The autumn budget should cut benefits before increasing tax

[Leett]

There is talk of Labour breaking their election pledge and increasing income tax by 2p. I doubt they'd do that because voters will revolt. However they need to do something with the state pension due to increase by 4.7% next year.
I really hope they cut benefits / pensions before the deciding to increase taxes.

And how is that working out for you?

ifs.org.uk/articles/increases-scotlands-top-rate-income-tax-may-have-reduced-revenues-although-significant

Benefits need to be slashed. Madness the amount that is paid out. All tax free

They need to cut back their spending on illegals. 8 million pounds per day it's costing us tax payers to feed and house them.
I do not agree with benefits and pensions of British citizens being cut when we can save billions elsewhere.

In the 60s there was 5 pensioners to 1 worker, it's now 3:1 & will likely be 2:1 in the next decade or so. The current system is completely unsustainable

Sorry - occupational. Not state. Aka my own money that I’m saving.

Yes or at least means tested

And you will empty your own bins and sort your own care out when you’ve developed dementia, Parkinson’s, cancer or some other god awful condition, will you?

Exactly this! People aren't stupid. Who on earth would choose to care for the elderly wiping bums or clean toilets if benefits give everyone a comfortable life?

Ultimately we want to disincentive people from claiming benefits and incentivise them to work as much as possible and rely on UC as little as possible. Of course there will be losers in this system but it's the only affordable way.

Remove child benefit fron people who don't need it. There... fixed it!

Remove child benefit fron people who don't need it. There... fixed it!

why not do that with winter fuel?

That is terrible, but sadly not shocking. It must be really hard to deal with as a family and especially for your son, you have my sympathy

It’s a shame that those who voted for Brexit, cheering from the rooftops when we left the EU were so short sighted not to realise that a lot of the Europeans who came to the UK to work in the coffee shops, restaurants or retail were paying into the system but then wouldn’t take anything out as they got older because they’d have returned home. The loss of them has caused a massive deficit.

This & older people were more likely to vote leave...

I fully understand many people have two pensions, but some people do only receive the state pension and it’s hardly an enormous amount of money, many also receive a second pension from a deceased spouse for example,enough to put them over the threshold for any benefits but not ahuge sum, not all pensioners live mortgage/ rent free either, so yes, it is actually quite important that they receive an inflation level rise at least, perhaps try living on just above state pension and see how you manage and, no, I’m not in receipt of a state pension, but my late mother was and I know she wasn’t rolling in money

There wouldn't be much point in taxing it would there? But I agree it is madness. Every government puts out new bribes for votes but then is never able to reign any of them back in.

The problem is so many people cost more than they put in. They use the NHS, send their kids to state school, claim child benefit and sometimes other benefits too. All the while they are in a minimum wage job. It’s about time big business paid proper wages rather than relying on the state to top up the income of the workers. Nobody should have to claim any benefits if they are in full time employment. Cutting the benefits is immoral if it is going to be done without getting firms paying more.

Unpopular opinion, but I think tax increases are unavoidable in order to pay for health and social care and yes, the state pension.

When my dad started work (aged 14) he was paying 40 pence in the pound. When I started work at 16 I was paying 33 pence in the pound. So older folk have paid more tax and NI over a longer period of time than,for example, millennials,who went to university traveled found out who they are and started work in their 20s

Tory tax cuts (made to buy votes)have left us in a position that is now unsustainable. People expect good quality health care, free at the point of use, and low taxes which is impossible. We need to raise income tax and across the board. And accept that we will have less to spend on holidays and consumer goods.

State pension is NOT a benefit.

@Theoturkeyistheonlyturkeyonmytable
I have a single disabled male relative and he receives enough in benefits to fund a one bedroom flat, all his bills etc and has some money left over for 'luxuries' like SKY TV. I don't know if it's area dependent but that definitely isn't our experience

I said ages ago that WFA needs to be means-tested.

The problem is housing costs. Even big business can't afford to pay everyone those sorts of wages.

Labour were pretty clear at the time the last budget was a one off tax hike. They’ve messed up with NI and need more. Mn seems happier than most to say ok keep taxing but it won’t help.

The last tax and borrowing hike made things worse.

I haven’t read the full thread so this may have already been suggested but could you get a pre-paid prescription certificate?

I’m only in my 30s but have medication I can only get a month at a time plus sporadic additional items and use one. If you get 13 or more items per year, a certificate works out cheaper than paying as you fill but it’s not well advertised.

Totally agree. Two things can be true at the same time.
We cannot add any more cost onto the employer. Job numbers are falling quarter on quarter, employment costs and the muted employment rights bill has pushed employers towards AI/off shoring at an alarming rate. Margins within businesses are becoming ever tighter.
If we keep increasing the tax burden on middle/high earners you further impact productivity.
We absolutely must reduce the reliance on benefits, (the cost of woking age benefits has increased exponentially since 2020), alongside protecting provision for those with debilitating disability. This should be entirely needs based with all determination face to face, backed up by medical evidence.
what would I do;

• Smooth out cliff edges in the tax system
• reform working age benefits, particularly in the 16-25 bracket. This must be all but eradicated.
• roll back Employer NI changes
• charge for GP appointment cancellations
• change the WFA to c25k
• remove the triple lock
• roll back changes on agriculture/business rate relief. This was a ridiculous policy
• rejoin the single market (🙏)

Things really start ramping up prescription wise over 55 and it costs a fortune.*

you can get a certificate to cap the costs

Personally, I’d rather see pensions left alone and child benefit means tested, but that’s just me!

Child benefit is already effectively means tested. What should change is the way that the clawback is calculated. At the moment, a couple could earn £160k between them before the whole amount is clawed back. However, a household with only a single earner loses their entitlement at £80k.