2015 budget

[idliketoteachtheworldtosing]

Shocked to actually find myself agreeing with the chancellor, well some of it. I think we have actually come to a stage where enough is enough and cb and tc for 2 children only, as shocking as it seems is actually the right thing to do!

[crazykat]

Capping tax credits and cb at two children will mean more children living in poverty. While I don't agree with the small minority of parents who 'have children for benefits' those children don't ask to be born.

Some people will have more than two children regardless, they won't be able to adequately feed and clothe those children which will result in social services being involved and possible removal of those children. They will then be in care which costs a hell of a lot more per week than their parents would have got in benefits for them.

Child tax credits and child benefit are supposed to be for children so that they aren't living in poverty due to feckless parents. Yes the benefits bill needs reducing but not by punishing children who don't ask to be born.

[OfaFrenchMind]

Well, on my side I am quite happy with the higher threshold for the 40% tax. Is this for real?

[AuntyMag10]

I think it's quite fair and about time too.

[penisland]

It's all good. A fantastic budget all round I think.

[LashesandLipstick]

I'm not happy with it but it's not as bad as it could have been.

[IKnowIAmButWhatAreYou]

Seems quite good to me too....

[idliketoteachtheworldtosing]

I'm sorry but I think this was a good budget. Hopefully it will encourage people to think it through properly before having a child, making sure that they can afford the children they want. Yes it seems harsh but times have changed and it calls for tough measures.

[TTWK]

Child tax credits and child benefit are supposed to be for children so that they aren't living in poverty due to feckless parents

If your parents are feckless their kids will always be living in poverty, no matter how much you give their feckless parents. That's because they are feckless.

The clue is in the word feckless.

[Goshthatsspicy]

I'm interested to see how the new proposed minimum wage plays out.

[Goshthatsspicy]

I agree with lashes, l was expecting way worse.

[raggety3]

crazykat Child tax credits and child benefit are supposed to be for children so that they aren't living in poverty due to feckless parents

How ignorant to think that having large families has to be synonymous with 'feckless' behaviour. I am a Cambridge graduate with quite a few children. I chose to remain at home to look after them - particularly essential as one is autistic and would not cope with childcare. I have more than contributed to society in terms of the voluntary work that I do, which I have managed to fit around the children. We have never been wealthy, but I believe that I have raised the children responsibly - the oldest is about to embark on a medical degree, so hopefully he will more than repay the CTC we have had when he earns a decent salary. These threads are an interesting insight into the whole spectrum of human qualities - from the self-interested to the generous of spirit. However, it is easy to see how certain ubiquitous personality traits are exploited by the 'divide and rule' politicians. Shame on some of you.

[Goshthatsspicy]

I don't think that is what crazy meant. raggety

[ReadtheSmallPrint]

IDS' reaction to the announcement on the living wage was priceless.

[Slutbucket]

I don't get child benefit anyway but I have 3 children. One pregnancy was a twin pregnancy and I was in great need of the money when I had them. Sometimes it's not that straight forward.

[ReadtheSmallPrint]

Slutbucket GO did say that multiple births would be exempt from the limit of CTC to two children.

[Rebecca2014]

What going happen if a couple decide to have 3 children together then the relationship breaks up, the mother a single parent having to rely on benefits. I see that happening

[raggety3]

Goshthatsspicy I don't think that is what crazy meant. raggety

Apologies to Crazykat if I misunderstood - when you are a poor family with what society seems to have deemed as being too many children, you can tend to be overly sensitive and on the defensive!

[Bulldogclip]

The 2 child limit only applies to children born after April 2017 anyway. So if you already have 3/6/9/16 children, just don't have any more!

[Goshthatsspicy]

raggety :)
I understand where you are coming from.

[MaliceInWonderland78]

Raggety It's quite possible that the politicians reflect the opinions of the electorate (I almost wrote society). The truly generous of spirit are those that voluntarily give up their own time and money to help those worse off, rather than hectoring a government to compel others to do so on their behalf.

Overall I thought it a reasonable budget. I'm disappointed with the IHT arrangements, but things look to be fairly well balanced. It's a matter of national shame that we ever allowed as many people onto Welfare as we did.

[Goshthatsspicy]

read yes it was really entertaining.
I don't think I'd seen his teeth before today!

[raggety3]

Bulldogclip The 2 child limit only applies to children born after April 2017 anyway. So if you already have 3/6/9/16 children, just don't have any more!

Understood - but it is the principle that counts and the general message that it gives that large families are automatically bad for society. People's circumstances can change - able to afford all of their children one day - finding themselves thrown on hard times the next - 'strivers' to 'scroungers' overnight. On a practical note, it will discourage existing claimants with large families from seeking employment - if they were to find a job and subsequently lose it after April 2017, they would then be treated as new claimants.

[crazykat]

That isn't what I meant raggety and I'm sorry that it upset you. Parents in your position are the ones who will be unfairly punished.

By feckless parents I mean those who have more and more children purely for the extra tax credits, cb etc. I know two women like this and it's the kids that are going to suffer.

[littlejohnnydory]

No, not a good budget. Parents of three year olds forced into work. Widening the gap between rich and poor. Living wage leading to fewer jobs, plus any financial gain for the individual cancelled out by having to pay market rate for social housing plus loss of tax credits and cb.

[lagirafe]

If you have 3+ children the £20/23k benefit cap and you don't work (think single mum with young children) you won't be receiving any further benefits for subsequent children anyway.