Really impressed with the budget

[Fullrecoveryispossible]

I’ll give it to the chancellor. He delivered a bloody good budget today. Childcare reform (including increasing rates paid to providers by 30%) and 30 hours free for 1&2 year olds. Uk has avoided recession despite a global pandemic and Ukrainian war, more money on occupational health, plan to get more people into work

Back!!!!!!!. I wasn't aware it had ever gone away.

I agree. Public services have been run into the ground and no mention of what they'll do to address it.

@Yoshithegreen completely agree. I get that it’s nice for everyone to have something but there has to be a reasonable cutoff and £100k on just one salary (if a dual household) is comfortable in any area (or is capable of being comfortable). I don’t understand why money is being prioritised on high earner childcare instead of the health or school system which is utterly on their knees. But the pension changes only go to the interests of high earners too so…,

The Tories are going for women’s votes, and as they seem to know what one is and that many of them have childcare issues, they’ve got my vote. My step daughter will definitely benefit from the new childcare funding.

While I take your general point that life can be tough for people at risk of sanctions, which are needlessly harsh without any evidence of effectiveness, the bus problem is at least being recognised as an issue with the renewal of the bus fare cap scheme and the availability of discounted fares for job seekers (via a card from job centres).

www.theguardian.com/politics/2023/mar/14/dwp-ordered-to-release-sensitive-research-into-effects-of-benefit-sanctions
www.moneysavingexpert.com/news/2021/11/rail-companies-urge-job-seekers-to-take-advantage-of-50--off-tra/
www.gov.uk/government/news/2-bus-fare-cap-across-england-to-save-passengers-money

Isn't PIP only awarded to those who can prove they incur additional costs due to their disability? Therefore if that is the gateway benefit and only way to prove that you have reduced capacity for work very many people will be left being treated as if they're available for full time work despite clearly being clearly unfit for work because they don't have carers for example?

If I had cancer and was undergoing regular chemotherapy for example I may not qualify for PIP but would clearly be unfit to work but under this system I could be sanctioned for not taking up a job in eg. a warehouse working 12 hour shifts?

Am I right in thinking nothing for carers?

Did you not hear the timescale on some of these ‘promises’ (Childcare especially)? Support coming in next few years is doing nothing for families struggling today. I always wondered who falls for this rubbish and today my question has been answered.

I agree OP there's some good stuff in it. Things, like childcare, that have long been lobbied for by women's groups.

The delays in implementation are to allow childcare providers to build up capacity to take on the children whose parents look after them at home as they cannot afford to return to work due to childcare costs.

The ' huh, yeah, its just a vote winner' cynicism is genuinely funny! Shock announcement - all governments and opposition parties try to create policies that will get them elected by voters.

I understood that they're increasing the amount you can earn before carers is stopped - so you can earn up to 18,000 instead of 16,000 - but I might be wrong

You have to prove that due to your disability you have care and /or mobility needs. Not that you have extra costs.

www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-64962566

You can only earn up to £132 a week so nowhere near £16k a year

Thanks
that's not much is it
oh well.

@SouthCountryGirl maybe it was hours worked instead then. I'm not sure. There was definitely something for carers.

This should have been addressed years ago when the NLW came in. If it's being addressed now, it's about time.

I wondered that. Private nurseries aren't legally obliged to take on these children

Pip is awarded due to extra care needs, not extra costs.

Pip claims are also taking a huge amount of time which is a huge problem if they turn it into the gateway. With the likes of ESA (new or old style) people at least get/got a small amount (equivalent to JSA) while they wait for their assessment. With pip you get nothing until you are successful, which for huge numbers of people is many many months down the line after winning an appeal.

My dc are at secondary but I support this part of the budget.

I can’t see anywhere where I’ll benefit but we earn just above average and tick along okay I guess.

Up to £7800 from £6864. Max you can earn currently is £132 a week. We'll be able to earn £150 before losing Carers Allowance entirely. The allowance will go up by a whole £7 a week

Yep, that’s going up to the grand sum of allowing £139 a week in April.

I think you're talking about care experienced young people and foster families which was in the budget.

There was nothing about carers who receive Carers Allowance.

Are you thinking of this bit:

"The government is increasing the amount of income tax relief available to foster carers and shared lives carers. The threshold of income at which qualifying carers begin paying tax on care income will be increased to £18,140 per year plus £375 to £450 per person cared for per week for 2023-24 and these thresholds will then be index-linked, representing a tax cut worth approximately £450 per year on average."

Have a look at the statement from the early years alliance. They are basically saying the budget is a shit show.

Not surprised they keep getting voted in when people have so little understanding of how the world around them works and get sucked in by attention grabbing headlines 🙄I imagine you get impressed by a lot OP...