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AIBU?

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Original poster

Every household?????

638 replies

Trainfromredhill · 26/05/2022 22:33

So, the chancellor is going to give every household £400 for heating. Surely there should be a cut off of household income? The Beckhams, Elton John, james Dyson, Harry styles…….they all get the money too? . I say this as someone in the fortunate position of not needing the £400- I’d much rather it went to someone who does need it.Just seems a huge waste of public money to give it to everyone

OP posts:
sst1234 · 27/05/2022 05:38

If you don’t want it, donate it. Somehow I don’t think you will though. In the meantime, quit with the faux outrage about being so well off that you are offended to receive it.

One-offs should be universal. It’s not unreasonable that net contributors to the system should get something back.

comealongponds · 27/05/2022 05:45

Instinctively YANBU but practically means testing wouldn’t work (and given past experience of the Tories setting up things like this eg track and test, would be extremely expensive and inefficient)

if you’re rich enough to not need it then donate it to a food bank charity, bet most of the rich won’t do that though.

daisychain01 · 27/05/2022 05:52

RoomOfRequirement · 26/05/2022 22:35

I think it's usually because the admin costs of working out who is entitled and figuring out a cut off that is fair to everyone is more than the money they save.

I'd be supportive of the government giving the supplement to people on UC or other benefits. Yes it leaves out people who are border line but it's a quick way of stopping the most vulnerable from having to make the "eating or heating" choice.

I heard it was £100 per household. Has that changed?

Emotionalsupportviper · 27/05/2022 05:57

PurpleDaisies · 26/05/2022 22:35

People with second homes get it twice.

I was wondering about that.

Morph22010 · 27/05/2022 06:00

Totally agree with the posts that it would be impossible to means test. There is no system in the country that knows all household incomes due to independent taxation which came in decades ago so they’d have to develop a whole new system to means test which would cost more than what they are paying out. Only system that knows household income is for people on certain existing benefit like universal credit but they are wanting the £400 to go to a larger range of people.

£300 to pensioners I believe is because in general pensioners use more heat as they are at home longer and have more chance of dying from cold than average person.

disabled people vary so I can see why it’s £150 and not higher as not all disabled people need in the same way not all pensioners need but it is impractical to look at every case, If disabled people are on certain other means tested benefit they will get more. They may be unable to live alone and with retired parents who get the £300. We get dla for my son but have a household income of £80k plus so don’t really need the £150 but I’m free to donate it elsewhere if I choose, that’s up to me. Dla is a gateway benefit as it opens up other support, so for example people in receipt of higher rate mobility dla automatically qualify for blue badge so that is why people may claim dla even if they don’t strictly need the money.

Emotionalsupportviper · 27/05/2022 06:02

It’s not unreasonable that net contributors to the system should get something back.

"Net contributors" like Jacob Rees-Mogg and Alan Sugar who have their business interests registered broad so they pay next to no tax here?

However, I agree that the administration costs would be huge and it's better that some wealthy leeches get it than children and vulnerable people suffer. However people with more than one home should not get more than one payment (if Daisies is right)

Please donate any cash you don't need to a food bank or similar charity, "Train

BalloonsAndWhistles · 27/05/2022 06:02

Hhoney · 26/05/2022 22:49

I’m probably in the bracket that misses out on everything but still has to penny pinch. My husband and I earn about £100k per year between us. We don’t get child benefit and are not eligible for the council tax refund.

We are struggling at the moment. After all bills paid we used to have about £400 left each month for non necessities (clothes, eating out, adding to savings, entertainment etc.) Our council tax has gone up by £60 a month, energy by £120 a month (will be more in winter) and food by about £150 a month. Other bills have risen too (childcare, insurance, fuel). We have nothing left at the end of each month anymore.

I’m grateful that I’ve not been left out of this benefit.

Exactly the same for us, almost word for word.

FiddlefigOnTheRoof · 27/05/2022 06:05

I don’t see the problem - clearly it’s a practical decision. We will donate it to charity.

SnackSizeRaisin · 27/05/2022 06:08

Hhoney · 26/05/2022 22:49

I’m probably in the bracket that misses out on everything but still has to penny pinch. My husband and I earn about £100k per year between us. We don’t get child benefit and are not eligible for the council tax refund.

We are struggling at the moment. After all bills paid we used to have about £400 left each month for non necessities (clothes, eating out, adding to savings, entertainment etc.) Our council tax has gone up by £60 a month, energy by £120 a month (will be more in winter) and food by about £150 a month. Other bills have risen too (childcare, insurance, fuel). We have nothing left at the end of each month anymore.

I’m grateful that I’ve not been left out of this benefit.

At 100k your household is in the top few percent of earners and if you have to penny pinch on that it suggests you are terrible with money. You can very easily live on half that, you just need to make less expensive lifestyle choices and live within your means

We have a combined income of 30,000 and live comfortably with no particular penny pinching. We don't get any benefits. We have 2 children in nursery as well.

daisychain01 · 27/05/2022 06:11

godmum56 · 27/05/2022 00:04

as I understand it the fuel 400 is going straight to the energy companies to apply against people's energy bills and the actual cash that people will receive will be paid via the pensions and benefits route. Its the fastest and most economical way to do it.

