To wonder if everyone uses Child Benefit/Tax Credits on their children?

[Voidka]

I have been browsing on another forum (in a section I dont normally look at) and there seems to be the thought on there that CB must be used on things that the child needs and wants, not to cover bills and household expenses.

Now I am sure this is lovely in an ideal world, but it doesnt work in practice surely?

PoohBear, I can see your point,

I think if it is being put in a bank account for them and saved for later, those people shouldn't be recieving it as they obviously don't need it

I say that I save DD's CB. What I have done is set up a DD that goes from my bank account to hers. If I didn't get CB, I'd still save something for her - maybe just not as much. She has everything she needs, she doesn't go without but I'm only able to do this because right now I have a good job that pays a good wage. Next week, next month, next year I might not - swings and roundabouts. DD doesn't get everything she asks for, as we can't afford to do that (I may have a good wage, but DH doesn't work) but her needs are taken care of. I could use her CB to pay for the afterschool clubs she wants to go to - but I think it is better saved for her future, so I say no.

Maybe it's wrong that I get it now, I couldn't argue that. But at what wage does it become a necessity, rather than a nice to have? If I had a higher rent than I have now I'd need it, and use it - but my wage would not have changed, so 'the powers that be' may say I don't need it, because outgoings aren't taken into account...

Like I said, swings and roundabouts.

I put my son's CB into a savings fund for him, from day one, and I'll continue to save the same even after it gets taken away, because while I'm working and drawing a salary I will bloody well save for his future. Why else do I keep on working if not to improve our lives?

I think the clue is in the title 'child benefit'. As long as it benefits the child/ren in one way or another, food/heating/clothes/school trips/family holidays etc then it being spent exactly how it should be. IMO if you can afford to actually put the money aside you don't honestly need the money.

CTX/ CB gets spent. some money gets spent on my kids. the two are not necessarily the same amount, but so long as my childrens needs are catered for..

then the money is evidently fulfilling its purpose.

I use CB towards their clothes, food, swimming - although this doesn't really cover all of it but makes a healthy contribution.

I save the CB, plus a bit more every month. My mum also contributes and by the time DD is 18 there should be plenty to see her through uni with some left over for travelling/house deposit/whatever.

I appreciate we're lucky to be in a position to do this but don't really see why I shouldn't claim. Until DD was born I paid tax, DH pays (a lot of) tax, we are entitled to claim so why shouldn't DD benefit from that money?

CB is spent on clothes/shoes/clubs/trips etc..

I think as it's called Child Benefit, it should be spent on the child.

(we don't get TC)

We don't spend it on anything in particular, it goes in the family pot.

DD costs more than £80 a month in food/clothes etc, so in that sense, it can be said that we spend it all on her.

However, we also save more than £80 a month from the family's joint income, so in that sense, perhaps it can be said that we don't need it and are saving it up. But the savings are there so we can move to a better family house, emergencies, DD's future studies... so perhaps we do spend it on her?

LtEve I totally get where you are coming from, and as I say I am jealous that I don't seem to be able to do that but tbf it all goes into a big pot and gets spent. It didn't before, it does now so I am on either the swing or the roundabout (and was on the other before) if a small jump in rent/mortagage a small hike in bills etc makes all the difference and you aren't saving 16 years worth of cb, then its not that much of a luxury.

When I wrote my initial post I had not read anything other than the op, and I wasn't really referring to any particular post, I was just trying to point out that if it is pin money for unnecessary luxuries then it isn't really fair for those who survive on it. We for example wouldn't starve without it, but I don't use it for fun stuff for the dc, I dare say that because I have a toddler and a pre-schooler that this is why and expect when they are older if we still get it then it will be used on different things.

I am not being critical intentionally but right here, right now in this economy it seems unfair for it to be spent on extra's like dancing and swimming etc. But I am also aware that this is not a practical solution in this climate as in a heartbeat things can change but you can bet your bottom dollar it would take a very very long time to get it reinstated to you

That being said, I would prefer everyone to get it than for it to be selective, that way in can't be abused in anyway because everyone is equal. Which is far fairer. I am sure if you look at everyone's childrens ages those now saving it are probably those whose children are very very young, or older Mine are at a far more difficult age where everything for at least one of them is pricey ho hum

I don't get child benefit anymore. But it used to go into a joint account and got spend on everyday things.

