AIBU to think that people earning £960 per week don't really need Child Benefit?

[OldGreyWiffleTest]

Well, am I?

Oh London you are a massive arse.

I see what you're saying but only the main carer has the right to receive it so that is £20 the financially dependent parent has a right to and can easily receive should he/she need to in the situation they are not being supported.

It is the principle of the thing.

I have paid for others to have child benefit without complaint, assuming that if I had children I would get it paid if / when the time came.

I'm with others who say either base it on household income or give it to all. My colleagues in work who have working partners will have 60-80K income and still receive it. And as others have said, no one knows how their circumstances will change.

Well yes MrFluffy, but I still think they might claim the CB - perhaps disguised as being helpful by filling in the pesky forms

But either way we are talking about a small minority of people being affected in this way and CB is not intended to give mothers financial independence. That's not what it is for even if it is sometimes used as such (and no doubt can be a lifeline). But it isn't its purpose.

starwisher - I hold a different opinion from you, that's all. There is no need to try and be offensive.

McFluffy

It is NOT the case that only the main carer has the right to recieve it. That is my whole point. Either parent has the right to recieve it regardless of who is the main carer or who earns what

I think it is insane the way they are looking at one income only btw

That's actually me being quite tame

You got the edited version

Either parent can receive it but in the event it was disputed CB would be given to the main carer.

Star - Not sure how you are trying to move your point on?

Yes, I agree - if it was disputed then CB would decide who get it and it would most likely be the main carer because of the NI protection.

But we are splitting hairs here as the number of financially-abused-women-whose-partners-earn-over-£60k-and-who-were-getting-CB-as-their-only-bit-of-financial-independence-and-will-now-lose-it are likely to be very small and as such should not real;y factor into the governments decision on this

I thank Chloe Smith, The Minister responsible for CB and my MP for writing to her on my behalf, for getting rid of the proposed CB cliff edge, and whilst still not perfectly fair, the proposal in the budget is fairer than the original proposal, (though perhaps it was possibly always intended...)

It just feels like another dig at women and what it was originally intended for and it doesn't sit right with me. Agree we've lost the point here.

Can you explain why women who have paid taxes and in contributions should expect no financial support during pregnancy or in the first few months of their children's life's please London?

It doesn't sit right with me either, though I think the protection for women had been eroded already (but now has much more clearly been removed)

I think it is a crappy policy. I will lose it which on an individual level is fine for me, but its not like someone who needs it is going to get my £20 a week added on to theirs (which would be great) and in fact it looks to me that people who are on lower incomes are getting royslly screwed.

Plus the looking at one income thing is just crazy, and it will probably cost more to administer and means test than it will save

Starwisher - Can you explain why they should? Why should people be given money for a behaviour that they would do anyway, financially it makes no sense.

The decision to have children is not an altruistic one. If people wish to make that choice as most do then it should not be for the state to give them additional money.

If employers wish to pay maternity benefit to retain employees etc then that is up to them.

of course some families need it.
I cannot believe that people can't see how easily 3-4K can be used up in a month.
a family home in London can have a mortgage of £400k, that's a repayment of £2500, factor in just one lot of childcare and that can take outgoings to £3500, that's no bills, council tax, travel costs.

Star - the other problem you have is that the benefit is handed out to everyone, not necessarily women who have paid taxes and contributions as you put it.

even a mortgage of £250k could be £1500 a month, say with £1500 for 2 kids in childcare
Can no-one see this?

Maternity allowance or pay is only for those who have contributed

It's not up to employes either!

It's the law

Why lostboys

If there is childcare then the other parent is presumably working and their income (which could be £50k) is ignored

And child benefit isn't! Doesn't really change the situation though does it.

It should have remained universal or removed for all. Why should those fully supporting their children be penalised yet thousands who have children and dont support them get to keep it.

I know it's not up to employers starwisher, I was saying I think it should be.

Lostboys £20 won't make much difference in that scenario