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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To be seriously worried the new govt are looking at cutting child benefit...

444 replies

cherrymama · 14/05/2010 08:10

to 'middle class' families?What does that mean?We both work but have four kids and losing that income will seriously affect us...so please tell me IABU and that it won't happen!

OP posts:
expatinscotland · 14/05/2010 15:47

Bloody well right, Laurie!

MissusRabbit · 14/05/2010 15:48

Exactly!

itsmeitsmeolord · 14/05/2010 15:51

riven - yes I'm not alluding to someone in a situation where they are already on a low income with high outgoings.

It was more the people on an income who could manage if they didn't expect all of those things I mentioned.

I have those things now because as my children have got older my childcare bills have dropped and my income has risen.
I didn't expect them when the children were small.

Lauriefairycake · 14/05/2010 15:53

I'm seriously considering starting a website called www.giveitback.org where people can voluntarily give the money they don't need each month. Maybe I could even set it up so it went into local surestart centres or something.

there are plenty of people on the threads over the last few days who have said they have money they don't need or want (Child benefit, maternity grants, child trust fund etc).

I bet if we made it voluntary people would do it.

theroseofwait · 14/05/2010 15:54

If you read my post again you will see that I say quite clearly that without CB I would not be able to save for my children. The Government only has any money at all because people like me go out and graft and I don't think Child Benefit (as the name suggests money for the CHILD to benefit him or her) is too much to ask in return, working on the basis that others get it. As I said earlier, either we all get it or nobody does.

Dear God, if you want to see a sense of entitlement just have a good look around this site at the amount of people discussing what they are allegedly ENTITLED to and tell me how it is possibly fair that a minority of us are paying for all these healthy start vouchers, sure start maternity grants, tax credits, EMAs, free school meals etc. I have never signed up to be a communist and everybody under the age of about 45 has been able to make the same life choices as me.

So yes, I do think I am bloody entitled to the 20 quid or so a week for my sons (it's not as if it's going on vodka and handbags)as I'm putting far more in. And before expat tries again with her ridiculous shop comment please note that I choose my purchases wisely and they are my choice, Tax is taken at source and I have no say where it is wasted. . .

MyBoyLovesBeans · 14/05/2010 15:58

Surely this will put a lot of people into poverty. Adults can understand why they are going without... kids on the otherhand dont and they are the ones who will be punished.

I would love to get a job!!! Im sure being at home is what has caused my pnd to be so bad, but what ever I take has to pay enough to cover 2 sets of childcare fees and all our bills. We rely on ctc etc to pay bills and put food on the table. Its a necessity for us, not a luxury. I dont understand how they can justify cutting it when people are not going to be able to afford to feed their children.

I know we have this deficit that needs to be cut but they cant do that at the expence of peoples welfare!

I will get a job when I can find something suitable but at the moment there just isnt anything nd I can only see it getting worse as the tories take over as my profession relys on desposable income!
Im on my own with the kids so working night shifts isnt an option either as there is no one to have the kids.

I just dont know what im expected to do.

Lauriefairycake · 14/05/2010 15:58

You are being bonkers. The taxpayer is giving you money to save for your sons- you don't need it and the country cannot afford it.

And you are completely deluded to think the following - "everybody under the age of about 45 has been able to make the same life choices as me".

No they haven't, what about carers and what about people who have been much less fortunate than you.

Lauriefairycake · 14/05/2010 16:01

Your children shouldn't have you saving for them - you're bringing them up well enough that they'll be able to shift for themselves when they're adults.

The country just cannot afford to give you money to save for your children's future.

