Loss of child Tax Credit from budget.

[Skippy]

I agree with Jan, you're certainly not in that category Lyns xxx

[MrsKnight]

Thank you & I know we are not even remotely close to it, We dont even make the criteria to lose anything, yet. I feel sorry for the ones that are like us that may get affected.
Ive got nothing against means testing, some people just claim because they can, not because they need it.
I just get very annoyed & angry, I know of one family that are getting 19,000 in child n working tax credits, along with free dental, free prescriptions, free school dinners, free out of school/holiday clubs with "Me too" vouchers. Yet Ive gotta pay for all of these & cant afford the luxury of sending the boys to out of school&holiday clubs, never mind the rest!

[Michael Peoples]

The most disgraceful thing is that this government is deliberately targeting stay at home mothers and single working parents who pay the higher rate of tax. The childcare point is a good one because any single parent has to pay for childcare and this makes a serious hole in their wages. £44000 per year is less than £2650 per month net. This does not allow for any pension deductions which would further decrease the net figure. From this a person has to run their home, pay their childcare, travel and work expenses. These expenses would not be required if the person just stopped working as even the mortgage or rent would be paid. This government is now saying that these people deserve no help despite paying over £1,000 per month in tax and NI.

What example is that for children? It tells them that there is no point in actually going to work because if you do the state will hammer you. Stay on the dole, feign some sort of illness to get extra benefits and you will be better off.

[Skippy]

OK, I'm going to be controversial here, and this isn't directed at anyone on the forum, it's just a thought. If I wasn't living with Dave there would be no way I could afford to live on my own on my salary. I earn reasonable money, but there is no way I could rent even a one bedroom flat where I live and pay all my bills, food, travel etc. What help is there for someone like me, all I seem to do is pay tax to support everyone else!

As I said, this isn't directed at anyone, I'm just trying to show that other people apart from families are struggling.

[MrsKnight]

Skip - I totally get your point too hun, I would feel exactly the same. Before I met my hubby, I would never of been able to survive on the wage I was getting. My MIL is on a low wage but gets no help because she is full time, but yet her rent/council tax & household bills take up 3/4 of her take home wage, leaving her with little to live off, yet shes not entitled to anything.
I see it from all points of view, from my parents been pensioners, my sister been a Single working Mum, my MIL & as a family unit.

[Broke of London]

Playing devil's advocate - should anyone be entitled to chose not to work if that decision requires any level of government support?

There is a deeply instilled feeling that people should be rewarded with tax breaks etc for chosing a traditional family with marriage, children, SAHM; but is this still relevant in today's society? There are so many ways to live, why would one be rewarded above others?

This is very different from people who cannot work or carers. Incidentally, I think carers should receive a lot more support, both financially and otherwise.

[ashb]

Angelrainbow

I don't think any party have come out of this election anything to shout about-But if labour were so good at goverence why have they done to avoid this situation over 13 years?? its always the same-spend-spend and no real understanding of fiscal responsibilities.

By the way my partner is from Peru and you all not going to like what I say now but they are a poor country in relative terms but let me tell you all one thing, they have what we have lost and that is pride, family ties, no greed and are happy with less.

makes you think doesn't it.


labour are never going to create a mess like this again New labour ? even Tony Blair the Champagne Socialist doesnt even agree with all Labour have done.

[leaKybrain]

Playing devil's advocate - should anyone be entitled to chose not to work if that decision requires any level of government support?

I think I understand what you are saying here, but, whilst pregnant and when we decided that I could give up work I'd never heard of Child Tax Credit, not having any people around me tht would have been claiming and therefore explained it. i knew about Child Benefit mainly because it has been around donkey's years. So when we registered the birth of our daughter and were given the pack of stuff and this included the claim form we just automaticlly filled it out.

I always assumed it was something that was paid over as a supplement because it had been deemed that a certain amount was needed to bring up a child. So depending on your wage depended on how much you got extra to help pay for your childs needs. Working tax credit was for those on low income to bring them up to a certain limit.

We never made the decision to have a child just because we would get extra money. We had a child because having waited 12 years it was the right time.

Now it seems that they have decided we don't need to have a supplement to bring up our children and that its to be taken away. Like I said in a previous post I understand cuts have to be made, but it should be done gradually.

If it had never been paid we wouldn't have been used to it, but it was paid and so they need to think about how to reduce it without problems.

It like going cold turkey.

having said all this, its a shame the country can't be in an IVA....LOL

[Skippy]

I'm absolutely livid - I've just read a story that sums up everything that is wrong about this country.

There's a story in today's Mail and this week's Closer magazine about a woman who admits she's never done a day's work and gets £29k per year in benefits and has saved over £2k for a boob job! The rest is going on a credit card which will be paid off from her benefits!

This woman is really taking the mickey - she's got 5 kids, each bedroom has a flat screen TV, they have a Wii, a Playstation 3 and an X Box, plus another games consol each. They've been abroad twice this year and her daughter is developing a taste for Armani!

And the best part is she is 10k in debt!!!

As far as I'm concerned her benefits should be stopped immediately and she should get basic JSA until she gets a job - the rest of us shouldn't be paying for her to live that sort of lifestyle and keep reproducing. She should be made to sell all her designer clothes and games consols, people like her give everyone else a bad name. That money would be better off going to people who need it, like carers and the long term disabled.

Rant over!

[MrsKnight]

Totally understand your view leakybrain, I had never heard of the tax credits either & I think they were just being introduced at the time I was pregnant with my first son. I also felt exactly the same as you n just filled out the forms as you do with child benefit. But the child credit did not make me have my second son, we wanted a sibling for our first.
I have heard there was a family allowance credit prior to these.

It makes you sick doesn't it Tracey! I agree with everything you say! I think Ive seen a story like this nearly every week now in the papers. Something should be done about them - I hope the magazine or the papers, did not pay these people for their stories, that would just make it worse!

[kallis3]

Skip - I'm with you on the rant! That's the sort of person who should have their benefit cut!

[Broke of London]

Awful woman. But quite impressed how she does all that on 29k a year. Let's hope the DWP or whoever it is drop round for a chat tomorrow!!

[kallis3]

Don't forget that she is probably having help with the rent and council tax as well!

[Skippy]

And she doesn't pay tax!

[rayb]

I think I am going to be a bit controversial here and forgive me if I am but just being honest.

Why should anyone get money for having children. (And just to add I have 2 myself) If you bring a child in to the world it should be your responsibility to pay for them and nobody elses and if you cannot afford them do not have them.

I can understand people getting upset but I think people have just become to reliant on benefits to supplement them.