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.

Indeed, hence my inclusion of 'stinginess'. Sad, but true.

I do not believe healthy unemployed people live a comfortable lifestyle. And nor do you, or you would be doing it and would be advocating for your DH and DS to join you.

But do you genuinely earn enough to be completely self sufficient and protect your children once you are no longer around or are you better off from everyone paying the bit they can afford? Most people in the country benefit from government assistance and that means we have enough lower earners to provide those services. Everyone recieves an education, health care, police support, fire support, roads etc. This I believe benefits me over living in an 'every man for himself' situation. I do not need to source private security as we have a police force, my DC go to a decent state school, if I had cancer I would not need to source my own medication and nurses. I do not need to worry that my DC would die of famine if they made a mistake in business. Because of the state support the country I live in is a much better place, the taxes I pay are a bargain compared to geuniely supporting myself.

Your experience isn't 'sweeping statements' but mine is? OK then.

These statistics are not all that meaningful by themselves though. Health declines as we age, which is obviously going to make us more vulnerable to everything. It can't all be financed away. It's not a realistic or affordable expectation.

You do realise it’s not as simple as that don’t you? They may want to downsize but can’t find anywhere near where they are now but can’t move as family is here, things set up for them? Some will be in the position that due to taxes that need to be paid they can’t actually afford to move

The property market is slowing and come November and Rachel’s budget may just stop!

Thank you. I completely understand people who have debilitating health issues and are disabled to the point where they physically cannot work. Given that's the minority (otherwise would be a major health crisis) surely at some point you take responsibility for your own life and try to build your own career/future.

DH and I both worked very hard at school and did engineering at university. My DS read economics and is working his job. I did tell them the consequences of not studying and what would happen with their life prospects.

But you can go to another place to buy more paracetamols. Do a round of the shops. They're less than 50p in most shops.

That's where planning ahead comes into play.

For your sake, I sincerely hope you don’t end up in my position: reliant on benefits to maintain a normal life in the face of a series of events derailing it, including, but not limited to, my child developing a terminal illness. How poorly do you want me to live, to spare you? Should I get just enough to feed my child a diet of white toast and cereal, or should the state splash out and allow me enough to keep the house warm for my sick child? Once she’s no longer here and I can go back to work, if no one will employ me, because I’m old and have been out of the work place too long, how much of my state pension should the state deduct to punish me for my lack of economic activity?

Someone who needs that many paracetamol on a regular basis probably isn't fit to 'do a round of the shops'.

This all day long! But sadly you're wasting your breath here. People have fully swallowed the scrounging faker living in luxury line.

I need my DLA (still on legacy) to eat as housing benefit doesnt cover the rent (only covers 1/3 of private rentals).

We are heading in a dangerous and deeply inhumane direction.

And those who can’t work ? What do they do - sit quietly in the corner and wait to die, so as not to be a burden on the tax payer ? I genuinely don’t understand anyone who believes successive governments’ rhetoric that some people are living the high life on benefits. It’s trotted out year after year to justify cuts and people fall for it every time. This time, the Labour government couldn’t even distinguish between disability benefits and sickness benefits and were conflating them in almost every speech and comment ahead of announcing the proposed cuts. If you don’t understand what function a benefit provides, you have no business cutting it.

I’d happily pay more tax. If I were chancellor there are tons of things I’d do before raising income taxes or corporation tax though. I certainly wouldn’t cut benefit. Pensions need reform. Means test state pension, tapered for anyone earning over HRT, would be quite simple.

That is sad but you don't mention your partner's contribution? Any other family?

This mumsnet - why is no-one complaining that fathers dont support their children and no-one uses the powers they have to enforce payment?

You do realise it’s not as simple as that don’t you? They may want to downsize but can’t find anywhere near where they are now but can’t move as family is here, things set up for them? Some will be in the position that due to taxes that need to be paid they can’t actually afford to move

It's called planning. What taxes make downsizing unaffordable?

Who is saying that the person should do it themselves? I agree. Why should the taxpayer fund paracetamols when they're so cheap in the shops.
X it by thousands. It costs a lot. One way to save money.

The property market is slowing and come November and Rachel’s budget may just stop!

why does that prevent one downsizing?

Are you assuming that person has someone able to do it for them then?

And equity release means not having to move

FFS!! Why should other family be asked to contribute ?

It’s also one of the stupidest things you can do with your most valuable asset.

I didn't say it was compulsory.

More importantly, I ask again what is the father's contribution???

I am entitled to free prescriptions and a free eye test. However I am working full time and can afford to pay so think this should change.

Isolation from the wider family has been one of the biggest factors of the downfall over the last 40- 30 years