If you're really fed up of all "your" money going to benefits ....

[Yesimmoaningaboutbenefits]

We really need to be campaigning for more council homes. One of the biggest payouts is housing benefit because of the extortionate private rent costs.

That single mum topping up with UC to bring her to over 100k? (supposedly) Wouldn't happen if her rent wasn't >£2000pcm for a 1 bed flat.

Build a 3 bed house for £300,000 (presumably less with large contracts). Charge £500 rent, they'd make the money back in 50 years even without increases. And houses last more than 50 years!

I know I've read several comments over the years from people saying this. RTB was the worst etc. So why hasn't it happened? Upfront cost. It would cost the government a hell of a lot upfront, despite the astronomical gain further down the line. But if they're not in power when the gains start to show, they get none of the glory. And that's what it boils down to. Elected governments only want something they can boast about within their term. Who cares if it benefits the country in the long run? If it doesn't benefit them short term, it doesn't matter.

Same with education. Better funding will result in more people in work, out of poverty and out of crime in 20 years time. It's the best use of money possible! But no.

SEN funding. Early intervention can prevent children getting to crisis point and keep the gap from widening so they have a chance of staying in school, getting qualifications and contributing to society in the future. Not funding SEN effectively is pretty much cutting off a section of society and forcing them to spend their lives on benefits. Funding could give them a chance. But no.

How many health conditions could be improved by early treatment so people don't end up out of work and incapacitated on benefits?

You've got to spend money to make money...

Sorry. That turned into a bit of a rant. Didn't mean to!

Totally agree. Plus state run free childcare

Yeah you're not wrong.

People don't mind their tax money going on benefits if the money ends up in the hands of the poor, dishevelled, humble yet noble landlords.

Theyre only angry when their tax money ends up in the hands of the smelly disabled people and undesirable mentally ill (who ghost their friends without a thought for them, big lazy scrounging meanies).

Scraping the two child limit is a joke. I’m not perfect got pregnant at 15 fave birth at 16 but 4+ kids and expecting other peoples taxes to pay is surely taking the piss? I think two kids was a reasonable cap at a push they could have raised it to 3. Shit happens but how did you not learn your lesson the third time
I mean seriously? Raising taxes for THIS?? I doubt many people will vote labour again.
Im fine with my money going on someone’s two or even three children but you can’t deny 4+ is taking the piss

I can already tell that some people are going to take this comment seriously, so I'm just commenting to tell you that I know this is a joke and the way you wrote your comment made me crack up 😂

Even many years ago I read that housing benefit was costing £25 billion a year, much of which was going into landlords’ pockets.

Might add that I get sick of hearing any Labour voter moaning about Thatcher’s Right to Buy. Labour had 13 years in which to repeal or modify that law, but they didn’t. Presumably because they thought it’d lose them votes.

It’s a bit of a Catch 22 with the building of new social housing isn’t it. It’s right what you say about topping up wages in order to pay the extortionate rents but all the NIMBYS would cry “not in my back yard” if a serious programme of council housing was to be announced (which it should be)

Absolutely. All that "Well people on benefits are getting £££, they must be rolling in it" nonsense.

Their landlords are getting most of that state money, while the claimants themselves are still struggling to make ends meet. Because of high property prices, people who wouldn't normally consider claiming/ be eligible for benefits are having to do so.

There isnt such a thing as free childcare unless a relative or friend is doing it. State run free childcare would mean a rise in taxes.

The problem is when someone earning 110k ( maybe even a single parent) starts feeling all the taxes and allowance cuts on their standard of living.

When they dare to post about how difficult they are finding it.

They get told to be grateful and they don't realise how good they've got it and they should think about those less fortunate

Then there are other families. Who's rent get paid. Council tax. All the childcare gets paid. And they can afford to have more children because it'll all be paid for them.

Other countries manage it

They are increasing SEND funding and it’s going to cut the normal funding for every student by 4.9% according to the OBR.

You're not wrong. But if course actually investing in people to lift the boats for everyone isn't what people want. The outrage on here about the Budget makes it clear that a lot of people are fully in 'do it to Julia' mode.

Agree. New Labour watched house prices rise and rise and didn't do anything about it.

And obviously it wasn't in the Tories' interests to do so.

It’s the private rental sector that is pushing up the benefits bill.

Taking more money from people who are already stretched and working too much to claim benefits and giving to those who don't is never going to go down well.

I have health reasons I could stop and claim and many of my colleagues likewise. I expect early retirement on health grounds will become more popular.

What message does it send to young people?

I think people dont realise that people earning high amounts have the same costs.

They have high rent and mortgage costs.

They aren't rolling in it either despite earning ' so much' according to some.

But it's OK to tax them further?

The vibe I'm getting from younger people (probably millennial now tbh) is a great deal of bitterness that they're having to work so hard and not be able to afford somewhere decent to live.

But their anger isn't directed towards poor people claiming benefits. It's directed to older generations who have profited from the housing boom yet consistently vote for policies that further impoverish the young.

We need to build more full stop. Prices are so high because of supply and demand. And yes, losing all those council houses was a disaster.

I also wonder how much of the stuff the Tories cut is coming back to bite us. Emg. Sure Start closing meaning kids and parents not getting help they needed etc.

Why not save your anger for those responsible for high property prices? They're the ones responsible for all of us suffering- just in different ways. Punching down isn't going to improve your situation.

This person's wage is 70k- tax them more.

This person's income( made up UC, rent payments etc) is equivalent to a pre tax income of 70k- given them more benefits.

Rental cost same or more for the person who is earning the 70k wage, as less likely to be living in a council home.

This is where we are at.

If we need to top up people income so that that have the equivalent income of 70k or more. Then something is broken.

And taxing the people earning just enough so that they don't qualify for state help isn't the answer.

Of course. A stitch in time saves 9. But gives work on a five year plan and it's never going to change unless society demands it.

That's why scandi countries and Germany Austria etc do better in these areas. They are planners by culture. However they do pay a LOT more tax. So?????

It never gets resolved.

It's not punching down.

But all I can see is
" you need to spend money to make money"

Where is this money gonna come from?

As above it's OK to punch the people earning just enough but no thoughts about cuts that could be made to get this money.

Op you are totally right. For the last 30-40 years the UK has been keeping its self afloat by selling things to give huge cash injections into budgets.

They did it with council houses, they did it with selling off mental hospitals with land going to property developers, they sold off our industries and did they not even sell off our gold at pretty low prices.

So that's great in the short term. Big cash injection into bank account but then of course you pay back these costs (and more) in the future via housing benefit or care in the community or lack of control/increasing prices for our utlities.

This is what worries me the most. The budget did not seem to do anything to get the economy growing and there is nothing left to sell.

I too read we now spend as much on housing benefit as we used to on building council houses. I think the idea was people would buy their own council house and then be accountable for themselves and so the goverment would no longer be responsible for peoples housing. So not quite sure how having let everyone buy their council house for peanuts, they are now still responsible for housing people as well.