To feel annoyed about child benefit threshold?

[Mirenda]

I earn not far over the threshold to claim child benefit so am not going to put in any claim.

Maybe it seems completely unreasonable to many but given the large amount I pay in tax and NI every year, I feel annoyed that we get nothing back for this, especially with costs of absolutely everything going up.

If we could claim it, we would use it to fund baby related groceries or the heating bill in winter, both of which can be quite expensive.

I don't understand why the threshold can't be more towards 100k mark like the childcare costs threshold as once you're into six figure salaries that's a different ball game (although those people also pay hefty amounts of tax so why shouldn't they see something for it too?)

I expect to be slated for daring to question any of this as someone who earns a comfortable amount but when you've put into the system over the years, it would be nice to get more back when it's for your child.

I have a very wealthy elderly relative who still received the government's pensioner cost of living payment last year regardless of her massive income. They didn't means test that but they will set limits and thresholds for benefits for children rather than make it more universal.

It’s a completely stupid unfair set up, it should be either universal or properly fairly means tested, it’s not like HMRC don’t know what people earn.

But you’re not complaining about that, you don’t mind the set up, just that it affects you and you Andy it to affect other people instead, so YABU.

I haven’t read the full thread so apologies if others have made these points already.

Child benefit used to be a universal entitlement (ie not means tested) and there are good arguments for reinstating it as such: firstly, the cost of applying the means test almost eradicates the “saving” of not paying it to high earners; and secondly, from an ideological perspective it suits the tories’ narrative to create a divide between “sponging benefits claimants” (inc child benefit) and hardworking taxpayers funding those claimants. Some of the responses on this thread seem to have fully bought into that narrative.

It also creates a dynamic where these benefits can be cut down the line (in the name of austerity or similar) as most Tory voters won’t be receiving them. It’s bad for all of us.

Yes! This!

I remember it coming out and talking about it on here, and although I didn't earn close to it then, I asked for people to help write to MPs etc.A huge chunk of people said if you earn £50kplus you shouldn't get it, tough luck etc.

And now here we are, and when benefits get cut, and they will, tories aren't exactly friendly on those, when those same people complain and ask for help, and to be in uproar and protest etc, I'll replay the tiny violins that someone shared for me and ignore the lot of them. Because actually I'm ok, and yes the money goes into my DD savings account, and yes I'm fine, so crack on. And I say that as someone who's daughter still gets it (through my ex). It's the whole point of how people have sneered at those wanting to claim it. Offering budgeting advice etc.

It's massively divisive and that's what they want, and we handed it to them.

Whilst you are correct you also have to remember a single person working on around minimum wage full time is entitled to nothing.

So don't pretend it benefits everyone it doesn't.

"Why should my children suffer because I made the right choices in life? Saved, bought a house, paid extra towards my mortgage etc." What??? Do you think everybody who is receiving benefits has made poor decisions? people get sick, people get abused etc etc..

This is crazy as I earn just over 60k but my partner is on 25k. If we both earned 49k we'd have more household income AND could claim. It's insane, who makes these rules?

So a combined income of 85k and your moaning about 20 quid a week benefit. World's gone mad it's a couple of thousand a year. 85k a year is not struggling.

If you were genuinely on a 'very low income' and in need of help then you would be eligible for UC in some form. If you have savings it's not unreasonable to be expected to use them.

Why should my children suffer because I made the right choices in life?

By your logic you haven't made good choices if you have such a low income, and how much are 'your taxes' 'literally' paying for on this very low income?

Welfare (that includes UC) isn't a big proportion of what taxes are spent on so that argument is pointless. Very few people put in more than they take out.

Exactly the point I was trying to make this morning.

Think you’re misunderstanding.
two households
45+45 would get £20/week
60+30 wouldn’t get it and they’d be paying also more on income tax

that’s what many are complaining about. It’s not the money. It’s the system that is not set well

btw as others have said 60k is really not a rich person. They live confortable but not rich

In Scotland our HRT tax rate starts at 42% I can’t remember (and it’s too late to look at the % of HRT tax payers in Scotland but it’s quite low) what did shock me is the % of adults not in work or not paying any tax at all.

The point I’m making is that there is only so much tax you can actually raise, HRT and tax payers in general can only pay so much tax. Like a previous poster said most adults are in receipt of some sort of benefit. The money has to come from somewhere.

A lot of people I know only work 16 hours as after that they loose their UC to me that’s a crazy system I thought it was all about making work pay?

When the changes to CB were brought in our family were one of those who lost our CB we were right on the threshold, we have 4 DC and overnight we lost over 3K. Now before I get jumped upon and told well it serves you right for earning so much etc I think every family would have felt the loss of that money. Family next door despite earning almost double got to keep there’s that was the unfairness. If we had lost it and the poorest families had had there’s doubled fair enough but that didn’t happen, if it was properly means tested. A fair system.

spend my savings it ain't happening.
If you have savings you can't whinge about low income or what benefits you can't get, savings are a luxury, use them!

This is what is wrong with the system, not your scenario of two household wages. I get fucked off as a single parent that I am penalised if my one wage goes over 50 and your moaning about raising it even further for two adults earning.
Your not the first to have paid childcare.

Do you not pay anything into a pension at all? On an income of over £60k?

Rich is relative though. If you have no money, have to use a food bank and live in constant fear of eviction. A person living a comfortable life is very rich indeed.

@Betterbear
Seriously? talk about an over reaction 🤣
I've made many good choices, am financially comfortable but I wouldn't bleat about £20pw with savings in the bank, if you're struggling use what you have, not hoard it and expect a handout because you don't want to use your savings.

@Betterbear
How disgusting. People like you make me physically sick. You are abhorrent at the lowest level and are everything that is wrong with this country today.
That's me judged on one comment 🤣
Get a grip, loony

And this is what I was talking about with my post above - people attacking each other about who is rich, who is deserving etc etc.

This is precisely the scenario the tories want to create. The money that isn’t being given to the children of people who earn over £60k is NOT being usefully spent elsewhere - it all goes to pay for the admin ensuring that no one who earns over £60k gets anything. It’s a pointless system. And it actively discourages people from trying to earn more money which is counterproductive.

Personally I’d rather see a universal system - engendering a feeling among higher tax payers that they actually see a direct return for their taxes is a really positive thing.

YANBU I'm a lone parent, with no other financial support (I don't even have a pension at all as can't afford to pay into one). I've just been promoted and am now over the threshold and yet I feel I am loosing out.

Bloody hell, who pissed on your cornflakes?

And you really aren't coming across as a decent person

Gutted I missed the insight from @Betterbear , sure it was truly a nugget sage wisdom

@RagingWoke
How disgusting. People like you make me physically sick. You are abhorrent at the lowest level and are everything that is wrong with this country today.

this was the reply to my saying if you have savings you can hardly complain you're on a low income and want CB, use the savings.

Ah I see, not sure I see the logic though. If you have money you use it seems pretty straight forward 🤷‍♀️

It's a stepped system so you wouldn't be worse off so I don't really understand how you're losing out.

I do think it's a shit system though. Should be on household income or leave as it was which means everyone gets it.