AIBU to very nervous about what Reeves is doing to the economy?

[ProudAmberTurtle]

The data for the last financial year is out and, for the first time in British history, the benefits bill (£333 billion) was higher than income tax receipts (£331 billion).

This didn't even happen during financial crises like when the banks were bailed out in 2008-09, or during Covid when the government paid private sector staff's wages.

What's worse is that the government did not predict this and the benefits bill is projected to rise significantly over the next three years to about £390 billion.

In fact, from what I can understand, income tax receipts have always been significantly higher than the benefits bill, and there's always been an understanding between the two main parties since the 1940s that that needs to be the case for an economy to function properly.

I've worked very hard for more than a quarter of a century and always plan for the future, ie paying the maximum in NI so that my partner and I will receive the full state pension. For the first time in my life, this year the amount I'm earning in savings is going up at below the rate of inflation, even though I've got the highest interest rate available, because I've hit an income tax threshold (£50k) which means 40% of everything I gain in interest goes to the Treasury. This means my savings are actually depreciating in value.

AIBU to think this is just the start? That it's inevitable that taxes will have to rise even further and the state pension will be cut?

www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2026/04/04/labour-welfare-bill-income-tax-revenue/

Because they can, there are zero consequences and they have internet cheerleaders like the ones here who smear anyone who suggests people take responsibility for their own reproduction as ‘eugenics / workhouse enthusiasts’

@RachelReevesFringe I meant breeding, as an insult, quite deliberately.

There needs to be a clear benefits cap for every single household so they know where they stand when it comes to the size of the family they build.

Contraceptives are free and highly reliable. There is no excuse. The buck has to stop with them somewhere.

There is a benefits cap. It just doesn't apply to those who are disabled or have disabled children.

That's clear enough for me.

So you think non disabled children should ‘suffer’ under the cap and that’s ok? You think the only justifiable system is unlimited benefits for everyone who has children?

On the whole, being disabled costs more than not being disabled.

Do you think non disabled children should be capped, yes or no?

I really have no patience with people who pop out A BABY every time they get their leg over without considering the child's future and prospects. I am terminally old and middle class, and dreadfully conservative, so I had one child at 43, when I knew I could afford it. I am not much impressed by other people's efforts at child rearing, looking at the evidence.

DLA and the child disability elements of UC exist for a reason. Disabled children obviously have extra needs and caring for a disabled child is different.

Please could someone explain to me why people have so many disabled children now? i GET MEDICAL PROGRESS.

You seem to think everyone should be capped.

Tbh I’m not too uptight about it, I couldn’t care less if somebody wants 10 children or 2 children or no children provided they can afford to provide them a basic standard of living and reasonable care. I also don’t care about top ups for full time working people because why shouldn’t a delivery driver or shop assistant be able to have children? It’s people who don’t work and claim very high benefit payments while continuing to pop them out that wind me up.

Think about it logically. This family isn’t just claiming £50,000 in benefits a year - they will also need 2+ special school places (50k each quite likely), ‘transport’ (even though she isn’t working..) for probably a further 10k minimum, plus NHS care and therapies… a blunt guess is what, 200k a year? Now think how many of these families we have now given 2 children in each class are claiming DLA - it’s terrifying.

Whats even scarier is these children will all one day be adults and likely need full time social care. The special school/DLA costs will be a fraction of that, the main expense is yet to come.

It almost keeps me awake at night.

I do.

Look it up. No one on here, especially the parents of disabled children, owe you an explanation.

Well, your guess is as good as mine. We should have far less disabled people on paper than in previous decades - we have vaccines, better medical care, better health and safety, better access to services, more awareness of health in general, less smoking, no disabled soldiers returning from world wars etc. Makes no sense.

You are edging more towards suggesting eugenics with every post you make.
The fact there are people with your views out there is what keeps me awake at night.

But her partner works. She doesn't work because she's a carer.

You keep acting like she's a single parent for some reason.

That won’t work on me I’m afraid. My concerns are entirely logical and shared by very sensible people.

So, I am still allowed to ask for one.

And still okay to say that having multiple SEN kids is placing a huge burden on ordinary people who work and pay tax.

You are making the (vile) assumption that parents of SEN kids are having them on purpose for money.
A third of parents with disabled children have contemplate suicide.

And a lot of the parents of SEN kids will have been paying tax too.

and usually at least one parent continues to do so.

Of course they worry about money. But they also have to worry about beyond their childhood years too.

Just stop comparing parents of non-disabled kids to parents of disabled kids. It is wrong and offensive. Some kids become disabled long after they were born. Could you predict an injury or illness in your kids that would disable them for life?

But their tax won’t touch the sides of what they’re taking from other taxpayers