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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Philip off This Morning

139 replies

NorthernWreck · 23/01/2012 10:49

Just said that he thinks Child Benefit for higher earners should be cut, and then he went, incredulously "I mean, I get child benefit! It's nuts!"

AIBU in thinking that you don't get CB unless you actually apply for it?
You don't have to apply for it if you don't need it, do you?

OP posts:
duckdodgers · 23/01/2012 11:26

Im at work and missed this nonsense.

What words of wisdom did Carole Malone have to share - did anyone at any point scream for the return to matrons to sort out the NHS Hmm

silverfrog · 23/01/2012 11:26

the hting is, claiming CB is also tied up with protecting NI payments etc for sah parents, isn't it?

ok, possibly not the biggest of considerations for Mrs Schofe (althoguh no idea who she is, or what she does), but it is for many households who earn over the proposed threshhold.

and there has been silence on how all that wil be handled, hasn't there (or am I hopelessly behind the itmes as usual?)

Original poster
NorthernWreck · 23/01/2012 11:27

I think Mrs Phil is a TV producer.

OP posts:
NoOnesGoingToEatYourEyes · 23/01/2012 11:30

Kayano I can see what you are saying (I think) in that if everyone with a child is entitled to claim it then anyone with a child, rich or poor, is not wrong if they claim it.

But I think the problem is that PS has said it should be cut for rich people like him and therefore raised the point himself. If he feels that strongly about it, and admits he doesn't need it, why claim it in the first place?

It's not compulsory to claim it just because you can. I'm entitled to claim a very small amount of child tax credits but I don't, because we are lucky enough to be managing without them (and we are much, much poorer than PS is).

Kayano · 23/01/2012 11:33

When he claimed it he probably was not on tv as much.

Wasn't there a PS drought for a few years? And now he realises that it's just a nice bonus fund for his child so why stop claiming? Can you even stop?

ReneeVivien · 23/01/2012 11:36

Kayano, I don't think wealthy people should be ashamed of claiming universal benefits, no.

But given that PS thinks it is ridiculous, he could choose to do something constructive with it.

(Of course, for all I know he is handsomely financing Amnesty International or whatever.)

Original poster
NorthernWreck · 23/01/2012 11:37

Protecting NI payments for SAHP's?
How so? I didn't think CB had anything to do with NI?

I think CB should probably depend on income, but it should go on household income, not this ridiculous idea of "one parent or more" bringing in up to 42 k.

The fact that a single parent on 43 k in london, with a mortgage would get their CB cut, when a family with two parents can still claim CB while earning 82K a year is just crazy.

OP posts:
Original poster
NorthernWreck · 23/01/2012 11:38

kayano-yes you can stop claiming! The government is not going to wrestle you to the ground and force money into your bank account!

OP posts:
Kayano · 23/01/2012 11:39

Well it's not like he is spending it on holidays and fags...

He is putting it into a fund for his children. After all it is child benefit for his children so I see that as constructive...

Kayano · 23/01/2012 11:40

That's why I put a ? At the end of can you stop claiming... Because I honestly didn't know. I can't imagine many people saying 'it's fine, just cancel this benefit intended for my babies'...

perceptionreality · 23/01/2012 11:42

But it's the mother who gets it isn't it? Maybe his wife applied - who knows whether they share their money?

oldmcdonalds · 23/01/2012 11:43

Child benefit has historically been almost an automatic benefit.
It was simply something that got given to everyone once they had a child. Absolutely nothing to do with income. And years ago it was not thought of as a benefit in the way benefits are thought of now.
It was something you got.
Yes there is a form to fill in, but that comes automatically with the Registration.
I doubt anyone knows how to de-register for it
I do believe the govt are relying upon people to give it up rather than get people means tested for it

NoOnesGoingToEatYourEyes · 23/01/2012 11:44

Perhaps he wasn't on TV a great deal for awhile, but I suspect he was still earning far more than we are.

And that's effectively what he has just said, cancel it for people like him.

Original poster
NorthernWreck · 23/01/2012 11:55

because they can't control themselves if it's offered.

OP posts:
Tiredmumno1 · 23/01/2012 12:27

Exactly northern.

And isn't it funny how he only says it now when his second daughter is not to far off the age when they can't claim it anymore

NotnOtter · 23/01/2012 12:35

Tired mum very very valid point!

wandawings · 23/01/2012 12:47

As I understand it, you get class 3 contributions to NI if you are claiming CB. This was put in place so that carers who stayed at home to raise children still had a pension.

Tiredmumno1 · 23/01/2012 12:50

Why thank you notnotter I am on the ball today Grin

oldmcdonalds · 23/01/2012 12:58

Once again, 20 years ago it was not viewed as a benefit, or something you were entitled to. It had nothing to do with income, it was viewed as something you were given.

Scholes34 · 23/01/2012 13:21

Should still be something that is just given. If that way inclined, the Government can recoup the money from higher earners through the tax system (if they're paying as much tax as they should be anyway, though no doubt a friendly accountant can help them here).

Wouldn't it cost so much more to administer and become far too complicated if it's means tested, rather than being universal benefit? It's there and paid quickly to those who need it, with no complicated formula that might need some payments to be repaid.

coraltoes · 23/01/2012 13:26

I earn a lot...as does my DH I still signed up for CB. Why not? I am entitled to it for the moment. As and when it is cut I will stop receiving it. If I wasn't entitled then I would never have applied. I think the fact I don't know how much I receive probably demonstrates I shouldn't be entitled though.

coraltoes · 23/01/2012 13:28

Scholes, any high earner on PAYE will not be avoiding tax payments. You cannot hide your basic income or bonuses. God knows despite the transparent PAYE system I just got clobbered for a few extra grand on my self assessment. Fuck knows why.

Scholes34 · 23/01/2012 13:44

mmm, it's the ones not on PAYE though. There's always plenty of information in the money pages of the weekend on how to reduce the amount of tax you pay.

I pay my taxes in full and I'm happy to take this universal benefit. It's currently paid into a fund for if and when the go to university, effectively. Money I otherwise wouldn't be able to set aside, and if they do go to uni, we would find it difficult to fund the shortfall in their maintenance needs at that time.

Tiredmumno1 · 23/01/2012 13:45

I think the point was schofield said the higher earners should not get it, but in the same breath says he receives it, which is obviously hypocritical

sandyballs · 23/01/2012 13:49

Silly man.

I'm still pissed off that my younger twin receives less child benefit than her sister, as she's classed as my second child. She arrived 3 minutes later FFS, so I could hardly hand the cot down and the pushchair etc which is presumably the reason a second or subsequent child gets less?!