Tax Credits

lisyloo

Agree wholeheartedly with what you say - with the exception of natural multiple births - which would be a very small minority.

CLAPTON

ProudDad wrote: »

I would also look towards a Nordic system of childcare where the state provides a lot more childcare than we currently do as this is a potential barrier towards getting more people into work. As most will agree that decent childcare in this country can cost more than a mortgage and that simply shouldn't be the case.

It wouldn't be perfect but I think it would give the desired results over a longer period. When it comes to welfare it shouldn't simply be about saving money but ensuring that any changes don't have a negative effect on society.

in the Nordic system the state provides nothing : child care is subsidised by the tax payers

whilst you may consider every mother working is good for society, it heavily penalised people who think bringing up their own children is a good thing.

beecher2

MFW_ASAP wrote: »

Well, no, not everyone. Do you know?

You could input some scenarios into entitled.com It might be an eyeopener

andrewmp

ProudDad wrote: »

Bluntly yes, have to admit the sarcasm made me chuckle. On the other hand we are not Greece our economy is bigger, more dynamic and more resilient. If this is times good then I would hate to think what they will be like if they get bad again. The constant talk of austerity makes it feel like we will be in recession forever. What we should do is focus on sensible deficit reduction and not the current measures of get to surplus at all costs.

While we are in times that are good(which I realise we are) we should be focussing on ensuring that our financial house is in order. Encouraging less people to work while reducing tax receipts is not going to do this. So spreading the changes over a longer period will achieve the same end result but with smaller results in the interim.

Other things that could sensibly be cut is the amount of different benefits they are available and making the system simpler rather than introducing new benefits. Also bringing more focus to a security service that could tell you what I have had for breakfast this morning but not when someone has been radicalised and is going to some far off land to fight for some cause they believe to be just. To name but a few changes that could be made anyway.

Wages seem too stagnant for times to be good IMO.

CLAPTON

andrewmp wrote: »

Wages seem too stagnant for times to be good IMO.

in a period of zero inflation why would you expect wages to increase

is everyone becoming more productive?

MFW_ASAP

beecher2 wrote: »

You could input some scenarios into entitled.com It might be an eyeopener

In what way, an eye opener in how large the current payouts are or how small the current payout are?

martinsurrey

andrewmp wrote: »

Wages seem too stagnant for times to be good IMO.

with inflation at 0 and wage growth at 2.7% we've got 2.7% real wage growth, its as high as it ever was between 2002-2007

http://www.theguardian.com/money/2015/jun/17/uk-wage-growth-four-year-high-april-inflation-productivity

Moby

So tax credit reform is symbolic of us all living within our means and part of a bigger package! Really?
http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2015/oct/28/2008-crash-government-economic-growth-budgetary-surplus

beecher2

MFW_ASAP wrote: »

In what way, an eye opener in how large the current payouts are or how small the current payout are?

For me personally, it was an eye opener how large the payments were.
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/tax-credits-entitlement-tables-working-at-least-16-hours-and-paying-childcare/tax-credits-entitlement-tables-working-at-least-16-hours-and-paying-childcare

MFW_ASAP

Holy moley! No wonder we can't afford tax credits!

What on earth was Brown thinking when he introduced them???

Jeeze, it makes you wonder why anyone works anymore