Waiting with baited breath! What will the chancellor do with CB on Wednesday.

[chickydoo]

Probably been done to death, but holding my breath to see what the budget will bring for child benefit on Weds? Will there be a U turn?
What do you think will happen?

Ideally, i'd love to see it scrapped as nobody should be given extra money for a child they chose to have. if it has to stay it should be universal, why penalise those who are responsible and financially support any children they chose to have and reward those who believe the state should pay for their choices.

so if I can prove that my contraception failed I could still claim CB then?

I think it will be as originally stated. They aren't going to means test, and they aren't going to do a u-turn and go back to univerality. I reckon it will be along the lines of 'having looked at all options, and whilst we are aware of certain inconsistencies and problems, we have decided that the only way to deal with this is to remove it from higher rate tax payers, because we think it is fair and right to ask the best off in society (!) to contribute to dealing with the massive deficit left by the last government' and , but that's my bet.

I think all of this 're-examining' it has been a sop so that when they do exactly as planned they can say that they did look at other options but found them unworkable.

They'll implement it as they couldn't care less about people less well off than they are.

I don't think there'll be a u-turn worst luck.

I'm more worried my pay will be cut by 18%.

But they'll scrap the 50% tax rate for their rich mates earning over 150k a year.

I think it will remain as planned. It's not fairly done, but I don't really think they care about that.

He looked quite smug about it on Andrew Marr yesterday so I think something has changed from the initial announcement

They're not going to change the plan. :(

I wouldn't mind so much if it was going to go to parents with disabled children. But no, they'll use the money to cut the 50% rate tax. "We're all in it together" if you have a whole family on 42K, but if you're single and on 152K then you're a close friend of the politicians you really need the money to keep the economy going.

The lack of empathy is astounding. 'Sam doesn't need it, so I can't see why any of the rest of you do' - as if that cunt has ever lived on the princely sum of £42K a year, or would begin to know how to.

I honestly feel such hatred towards them all I would happily throw an egg at him if I saw him and thats not like me. Clegg or CallmeDave but ideally CallmeDave.

Thing is they can't implement it without changing a load of bureaucratic systems at vast expense. Changing the fundamental idea of independent taxation in the UK. etc etc

So I have no idea what they're going to say.

And of course it is utterly illogical anyway, to give it to people who are better off. I can't understand how any rational person could even consider bringing in such an irrational change. Hmm.

I don't think this will happen for a second but my personal preference would be to scrap CB entirely and beef up CTC instead. CTC is based on family income rather than personal taxation which would get around the famous anomaly and families on a low income would continue to get help.

MrsTittle thank you wrt to disabled children; sadly we will lose £25 PW on disability tax credits from April, quite the opposite of help!

Whilst the changes to CB don't affect us (yet) the way it has been done is incredibly wrong. I support universailiity with CB because of it's original purpose which is still valid, especially perhaps in these stressful times- more women ARE losing their independence as a result of how the cuts are falling. I also think that when you consider the costs of reducing incomes in terms of homelessness, education, health etc the amount saved is likely to cost more.

Even HMofOne knows that life isn't all plain sailing and that plenty of people lose incomes after having their families, if they lose one of two incomes and only the HR one remains chances are their existing mortgage will be high, their house hard to sell and they no more chose the income loss than anyone 3else.

It also minimises options to move forwards; the cuts to the TC mean it will take me a few months longer to launch my website to bring in work, and launching my business at all ahs been delayed by rising costs. The opposite of what we need in a struggling economy. keep cash circulating FGS!

This is worrying me a lot. We agonized over whether or not we could afford to have a third child and we rely on our child benefit now as I cut my hours (used to work part time for an employer and part time for myself and now just work for myself) to cope with three children. I have no grandma/auntie around the corner to help in anyway and a husband with a demanding job so working more hours would be incredibly difficult both practically and I cannot magic my business to provide me with an extra days work from tomorrow. So it is fine saying that people shouldn't have children they can't afford but we made a decision based on the income we had coming in and not on the possibility that some lying coalition government would go back on their promises pre election not to touch child benefit !!!!

I had a feeling right from the beginning that it was all hot air and that they didn't really intend to do it. I don't think personally that anyone with a household income of more than 42K needs it but I wouldn't know as I've never had anywhere near that income level. Why say it and not actually bring it in.

I am aware that people say they desperately need it but lots of people are taking a hit.

Will watch with interest.

'Thing is they can't implement it without changing a load of bureaucratic systems at vast expense. Changing the fundamental idea of independent taxation in the UK. etc etc' Exactly; they are also not taking from the HRT; my husband doesn't get it - I do. I have no income and am reliant on dh's income because HM Forces has posted him abroad since 2004, and we moved to join him in 2006.

I think it will come in in some form, but prob higher threshold or some stupid tapering. Bet they wish theys never started it.

There has also not been even a whisper of how they are going to protect pensions for people who take time out of employment to bring up children.

Which is a bit troubling.

I think it's both unworkable and electoral suicide with their core votesrs so if they have any sense will be scrapped.

Big if obviously.

THey're going to stop pretending.

All the money we earn is going to be taken off us and we're going to get pocket money to spend on British goods from BRitish shops, to get the economy moving again.

Only people who can trace their lineage back at least 200 years will be allowed to have children.

I am not a higher rate tax earner and so will continue to claim it. Women have not been taxed as a chatel of their partners for over 30 years ! Also, if you don't work when kids are young, claiming CB means your pension bit of NI is protected so women will not get that. It is legally none of my business what my hubbie earns, and the CB is paid to me, so the Chancellor can go whistle.
End of rant

Sardine- they also won't answer the HRP for carers after Universal Credit come in.

Also rather scary.

Astro i can trace my lineage back to the 1600's so am I safe?

They were a bunch of drunken losers but they did have limnks with the monarchy so pretty much the same as a politician

I reckon, Sancti!

My grandfather's mother was apparently always on the ships when she arrived in the nw with her 13 children, but no one ever saw him.... I can't even trace my family back 100 years!