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Original poster

Cut benefits before increasing council tax

460 replies

Bonde · 15/11/2025 15:19

https://www.lbc.co.uk/article/reeves-council-tax-hike-5HjdMrJ_2/

As an increase in income tax is now out the window, the government will have to look at other ways to fill the gap by increasing a dozen smaller taxes. One option, I think they will opt for, is to apply a surcharge for homes in bands F,G&H. It would be politically expedient to do so because many people will assume those in such homes are wealthy.

We purchased our band f property earlier this year at £550k. We live in London and didn’t want to uproot our family, and move jobs, so decided to buy our 2.5 bed house.
After mortgage and bills, we have £100 to £200 left over, but some months have nothing. An increase would be so difficult to manage.

Why can’t the government have the courage to cut benefits. You can buy a BMW or Mercedes on the Mobility Scheme! Why?

Reeves set to hit thousands of homes with new levy after massive U-turn on income tax | LBC

The Chancellor is preparing to hit homes in the highest council tax bands with a new surcharge

https://www.lbc.co.uk/article/reeves-council-tax-hike-5HjdMrJ_2/

OP posts:
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Enigma54 · 16/11/2025 12:34

youalright · 16/11/2025 12:27

Exactly this. Has anyone suggested she move into a house share yet or invite a complete stranger into her home to rent a room.

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No one has suggested that she readjusts her living arrangements
( funny that!) It’s only the poor who are meant to uproot and turn their lives upside down, so they can stop sponging off the high income tax payer.

Tekknonan · 16/11/2025 12:31

Without motability, many disabled people would not be able to work (and pay taxes). Those who can't work do need to get around. Should you become unable to walk through accident or illness, do you think you should become housebound, unable to get out, socialise, shop for yourself?

There are some uniformed and truly mean-minded people on MN.

youalright · 16/11/2025 12:27

Enigma54 · 16/11/2025 12:24

I was just about to say this too. According to MN, if you are struggling on a low income and need a UC top, then you must move to cheaper area, you must get a better job, you must cut your cloth accordingly. But turn the tables and oh wait, OP is struggling, but doesn’t WANT to move, so she attacks the disabled instead.

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Exactly this. Has anyone suggested she move into a house share yet or invite a complete stranger into her home to rent a room.

Enigma54 · 16/11/2025 12:24

Kirbert2 · 16/11/2025 12:18

It seems to be acceptable on here to just tell those struggling the most on benefits to move.

Just a few days ago someone told me I should move to a basic house in a basic location so I could stop needing UC.

Recently, someone suggested an OP to move house so she could have better job prospects and not need UC with £9 left in her bank.

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I was just about to say this too. According to MN, if you are struggling on a low income and need a UC top, then you must move to cheaper area, you must get a better job, you must cut your cloth accordingly. But turn the tables and oh wait, OP is struggling, but doesn’t WANT to move, so she attacks the disabled instead.

BobblyBobbleHat · 16/11/2025 12:21

Kirbert2 · 16/11/2025 12:18

It seems to be acceptable on here to just tell those struggling the most on benefits to move.

Just a few days ago someone told me I should move to a basic house in a basic location so I could stop needing UC.

Recently, someone suggested an OP to move house so she could have better job prospects and not need UC with £9 left in her bank.

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It shouldn't be like this. We shouldn't be against each other, in reality lots of people are struggling at the moment for different reasons. The only thing the last few governments seem to have been good at is pitching us against each other.

Kirbert2 · 16/11/2025 12:18

BobblyBobbleHat · 16/11/2025 11:57

That's often unaffordable in itself though isnt it, with all the costs of moving on top of finding a new job or funding a further commute.

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It seems to be acceptable on here to just tell those struggling the most on benefits to move.

Just a few days ago someone told me I should move to a basic house in a basic location so I could stop needing UC.

Recently, someone suggested an OP to move house so she could have better job prospects and not need UC with £9 left in her bank.

youalright · 16/11/2025 12:11

rainingsnoring · 16/11/2025 12:10

Not at all. As I've already said, she has over stretched her finances and is struggling. You can argue that it was a choice but what good choices are there for many people now?

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Lots of choices thats the difference between severely disabled people and able bodied people

rainingsnoring · 16/11/2025 12:10

youalright · 16/11/2025 11:54

The fact she can get a mortgage for that amount shows shes not struggling

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Not at all. As I've already said, she has over stretched her finances and is struggling. You can argue that it was a choice but what good choices are there for many people now?

youalright · 16/11/2025 12:06

BobblyBobbleHat · 16/11/2025 11:56

No, it doesn't necessarily mean that, sometimes people have to really stretch themselves to try and get their own home.

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Come on its a half a million pound house she's not working a minimum wage job is she. Its another one of these me and my partner earn 100k a year and can't afford to live people 🙄 why she begrudges the poorest and most vulnerable in society.

