To wonder why benefits should rise in line with inflation when no job is?

[Bananil]

Massively struggling with food prices and absolutely no chance the heating is going on for a long time yet. DH and I work full time but have not had a pay rise since before the pandemic and wouldn’t ask for one as our industry has taken a real hit. I can’t think of any jobs that are expecting a pay rise in line with inflation so why do much fuss about making sure benefits do?

Benefits should rise in line with the State Pension. IMO.

@SnipSnipMrBurgess What makes that poster a "cunt" exactly? What's wrong, can't handle others opinions?

Take out the non means tested pensions, which are paid dependent on NI contributions. My state pension is a little over £80 a week. I didn’t pay enough in for a full one, there were no NI credits for being a SAHM in the 70s. Of course, if I hadn’t tried to take responsibility by later contributing to a separate pension, I could now be a recipient of Pension Credit, which brings other help. I know other retirees who are, some who earned more but chose to spend their money differently.

Gosh there are some fairly mean spirited people on the thread. I would think those fortunate to be in well paid, secure employment with opportunities for career progression should count themselves very fortunate.

Life has become so much harder for so many due to cuts to public services, exorbitant child care costs and increasing numbers of single parent households.

Those who previously could find support with literacy and numeracy, with job applications and free or cheap play-schemes or parenting support are now left to find their own way entirely. Middle aged people find they can’t return to their careers after the children have left because they become carers to elderly parents as social care is on its knees. Those with children in special schools find themselves having to spend hours providing transport due to local authority cuts to transport. Parents living rurally often have to do a school run because there is no public or school transport - right up to sixth form.
Of course most people want more money and a higher standard of living, but without the support infrastructure that becomes more difficult for some to achieve.
Undoubtedly the Daily Fail and Tory hate creators tell the gullible it’s laziness, the nation is awash with drunken, smoking feckless scroungers and it’s down to immigration but we just need to walk through most towns. Libraries, youth clubs and sport centres closing, reduced bus timetables and unaffordable trains, closed shops and restaurants, pothole filled roads and pavements, food bank collection points at every supermarket.

It’s not benefit claimants nor immigrants that are causing inflation and reducing the value of the pound. They are not the key protagonists in the growth of poverty.

@TangoRomeo thanks. I’ve made an appointment with local charity to sort out benefits and extra support for my eldest. But if I need any more help I will contact you.

@ChelseaRobertsofMalibu You're telling other people they're wrong but you're completely wrong yourself. You don't need to be disabled or have a disabled child to receive UC of £1000+. A 25 year old couple with 2 children and no housing costs would get over £1000 easily (Standard allowance £525.72 + child element £244.58 + child element £244.58 = £1014.88). Then consider that the majority of UC claimants also receive a housing element (and some receive the childcare element too) and it's very common for UC to be in excess of £1000.

Surely minimum wage should rise by inflation and the rate at which workers pay tax and NI should rise so that they get to keep more of their pay rather than getting benefits? The threshold could rise to something like £15k before tax or NI is paid. Would help a lot of low paid workers and reduce the benefits bill.

I also don't think people should get "top up" benefits if they choose to work part time. This is just a smokescreen so businesses don't have to pay (employers) tax and NI and instead get PAYE taxpayers to subsidise their employees via the benefits system. Companies should pay a proper wage.

They would also get child benefit and if their first child was born before 2017, they would get the higher child element of UC which is £290, so for 2 children alone it would be £290+244.58 plus approx child benefit of £94.46+£62.61 so a total of £691.65 just for the children per month. Add in the adult element and rent and in places like London it is approaching or over £2k per month.

Yes. And so should the personal allowance, and all tax thresholds.

Benefits are now too low because this has not happened. By a rough calculation they need to pretty much double to do what they are meant to do. Pensions are not so bad as they have had the triple lock - they need probably 50% adding to reach acceptable standards in relation to comparable countries.

The personal allowance has been raised significantly but needs to be raised further, to maybe £15k.

The 40% threshold is where the worst stealth tax has been - if this had been raised with inflation as it should have been it should now be around £80-90k.

All of these need resetting. The uprating with inflation every single year, no arguments.

Meanwhile, we need a Government that can actually manage the economy properly so that we can pay for this.

We can dream.