To want a budget which puts young people and families first

[HFJ]

In advance of an upcoming budget that will likely hammer working people (again, despite the rhetoric), I’m consoling myself by imagining my own budget. You’ll notice a theme. This is because I believe young people and families are the future, deserve to have hope, aspirations and goals. Please feel free to contribute.

1. The first 5 years of young people’s full time earnings to be tax and NI free. This would enable all to save for a house deposit, rather than only the few who inherit. Imagine the incentive to work hard!
2. No increases to any tax that primarily affects working age people, including fuel tax (because working people need fuel to go to work)
3. No stamp duty for young people and those with children under 18. This enables them a fairer chance of buying property rather than have to compete unfairly with cash buyers
4. Complete removal of the pension tax free cash allowance. This is because 100s of 1000s are poised to take their 25% lump sum and plough this into the property market (tbf I think the gov has got wind of this, hence the landlord tax changes)
5. instead of massive increases to NHS budget (which does not really benefit the young or families), a £10 charge to see the doctor, so people start to take ownership for their health
6. Removal of the free prescription for over 60s. Instead, use this money to bring back the school nurse and perhaps even school dentist visits

Any other ideas?

But people are put off already for "non urgent but could be something" as it's too hard to gat an appointment.

A nominal fee could help that. Something has to change.

Playing devil's advocate, tax free earnings for the first five years would result in a large number of very expensive cars, holidays etc. You may have focused on buying a house at 18 or 21, I did. But many will not.

No stamp duty for those with children under 18. - I have a 16yo son and am 61. I would use this benefit to buy my retirement home.

Being 61 yo I don't know anyone who is planning to use their 25% tax free allowance to buy BTL property. Most are looking to help with university fees or deposits for their children's first homes.

The NHS does not really benefit the young or families - really? Have you seen the state of maternity services recently?

For a more equitable budget, I would simply increase the personal allowance, helping anyone on a low income, and pay for it by removing higher rate tax relief on pensions. And I'd increase the budgets in secondary schools and in colleges, including part time & adult education. Give young people the help they need that way.

Playing devil's advocate, tax free earnings for the first five years would result in a large number of very expensive cars, holidays etc. You may have focused on buying a house at 18 or 21, I did. But many will not

If my ex was anything to go by when he got access to his Trust Fund, there will also be an significant increase in the wealth of cocaine dealers. I couldn't believe it when he said he'd gone through seven hundred and fifty grand in five years, as he had nothing to show for it by the time I met him at 25.

Make student loans interest free

Better funded childcare. We get 1 day a week funded and pay £700pcm for another 2.5. Combined with a huge mortgage (for an ordinary 3 bed), large tax, pension and student loan payments life with just one child is not affordable.

I would like to see funds raised with massive taxes on anyone with a second home/ multiple properties.

And more taxes on gifts from relatives and inheritance. I cant believe my friends have been given hundreds of thousands thousands untaxed whilst we’ve worked for everything and been taxed up to our eyeballs.

And they should make it illegal to set up trusts to avoid using personal assets to pay care home fees, or to ensure someone keeps getting universal credit despite a large inheritance

This would simply result in people spending it on their children while alive -private school, university fees,, skiing holidays etc. I'd rather see my dc have a first class education while I'm alive than hand my life savings to the govt when I die.

If anything that would increase the inequality between the haves and the have nots from an earlier age.

Older people have needs too or don't we matter? We vote, if that helps focus your thinking.

instead of massive increases to NHS budget (which does not really benefit the young or families), a £10 charge to see the doctor, so people start to take ownership for their health

Some people have illness and disabilities through no fault of their own. My youngest is a type 1 diabetic, for example, which is an autoimmune condition (sod all about taking ownership of his health). We have multiple consultant appointments annually and sometimes require a hospital admission for fairly basic illness which gets out of hand - last year he ended up in hospital with a throat infection brought on by glandular fever, for example. Is your suggestion that we should pay on these occasions? Because if we couldn't affordnit - and some families can't - then essential check ups will be missed which means opportunities for improving control and management will be missed which means long term, serious ill health may result. That reduces the likelihood of working and paying tax. Counterproductive.

I will play.

How about families pay more tax - it’s only fair, because they are using more services, right???

I don’t think advantages should be given to one section of society at the expense of another section. Why can’t the government make sure that the ‘pain’ they say they are forced to send our way on Budget day, is evenly distributed. You might feel all your points are valid ones because you’re one of the ones who would benefit from your mythological budget. But in a few years you will be a pensioner too. Let’s hope the budget is a fair one, but i’m not hopeful, as we’re talking about Labour here.

