To want the Government to do more about the Cost of Living crisis?

[user365241987]

I just cannot see what the Government is doing to support the insane rise in CoL. Our income is higher than it has ever beautiful we just scrape by every month. It's so depressing. Don't qualify for any benefits. So tired of it. I have written to my MP. I can't understand why they don't increase the lowest tax threshold as that would at least help everyone at the lower end. I don't see any improvement ahead.

There will be help coming - means tested so it will be for those already in receipt of benefits. The rest of us who are just managing to keep our heads above water but who can't take much more will have to fend for ourselves - as usual.

What would you like them to do ?

I agree with you that they need to increase the tax threshold - to make work actually pay when you can't claim any benefits.

It seems really unfair that someone working gets so much tax deducted and pays council tax as well, when you can't claim benefits. Whereas there's so much more help for other people, particularly if they're in rented accommodation. I obviously know that working people on a very low income get universal credit.

No doubt people will soon be on here accusing me of benefits bashing, but it's getting so out of kilter for middle-income people who have to pay for everything and everyone.

Where do you want the money to come from for them to beable to “do something”?

If they freeze taxes/VAT/benefits etc that will mean taxes will rise in the future or some services will be reduced. Most services are already on their knees after austerity, covid and Brexit.

The frozen tax bands are awful but the country is broke so not sure what they can do.

I would like them to scrap the triple lock & use that saving for investment but no government will have the guts to do it.

You don't need to be on a very low income to get UC. We read all the time on here of people on decent incomes still qualifying for it.

I think keeping the higher tax thresholds the same is understandable in the current climate, but at least increasing the lowest threshold would make a small difference to everyone, including pensioners. It might also incentivise people not currently working, to work because they'd take home a greater percentage.
*been not beautiful in my OP

I think tax payers have had enough, to be honest. There’s not much support for any government support.

but at least increasing the lowest threshold would make a small difference to everyone, including pensioners. It might also incentivise people not currently working, to work because they'd take home a greater percentage.

But lower & middle earners pay low tax comparatively to other countries.

We need to decide what support net we want because free healthcare & state pensions do not come cheap!

I agree with you there. When I heard the help potentially for fuel bills (for some), as the price cap will go up, my first thought was well dont people go on a fix rate then as that's all I can do! I know it's not as simple as that but I am sick of constantly getting shafted all the time.

Well in that case maybe that needs looking at then?

It's a hot potato, but I would like to see a reform of the council tax system. There's blatant unfairness and anomalies in the system - I begrudge paying £3k a year out of already taxed income for the absolute minimum services. Elderly social care should come out of general taxation, not council tax - that could reduce it. Also the banding system is inaccurate too - our neighbours have a larger house than ours, but because it's older, their band is one lower than us. But I don't feel I can contest it in case theirs might be increased, which wouldn't be good for neighbourly relations!

The trouble is the government is facilitating much of the cost for living crisis. We have high taxes and the most expensive energy prices in Europe because of government levies and tax. Businesses that could pass on wages rises to their staff are unable to because they’re being taxed more by this government and their businesses rates have massively increased. These costs are also passed on to the consumer because businesses have no choice.

I agree that council tax banding is very skewed, depending on where you live, as well as the size of property. It’s certainly not equitable.

There were a couple of reports that showed good news for the UK economy the other day, that might have given the government options for helping the average person start to feel better off, if it wasn't for Israel and the USA starting a war in Iran

We have high taxes and the most expensive energy prices in Europe because of government levies and tax.

higher income taxes?

Our electricity costs are so high because we are so reliant on gas.

If you’re willing to post your income vs outgoings maybe we can help a bit with that?

scrap council tax and have a property tax based on house value.

I agree re: Council Tax. I’m a single person but only get a 25% discount, which I appreciate is better than some but still a bit of a kick in the fanny. I’m just generally not sure what the Govt can do. The economy globally is fucked. The UK was shafted by Brexit, then COVID, and now the Iran debacle, on top of years of austerity.

The cost of living crisis.
What is it exactly ? A phrase drummed up by Ed Millband. It supposedly is to appeal to anyone who feels hard done by. And suggests to those who didn’t beforehand, perhaps they should.
There will be people are are financially struggling.
But there will be lots more who aren’t really. But feel hard done by even though they are in a newish car and a three bed detached and off to Portugal soon.

That’s what we do in Ireland. Mine is 492 per year for a house valued at 500k. It can be taken out of your pay pre tax also.

I think one of the key reasons they are not increasing thresholds are because it would benefit pensioners too. Pensioners are the current whipping boy and seem to be hated by the govt & most of the population.

I think there is a bit of hysteria building around the 'cost of living crisis' tbh.
Throughout history, there have been various points where we have had to tighten our belts and this is just another one of those times.
The things that are different this time round is Covid has raised expectations that it is the Government's job to ensure no one should have to lower their standard of living; the tide is starting to turn over benefits that are too high to incentivise work and social media is encouraging competitive poverty among a generation who already wrongly feel they have been dealt the worst hand ever.
The triple lock stands out as being out of step with the UK's current circumstances so that should go but other than that, we just need to get on with it as we have before.

If the government gives help that means there's less to spend on other necessary things.

People may have stretched themselves in better times to afford the house at the top of their borrowing ability, a new car or phone, the subscriptions and activities they became used to.

They may no longer have spare cash but ultimately they do have fat to trim and options to take even though obviously it would be nice to not have to give anything up and to keep savings rather than spend them.

Some people have nothing to cut, and no savings to dip into. Those are the people who need help.

They do it in many countries but for some reason it’s not acceptable here