Philip off This Morning

[NorthernWreck]

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?

Agree with your comments about McGiffin Northern - how ignorant her ranting was. Good on Jenny Eclair for telling it how it is. Stuff on single parents was awful too

She just seems to read the barest soundbite about any social policy, and goes from there.
She was incredulous The Lords threw out the benefit cuts bill-well maybe they actually read the information, Carol, and didn't base their decision on some pants article in The Daily Mail.
Grrr!

Northern, you sound just the same the other way towards higher earners (until you considered your sister's high earning situation). You are very critical and scathing to anyone you deem to be loaded.

Northern, you use exactly the same cliched attitude in reverse...to people who are well off. Apart from your darling sister who of course has many an extenuating circumstance to mean she isn't the subject of your wrath. It is just as tiresome in reverse you know!

Oh most impressive cross post of my career yet. Sorry sozzled.

Eh?
I think if you actually read back, you will find that I am not remotely scathing towards high earners!Hell, I hope to be one someday!

I am questioning the morality of RICH people claiming benefits they do not need.

Northern I actually disagree with your comment .. The MAJORITY of people claiming benefits are WORKING. that isnt the case.

If you count Tax Credits, and HB it is.
Most people who claim HB are working people, same with Tax credits.

As I said, I have no "wrath" against rich people in general whatsoever coraltoes, and that nasty comment is rubbish as well.
If any member of my family was a hypocrite I would waste no time in saying so.

Just because you question something that you think is wrong with wealth distribution does not mean that you have a problem with wealth in itself.

I don't have a problem with claiming my CB - I see it as a tax rebate to reflect the extra costs of raising our DC. DH and I have the same personal allowance as we would if we were childfree, which is questionable IMO. The French get huge tax breaks for each child don't they?

If the country decides it can't afford to give everyone that benefit anymore then I'll suck it up and not moan. And I didn't do the childcare voucher thing, because I wasn't desperate enough for the money to jump through the hoops, so it all evens out.

Well I agree that there are a lot of people claiming benefits whilst working i.e - top up of housing benefit to help with rent.

I would love to see the numbers but not sure where to find the statistics

Well, there are about 1.4 million households that are claiming out of work benefits, and just under 5 million households claiming some kind of in work benefit.

It is almost impossible now to live and pay your rent if you are on a low wage. It is very common where I live to find admin/clerical jobs that would leave you with about £240 a week, full time.
If your rent for a two bed flat is £110 a week and your bills/ council tax £60 a week,childcare £40 a week, bus pass £20 a week, school dinners £10 a week that leaves you precisely zero to actually buy food and clothing.
Therefore many many people with children are working full time and really really need benefits (including child benefit).

Thank you northern, I had a quick look and find anything,

It gets on my nerves when people have this thought that everyone on benefits are layabout slobs getting everything for nothing, I know people on benefits really struggling and trying to get work, it's not clear cut as some obviously think.

and couldn't - apologies

There are a lot of people of a certain age who know nothing about benefits.

This is also because the system has changed so much.

20 years ago there was the dole, then income support,housing benefit, now tax credits and child tax credits.

I admit, I know nothing about them in detail,but I understand that people "on benefits" are not all not working.
one of the problems is the way this is portrayed in the media.
A family can be described as on benefits, even if just claiming tax credits e.g.

I didn't see loose women, but I think that's where she's coming from. People should be a bit more informed, but if they've never had to claim anything how would they know?