No need for pensions so effectively eliminate the state pension scheme.
However most people over 50 are earning well and more likely to be paying higher rates of tax. So what you save in pensions you lose on tax.
You are obviously under 30 since you consider 50 an age where life is no longer worth living.
You would also remove most peoples childcare.
Sorry didn’t quote the post that suggested euthanising the over 50s.

It's needs to be fair for all.

Pensioners' interests have been protected at the expense of the rest of us since 2010. In return, they gave us Brexit and successive Tory governments. So yes, I think they'll have to get used to being at the back of the queue for a while.

@MemphisBluesAgain why do you think it was pensioners who gave us Brexit. As far as I can see it was the likes of Tommy Robinson and his ilk. A lot of reform voters are under 40.

Many pensioners are living on £128 a week. I really can't see that they are living at the expense of everyone else.

This is where I stand.

Exactly, as someone caught in a pension gap, 62, circumstances and life, led me not to be able to plan for a good private pension., state one 67.
Didn’t plan in my 20s, no pension when married , didn’t work, divorced a year off getting my ex husband’s, a small work pension, luckily a house bought with a final settlement.
i worked till 59 health reasons, unbecknown to me Parkinson’s at 55, now 62, disabling more now, add in prism needed for left eye undiagnosed for years, despite 2 private opticians looking nhs referral, a fall osteopenia , stage before osteoporosis , need insoles too
I had hoped to work till 60, cut back hrs and retire at 62, trying not to think too far ahead.
The fact is we need more tax and national insurance in a system, for all, lots take out more than they’ve put in, unviable.
Mortgage rates are very low, comparatively, tho other costs higher, the young, elderly and unwell all need support.
Tho I think for lots, and a defined clamp down on lots of fathers who walk away, and t are no responsibility for their children, and for the obese to take responsibility and help, as should other addicts.

Tax free allowance raised to say £18k

Pensioners to pay NI. No reason why they shouldn't if they have enough income.

No extra benefits for more than two children

It’s always been unfair, children are our future, you can’t claim a refund for things that you’ve never needed.
Hopefully you don’t a life changing condition that I and so many have, yes I’ve paid for stuff to help myself, mines progressive, paid towards a state pension due in 5 years time, may not see it.

No tax for people who don't have kids in education? No tax for healthy folk who never use the NHS? No tax for people who don't claim benefits and are self sufficient. No tax after 50 for people who have worked full time since they were 16 and have already paid more than their fare share?

No? How about a flat rate % tax on all income for everyone, no exception, no evasion. And, scrap NI to make pensioners pay their full share.

Totally agree I can’t change Parkinson’s , no real research or answered

Yes that right take everything away from older people.

Already lost the WFA and the free TVAlicante.
Now you want to come for the free prescriptions as well.
Glad your not deciding.

it shouldn't be linked to age but to wealth/income -
we need to bring in more income/means linked benefits without the furor and to reduce the stigma of claiming.
And get rid of the rhetoric- i'm sick to death of "hard working people "

I would want everyone catered too.

Getting elderly is rubbish enough, your friends passing on, even moving around gets harder. Some are alone, they're on about stopping winter fuel, your more likely to get ill, pension age increasing. So you work all your life, just to get ill not be able to afford medicine, to sit in the dark and cold alone ... bit mean.

I kinda think focus the budget on easing the cost of living, make wages actually cover bills and it would sort a of pressure on a lot of areas.

If people can afford life on their wages, benefits claims would decrease (as most people need top up benefit on top of full time wages), housing pressure would decrease as private rent/saving for mortgage would be possible so less pressure on council housing. A lot of NHS illness is caused by stress/mental health, making life a bit more manageable takes out the people getting ill from environmental stress factors, That would then release some budget money to filter onto other areas.

All those over the age of whatever the Chancellor decides, can apply for a Government funded "death box", should they wish.
A bit like the Scottish Goverment's "baby box" - but for the other end of the spectrum.
It would contain a mega dose of some medication or other to put those of us who so choose, to shuffle off this mortal coil rather than being carted off in an ambulance to God knows where, to be "looked after" when it's not what we want.
Saves the state, a fortune, and, in my case, would free up a house.
Should have a phone number in the box which you ring, before pill consumption, so the operator can advise the body collectors to drop by in a couple of hours.

The OP will have changed her tune in 20 years time, suddenly the world will be revolving around the middle aged whose children have left home, bugger the young families etc.. One's sense of Me changes with maturity.

Well said! 👏

Us childfree/childless singletons really do get the raw end of the deal.