to wonder what benefits will get the chop from the £12 billion of cuts?

[steiner8]

Just that really. I'm wondering which benefits are going to go or be significantly cut. Anyone have any idea?

I heard late last night that child benefit was to be limited to two children but not affecting current claims. I think though it was speculation. They might do the same with child tax credits that is freeze them to two children but not to affect current claims which I suppose is a fairer way of doing it all round.

Before tax credits were introduced in the late 90s, where there any other benefits like this?

My cousin who is Middle 40s constantly tells me how lucky we are to have tax credits as they didn't exist when she had her children, yet they survived.

They already reassess those who get benefits under the terminally ill special circumstances category. A friend of mine died May 2014 of terminal breast cancer with no money, facing eviction, because she lived (what turned out to be a few weeks longer) than the six months predicted and failed the 'medical' as you cannot qualify twice under that rule.

I cant put into words how upsetting it was.

I'm reliant on disability benefits and already struggle to claim them - CAB and disability service at the council closed due to cuts and I cannot manage to use a telephone. When I spoke to my GP about it they said they see a lot of people who get turned down and fail at appeal despite qualifying just because there is no formal representation (e.g. CAB) anymore for appeals. Most people are going back to family - but what happens to those, like me, who don't have anyone to go to?

I'm very afraid of what will happen.

I agree benefits should be capped at two children with exceptions of disabled children and multiple births.

It's not correct that Tory voters don't give a fuck about people. It boggles my brain as to why people voted Tory but some of those I know that did are among the most caring and community minded people of my acquaintance. One Tory voting family I know work at a food bank, in a day centre for lonely elderly people and in a warehouse that organises free clothing for those who need it. I don't understand their thinking but they genuinely think a Tory government is the best thing to get everyone in the country back on their feet. It's weird and, in my opinion, it's wrong. But they definitely give a fuck.

I know it will never happen but I would like to see the amount of foreign aid being cut. I will never understand why we are still sending money to countries that can have a space programme etc while disabled and poor people in this country are having their money cut even further.

Becca - is there a charity that could help you with your disability claim?

I have heard that DLA and PIP will be classed as taxable income.

Can't remember where I heard it.

I think they will lower the threshold for CB and cut, if not abolish, tax credits. I am really worried about the future for one of my DCs who gets DLA. DH works in the civil service and had a 3 year pay freeze followed by a 1% pay rise. They have also got rid of his final salary pension scheme. We don't have any savings and are constantly on edge that something will go wrong with the house/car/white goods and we won't be able to pay for repairs. I hate the Tories.

one of the reasons i voted tory was because i didn't want to leave my children and grandchildren with an absolutely enourmous deficit. to me that was being selfish....feathering my own nest and to hell with the consequences for the next generation, who are already having it pretty hard anyway

Sandpiper- those of those that see first hand the impact of the Tory policies on the poor simply can not fathom how anyone with any kind of heart or moral compass can vote for them. I was presenting to some local government policy makers in Edinburgh this week, and I actually started to cry when I was recounting how my project had been supporting a lone parent who spent £5 on her gas and electricity all of December, in order to be able to provide her six year old daughter with a couple of Christmas presents. That is the reality for those living in poverty, and you would have to be a complete to show any support for a party hell bent on forcing even more children into poverty. It's not right, its not fair and it makes my blood boil thinking about it.

I'm so worried about this as a single parent (having fled DV) with 3 young children and 1 due next month.

They have A LOT of cuts to make that target.

I think they will:

• Lower benefits cap to £23k as already promised

• Reduce child benefit and include it in UC payments. Possibly restrict to first 2 children only

• Reduce maximum housing benefit claim to 90% of total rent

• Remove housing benefit completely for under 25 (think they've already confirmed this!)

• Reduce tax credits "child element" significantly

• Get rid of Sure Start Maternity grant

I actually don't know what I will do but not knowing what will happen to my family in the next few months literally brings me to tears.
I am not in this situation by choice and I already go without anything/everything possible for my children. So they will suffer.

I've a feeling that they may lower the threshold for claiming tax credits by quite a lot. Also stopping housing benefit for the under 25's.
It's going to be tough for a lot of people

purple - no there isn't. I live somewhere isolated and not being able to use a telephone is a massive problem. My gp has tried as well (she's really good). I emailed a religious charity who said they'd see if they can help so I'm really hoping they can.

Working tax credits is my guess. Which would be fine if the government would do more to enforce employers to pay a living wage. If people are in work, they should be paid enough not to need to claim state top-ups.

Child benefit will go. And for those who think it's ok, it's not. It may get rolled into tax credits but it will Erode over time. No index linked increases and it will just disappear.

The poor just got poorer.

It wasn't an accident of birth giving them chances others didn't get, no it's because poor people or disable people deserve it.

Do you really believe that NO POOR people voted Tory??

Having a disabled child my only hope that our DLA won't be cut is that they might not be able to do it within the 5 year term without a lot of opposition from the house or the Lord's. I'm fully expecting Osbourne to take it out on disability and sickness benefits.

If they are reelected, we really are screwed

Well they have just cut my young disabled sons home to school transport. So that's one key area. I am so fucking angry. It a crucial part of his day and routine which enables him the time to adjust between home and school. Unfortunately it's the teachers who are going to have to spend time and work on new methods to get him readjusted to his parents dropping him off.

Purplepoodle - prior to tax credits there was the married couples tax allowance which dh got for a short while before it was replaced by tax credits for the same amount Of course everybody (I think) got the married couples allowance (just increased what you could earn before paying tax) and tax credits were immediately means tested so that your income reduced what you get back. We also for a brief glorious few months got Mortgage Interest Relief At Source (MIRAS) - tax relief on interest on your mortgage. It were a different age.......In fairness, as I recall, it was a Labour Government who made both of those changes.

And that's how people managed before tax credits. They still got help and of course they had universal child benefit too.

I'm sad for you rocket - the Tories would blame that decision solely on council spending cuts and bypass any responsibility of course....

I am worried that universal credit will be used as a gateway to other services especially for disabled children. I can see dla being treated as carers allowance and means tested for children and respite removed for children whose parents do not qualify for universal.

These discussions always end badly that is my problem.

Okay - they will cut in work benefits to stop people who work 16 hours a week getting the same as somene on 35/40 hours a week.

They will expect both parents to work rather than one SAH and receiev benefits in order to do so.

I have to say on thes ethreads I often read someone who has 4/5/6 children say how worried they are. And I say this as kindly as I can - if you are on lots of benefits/very low wage how can you propose to support 4 or 5 children and why did you go ahead assuming that benefits would be there indefinitely?

one of the reasons i voted tory was because i didn't want to leave my children and grandchildren with an absolutely enourmous deficit.

Did you actually believe that crap?

Seriously?

So you think pushing more children below the poverty line is the right thing to do for the next generation?

Or do you only care about your own descendants and therefore don't give a fuck about the children who are going hungry to "reduce the deficit"