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/

Agreed, 25k per year is actually pretty decent for doing nothing.......more than fair I would say.

What the hell is wrong with you?

You can work and be a carer.

I don't know what you mean by that but it sounds personal, and there is no reason to be like that

Being a carer is not doing "nothing"

What the hell is wrong with our economy? Has it escaped your attention we are sliding into second world status and the benefits will be removed by harsh and unavoidable means eventually if we don’t do something to address this issue? We can’t ignore it forever

@RachelReevesFringe I was telling you that I think your opinion is very worthwhile, but that I don't agree. I live in the country, where we control vermin by shooting it. It's not often a popular view on MN which seems to prefer (ineffectual) humane traps.

Indeed it isn’t. But equally, you simply can’t expect working people to subsidise others to the extent that they receive more than the working person. It breeds resentment and is deeply unfair and puts people off socialism.

My post was a quote from Animal Farm.
If you did not get that, that is ok!

Imagine being resentful of someone with disabilities.

Imagine trying to make out it’s about ‘being resentful of people with disabilities’ rather than a massive financial problem which is slowly heading toward disaster.

You alright Jack?

I think part of the problem is what is the definition of "carer" and "disability" ? As in my opinion the waters have become muddied. Are all carers actually doing more than non carer parents?

I’ve heard of people claiming carers for their child while their spouse claims carers for them 😬😬😬 (no doubt someone will rush in to justify this in a second, but I wasn’t born yesterday)

Being a carer is hard graft. Nobody would disagree with that. Carers do valuable work and are under rewarded. But we also need a shed load more carers who want to be underpaid and overworked, because medical advances mean more 'marginal' cases (AKA humans) are possibly more viable than 20 years ago. I really don't have an answer for this.

Aren't people funny, that when they descend into their foaming, frothing orgies of hatred they lose all sense? They're so scared of disabled people that they must dehumanise them to the extent of making them monsters! No shades of grey there.
I imagine half these posters are bots anyway. Humans don't tend to think like that unless there's something quite seriously the matter with them so they can't help blurting out what decent people don't think and the rest wouldn't dare to say.

Stop being so ridiculous.

Apparently we aren't allowed to even question it because "they are entitled to it".

The Joseph Rowntree Foundation’s Minimum Income Standard says a single working-age adult needs about £30,500 gross to have a decent standard of income.

This is 47 hours a week at nmw . So a bit more than 40 but perfectly doable.

You can only claim carers allowance as a parent if your child gets middle rate or high rate DLA.

And it means we ‘hate disabled people’ even though I am disabled (in a way that nobody would argue with)

Not a bot. Not part of your foaming froth either. And nor am I scared of disabled people. I just don't buy all the politically correct crap.

My DC is getting by on NMW plus £1000 parental subsidy to do an apprenticeship in the SE. Not much hope for anyone whose parents can't help out.

That is correct. We are subsidising DC £12,000 (the rent in Guildford).

To be claiming carers under UC, the person you are caring for needs to be on DLA or PIP.
Also, look up what you actually get for being a carer. It is a pittance.

Yet a PP wants the cap to be £24k. For families.

And the chicken I ate today in my tikka masala.