to think capping benefits at 2 children is a good idea

[moogstera1]

Child-related benefits may be 'capped' at two children"
*Iain Duncan Smith said the current system, where families get more benefits the more children they have, was among changes being considered.

Families on benefits were often "freed from" the decision of whether they could afford more children, Mr Duncan Smith said, and must "cut their cloth".*

yes yes, before I get jumped on, if both your arms fall off and a previously hard working wage earner is jobless, there should be ( and I imagine would be)a safety net for those who then need benefits and have more than 2 chidren; but, in principle, I agree that working families seem to have to make much more difficult decisions regarding how many children they have than long term non working do, and it's mostly about finance.
The suggestion is that this would not be happening till 2015 and then only to new claimants so no comments about which children should be sacrificed, please.
The idea seems to be to only factor in 2 children wrt tax credits, child benefit

no, genuine question. I want to know if people consider the financial implications of having children when they live off benefits or whether it's not a consideration
No. People change their entire mindset when they go on benefits, don't you know? Previously responsible people suddenly decide to have children they can't afford, line them all up in front of the Sky TV, and stuff them full of KFC. (When they're not on holiday, obviously...)
Honestly, people who 'live off benefits' aren't some discrete section of society. They're mostly just people like me and you: they are good/bad, responsible/feckless, ignorant/empathetic...

Just because working wages are low doesn't mean you should punish a completely unrelated group. Work wages rising is the answer not cutting benefits but the slimy people at the top are getting off Scott free while those at the bottom are turning on each other.

I'd rather be in work and pay tax that live on benefits - wouldn;t you? I earn way more than I would on IS - and £70 a week per child?

Not really an answer twofingers...

but Crawling it's the 'equality of misery' the Tory's favorite new measure of fairness!

I still don't get why anyone would have any children when living solely on benefits if it's that horrific. Yet people do. -frequently. Kinda makes you think it's not that bad after all.

Schro - really sorry for your situation by the way...

Ask a sensible question then, moogy.

I gave you an answer Moogy1a did you miss it - it was about 'people on benefits' and 'people in work' being the same - you know - human beings

For some, abortion isn't an option. So you're only option is to just get on with it.

Moogy1a after Schro's post you really feel the need to say that? did you mean to be so heartless tactless?

Two It's fine, we've adapted! :o

Goodtalking
Depends on various factors, but if unable to work, then yes, the disabled person and their carer is classed as unemployed if under 65.
So, Philosophy Lecturer dp, unemployed, due to various disabilities brought about by what started out as a minor infection. I carried on until he was unable to wash/use the lavatory without help, became an umemployed history lecturer. Went back to work, but guess what, the government changed the goal posts, we lost funding due to cutbacks and the carer I had coming in whilst I worked part time has gone and I'm now an unemployed lecturer again!
Oh, and there are three other people in this house with disabilities so I frequently 'work' an eighteen to twenty hour day, but according to Cockypants et al, am not entitled to the odd glass of wine, sky television or any other non essential because they pay me the magnificent sum of .37pence an hour, a whole 52 quid a week for that 20 hours per day.

Dawn :(

That's actually brought a tear to my eye.

Schro didn't say she continued to have child after child despite never having worked in her life.
Unless I read it very wrong her circumstances are completely different to the feckless attitude and sense of entitlement which annoys a lot of people.

Sorry, Schro

Dawn there are 4 hours a day there when you could be in some minimum wage zero hours job - who needs sleep xxx

I imagine the cost of 'state' care would be a lot more than £52 a week

I answered the question

Moogy The problem is, those people you speak of really are few and far between, the people who are taking the shit and the worst hits are those who really don't have a choice in their situation.

Dawn Don't say sorry. , I hope things get better for you, it is bloody ridiculous that carers are counted as unemployed. What a joke. :(

YANBU, i think on paper its a sensible idea(im a low income parent and claim wtc etc) but i dont think it will work. personally i think the tax rate is the problem and needs changing not the whole system. Last month we recieved £212 in benefits and i paid £323 in taxes on my wage so why not set tax rates in stages so if low earners paid only 5-10% taxes on their wage there would be no need for working tax credits etc as they would have the same money??

I agree, great idea in principle, BUT having seen the disability benefit fiasco - I don't trust the Government one hoot to do it in anyway fairly or sensibly.

I agree with the idea of cleaning up DLA scroungers - but I do not know one single lead swinger who has lost benefits - they know how to play the system too well - they made a career out of it remember & yes I do know people personally like this - I do however know plenty of very genuine claimants who cannot work & rely on those benefits, yet have been labelled "fit for work" lost benefits & in one case - committed suicide :( - because the arsholes that run the show don't have a clue - its all just box ticking to them & sadly whilst they still have the attitude they do, any other sensibly sounding reforms will go the same way

Sorry Gordy I know I'm a shirker!

Over 30% of low income households have 3 or more children.
The average family size in the UK is 1.8 children.

if benefits are not influencing low income families to have larger families that working families, what is?

Massive respect to Dawn and Schro!

Fasterstronger poor education.