Those that criticise Martin Lewis should read this

[ChimChimeny]

posted on his Facebook page:

WE GOT THE WIN ON CHILD BENEFIT!
Chancellor tipped me off before budget, said this was due in large to MSE/my shows campaigning all based on all those of your who messaged me to say it was the key thing to put to him

So

1. From this April threshold which hasn't moved since 2013 rises from a single parent earning £50,000 to £60,000 and you lose child benefit totally at £80,000 (not £60,000)
2. Consultation on moving it to family income not individual income and hopefully that'll be in place from April 2026 (this is to stop unfairness for single income/single parent) families*

Yes he may talk fast or look smug or whatever but the man is a bit of a legend IMHO

We love Martin Lewis in this house, he's saved us loads with his advice. I don't care if he's worth millions, he deserves it. Sometimes making a lot of money is a side effect of people's job. He should be chancellor in my opinion but I totally get why he wouldn't want to be in politics, he's too bloody intelligent for then all.
I work for one of the big banks and when we are creating a new process or product we always joke about whether it will get us mentioned on MSE in a good or bad way 😂

I have popped here just to say I fancy him also 😂

Personally I find his energy and tenacity fantastic especially at a time when it's all doom and gloom.

He may well be worth millions but i wonder how much this matters to him, he uses his skills and personality to help others. So many people these days appearing to help others when in fact it's all about raising their own profile (Prince William and his house building scheme is a good example of this).

He comes across as a genuine bloke, not many of those around. Good on him.

As I said what I posted was lighthearted. Of course I'm not opposed to people claiming what they are entitled to. just wish we'd get a bit of warning when he is going to make one of his announcements so we cope with the influx of extra calls ! honestly wish I's never commented.

He's obviously very intelligent and very wealthy but advocates for, and explains things clearly for those who aren't, and tries to ensure they get what they are entitled to.

Rather than others who are intelligent and wealthy who advocate for themselves, and ensure they and their mates get what they are not necessarily entitled to.

Thays great I hope he can turn his attention to single childless people and get us 50% off council tax and more help with benefits if made redundant as often bottom of the pile and more likely to end up homeless

20 years? Please share!!

He’s amazing. I’ve only been listening to his podcast for about a year but I’ve noticed that so much of what he campaigns about then reaches the wider media - often without him being credited. So his campaign to extend the time by which people can pay national insurance contributions to increase their pensions is one example. He’s now trying to help people get compensation who’ve been ripped off by car loans.

Perhaps it needs someone with that energy and passion to get things done so it doesn’t seem fair to then criticise those attributes when he’s presenting.

Yep! Great example of a run of the mill MP being ahead of Starmer on this one. Massive credit to him and to MSE.

I don't think we will ever go back to that.

That "household income" level he's pushing for is also going to apply to tax-free childcare; and if the limit isn't increased, will massively reduce who is eligible for both child benefit and tax-free childcare.

So while I actually don't criticise Martin, and I'm glad the increase in child benefit will help people this year, that could remove access to both schemes from a lot of people next year.

Honestly I don't think we can make any assumptions about the household limit. A government with under a year left announcing a consultation may very well mean the issue being kicked into the long grass. It'll be about what Labour want. We can be pretty confident they won't change the thresholds back, as that would be a political and practical error, but it's harder to call beyond that.