Enigma54 · 16/11/2025 12:05

LadyKenya · 16/11/2025 11:32

Agreed, those very same benefits that some people want razed, could be the very same benefits that they, one day, may rely on themselves. Maybe then they will understand that they have been fed so many lies, about people living some bountiful life on them.

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Absolutely. I wish people would educate themselves better on how little benefits are in monetary value. And how many hoops you have to jump through to get it!

BobblyBobbleHat · 16/11/2025 11:57

Awwlookatmybabyspider · 16/11/2025 10:54

Some may say sell your house that you’re struggling to pay for and move to one out of the area even if it means uprooting your kids job ect.

That's often unaffordable in itself though isnt it, with all the costs of moving on top of finding a new job or funding a further commute.

BobblyBobbleHat · 16/11/2025 11:56

youalright · 16/11/2025 11:54

The fact she can get a mortgage for that amount shows shes not struggling

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No, it doesn't necessarily mean that, sometimes people have to really stretch themselves to try and get their own home.

youalright · 16/11/2025 11:54

rainingsnoring · 16/11/2025 11:19

Hardly. She is owned by a massive mortgage. She certainly doesn't own the asset yet.

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The fact she can get a mortgage for that amount shows shes not struggling

LadyKenya · 16/11/2025 11:32

Enigma54 · 16/11/2025 10:43

This is it exactly. Life can take many a cruel twist and turn and attacking those who are already sick and / or vulnerable, isn’t the way forward.

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Agreed, those very same benefits that some people want razed, could be the very same benefits that they, one day, may rely on themselves. Maybe then they will understand that they have been fed so many lies, about people living some bountiful life on them.

rainingsnoring · 16/11/2025 11:21

Sirzy · 16/11/2025 10:34

Because they are the easy target sadly.

What most people forget that if they are lucky enough to be in good health now that could change in a heartbeat. It only takes one illness or accident and the nice safe life you have can be taken away.

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Very true.

rainingsnoring · 16/11/2025 11:19

WhySoManySocks · 16/11/2025 10:13

Ah, the “I own a property worth half a million but I’m not wealthy” brigade.

Hardly. She is owned by a massive mortgage. She certainly doesn't own the asset yet.

Awwlookatmybabyspider · 16/11/2025 10:54

Some may say sell your house that you’re struggling to pay for and move to one out of the area even if it means uprooting your kids job ect.

Enigma54 · 16/11/2025 10:43

LadyKenya · 16/11/2025 10:38

I know. One day some of these same people could be looking back, regretfully at the way they are thinking now.

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This is it exactly. Life can take many a cruel twist and turn and attacking those who are already sick and / or vulnerable, isn’t the way forward.

Enigma54 · 16/11/2025 10:39

OP, you haven’t really put up much of an argument since starting this thread. What are your thoughts now? Still the same?

LadyKenya · 16/11/2025 10:38

Sirzy · 16/11/2025 10:34

Because they are the easy target sadly.

What most people forget that if they are lucky enough to be in good health now that could change in a heartbeat. It only takes one illness or accident and the nice safe life you have can be taken away.

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I know. One day some of these same people could be looking back, regretfully at the way they are thinking now.

LadyKenya · 16/11/2025 10:36

ChardonnaysBeastlyCat · 16/11/2025 10:32

Of course it will have an effect. A negative one.

She'll have less money because she'll be paying more tax.

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Why not wait to hear the budget eh? The taxes do not just go on welfare benefits, anyway!

Sirzy · 16/11/2025 10:34

LadyKenya · 16/11/2025 10:01

Has RR not already confirmed that this will not happen? Why attack just the disabled?

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Because they are the easy target sadly.

What most people forget that if they are lucky enough to be in good health now that could change in a heartbeat. It only takes one illness or accident and the nice safe life you have can be taken away.

ChardonnaysBeastlyCat · 16/11/2025 10:32

LadyKenya · 16/11/2025 10:31

Don't come out with crass platitudes, that will not have an effect on her life, one way, or another.

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Of course it will have an effect. A negative one.

She'll have less money because she'll be paying more tax.

LadyKenya · 16/11/2025 10:31

ChardonnaysBeastlyCat · 16/11/2025 10:27

Ah, she had the temerity to question some sacred cows she's paying for.

As for her choice in house, how dare she make a decision about her own money?

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Don't come out with crass platitudes, that will not have an effect on her life, one way, or another.

ChardonnaysBeastlyCat · 16/11/2025 10:27

LadyKenya · 16/11/2025 10:22

She outlined her difficulties in her first post. Fine, no problem. She is not alone in her struggles. What is not ok, is what she did after that. Bringing Motability into the conversation in such a crass way, when she had no idea what she was even talking about. It made little sense, and even if, as patient posters have pointed out, they scrapped the Motability scheme today, the OP would still be in the same boat. She made a choice to stretch herself, and leave barely any wiggle room in her budget. Disabled people do not choose to be disabled.

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Ah, she had the temerity to question some sacred cows she's paying for.

As for her choice in house, how dare she make a decision about her own money?

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