ImSoNotTelling · 14/05/2010 16:02

Fucking hell

How scary

No to redistribution of wealth
No to the state assisting anyone
No to making alowances for people who are disadvanted in some way
No to caring about anyone or anything but yourself

But simultaneously

Yes to having a job paid for from the public purse
Yes to using the NHS
Yes to having a public sector pension

jenny60 · 14/05/2010 16:03

You really don't get it do you? You are not doing anything heroic by working and paying taxes. That's what most people do. Some people can't and some people probably don't want it, but that's the way it is for most of us. You can't be serious about the life chances of everybody under 45? Where do I begin? Perhaps in my local state school?

cranbury · 14/05/2010 16:04

I think alot of people voted Tory to end this entitlement culture. Labour bought your votes by throwing money at you which they made you think that you deserved. I think there is a victim mentality out there and people are failing to take responsibility over their choices.

pickledmonkey · 14/05/2010 16:07

but child benefit has been around for years and years hardly a new entitlement and lots of people who do use it for general day to day living and work will probably be the ones who lose out.

jenny60 · 14/05/2010 16:07

But expecting the state to pay her to save for her sons IS entitlement culture of the worst kind and I bet she voted Tory.

SandylovesZsadist · 14/05/2010 16:07

Like Phil Reade says in the Mirror I think I'll dig out my badge from the thatcher days saying "don't blame me I didn't vote them in"

Lauriefairycake · 14/05/2010 16:09

Pickled - people who need it should get it. Lots of people on this thread have said they don't need it (and one tried to give it back and she couldn't)

We need to channel money into the people who need it.

House prices and the very high standard of living a lot of people have is not sustainable in the long term.

Sonnet · 14/05/2010 16:15

The country has overspent, the country is in debt, the country needs to repay the debt - cuts will be made BUT they would still have been made if Labour had got in so those of you balming the tory/Lib dem coallition wake up and smell the coffee..

Dh and I are lucky by a lot of peoples standards. We have always been just over the threshold for any tax benefits and have never received any help But do you know what I went back to work full time in 1997 when my dd1 was 13 weeks old - not because i wanted to, it broke my heart BUT because we needed to work to fund the modest lifestyle we had then.
Oh and Mat benefit was £55 per week for 18 weeks only.....
It is going to be a tough few years - we all need to get used to it!

MyBoyLovesBeans · 14/05/2010 16:17

I think what is worse is that people have lived with this money from since their children were born. They have budgeted so they can live within their means and now suddenly theres a chance its going to be taken away.... seems like having the rug pulled from under your feet is a good analogy of this!

Sonnet · 14/05/2010 16:18

My Boys love beans - funding two sets of childcare was impossible for us, me not working was impossible for us so guess what I have a 4 year gap between my kids - not what I wanted but Hey something has to give or should I have expected the Gvt to help me out

MyBoyLovesBeans · 14/05/2010 16:18

sonnet that doesnt mean its right though does it! What are people going to do if they literally cant afford to put food on the table?

flockwallpaper · 14/05/2010 16:19

Carers and people who have genuinely fallen on hard times through job loss, partner's death, desertion, etc., should absolutely be supported by the state until the point where they are able to support themselves again. That was what the welfare state was originally set up to do.

Anyone else should be able to manage without state handouts. I think we are in for a time of adjustment and it will be painful for some. Laurie I completely agree that the standard of living a lot of us have is not sustainable. We have to get used to the fact that we will sometimes have to make do rather than buying whatever we want.

sarah293 · 14/05/2010 16:22

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MyBoyLovesBeans · 14/05/2010 16:23

sonnet.... my position isnt exactly perfect but so what my kids are here now.... what do you want me to do about it.

Their dad has fucked off and doesnt pay for them... I cant get any money out of him via the csa. Im powerless in that sense so I have gone to uni so that i can get a decent job and pay my own way in life..... what exactly would you suggest i do differently? Given time i hope to be in a job with a fairly decent salery and over the years will probs end up paying the higher rate of tax. im not sat on my arse doing nothing. im trying to provide a future for my children but untill I get that job i do need some help from the government. not nice to take hand outs but needs must. I think a few years of me claiming benefits will be quickly overshadowed my my tax contributions in the future.

flockwallpaper · 14/05/2010 16:23

myboylovesbeans, anyone who has made life choices based on state handouts has been naive to assume that they will always be there. That is the problem - people have been encouraged to be dependent rather than self reliant. Not good for the long term prosperity of the country.

sarah293 · 14/05/2010 16:25

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flockwallpaper · 14/05/2010 16:26

In your situation MBLB, the state should support you. Good luck and I hope it works out.