to ask if you will be affected by the reduced benefit cap (to £23,000)...

[steiner8]

where do you currently live and what changes you will have to make because of the cap? Will you need to move? Will you have to cut down on food? Will you have to cut down on clothes and toys for your children?

[Samcro]

why?
are you writing a story?

[DonkeyOaty]

Yes I do wonder if you are a journo because ALL of your posts are about tax/benefits. You bring nothing to mumsnet, no advice, no experiences, no humour or funny stories; sorry to be harsh.

[folds arms]

[AdventureBe]

The only thing I ever think when I hear about benefits caps is that I and several of my colleagues have responsible, demanding ft jobs and earn less than that. I know we're not suppose to think like that but it does make me bitter and twisted. Is that what you wanted?

[FarFromAnyRoad]

Burn the witch!

Actually I also think you're operating on the sly OP. Stop it. Come out. Tell us who you are and what you want!

[GraysAnalogy]

No because we don't claim benefits. We possibly may be entitled to do so but don't.

[Titsalinabumsquash]

Nope, I don't get tax credits or child benefit because DP earns too much. If however they cut carers allowance or do something to DLA then we will be effected because I am yet to find an employer that is willing to take me on when sometimes with no warning I have to drop everything and disappear to a hospital for an undetermined length of time with DS, they don't seem to think of me as an employable asset for some reason

[steiner8]

Not a journo. Just want to know as this will affect real people, not just stories in the media. People need to realise that it will affect families, children etc. I think a lot of people see those affected by this cap as being fictional characters in a pantonmine (where they are the baddies), but of course this has real world consequences. It would be good to hear how it will affect people so that those who say "just move" etc realise it is not so easy and that childrens lives and educations will be affected. That people have feelings and emotions and that the people affected are not robots who can just up sticks and change their and their kids lives.

[redshoeblueshoe]

So don't you know any real people ?

[LuisSuarezTeeth]

Will it affect you OP?

[iwantcontrolofcarmusic]

Feeling your pain Titsalinabumsquash, I'm in exactly the same position. Twenty years of building a career up to senior management level, and now I'm apparently completely unemployable, so much for flexible working legislation.

[Katniramal]

Can't comment until this is officially announced. Will families with disabled children or twins be exempt for example? I have 3 children. I wanted 2 children but got 3. My twins are disabled. No point speculating or worrying yet.

Meh!

[SideOrderofChips]

Touches head like a tv psychic I believe this to be......a Daily Mail Journalist!

[manicinsomniac]

I don't think this is the right website to find people who are going to be affected by this.

[manicinsomniac]

Fairly sure families with disabled children will exempt.

[Theoldshmoo]

I'm a bit confused with all of this!

Does the Cap mean than anyone earning over 23, 000 with 1 child will no longer be able to claim tax credits or does it mean that people have actually been receiving 26,000 a year tax credits in payments which will now be dropped to 23,000

People i know might get a small top up of 40-60 a week but no one gets 26,000 a year surely.

[RachelRagged]

Touches head like a tv psychic I believe this to be......a Daily Mail Journalist!

[Tequilashotfor1]

Nope as we don't claim fuck all - DP earns too much.

But I know it will effect lots of families.

manic clearly you haven't been on any of the benefit threads....

[BeenWondering]

Well, OP I have 17 children by a few different men. We currently live somewhere in the north of England so I will be greatly affected by the cap. I had considered having another child but doubt I can afford it now.

You asked:
Will you have to cut down on clothes and toys for your children?

Yes, the kids will be having to share jumpers. I'm thinking that if I buy an XXL size then at least 2 kids can fit into the jumper at the same time.

Toys include cutlery so my DCs often run around bashing spoons and forks on tables, not only am I being economical, I'm also killing two birds with one stone.

As for food, we had a slice of toast and a tin of beans between us last night. But I'm sure times are getting better. I can feel it. We are all in this together.

[redshoeblueshoe]

Clearly Fail. Does anyone know where I can source a pantonmine ?

[steiner8]

It won't affect me but might affect one of my friends. One of my friends has 3 children and is a single mum, living in London. She does work part time but her work is not guaranteed and she hates her job. I am worried for her. I am seeing how she is worried and I don't know what she will do if she loses her job. She is a kind and decent person. I do not want her to have to leave London (I don't think she would) but I don't know how she would be able to afford to stay. She hasn't done anything wrong, she just had the misfortune to have children with an unreliable partner (who doesn't contribute). She is not a statistic and is not a cliche. She is a real, living breathing person who might be affected by this. She doesn't know anyone outside of London so where would she move?

[VanillaTwirl]

Won't be affected as don't claim benefits - only had 2 kids because that's all we could afford (childcare in the early days was almost equivalent to my wage).

I know lots of people who work full time and earn less than this who don't claim benefits too, so I do wonder why such a high figure will cause grinding poverty and starvation to those who will be affected by that level of cap tbh.

Oh, and wrt 'just moving' to work, we have - 3 times since we've had the kids, several times prior to that, and we are all absolutely fine; just like the thousands of families who are in the military who move around regularly.

Why are you determined to whip up hysteria??

[kirinm]

First off I'll say I don't claim benefits although relied on child tax credits for a few years. My son is 19 and I earn more than the 40% tax threshold having gone to uni and worked hard to get a decent job.

Would probably be worth those who don't actually understand what the benefit cap applies to. It includes the biggest benefit at all 'housing benefit'. That money goes into the hands of a landlord not the hands of a benefit claimant. Benefit claimants have no control over rental prices. FYI most housing benefit claimed goes to those IN employment.

But hey, it's only the work shy scroungers that are going to be affected by this...turns out that's not the case as tax credits are getting cut - see David Cameron's speech. That hits a huge amount of employed people. Including those who voted for the Tories because they're sick of those 'get something for nothing lazy people'. Child poverty is about to increase dramatically but let's not worry about something that doesn't directly affect you.

[Sallystyle]

Shouldn't do as Dh and one child is disabled.

[DisconcertedAndRetired]

Out of interest a while ago I calculated how much we'd be able to claim if both out of work and no savings, and it came to more than 23K. (Couple with one child in an area where housing benefit (LHA) is high.)

Hypothetically, if affected by the 23K cap, we'd live in a cheaper property, one bedroom instead of two-bedroom we'd be claiming for, so we could stay in the area and be near potential work. (As far as I know there's no rule that says you can't have fewer bedrooms than you're being funded for.)

In fact when I looked originally, for what the council give as LHA for a two-bedroom flat, there was only one flat on rightmove within that budget. So even without the benefits cap we'd probably live in an undersized property, in order to make ends meet.

[kirinm]

Disconcerted:

If you lived in a 1 bed you'd be allowed the rate for a 1 bed. Even if really you needed a 2 bed.