Cap on benefits to 26k- am I missing something?

[buggyRunner]

As far as I can gather it's the normal benefits ie housing/ cb and wtc. This seems like a large sum. Is it accross the board or does it include disability related benefits? Are the figures misleading?

I just love the way the politics of envy have taken on a whole new meaning lately. Everyone is just spitting feathers that those with the least in society should have anything at all. It's a very odd phenomenon.

The 'free' housing is a red herring.

It's the amounts of disposable income after rent and council tax have been paid.

Based on the example that HuntyCat gave after rent and council tax have been paid the lone parent and his / her children have £22, 120.44 to live on )+ as I said all the free prescriptions, meals, dental care etc)

That is a huge amount NET and goodness knows what you'd need to earn GROSS to end up with £22K.

There can't be many jobs that leave you with £22k NET after you've paid housing costs and council tax.

It's a huge amount.

It's far too much.

I don't see anyone saying that people shouldn't have anything. They are saying that people who don't work but are capable of working shouldn't have more than people who do work. That's all.

carernotasaint before my dad died, my mum was his carer & i used work all the time, visit my parents & look after them.

& 6 foot of floppy paralysed DF who refuses to used a lifting sling is a bit shit.

the state did fuck all for us (including the NHS)

Zephi Exactly!

Scarletbanner, Zephi its because there is zero social unity. & i mean that in both all directions.

pretty much everyone seems to be fighting their own corner. & thats it.

Londonone we are NOT allowed to have work carried out ourselves. IT IS A BREACH OF THE TENANCY AGREEMENT.

Absolutely, Zephi.

It's come to something when the convenient whipping boys, teachers, are second hate objects to the indigent.

And for those of you who think the correction is a long time coming, think of the many righteous who'll be dragged down for the sake of the fewer sinners. Any humane system will have those who are unjustly carried, because of the benefits to the mass. Think of CB, for instance.

I wonder what the figure is for unclaimed benefits. Not heard that aired for some time.

The projected figure for savings via the cap over 3 years is 51m pounds. Not very much.

You are right RealTilly. It seems to be Im Alright Jack and fuck everyone else.
Or "im seething with resentment because Joe Bloggs down the road is getting something im not"

Until I read Hunty's example I hadn't realised quite how generous benefits were. 1800 A MONTH AFTER RENT and CTAX. WTF?? Obviously in Hunty's case there are disabilty issues that have been badly dealt with and IMO Hunty should prob receive a similar amount but that should be because of the caring/disability needs in the family.

The idea that that amount is/was on offer to families without additional needs beggars belief.

carer - well that is one of the disadvantages of living in subsidised housing then

yes carer - lots of grass is greener, not just different. different troubles.

From what I have read on here in the past, the figure for unclaimed benefits is very high.

But all that tells me is that the benefits on offer are too generous, because if people really needed more they would fight to get what they are entitled too. But clearly they don't need more.

I'm sure there are t hose that for whatever reason can't make the effort to claim, but I very much doubt that counts for the whole figure.

WetAugust. While the figures may SEEM astonishing - I DEFY you to find an NHS dentist even for CHILDREN in my PCT. I have to pay for a private dental check once a year for each of my dc. Or they don't get one. Free prescriptions are only of use if your local PCT is willing (or has the money) to prescribe you the medication and equipment you need. Mine isn't - I need to find £300 for a Nebuliser for my DS2, I have to pay for my own IBS medication, I have to pay for DS3's excema cream.

YES I get FSM's - but not for DS1 because he is coeliac, and my LEA refuse to fund GF food, OR ensure that there is no risk of cross-contamination in the school kitchen, therefore I have to send him in with a packed lunch. DS2 has Autism and has sensory issues wrt food, and doesn't EAT the meals provided. So I have to provide him with a packed lunch too. DD copes with what is available on FSM's, but only since she has been in Secondary school.

Then our water bills are HUGE. I actively research as many ways to save water as I can. For starters, no-one in the house except DS3 (due to his excema) has a bath more than once a week. We strip-wash the rest of the time. In this way, by water-saving, I have managed to get my water bill DOWN to £30-£40 a month. Most people with 2/3+ dc here pay double that.

And I'm glad I'm NOT in the South-West. The rent may be cheaper, but that is all eaten up by JUST HOW DEAR their water bills are.

I MOST DEFINATELY do not have the sort of disposable income you are talking about. If I did, then I wouldn't be worrying about the fact that my DS1 has ALREADY grown out of the school uniform that I bought him in September. I know SOME areas have uniform grants - but my county doesn't, and hasn't for at LEAST the last 7 years. He has grown an inch and a half since September. And I can't even pass the trousers down, as he has gone through the knees playing footy in the playground on all but one pair. That are swinging around his ankles.

Maybe I am budgetting wrongly? Because I can't cut anything from my budget that I can see. And I've spent WEEKS going over it. Short of not paying the bus fares to get my dc to school, or not paying my gas or electric (which is on a key meter, so no money=no gas/electric), or not EATING one/two days a week, or not CLOTHING the dc or myself, I have no idea!

I've only got waterproof winter boots because a kind MN'er donated them to me. I'd rather spend the money making sure that the dc have warm, dry clothing. And nutricious food. And heat and light. And books. Books are essential IMO.

i think lots of people think its fine on benefits if you get X when its not. or its fine if you have a job &/or a good income , when all it actually means is that: you have a job earning Y.

Costs LESS to buy a book from the second-hand bit at the pre-school than the bus fare to the nearest library. Costs twenty pence a book there. Bus fare to the library is £10 when I take the dc. Then ANOTHER £10 when they return the books. Disposable income my arse!

IUseTooMuchKitchenRoll unclaimed benefits is a sign of a complex system not a generous one.

I'm sure it is complex, but I think people would deal with the complexities if they really needed to.

IUseTooMuchKitchenRoll do you really think that?

Hunty - Given the fact that many of the things that eat up your income are related to your and the childrens SNs, do you not agree that for a person in your situation, but WITHOUT any of the disability/caring issues, it would be a generous sum.

Im in Essex too. South East and its frickin expensive.

Is the 26k they are referring to before or after tax? £500 a week! Seriously?! That's more than me and dh earned together after tax when me and dh were working!! I'm now at home due to the kids disability. We really struggled to live but we did and managed to pay for the mortgage, council tax, water, normal household stuff and run 2 cars!
I get that it needs to be more if your getting HB in London as rents are so high but hell!!

The news tonight said 67,000 families will be effected, BUT when you consider how many claim benefits, it seems low.

The government seem to be picking on the small and vulnerable groups, when in fact they should look at the highest earners first!

That's the point I made repeatedly Londonone - it's not about any particular family who has disbaled members.

£22K after CT and rent is the amount that Hunty quoted as disposable income.

That's what I find astonishing. Many people I work with don't earn that much - they are on about £18K GROSS.

but you cannot say: 18k for working v. 26k for non working

to compare you would need to need to add the top up benefits the family on 18k were getting and compare their total income against 26k.

Yes, I do. But I'd be prepared to listen if you could tell me otherwise.

Except I'm going to bed now so I'll listen tomorrow.