New £23k Benefit Cap.

[legotits]

AIBU to ask if anyone still supports this?

Which families is this targeted at?

Anyone who will be affected, is it even feasible to not be pushed into debt?

asdfghjjkl, this is one of the myths that people should really do their research on, I'm not on benefits, I'm quite comfortable, not rich but comfortable and even I don't agree with the vilifying the legitimate less well off, but yes people should really do their research, people on ESA pay for prescriptions, yes it is a bit odd considering the majority of these people are ill, they also pay for school meals and most definitely pay for dental care, so I wish people would really do their research before making these urban myths. I think channel 5 play a big part and show the minority as wasters, yes there are some but don't tar them all with the same brush! They also seem to be obsessed with anything benefit related.

I know a couple who have never worked, he has a bad back and she has depression. They also have seven kids so obviously shagging stops them from being bored all day.

Asd -
My dh is a higher rate tax payer
My kids get free prescriptions and dental care and go to a state school
What's your point?

User, I think that's very common. Too ill to work yet not to ill to make babies, run round after preschoolers etc.

How do they get past ATOS ?

Interesting comments. I guess, (and hope) this benefit cut is a start to reform the whole benefits system.
I am with people who believe benefits should not be higher than what someone will earn on minimum wage working ft.

Anyone want to trade my son's disability for the benefits he gets? I'd give my soul for him to be free of this. But people begrudge him because he doesn't have a physical disability. Nice. As if he doesn't face enough obstacles.

I know a couple who have never worked, he has a bad back and she has depression. They also have seven kids so obviously shagging stops them from being bored all day. I'm not surprised he has a bad back.

MangoMoon I'm talking about people who are in hard times and on benefits, know they can't afford to have a kid but then have them anyway! Of course provisions should be made for those who already have children (That they could afford when they had them - not relying on benefits) and have then fallen on hard times. Which is why I brought up the idea of part payments of benefits as food vouchers (obviously some cash for uniforms, rent etc.)

How will vouchers prevent people having sex

I am with people who believe benefits should not be higher than what someone will earn on minimum wage working ft.

They're not, don't worry.

Someone on minimum wage, working ft will bring in WTC, CTC, child benefit & may also be entitled to HB.

See the calculations upthread (taken directly from the 'entitled to' benefits calculator from gov.uk).
A couple both working ft on min wage will bring in c£20k per annum more than a non-working couple.
The working couple will be entitled to app £18k per annum in 'in work' benefits.

expat. Honestly, this thread has made me cry so many times; not for me but for my beautiful, awesome DS who faces his own set of challenges every day with such humour and joy. To have read posts such as 'because you couldn't stomach an abortion' has been pretty fucking painful. And as for engineer finding my posts offensive - are you kidding me?! You read your own, right?

On the plus side, once my lovely boy is fit to tackle school for a few extra hours a day, I'm going to volunteer for CAB so that I can support people in the same situations as myself and other posters, but in a non-judgemental, reassuring way. To all the posters who have been kind and supportive, thanks - it really got to me earlier and made me terribly sad. To the rest of the judgemental posters - I'll keep fighting the good fight for the downtrodden and vunerable.

mango. Exactly! But you're preaching to the Converted-ByTheDaily-Mail. We are all so much better off than working folk and until they become unemployed, they are never going to believe anything else. I wouldn't wish single-parenthood, poverty or disability on anyone but honestly, some posters really do need a reality check. Your life is perfect right now - good for you. It can change in a second.

It really can Jess.
I've been incredibly lucky in the fallout from my life changing crap - things could have been so much worse than they were in the end.

One thing that made it so, so much easier for me was that it was happening to me & not my kids - I couldn't even begin to comprehend how difficult it is for people in your situation.

I won't keep my small profit as now it will go on school fees, so will be worse off. grr

thats your choice
if you can afford school fees things must be good
hardly struggling

took the dog out today and ventured of the track a little and saw a tent pitched in the forest

it was -1 last night and somehow dont think they were sleeping there for the fun of it

is this a sign of more to come in the current climate

I work full time. Love children and although I had 2, would have absolutely had more in a heart beat. That's the difference; I couldn't afford to have more because just wouldn't have been able to support them financially, yet the women on benefits just seem to be able to have one after the other, and appear to be able to afford them okay. How can that be fair?

Jess
I don't begrudge those in need, particularly those with a disability. I've said here that I think the cap is too blunt a weapon. My anger was at some of the entitlement posts earlier on particularly someone espousing the "stay at home choice for single parents" on non working benefits.
You sound like you have some terribly difficult circumstances to deal with. In a fairer system there would be more scope to help people in your situation. I fear a down turn in my families circumstances much like many others especially given the current climate.

I see most of babyjakes posts have been deleted. Goady fucking arse.

Howndo you even know that someone is on benefits?

I have lots of children, ive had people pass comment on this several times ive had friends repeat things back to me that randoms who don't know me say they all assume I am on benefits.

In reality even when child benefit was none means testable I didn't claim it. I work unusual hours that change all the time so no regular patten I do a lot of work from home and I also employ several people and to the best of my knowledge nobody I employ is on a low enough salary to claim any means tested benefits

I find this blog very informative

I support the changes in unemployment benefit, but not disability benefits.

I'd have to agree with the notion that many people see having children as 'the thing to do', without any thought about how they will pay for them all. As others have done, I can only refer to my own experience. None of my family is rich, but nobody claims, or is entitled to, any kind of benefit or tax credits. A close relative has waited for years to have children, almost too many years in order that they can afford to have kids and maintain a contingency. They are in their 30s and both have full-time jobs.

Does that mean that the children living in poverty now should have to do so? No, but the benefit cuts should be staggered over many years, to allow people to make plans over 5 or 10 years as to how they are going to support their families. It feels like this has just happened, with little warning.

Engineer no you wouldn't have a lower tax bill or better services, the tories would just up their wages & give their rich friends more tax breaks

Lagirafe exactly. The working couple don't have that money to spend on themselves and their lifestyle, they spend it on childcare to enable them to go out and work.

A lone parent is unlikely to have the wages coming in of two working adults, but have more costs than a single person. They are unlikely therefore to be able to compete with such groups in terms of living standards. They will generally be relatively poorer.

It's difficult to decide how much, if any to compensate for that.

((Hugs)) to you jess. I think there's always been a stigma toward people on benefits what ever the reason weather they are disabled/disabilities/lone parent... but no where near as bad as it is now. People need to remember it only takes loosing a job or a relationship break down to be in the same position as people on benefits.

No one seems to give a shit about kids. Should not have had them...but they are here. Someone with a good job with 1/2/5 kids could loose their job and end up on benefits. What then? Will you be thinking the same should not have had them? No one gives a shit about the kids be living on porridge next.