Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Child-safe in minutes.

Meet the Other Phone.
Child-safe in minutes.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To be annoyed when they say the poorest will

32 replies

GollyMissMolly · 20/10/2010 00:02

be affected worse by the cuts?

The poorest are on benefits and will still get their benefits, council tax paid, housing and child benefit so how will they be affected?

It's the middle incomes that will be affected!

I don't have a problem with the poorest still getting their benefits but this scare mongering and ignoring the middle incomes that are losing everything is winding me up.

OP posts:
justsue · 20/10/2010 00:06

YABU... Up until Jan of this year I was earning on average of £34k a year, paid taxes all my life, paid my way never asked for a penny from anyone.

Situation changed in Feb, father was diagnosed with ALZ, i was made redundant I am his carer. He pays me well (he has the funding to do it) but I do claim carers allowance, i do claim council tax relif, housing benefit and why not???? I have paid into the system for 30 years

justsue · 20/10/2010 00:07

sorry I was a middle income earner and never begrudged anyone

Original poster
GollyMissMolly · 20/10/2010 00:08

I did just say I don't have a problem with claiming benefits - maybe you should READ my post. But whatever you are getting now will not change so you will not be getting a cut in your current benefit!

OP posts:
RobynLou · 20/10/2010 00:11

I think a lot of people, especially those who are disabled or on carers allowance are very concerned that their benefits will go down/be taken away, what with reassessing people to decide if they're really disabled, putting a cap on housing benefit, increasing council house rents...

colditz · 20/10/2010 00:12

The middle incomes aren't losing everything. They are losing a relatively large amount but they are not losing everything.

£44 grand a year is a high income, not a middle income. I don't agree that the cut off should be £44 grand per person, because it means a family with two people on £40 grand each can still receive child benefit, whereas a family with one adult who earns £48 grand a year won't.

But do not labour under the illusion that anything over 45 grand a year is a middle income. it's high. An average wage, a true middle income, is £25 grand a year.

VinegaRigamorTits · 20/10/2010 00:12

poor doesnt always = on benefits

RobynLou · 20/10/2010 00:13

and the poorer a person the more vunerable their finances are to even small cuts in allowances/benefits, when you're counting every single penny as it is there's just no room to loose any more money.

justsue · 20/10/2010 00:13

sorry I read your post wrong I apologise :) I however, may get a cut in what I will get in the future. There is talk of cutting carers allow etc (means tested?) I am probably wrong about that as well. Do not know the benefit system yet :(

SpottyMuldoon · 20/10/2010 00:21

I see what you're saying but you're not losing everything are you? Are you losing your home, your job and your security? Are you losing your self respect, confidence and ability to hold your head up and proudly tell people what you do for a living?

Things may be hard as you get used to the cuts which affect you but you will have more disposable income eventually as your children get older and leave home, your house will be a valuable asset and you may even have a pension that you've worked hard to pay into. In the long term, however you look at it, you are always going to be better off than someone on benefits and/or a low income.

The amount of benefits may not go down but the cuts are going to have a dramatic effect on how far those on a fixed income can make their money stretch.

Original poster
GollyMissMolly · 20/10/2010 00:22

It will be madness to cut carers allowance as it would cost a fortune for the government to care for those in need.

When I said losing everything I meant child benefit, tax credits and no doubt something else we haven't thought of so they will have to massively cut back which may not be possible. £44k may seem high to some but for those living in London it feels like less than £25k.

I am not in the middle income but feel really sorry for those who are.

OP posts:
fishtankneedscleaning · 20/10/2010 00:23

Colditz who says a middle income = £44 grand a year?

expatinscotland · 20/10/2010 00:25

Many of the poorest are actually the working poor, who earn just over the amount needed to qualify for benefits, but are often below the poverty line after tax and NI and paying full council tax.

justsue · 20/10/2010 00:29

I live in Hertfordshire and £34k was a good income ! In London you would have to have probably another £15k on top of that to achieve a nice life.

BellasFormerFriend · 20/10/2010 00:35

the poorest are not the ones on benefits.

well below the poverty line, any support going down fast thanks to cuts and likely to continue going down.

When they say that they are right and your attitude seems a bit off tbh, if what you mean is "I am not actually "poor" but these cuts affect me too" then say it!

Original poster
GollyMissMolly · 20/10/2010 00:44

The cuts don't affect me. Yes we lose CB but we don't need it and are happy to no longer receive it. But I do remember how difficult it was when we just came into the 40% tax bracket and all benefits, tax credits, dental treatment, presciptions etc got stopped so to have other things stopped would have been a nightmare.

So, unless OH loses his job we will not be affected. Why can't I feel sorry for middle income families? Confused

OP posts:
DioneTheDiabolist · 20/10/2010 00:48

The poorest are being affected.
Middle incomes are being affected.
I have yet to see what the affect is going to be on those earning 100k or 1mil+.

BellasFormerFriend · 20/10/2010 00:49

Eh? so what is your point then? Confused The poorest are not the ones on benefits because benefits have to keep you at or above teh poverty line and there are many out there well below that!

I am really confused about what your point is, unless it is just that you think being on benefits is the poorest you can be - in which case you are wrong so you can safely feel a little pang for those affected when you hear things like this Hmm

thesecondcoming · 20/10/2010 00:50

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

DioneTheDiabolist · 20/10/2010 00:57

Benefits may be supposed to keep you above the poverty line, but they don't. The winter before last I spent more than 25% of my income on heating alone. Last year I put money into my heating throughout the summer. This year, although I did the same, my heating has been on for more than 4 weeks already, so it's not looking good.

kelly2525 · 20/10/2010 01:07

I work, baby due in a matter of weeks, dont claim benefits, father fucked off as soon as he found out i was pregnant, planning on taking a total of 6 weeks maternity leave cos even though maternity pay is only 10% less than my actual wage, i cant afford to lose that 10%, cos i earn the grand total of £7k a year.

I agree with Bella, its not the poorest ones on benefits, infact i would say im beyond fucking poor, still have to pay for prescriptions every three weeks and for dental treatment, never mind council tax and the usual bills we all have

snowmash · 20/10/2010 01:10

benefits have to keep you at or above teh poverty line

I wish SS knew that when implementing their care charging...

Original poster
GollyMissMolly · 20/10/2010 01:10

Then I now officially feel sorry for anyone earning under £50k. Kelly, on £7k you must get some form of benefits? Is that not below the national minimum wage?

OP posts:
MaimAndKilloki · 20/10/2010 01:13

But they will Confused

It's not just about money in your pocket, there are less options for the poorest in society. (Whether you are talking about people on benefits or not)

colditz · 20/10/2010 01:13

kelly you'll get tax credits once the baby actually arives, it'll be about £50 a week on top of your maternity pay, so don't let that put you off taking your maternity leave.

colditz · 20/10/2010 01:14

Plus child benefit of £20 a week.

Please don't leave a 6 week old for the sake of money. the money is there to help. Apply for it.

Swipe left for the next trending thread