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

[cherrymama]

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!

therose, WITH CB I cannot afford to save for my children.

I use it to buy nappies, food, clothes...

Until our cirumstances improve, my children have no savings at all and tbh I am not that worried as long as we can pay the bills.

Nobody saved for me when I was growing up.

Your attitude is amazing.

flock i odnt see it as a long term sollution though. Im in the process of finishing my degree.... we are talking a matter of weeks and then I will be able to work full time. Finding a job is aanother thing but Im attending a lecture at college next week which might see me find a job. I have my fingers crossed then vile people who have a go at me for carrying on with my pregnancy raather than aborting can get off my back!

"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."

Yes I think you are right. The welfare state should be there to support those who truly need it - those physically unable to work or those caring for disabled children, likewise short term job seeking for those who lose their jobs.

The country does have a huge sense of entitlement that labour has encouraged, CTC/WTC has allowed people to choose not to work or to work less hours, IS allowing single parents to choose not to work for years, grants given as gimmicks etc.

Its a lifestyle choice to have children and parents, be it one or two, should be prepared to financially support them. Yes, juggling work and children can be tricky but millions do it.

I agree perfectly with flockwallpaper 's post 0f 16.19.05

MyBoyLovesBeans - I have sympathy for your situation, honestly i do. Different topic here BUT your ex Dh should be contributing for his Kids not the state coz he cannot be bothered - but I know it is not as easy as all that - I hope thinghs do work out for you

x post and the last part of my comment wasnt aimed at you either.... it just winds me up when people incinuate my kids shouldnt be here. They have just as much right as the next child and whilst our situation isnt ideal it will improve with time.

"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. "

So for people who do not fall into your categories of "worthiness", benefits should be completely withdrawn, and families can sleep on the streets or beg and starve?

What a lovely approach.

I am at some of the attitudes on this thread.

Bringing back workhouses will probably be mooted in a moment.

I like the idea of www.giveitback.org

But I'd rather give the cash to the charity of my choice, such as Macmillan cancer support than it going into the financial black hole of the state coffers.

When I was a higher rate taxpayer, and fit and healthy, with no children ie paying plenty of tax and not having any benefits or using many of the services,

I was completely happy to pay my taxes as I understood that many people are not as fortunate and needed assistance.

unlike my colleagues, who begrudged every penny. (I was in the financial sector).

I am happier with who I am, and the way I look at things. If I see someone who needs help, I think they should be helped. not kicked.

well its slightly off on a tangent but perhaps the government should do more to force fathers to pay for their kids... that way single mums wouldnt have to rely on benefits etc so much if they are unable to work.

"I have a question for all who claim it and don't need it: can you stop getting it? Tell them not to give it to you anymore? Not claim it at all if you have no need of it?"

Yes that's a fair question Expat. So far we've claimed child benefit and just stuck it towards university fees (which will be uncapped before you can say Higher Education).

But seriously that looks a bit selfish now, so doing some rethinking. Althuogh it has to be said that we've been hit quite hard by tax increases this year.

Imsonottelling - I think that quote has an etc on the end of it - so people who can't work for whatever reason should be supported. I don't think its meant to be an exclusive list.

Quatt and expat - someone up the thread tried that and they were told if they did it would take their children off registers (as if they didn't exist) and had all sorts of implications.

riven you always put things so well!!! I couldnt agree more with what you just said!!!

Imsonottelling do you honestly think that everyone should get benefits then? The country cannot afford it. That is the truth. If we have to prioritise spending I would rather the money went to those that were through circumstances outside of their control, were unable to support themselves. If it seems harsh to you, well then I'm sorry but life is harsh.

myboylovesbeans I think what you are doing is great - I'm not having a go. It is right and proper that you get state help.

I find that hard to believe about teh child benefit and implications. It is not compulsory to fill the form in and some people don't. There are other databases holding the details of all the children.

Re that list, I imagine it does not extend to people the listmaker deems feckless by whatever her definition is.

However by definition if you remove support from people who are unable to help themseves (whether for a "worthy" reason or a "feckless" one) then the consequence is that those people have nowhere to live, they go hungry, the children suffer.

sorry if I came across as aggressive.... I get a little carried away at times

Child benefit is worth £185 for us for three children every four weeks. It is a part of our income that rightly or wrongly I do rely on. Coupled with the fact that as an NHS employee I'm facing a pay cut/freeze and that dh works for Connecting for Health who are also facing huge cuts.....well I'm not feeling the love from this government so far!

By the way there was a post down the thread which explained the theory of universal benefits rather than these really expensive means-tested benefits and explained that the idea behind them was that higher rate taxpayers should be taxed on them.

Just for the avoidance of doubt, child benefit is not taxable.

However, it'd be a pretty easy win to make it taxable, no?

Thank you Laurie, the 'etc' was there to cover other circumstances as well. Riven I agree, single parents get a hard time and it's unfair.

flockwallpaper, then why not just say "everyone who is struggling should be supported".

You statement ""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. ""

implies that there are people who have not "genuinely" have fallen on hard times, who should not be helped, the list is a list which does not include any people who receive benefits who (for ease of understanding) that teh daiy mail might have a problem with, and the implication is that support should only be provided until such time as the person is capable of working again, and with an expectation that the person will achieve that goal.

That is quite a different ball game to providing benefits to people who cannot help themselves. There are a vast amount of caveats in there.

Tell me who you don't want to receive any benefits, flockwallpaper. If your list is so inclusive, it should be quite easy for you to say who you would like to be cut off.

People who have never contributed?
People with addictions?
People with an excessive number of children?
People who are unlikely to ever be in gainful employment?

What do you think?