To notice the 10% benefit rise and know I'm on the bones of my ass

[Letspovertyplayagain]

I know it's tiny. But when you are properly skint after everything you notice this tiny rise will mean some strawberries for the kids or some fresh milk instead of uht. This is for the people who complain they are poor or feeling the pinch when they really have no idea. And define their poverty as not going on holidays....

YANBU it all adds up. It will relieve the pressure for us a little as well

10% isn’t exactly a ‘tiny’ rise though.

It’s still shockingly low but at least it’s moving up inline with inflation this year.

@Albiboba child benefit has gone up to £39 it's just over £3 I would say that was small?

@Sirzy yes I don't think it has increased for 8yrs I could be wrong?

When you consider what that actually equates to £7-12 (on average) a week, it is. There was a very good post on here about the middle class being outraged because they are feeling the pinch and having to give up hobbies. Whereas those on the bottom are seen as ok even if they are giving up food. There's posters on here who have no idea how a large amount of people are living hand to mouth.

@Albiboba if it makes you feel better my rent has increased by £8 a week. 🤷

A 10% rise on benefits is fair, and in line with the similar % rises in things like rent etc.

Whether 10% of the current amount is adequate is more to do with whether the initial amount was even right in the first place.

I was always under the impression child benefit amount was to cover nappies and formula in the early years then food as they grow etc.

£39 per week would cover the weeks formula/nappy bill and be plenty to feed a child. However I appreciate that the £39 a week for a lot of families is eaten up I'm household bills etc because the other incomes (wages and other benefits) are usually lower than what they should be.

@BernadetteRostankowskiWolowitz Child benefit is not £39 a week.

Mine will increase by just over £100 and it's going to make an absolutely massive difference

My dad used to say 10% of bugger all is bugger all. So yes it is tiny.

glad it’ll relieve a bit of pressure OP. I agree that most people don’t really appreciate just how tight it is for so many people. I’m ok myself but very clearly remember how tough it can be and how it puts a strain on everything and everyone having to count every penny. I hope I never make such a crass comment as some on here with their “I’m alright Jack, pull up the ladder” attitude.

@Ponoka7 exactly if your own £40 grand a year 10% is a good amount. If it's child benefit for 2 kids it's hardly a goldmine! Think some people don't realise the reality of people's life's. And no I don't smoke, drink, I don't have an I phone no fancy TV package, SIM only deal. I share Netflix with a mate. My one luxury is a discounted gym membership. I don't drive. Bus or walk.

Last year it was 3.1% and the previous year it was 0.5%

£24 a week for the first child and £15.90 for any additional children. That is the new rate after the 10.1% increase.

Child Benefit for one child is £24 a week not £39 a week

£39.90 a week is for 2 children

Ah yes, 10% isn’t a tiny rise, and inflation is only 10% -ish. I read on BBC last week that “standard” pasta has increased 90% and the cheapest pasta increased 43% so yeah a 10% increase In benefits will be perfect

@violetskypurple I'm really glad it's going to improve your life ☺️.

I dunno why everyone is taking such an issue with my comment.
10% is really not a small increase. It’s a reasonable increase roughly in line with inflation.
They are hardly going to increase benefit amounts by 20% while refusing to engage in discussions about nurses pay.

But increaisng benefits in order to be able to cover the additional costs in rent/utilities/food isn't fixing the problem, it's exacerbating it. The work should be being done to bring cost of living into a reasonable range not masking the rise by increasing benefits.

10% is double what the govt have offered nurses

I agree, 10% is better than 5%.

Like you said it's the little things like being able to get nicer things in the food shop! Although my rent is also increasing also so a lot of it will go on that :(

10% is not a small increase. Many workers are having tiny rises of 1 or 2%.

With my extra £5 a week (3dc) I’m gonna feel so well off I won’t know what to do with it all. 😉

it’s not a lot, but it does feel like it just gives a bit more breathing space, and as OP said - the extra punnet of strawberries, or the slightly nicer sausages than we’ve been making do with other the past 6 months.

For many it's an extra pound a day. Whoopee