I posted earlier on this thread to say I applied last September and still havent received it. Within an hour I got a call from them to say my claim is being processed. Yippeee. Wonder if they are stalking me on mumsnet!!

Yup, twins are pricey, I don't get anything special, just the same as anyone with two children and no tax credits. It no where near covered the basics when they were under 2 hence I now use it for more "nice to haves" as well as their food and clothes.

My child benefit pays the rent

They're not kept separate. But it's fair to say that child benefit pays for their food and CTC, such as it is, pays for their clothes and shoes plus the odd book.

I get Income Support for Myself, and CTC and Child Benefit for the dc's.

Each week, the CTC pays for the food, the electric for the meter, and their bus fares to school.

Every fortnight, the Income Support is used to cover the household bills.

Every 4 weeks, I get the Child Benefit. I ALWAYS use it for stuff for the dc. Either their birthday presents, their Christmas presents, their clothes, their school uniform, their school shoes, their trainers, or, in the Summer Holidays, the two payments round that time get used on two day trips - one to the beach, and usually one to either the zoo or the London museums, or something else they really want to do.

So yep, IMO, the Child benefit is FOR THE CHILDREN'S BENEFIT. The clue is in the name!

Okay. I accept that I am odd, ovbiously. Whether I have been employed earning £50k, working pt for £6k, or unemployed on benefits, I have ALWAYS spent the child benefit on the dc.

I am assuming that is why other people I know are not as skint as me?!

I often wondered where they got the money for nights out etc. Now I know - they don't spend all the Child Benefit on their children. Seems a little harsh IMO - benefitting yourself rather than your child/ren.

Just to be clear, in case I wasn't, when CB pays for their food that isn't so I can buy stuff for myself - unless you count mine and DH's food of course!

Lots of people do seem to prefer to spend money on themselves than their kids. I can't understand it myself but if they can live with that each to their own I suppose.

I do try to use it on things that are specifically for the children. This is because a friend of mine advised me never to count on it for general household stuff as she felt she'd fallen into that trap and been stung (that's not the right word but I can't think of it at the moment) once her older children stopped qualifying. She found that her household income dropped and it was hard to make it up (her son and stepdaughter were jobhunting).

She just advised that if you make sure you spend it on specifically child related things, then when it stops, you don't miss it so much. Mine at the moment goes on the children's activities so swimming lessons, dance, karate and hockey. I keep it in a separate account for that reason.

Works for me but if I needed to put petrol in the car I wouldn't hesitate to use it for that too (and in fact, I have done that this week).

x2boys - £40 a month for two kids is too little for CB just by itself. You need to check that as you are getting the wrong amount. It isn't means tested atm, so everyone gets the same amount. I have two children and get £134 every four weeks.

Check entitledto.co.uk for tax credits etc amounts too.

You have all made me think, and I am going to try and put 2/3rd of the cb into a seperate account to use specifically on them - whether that be buying nappies or days out or a meal out for them or something as I wonder if I am being a little unfair . Hopefully this way I will be able to not miss it if/when it goes.

It has struck me that regardles of cb I need to feed my children, so if/when it goes then I am still going to have to do this, clothe them and treat them so if I take it out now then I can work towards it. So will try for 2/3rds and see if I can make it the whole thing.
Thank you

when mine were younger i thought it shoudl be specificlaly for them but a friend pointed out how wrong i was, it now goes into the bank acount.

actually a spearate one that is mine. but can be used for weekly shop. what not.
occasinally i think if one of my dcs need shoes or clothes - i justify this by using the child benefit.
there are people who are well off enough to save it for their children, but they would probably be saving anyway.

are they stopping child benefit?

thats a good point above, they did stop mine when ds left school, but currently sixth form, but if /when that ends, so will child benefit

uniqueatlast makes a good point, children don't stop needing to be feed and kept warm when they reach the age at which CB stops.

This isn't something I'd thought about before and so trying not to rely on it is a valid point.

I know that not many posters have said they spend it exclusively on their children but those who do, do you spend it just because its there? I don't think I would find enough to spend it on each week iyswim, our after school clubs are very cheap and I certainly dont need to buy clothes and shoes ever week.

I give it all plus more to my DM as she kindly looks after DS while I work (Lone parent) She pays for everything he needs. Nappies, food, clothes. She took a drop in salary to help me so I am very grateful. I buy clothes and extra stuff when I'm shopping.

I suppose if you pay for school meals that is about a tenner a week in itself.