What's the Future of Child Benefit?

michaels

kinger101 wrote: »

I'm amazed how many people who have posted on here have not realized that child benefit is their for the benefit of the child (there's a clue in the name), and that it cannot be administered via tax credits if someone is unemployed.

I understand the desire to cut the benefits, but it's not the child's fault if their parents are unable to find work, or have more children than they can afford to feed.

Guess what, you don't have to be employed to get child tax credits

kinger101

michaels wrote: »

Guess what, you don't have to be employed to get child tax credits

Well, it's a complete misnomer then isn't it. Why don't they just call them means tested benefits.

Blue22

I'm amazed that no one on here appears to be in favour of universal CB. I would do the opposite to those who say incorporate it into Tax Credits, I would scrap Child Tax Credits and pay a higher non means tested amount in Child Benefit. Maybe £80 for 1st child and £50 for second. I would also make the claiming parent forfeit there tax allowance so as not to discriminate against SAHM.

Means testing is bankrupting our country. You only have to read these boards to see how people on Tax Credits say its not worth working. They lose 72p for every extra £1 they earn, soon to be 80p. Then people like Michaels appear to be putting large sums into pension pots so they can still claim full CTC and not pay any tax, while others who earn over £50K are doing the same in order to still claim their CB.

Just think of the of revenue the country is losing by having so many people manipulating their taxable income in order to maximise their benefits? By lifting the majority of working families out of means testing, people would find that works pays and they would do the jobs that need doing. Farmers who complain that they cannot recruit British workers to harvest crops would suddenly have the army of Mothers they used to have, British workers would be able to do the seasonal or temporary jobs without endless calls to Tax Credit helplines and uncertainty about benefits . And most importantly those people would pay tax!

Also for those complaining about the rich getting benefits, it doesn't pay to means test. The odd billion saved is wasted in increased administration costs.

Surely every family in the country needs more money than a similar childless family regardless of income. At the moment we have the ridiculous situation for higher earners that when mortgage affordability is looked at, a family may be able to borrow enough for a 2 bedroomed flat whilst the childless couple can afford the detached house with garden.

Children cost money so there needs to be a differential between families with and without children and a universal CB is the fairest way to do it.

Mistermeaner

Kim_kim wrote: »

How is it discriminating against single people?

that was in response to a suggestion for tax relief for married couples (the post above mine)

[Deleted User]

onlyroz wrote: »

Can't you just top up your pension to bring your salary down? Or claim childcare vouchers?

I can't afford to have less money coming in each month! I'm already claiming childcare vouchers but I need a certain income to afford to live where I do, in the lifestyle I have (Which isn't massively extravagant).

remorseless

Blue22 wrote: »

Farmers who complain that they cannot recruit British workers to harvest crops would suddenly have the army of Mothers they used to have, British workers would be able to do the seasonal or temporary jobs without endless calls to Tax Credit helplines and uncertainty about benefits .

here we go, it's as usual always the fault of those immigrants who despite the odds seems to be able to steal jobs from the locals...

What's is with this 'British workers' bonanza? Are you implying that the non-British workers do not pay taxes?

British workers can do seasonal or temporary work now if they wish so by accepting the wage offered which is driven by the amount you're willing to pay for what's offered.

I was at Sainsbury yesterday and a punnet of British strawberries was £2, the person who picks them cannot be paid £30/hour unless consumers are willing to pay a tad more for the punnet. Cannot have it both way. Let me guess, every 'British worker' should be a collar job earning at least double an immigrant right? BS!

It is easier (and often more lucrative) more likely to stay home, don't blame the 'non-British workers', it's a culture shift, I remember times not long ago when getting benefits was not the glamorous choice, though now it seems like it's more acceptable and mainstream!

wotsthat

ringo_24601 wrote: »

I can't afford to have less money coming in each month! I'm already claiming childcare vouchers but I need a certain income to afford to live where I do, in the lifestyle I have (Which isn't massively extravagant).

On the other hand if you're in the £50k - £60k bracket then your pension payments will go further because you can add CB to the tax relief.

Making do on 'only' £50k can't be that difficult can it especially when the marginal gain is so high?

Maybe Michaels can lend you his spreadsheet.

missyrichards

Generali wrote: »

Having children is no more a choice than having sex. It's a biological imperative that we are driven to do.

What?:eek: Of course having children is a choice.

[Deleted User]

wotsthat wrote: »

On the other hand if you're in the £50k - £60k bracket then your pension payments will go further because you can add CB to the tax relief.

Making do on 'only' £50k can't be that difficult can it especially when the marginal gain is so high?

Maybe Michaels can lend you his spreadsheet.

Oh i'm sure if we swapped shopping at M&S Food/Sainsburys to Lidl, and cancelled Netflix/sky/British Gas HomeCare, the gardeners and cleaner.. we'd knock £400-500 off the monthly bills in order to put more in a pension, and retrieve more tax-payer supplied child benefits... Frankly - i've educated myself, i've worked hard to build a career - i'm not forgoing my lifestyle just to scheme the taxpayer out of a grand or two.

I'll 'get by' by working harder, earning promotions and raising my salary.

Blue22

remorseless wrote: »

here we go, it's as usual always the fault of those immigrants who despite the odds seems to be able to steal jobs from the locals...

What's is with this 'British workers' bonanza? Are you implying that the non-British workers do not pay taxes?

British workers can do seasonal or temporary work now if they wish so by accepting the wage offered which is driven by the amount you're willing to pay for what's offered.

I was at Sainsbury yesterday and a punnet of British strawberries was £2, the person who picks them cannot be paid £30/hour unless consumers are willing to pay a tad more for the punnet. Cannot have it both way. Let me guess, every 'British worker' should be a collar job earning at least double an immigrant right? BS!

It is easier (and often more lucrative) more likely to stay home, don't blame the 'non-British workers', it's a culture shift, I remember times not long ago when getting benefits was not the glamorous choice, though now it seems like it's more acceptable and mainstream!

Sorry in no way was I blaming migrant workers for anything. Just pointing out that there is work to be done but 'British workers' or people resident in the UK and entitled to Tax Credits won't do it because its not worth their while to do it.

I probably only used the example of harvesting because I live in an agricultural area and think its ridiculous that Farmers need to advertise for Eastern European students when there are so many local people that are underemployed.