Stop government using the words "Low Income" when referring to benefits & financial support schemes

Devongardener

How do think the system would work if DWP had to assess what every claimant had paid in tax before deciding what they are entitled to?  It’s not your personal pot that entitles you to anything more than people who have not had a well paid job, for whatever reason.  Income tax and National Insurance are not only for the payment of benefits but of course pay for the NHS, education, defence, policing and all other services.   I called you fortunate to have had a well paid job because you presumably enjoyed the net salary that came with it, taxation is a fact of life.

singhini

Keep_pedalling said:

singhini said:

I've just spent this evening going through old wage slips and P60's to discover that over the last 22 years ive paid £357,522 in Income tax and NI
If paying tax doesn't get me anything, then i don't intend to pay another £350,000 over the next 20 years, i will leave that to others.

What a load of tripe, are you really saying that you would turn down a job that would give you take home pay of around £1.3M over those 20 years you would refuse it because you don’t want to pay £350k tax on the gross pay.

If you did not build up substantial savings and pensions in those 22 years of being very highly paid you have yourself to blame, but if you did then what the hell are you moaning about.

Im moaning about being treated like rubbish!

singhini

Devongardener said:

How do think the system would work if DWP had to assess what every claimant had paid in tax before deciding what they are entitled to?  It’s not your personal pot that entitles you to anything more than people who have not had a well paid job, for whatever reason.  Income tax and National Insurance are not only for the payment of benefits but of course pay for the NHS, education, defence, policing and all other services.   I called you fortunate to have had a well paid job because you presumably enjoyed the net salary that came with it, taxation is a fact of life.

Yes i know, and i know that i pay for them and other use them. 

singhini

Devongardener said:

How do think the system would work if DWP had to assess what every claimant had paid in tax before deciding what they are entitled to?  It’s not your personal pot that entitles you to anything more than people who have not had a well paid job, for whatever reason.  Income tax and National Insurance are not only for the payment of benefits but of course pay for the NHS, education, defence, policing and all other services.   I called you fortunate to have had a well paid job because you presumably enjoyed the net salary that came with it, taxation is a fact of life.

No. I can earn £12,500 and pay no tax + savings rate of £5,000 + £2,000 dividend allowance + £7,500 rent a room and pay no tax (looks quite appealing to me). there might be other things ive missed (note to myself: must look into this).

PS don't blame me for now avoiding tax, blame the system! 

justwhat

marcia_ said:

 But you are not on low income because you have income from your savings and the interest on those savings. 

I would say interest may be classed as income, but savings is savings lol If we want to be brutal why not class equity in property for means tested benefits.

marcia_

justwhat said:

marcia_ said:

 But you are not on low income because you have income from your savings and the interest on those savings. 

I would say interest may be classed as income, but savings is savings lol If we want to be brutal why not class equity in property for means tested benefits.

 They already do except for the home you actually live in. 

Calculating income from savings is a thing for some means tested benefits.

Martin_the_Unjust

So tell me something OP, how much extra tax would you have been happy to pay while you were earning big in order to let people with well over £16k in saving’s receive means tested benefits?

justwhat

I am with the OP. 

Couple of points.

If you have savings and grumble about means tested benefits, i feel you are looked down upon by SOME of those  "Less fortunate" that have not saved. Many or some COULD have saved however they have decided not to, That's there choice and we live in a free country.  Some people that do not / will not /are unable to save see some things as necessities. Savers often sacrifice these necessities .

The benefits should really say low income means tested. And i really don't understand how SOME benefits are not MEANS tested. 

Food larders and food banks - i use them. These are not always used by the needy or the hungry. "SOME" items that are there are luxury items and also junk food.  There are now hundreds of them everywhere.  Again its a bit like savings for "some", it is a choice. 

We plan for mortgages and pensions. So if you are a saver then plan for unemployment(we do the anyway with unemployment insurance) . Small amounts of savings at the means tested threshold are not worth retaining in a bank account. It could be put into a property or put in a pension. We put money into a pension to gain tax benefits and eventually a modest pay-out. Its a long term investment. So why not do the same for low income benefits. (there are no rules over the long term or short term in some instances).  

Peoples expectations and standards of living are different now.  You have to go with the current system in place at the time.

(can we moan about bus fares (£50 per week) and community tax now? ...lol £3300 i pay with no foot paths or street lighting lol)

comeandgo

You have so much yet you want more..

Keep_pedalling

singhini said:

Keep_pedalling said:

singhini said:

I've just spent this evening going through old wage slips and P60's to discover that over the last 22 years ive paid £357,522 in Income tax and NI
If paying tax doesn't get me anything, then i don't intend to pay another £350,000 over the next 20 years, i will leave that to others.

What a load of tripe, are you really saying that you would turn down a job that would give you take home pay of around £1.3M over those 20 years you would refuse it because you don’t want to pay £350k tax on the gross pay.

If you did not build up substantial savings and pensions in those 22 years of being very highly paid you have yourself to blame, but if you did then what the hell are you moaning about.

Im moaning about being treated like rubbish!

Really? in another thread you say despite now being on low income you are still paying in to your SIPP and despite not being a tax payer the gov. are adding 20% to your contributions,