So child benefit to go for higher rate taxpayers

[foxinsocks]

So says George osbourne on breakfast telly. Missed the details but sounds like it comes in from 2013!

DuellingFanjo why should they raise the threshold? How can it be fair that a single income household of £44,000 would be worse off than a dual income household of £86,000? I would be happy if it was per household at £44,000. Means I wouldn't qualify but would also mean the dual incomes of £86,000 wouldn't qualify either.

Rather depends what you call the basics doesn't it? Contract mobile phone? Sky TV? Annual holiday? Many people call these basics, I call them luxuries that the taxpayer shouldn't be paying for.

abouteve. I don't think being a SAHM is necessarily a lifestyle choice. I'm currently on maternity leave and if I return to work I will receive £3 a month after paying a childminder.

hi lenin! hope your return to work wasn't too traumatic.

BB/scaryteacher - I object to the lack of independence about it. If they want to link DH and I completely in terms of tax and let me transfer my personal allowance to him while I'm not working then that is a different matter - but a half and half is unacceptable.

I would be more willing to consider the loss of child benefit if there was some redress at the other end of the scale - eg paid for two children only from now on. So existing children would not lose the benefit, but if you know you have two now, you know that's it as far as future CB is concerned.

It is utter madness to expect someone on £45K to be noble about losing several thousand pounds whilst not curbing it for others.

thedollshouse you will still have a net benefit though won't you. Think about those of us who are single income households and single parents. I have to pay all my childcare costs out of one income and don't have a choice about whether to work or not. Imagine not having an income and having to pay all your childcare costs out of your dh's salary. That is what I have to do and now I won't get CB either.

thedollshouse surely if you and your husband split up he would have to pay you maintenance? Although I am not exactly happy about this change to CB, your solution does seem rather extreme.

Dollshouse, then it wouldn't be worth you returning to work. I would like to see investment in affordable, good quality childcare.

Ridiculous idea. Will be affected but only just.

It would be a lot better if there was a cap on how many DC's they would pay for. I think that they should only pay for the first 2 children. I am currently ttc3 by the way so that would include me too but a much fairer system.

Don't think there will be much investment in affordable childcare or anything else for the forseeable.

yes, can understand that, would be madness to lose that HRP.

Fwiw, when I was listening to him speak this morning, he said they had chosen this way of operating it (i.e. households with one HRT or both) because this was, for them, the simplest way of operating it without it being too costly in terms of administration.

I will be looking at our employees nearer the time, especially those earning near the threshold as it may make sense for some people to stay just under it rather than earning a £1 over it. If you are near that threshold in 2013, I would think it would be a good idea to discuss it with your employer :).

Another loss to the Homemaker household.

No really I dont mind losing £188/month, no I dont mind having to send my kids to crap state schools because I cant afford to educate them privately, no I dont mind working until I'm 113 because the state pension wont even keep me in socks and the company pension pot (to which I have contributed handsomely) got frittered away on early retirements.

What I do mind is any intimation that any of this was my fault. I wasnt here when politicians squandered the country's money on half baked, ill thought out schemes and projects.

I wasnt here for tax credits, free nursery places, maternity grants, children's bonds etc. I just seem to have arrived back in time to pay the bill.

I will pay because I dont have a choice but dont expect me to be happy about it.

"DP earns nothing but receives CB and gets her stamp paid, her future state pension should not be affected by what I do or don't earn. She is a citizen making a contribution to society in her own right."

Lenin - I'm in the same boat as your dp. My understanding is I could claim CB regardless of dh's income. But if he's a higher rate tax payer- he has to declare it on his tax return (and it will be deducted, in total, from him).

scaryteacher - "They don't (in theory) know my household income, as we are taxed separately.

Yes a very good practical point. How do they think they are going to know joint family income. Am I (the man of house) to start being legally obliged to report DW's income?

I do hope they will abolish the Portable Child Benefit available to EU citizens looking for work in the UK but who have children living in their own country.
Example: Polish man or woman can be actively looking for work in the UK have several children living in Poland and are entitled to claim UK child benefit. Could save a few million quid if this was abolished.

Chil1234 - so take away Cherie Blair's child benefit then - but don't pretend that this is the same as reducing a family's annual income by 5% when they earn £44K/year.

Gaelic 'the Tax payer' includes those claim CB if you pay tax and get a certain amount back to recognise the costs of raising a family (of future tax payers) I fail to see the problem with that - I do not get to choose where tax income goes (nuclear weapons, illegal wars, free schools whatever) the cb is least of the 'evils' imo.

Lenin - the NI contribution aspect is being protected.

If anyone is interested George Osborne is just about to take the stage at the Tory Party Conference in the next 20 mins.

You can probably watch him on Sky and Parliament Channel I think and no doubt it will be all over the news later.

" MollysChambers

Scottie04 - Have never supported Scottish independance in my life but how the hell are we being governed by a party which has been completely annihilated in Scotland? Even that greasy muppet Salmond would be preferable. Lets hope they remember the poll tax marchs...."

I wasn't going to mention the poll tax!!!! FOr that reason alone I will NEVER vote tory. I just dont't know what all the tory voters expected. Oh to be at home in Scotland and listen to all the anti -Tory banter!!!

I know whatever party got in would have to make cuts but the Tories are going about it HARD! I am sick to death of those who work having to pay for everything. Those who don't work (and know how the system works)pay for nothing and get everything.
Now to start looking for a part time job and DH to drop a few hours. There ain' t going to be much left for our kids.

thedollshouse "Money isn't more important but not having enough money to pay for the basics is intolerable"

If you can't afford the basics of food, heat and shelter when your DP is on HRT one of you must surely be on crack!