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AIBU?

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Original poster

to wish the changes on tax credits had of gone through

326 replies

madhurjazz · 22/09/2016 07:37

They would of affected 1/5th of people on tax credits and that would of caused some issues in the short term so maybe some more help to transition was needed. But since that tax credits sad face woman on question time that was claiming them to run a salon in her lounge they u turned.

This has just resulted in cuts from other areas and not stopped the cuts at all.

Tax credits and housing benefit maybe a good idea for people in the short term. But many people are being long term subsidised and the main beneficiaries are the employers who get away with paying less and making more profits.

I'll probably get flamed for this but how can this country carry on racking up the debt? Its just going to create a greater financial burden on the future generations.

OP posts:
Pisssssedofff · 25/09/2016 21:31

You have to go back to biblical times when the first ownership of land contracts were drawn up, prior to that maybe good choices and a bit of graft does the trick.
Ever since we've been subjected to this bollocks that "land" can be owned and therefore you cannot feed yourself and build shelter.

PortiaCastis · 25/09/2016 22:55

Nobodys immune to being poor. You can insure against most things but if your OH leaves, insurance companies don't pay for that. You're just on your own with the mortgage the bills and the childcare.
Btw I chose to ignore 1471 !!!

PortiaCastis · 26/09/2016 09:18

Hope you read this OP

www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-37427990

MaliceInWonderland78 · 26/09/2016 10:02

I wonder (and I honestly don't know) the extent to which family breakdown is a cause of 'poverty' in this country? I don't want to keep banging the same drum, but I'd be surprised if instances of 'poverty' weren't higher in single-parent households.

For the benefit of iPost - To put some flesh on the proverbial bones of my previous idea (to use a students loan/deferred payment scheme in respect of in work benefits/child support) I would propose the following:

  1. The Government decide on a reasonable amount of money required to sensibly raise a child (for arguments sake, lets say £60 per week per child);

  2. Household income is assessed (making reasonable allowance for housing cost variations) and any "shortfall" identified;

  3. The shortfall is made up by Child Tax Credits;

  4. The shortfall accrues until such time that the parents can afford to repay (much like a student loan) and is deducted at source via a tax code;

  5. Where parents live separately, and 'custody' isn't 50:50 the PWC will be liable for a smaller proportion of the accrual (say 70:30 split);

  6. Where parents live together and earn in excess of the 'minimum' no liability would accrue;

  7. Where a family or individual are already in receipt of child tax credits (and are not in work) they will not be eligible for any further assistance in the event they have more children (this will need some working out).

MuseumOfCurry · 26/09/2016 10:11

It's a good idea, Malice, apart from the idea that it strikes me as vaguely fascist.

ayeokthen · 26/09/2016 10:15

Malice you're a Tory aren't you?

MuseumOfCurry · 26/09/2016 10:20

Not sure how you've arrived at that.

ayeokthen · 26/09/2016 10:25

Condemning the poorest in society, wanting to put a stranglehold on the most vulnerable people while smugly acting like it'll never be them? Hardly a Corbyn-ite.

MaliceInWonderland78 · 26/09/2016 10:29

ayeokthen Not Tory (particularly) but right of centre. Like many/most in this country I don't particularly identify with a party - for example I absolutely do not agree with inherited wealth and were it up to me, IHT would be levied at a vastly increased rate.

I've lived in a deprived area (admittedly before the misnomer that is tax credits were introduced) I've seen first hand the 'damage' that benefits do for those that live on them long-term. As angry as people get about the 'poverty porn' programmes that Ch5 seem to churn out, I can't help but feel sorry for most (not all) of the participants.

The system as it currently is does not work. We really need to transition into something that's fit for purpose. There's something wrong with a system (and it's wider than just benefits) that allows people stay on in-work subsidy indefinitely.

MuseumOfCurry · 26/09/2016 10:30

Sorry, I thought that was pointed towards me, obviously not.

MaliceInWonderland78 · 26/09/2016 10:31

I meant to say requires people to stay on in-work subsidy indefinitely.

KatherinaMinova · 26/09/2016 10:32

I came on this thread to post what PortiaCastis just posted...

ayeokthen · 26/09/2016 10:35

I agree that the system needs to be overhauled, but in work benefits are needed because wages are so low and the cost of living is being driven up at an alarming rate. Very few people choose to be on benefits, I found it utterly soul destroying to be reduced to a statistic and looked down upon, I think that positive changes starting with big companies, wages and the cost of living are the way to start. Cutting in work benefits without any kind of changes to the wider system would be crippling for many hundreds of thousands of families. The awful thing is that it's the government that have created this mess, and they're looking for a quick fix that will win votes, not actually benefit (excuse the pun) working families. I live in a "deprived" area, I see every day how people are affected by low incomes (our family too up until very very recently) and how tough life can be. What worries me is that the legislators haven't the faintest idea what reality is like on a low income, therefore can't make decisions which consider the catastrophic implications for families were they to just push cuts through.

ayeokthen · 26/09/2016 10:35

MuseumOfCurry no it wasn't aimed at you, I agreed with what you said.

MaliceInWonderland78 · 26/09/2016 10:40

I'm honestly struggling to see how my proposal would disadvantage anyone though (honestly)

Not sure if ayeokthen comment was directed at me Confused

Pisssssedofff · 26/09/2016 10:44

Family break down is absolutely the issue. The fact that Csa Maintence is not included in any benefit calculations says to me basically they do not expect that you will receive it and lucky you if you do.

callycat1 · 26/09/2016 10:47

I guess two households cost more to run than one

PortiaCastis · 26/09/2016 10:47

I've had sweet fuck all for over 5 years from ex.
Please read the full thread and all the !inks

ayeokthen · 26/09/2016 10:50

PortiaCastis I'm in the same boat, fuck all for nearly 10 years. Yet CSA/CMS have so many loopholes it's unreal!

PortiaCastis · 26/09/2016 10:59

Yes aye they're a joke as are concentrix but their come uppance is very satisfying. Poor souls didn't get counseling for taking suicidal calls. Not a thought for the desperate people making those calls !!!!!!!!!!!

ayeokthen · 26/09/2016 11:05

It's disgusting that people are being pushed to the brink of suicide all the while being cast as the problem!

MaliceInWonderland78 · 26/09/2016 11:09

aye 'People' are always the problem........

ayeokthen · 26/09/2016 11:12

What do you mean Malice?

MaliceInWonderland78 · 26/09/2016 11:18

If we didn't have all these vulnerable and needy people (clogging up 'the system') just think how much better off we'd be!

'twas a 'joke' btw