if you loose your job or get sick and theirs no contribution based benefits left
your very naive if you think neither will happen to you.

supersaver2

merlin68 wrote: »

They will affect you if you loose your job or get sick and theirs no contribution based benefits left
your very naive if you think neither will happen to you.

I get 6 months full pay and do have insurance in place, plus some savings. Some people do take measures in case the worst happens.

divastrop

10pence wrote: »

I work within welfare rights, first for a CAB and now a housing association, so I have first hand experience in dealing with a wide variety of people on benefits; from first time claimers - such as workers becoming ill, f3ckless parents, longterm multi-generational claimants, to the lifers that think the state and everyone else owes them a living.

You would think that I wouldn't agree with these welfare reforms. The opposite is true. Welfare reform is long overdue. And, working in the environment I do only reinforces that sentiment.

Bedroom tax - not really a tax, but is the aligning of HB rules for both social and private renters - no lefty terrorist demonstrations when the LHA was introduced. The removal of the spare room allowance is fair, the implementation wasn't the best but it needed to be done. The genuinely sick and disabled should have had their circumstances considered before it applied.

When the LHA was introduced I helped many people move to more affordable properties. Since 'bedroom tax' introduced everyone has told me they have a right to live in those subsidised properties even though they're too big. Not one that could move would move, even though suitable HA properties were available .

Before I became a home owner (which I made many and still do sacrifices), and rented I moved to affordable properties because I knew my wages would only cover so much living costs. At one point I moved back in with my parents paying keep, travelling 200 mile round trip to work because it saved me nearly £70/m

Benefit cap: no one not working unless genuinely disabled/ill should get more in benefits than someone working 30 hrs on NMW. Of the several cases, I personally dealt with, of ppl affected most were familes with multiples of children they cold never have afforded to have without state support. I object to supporting a !!!!less lifestyle. And, I objected to the CAB' response which was to try and identify any disability to be exploited regardless of how little the effect could be. They completely chose to ignore that workers were exempt.
I often feel that Tax Credits has failed the system too; WTC has allowed employers to pay NMW in full knowledge the state will top it up. And, CTC hasn't as Gordon Brown wanted banished child poverty but made it even worse by allowing ppl to view that the state will 'pay' them to have multiples of children they couldn't afford without that state support.

These are just some opinions. I try to only post in threads where I genuinely believe I can help. That's why I come here to help, not pass judgement - however there are times when my better nature is tested.

This is a truly horrendous post, and from somebody who worked in the CAB as well.

I do not understand the mentality of those who believe people have lots of children so they can get more benefits. I can only imagine that those who believe that do not have children themselves, and have no idea of the financial cost of raising a child.

Many people in very poor countries, people who live in shanty towns and have nothing, have several children. There is more to the human desire to reproduce than simply wanting to get more benefit money!

The benefit cap is already plunging children into poverty, and if it is lowered by a further 3k as has been suggested, then things can only get worse. Whatever the intentions of their parents, why should children suffer just because some ignorant people believe the ridiculous rhetoric regarding those on benefits getting more money than those in work?

Maybe you should try and persuade the housing association you work for to start building workhouses for these undeserving poor you have such issues with.

janninew

supersaver2 wrote: »

Let's hope they raise the personal tax allowance as promised. I've benefited from the many increases the Tories have given us, don't claim any benefits, pay for my own home so benefit cuts are not going to affect me.

Not all doom and gloom!

I'm in the same boat, no benefits and the increased personal tax allowance have noticeably improved my monthly wage. I also have critical illness cover, life insurance and savings so try to protect myself and my family where possible. Not been all doom and gloom for my family either!

bloolagoon

janninew wrote: »

I'm in the same boat, no benefits and the increased personal tax allowance have noticeably improved my monthly wage. I also have critical illness cover, life insurance and savings so try to protect myself and my family where possible. Not been all doom and gloom for my family either!

No doom and gloom here either, hoping they raise the tax threshold to £50,000 to compensate somewhat for losing child benefit.


But ... It's not been easy for all and the disabled have taken the biggest hits. Universal Credit will hit low hour, low income families.

billywilly

merlin68 wrote: »

They will affect you if you loose your job or get sick and theirs no contribution based benefits left
your very naive if you think neither will happen to you.

You don't seriously believe that it is right that someone can be on benefits whilst their partner could well be earning a small fortune?
Hence why ALL benefits should be means tested.

billywilly

supersaver2 wrote: »

I get 6 months full pay and do have insurance in place, plus some savings. Some people do take measures in case the worst happens.

Something that I have been saying for quite a while on here and have been savaged for it.

My suggestion was to have a buffer of £10,000. However I accept that that is not possible for everyone. However to have nothing to show in the bank after working so that you can be self reliant for a few months is beyond belief.

Mersey_2

I suspect the Govt/GO thought freezing benefits for the Parliament would save Billions. But it doesn't when inflation is 0%.


Limiting child benefit to 2 children from say 2016 would have worked, but politicians got scared of scaring away voters.


Another school of thought is that DC had no intention whatsoever of implementing the Tory manifesto as he was set to ring Clegg again, but now he has to.

densol_2

supersaver2 wrote: »

I get 6 months full pay and do have insurance in place, plus some savings. Some people do take measures in case the worst happens.

It happened to me ! I used to earn £80k pa until I was made I'll by my job ..... 4 years later a 30 year career is ruined and I'm on benefits and Valium. Don't ever imagine it can't happen - I used to represent people like me in the Crown Court. The thought of even stepping inside a court now gives me a panic attack - I'd be lucky to earn £15K pa now although it is my plan as I'm able bodied - I just have half a brain now

supersaver2

densol wrote: »

It happened to me ! I used to earn £80k pa until I was made I'll by my job ..... 4 years later a 30 year career is ruined and I'm on benefits and Valium. Don't ever imagine it can't happen - I used to represent people like me in the Crown Court. The thought of even stepping inside a court now gives me a panic attack - I'd be lucky to earn £15K pa now although it is my plan as I'm able bodied - I just have half a brain now

I'm sorry that happened but on your previous salary it would be most prudent to have a rainy day fund and crtitcal illness cover etc. I'm well aware we don't know what is round the corner, but we can plan for the worst which I don't think a lot of people do unfortunately.
My wife had our daughter 4 months early and due to our forward planning and saving we managed with the reduced income and expense of hospital visits for 7 months and the additional cost of raising a disabled child so I am only too aware that you can get dealt a rubbish hand.
Wishing you the best in your recovery and good luck getting back to work.