Show quote history

That sounds the most sensible way to do it.

speakout · 27/05/2022 06:13

As I understand it will be a £400 reduction in our bill, not a cash payment.
Energy companes are recording record profits, and this is being passed on to the consumer .

sst1234 · 27/05/2022 06:16

This thread is bringing out those who are competitively claiming to live on the least amount of money. This attitude towards earnings is so bizarre. It’s nothing to be proud of that this country has such a tolerance for low pay. The fact the £100k is considered rich shows how far people have been duped into accepting low wages.

anotherbrewplease · 27/05/2022 06:25

At 100k your household is in the top few percent of earners and if you have to penny pinch on that it suggests you are terrible with money. You can very easily live on half that, you just need to make less expensive lifestyle choices and live within your meansWe have a combined income of 30,000 and live comfortably with no particular penny pinching. We don't get any benefits. We have 2 children in nursery as well

Very well said - and so true. We are a family of 5 and live on much less than £100k a year! And always have done - never been in debt.

And sorry to those that think I'm on a 'race to the bottom' or whatever. I like my job, but it's not a big earner as I work as a Band 5 in the NHS. We don't NEED a foreign holiday every year etc

anotherbrewplease · 27/05/2022 06:27

This attitude towards earnings is so bizarre

If you say so - for most people it's called 'normal life'

And for the poor bastards in developing countries it's called 'luxury and comfort'

TheGetaway · 27/05/2022 06:27

Trainfromredhill · 26/05/2022 22:33

So, the chancellor is going to give every household £400 for heating. Surely there should be a cut off of household income? The Beckhams, Elton John, james Dyson, Harry styles…….they all get the money too? . I say this as someone in the fortunate position of not needing the £400- I’d much rather it went to someone who does need it.Just seems a huge waste of public money to give it to everyone

I’m also fortunate enough to not need it.
I shall be passing it on. Perhaps you can do the same?

Whooshaagh · 27/05/2022 06:28

Cuckoo48 · 26/05/2022 23:31

They've been helping my wealthy pensioner parents and in-laws to heat their comfortable detached homes every winter for years with a winter fuel payment.

This^^
My dm needs the money but my df absolutely doesn't. My uncle is very comfortably off and pays high rate tax on his pension.
Next year I'll be eligible for winter fuel payment and my dc need the money much more than me so I will be passing it to them.

miltonj · 27/05/2022 06:29

Hhoney · 26/05/2022 22:49

I’m probably in the bracket that misses out on everything but still has to penny pinch. My husband and I earn about £100k per year between us. We don’t get child benefit and are not eligible for the council tax refund.

We are struggling at the moment. After all bills paid we used to have about £400 left each month for non necessities (clothes, eating out, adding to savings, entertainment etc.) Our council tax has gone up by £60 a month, energy by £120 a month (will be more in winter) and food by about £150 a month. Other bills have risen too (childcare, insurance, fuel). We have nothing left at the end of each month anymore.

I’m grateful that I’ve not been left out of this benefit.

That's not penny pinching.

Iwantmyoldnameback · 27/05/2022 06:32

SlightlyGeordieJohn · 26/05/2022 22:42

Really? Excellent. It’s costing a fortune running two homes at the moment.

Show quote history

Not sure if you are being funny or goady but surely you only need to heat one home at a time? (I assume the money will go to tenants if house is rented out).

knittingaddict · 27/05/2022 06:34

It's easier, cheaper and more cost effective to give it to everyone. You might not think it's fair, but that's the reality.

anotherbrewplease · 27/05/2022 06:35

Welllll - maybe £5,456 after tax isn't quite enough. (!!!)

ATadConfused · 27/05/2022 06:35

@SnackSizeRaisin I'm glad you're currently comfortable & hope you remain so with the Oct price rise on energy, food costs going up & fuel.

But how the hell do you do it?

what's your housing situation & how much is your childcare? Trying not to ask deeply personal questions, so I hope those questions are ok?

Choufleurfromage · 27/05/2022 06:36

SlowHorses · 26/05/2022 23:14

Bingo.

thread goes the same way as the other one. No one bothers to read why means testing doesn’t work in helping the needy and fixates on the very rich and famous. Let the pensioner bashing commence.

Hit the nail on the head there @SlowHorses . Everyone seems to believe that anyone over 60 is lying on a chaise longe in a multi-roomed mansion counting their vast hoards of cash. Trust me, there are not many of those.
And they also forget thst even if you are on a reasonable income, most live to that income, so don't have wriggle room either. How many of us have sworn after getting a payrise that we will save the fifference between ols salary and new. But we don't, we live to our means, whether you have 20k a year or 100k

Viviennemary · 27/05/2022 06:39

It is a totally bonkers idea. Something like the Monster Raving Loony party would come up with. Just shows how utterly out of touch with reality Sunak is. I dont need £400. But a lot of folk do. Its total insanity.

Choufleurfromage · 27/05/2022 06:41

Good on all those giving their pot to charity. Just stop virtue signalling about it

Walkaround · 27/05/2022 06:42

Pay the money straight to HMRC, then? Apparently you are allowed to pay more tax than you have to. Then you don’t have to feel you are contributing to the national debt.