To worry about the Tory plans after this budget

[bobbywash]

and I accept the election may derail all of this but.....

The chancellor has said an additional 30bn worth of cuts needs to be made in the next parliament for their figures to work.

Now bearing in mind the ring fenced NHS budget and the (wavering) commitment to the education budget and pensions. Where the heck are an additional 30bn of cuts going to come from.

Is there anything left to cut

Just looked it up Ptolemy Carer's allowance will rise by £39.00 for the year. That works out as 75p per week. As I said, pennies. It's not really a significant difference, is it.

ptolemy do you not understand how much £80 a month is? its a massive amount to lose on a low wage. FFS.

No, it's not a significant difference, but as for the rise in tax allowance, it's the same difference that the vast majority of people are getting. I agree with you that carers allowance should be higher, but I still think it's unfair and inaccurate to say that nothing has been done to help people in your position. A small help is still help, and more to the point, it's not a cut that so many people on here insist is happening to every benefit claimant.

And not all benefits are taxable.

Of course I understand how much £80 is, it's enough that it would make a difference to me too, but if we're talking about taking it off of child tax credits that are intended to pay for children, not childcare, then it don't personally have a problem with that.

I'd rather see people being given more in childcare so that they are able to earn the money to pay for their children themselves.

So it's okay for family to shirk responsibility, Dawn? The state doesn't. As Ptolemy has rightly pointed out.

I still don't understand why they don't scrap all tax credits and increase the threshold at which people pay tax - to say £20k?

Ptolemy, it's no good giving me 75p a week if you are going to remove respite care, necessary physio, occupational health adjustments to living accommodation. These are all things I have to pay for, which we didn't have to pay for under the last government, so what do you think happens? They go by the wayside because food on the table and heating are more important.

Eds My mother is an abusive bitch whore from hell, and trust me, that's being kind. She's in her 80s now. I will not look after her, I will only go to her funeral to ensure she's dead. Don't talk to me about shirking responsibilities. Families are that by dint of birth, but as with friends, one has choices. Or should I go begging from the neighbours? What's the difference?

PS. Ptolemy I'm not saying the last government were any better, but the cuts this time round have been considerably harsher.

I meant your very, very wealthy siblings, Dawn.

I know exactly what you meant, Ed but their finances are theirs. Not mine. They support their families and you wouldn't be suggesting it if my neighbours were wealthy. How dare you, just because you think people like me are 'entitled', because we dare stand up for ourselves, because we have the cheek to tell you that you are wrong about benefits because we are living it. You don't think you should pay your taxes for me, but because of me, my children will grow up to be kind, considerate and productive members of society. Because of me, the government is paying significantly less for food, wages, heating etc. I'm a carer, I deserve sympathy, empathy, and all I get is your wealthy family should look after you.
Thanks for your kindnesses Ed. You're doing the tories no favours, you joined this site to put their point of view, well you're succeeding and it isn't pleasant.

Easy Dawn, talk about putting words in people's mouths!

Actually, you said that the state was shirking its responsibility. That is patently untrue. My own belief is that BOTH state and FAMILY should support those who need support. That is not to say the State should pay less, however.
You wouldn't ask a neighbour you say yet you expect strangers to pay ( after all - the state has no money ).

So - strangers paying is okay even though most of them will be penny pinching themselves. Stinking rich siblings - no. It's an interesting viewpoint.

Dawn, I absolutely agree that people who need it should get respite care, daily physio if needs be, occupational therapy services wheelchair services etc. I'm not in the same position now, but under the last government I was able to see that those things were lacking, and obviously, it's wrong that those things haven't improved.

So the problem is that those things have been removed, not that certain benefits have been cut. It would be better for people to receive services than money IMO. Obviously people who can't work will still need some money but the amount that disabled people and carers get wouldn't be so bad if decent services were in place.

Stinking rich siblings -
ODFOD

Ptolemy yes, services would make a difference. Dds wheelchair cost around £3000. It's self propelled but there will come a point where she won't be able to push herself any longer, so we'll be looking at electric, which is scary! Personally I do think it's important that those with disabilities who are unable to work should be allowed a reasonable standard of living too. There are few luxuries available on jsa, but with disability/carers benefits, perhaps being able to afford, for example, cable television would improve the quality of life for those who are housebound. The odd bottle of wine with a meal, that sort of thing makes a huge difference to quality of life.

No, Dawn I won't fuck off because I dared to have a different opinion to you.

I notice this is how you respond to anyone on here who doesn't agree with you. Nasty.

No, Ed, I rarely tell people to fuck off, but then again, I don't tell them to sponge off their families, I don't call other people's family nasty names. What you are unable to comprehend is that when money is handed over there is a contract, a contract that is open to abuse, so should the brother to whom I do not speak be in a position to be controlling my finances, I would be being abused, in what way would that be acceptable? It wouldn't would it. It is obvious that this is less likely to happen when the government are paying me, albeit a pittance, to look after the people in my house with disabilities.
You've not been here long, certainly not long enough to make a judgement about me, which you have clearly made, and I'm afraid the comment above: "I notice this is how..." is very wrong and actually a little laughable.I am not the person that looks bad here.

Oh, I've been here years.
I've watched you shout down anyone who doesn't think like you time and time again.

Dawn don't feel you have to explain yourself to these people, they aren't interested in understanding, they just want to be goady. And you're right, you are not the one who looks bad!

Edsgreypatch you were saying about family shirking responsibility.

www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/homeless-tory-mp-brothers-desperate-5020416

I think the phrase is "hoist by your own petard!

What were you saying about stinking rich siblings Ed.

Alright Dawn?

Is it not ok to have a different opinion? I thought that's why there are several parties, people get to vote for who they think will do best.

I disagree with benefits paying for alcohol and cable, they should cover the basics. If they covered luxuries they cease to be a safety net alone which is what they should be.

Not sure how the government saves on food, heating and wages by paying benefits. I can't imagine many people turning their backs and voluntarily handing over close relatives to state care as they don't get paid.

No party has suggested scrapping benefits, just tightening up on them.

Sorry Helena I seem to be missing your point.

What were you saying about stinking rich siblings Ed.

Those aren't my siblings nor, I presume are they Dawn's? I'm struggling to see the relevance? .

So, little. You think that those with disabilities should have only the basics, and that it's okay to give carers a pittance because we're not going to hand our close relatives over to state care?

Littlemonster - If the state didn't pay benefits, many carers would have no financial choice but to hand over relatives for state care. If your relative needs 24 hour, or all day care, you can't work. So how do you survive if the state does not pay benefits?
You do know you need a very low income to get a carers allowance? There are plenty of people working who are carers, who do not get carers allowance.

The link about the homeless brother of Tory mp is heartbreaking.
How could anyone let their brother be homeless for 10 years