do you claim your child benefit even if you don't 'need' it?

[elportodelgato]

Just interested. We don't really need CB, it doesn't get spent on everyday essentials, it goes into a nice savings account for DD for when she's older. I personally think CB should be means tested and therefore not made available to people (like me) who don't need it. But while it's available to everyone, it's legitimate free money so why not? Does anyone disagree?

Claimed and donated to charity

Starbucks - I just set up a stakeholder account with the Yorkshire that estimates my DS will have £10k on his 18th based on monthly contributions of £28 a month. Obviously inflation will no dounbt eat into that, but it's nice to know that quite a small monthly amount will have an impact on your childs life - provided you bring them up to understand the value of money of course.

Regarding tax credits; you can claim them (or could, until labour lost power) up until you had a joint income of something like £66k, I believe. I think I was also very luck with dates (tax year). If DW goes back to work after 9 months (instead of the 12 I said she would be off), then I may have to pay some back.

Last years earnings (april 2009-april 2010) were me: £40k, DW £16K

Back on topic though; based on the fact child benefit is handed out multiple times to the workshy when they make no effort to get a job and already have too many kids they can't support, I strongly believe that the people that earn a living and pay their taxes should also be entitled to it!

i needed it when mine was little, and now he's a teenager, it goes into his current account for bus fares etc (just starting college). put it in an account for them-or donate it to a children's charity if you are really flush!

i put it into an account for my heroin

Of course! the whole point is it is a universal benefit not a means tested one - i.e. for everyone

lol, just read custardo's post!

isnt means tested.is universal benefit

oooh stating the obvious there

and,fact is fact.in fact is obvious even to hard of thinking

Okaaaay!

i think she called mem a deaf albino - racist.

who is mem is that your spesh pal?nice

For those who asked. I give quite a substantial stash to charity anyway. And I support my mother and any family who need assistance. I can do that without CB.

I wouldn't offer my CB to someone who was short of cash - I don't begin to know how I could have that converstaion without totally offending them.

If I give money to charity then some of that goes in admin charges. And I am just uncomfortable actively claiming for something I don't need.

I don't think anyone else should do the same. I am not sure why people seem to think I am doing something wrong

I think you are in a lose lose situation, if you DID claim it people would complain about that too!

I work but for a very low wage so rely on my working tax credits and cb to pay the bills etc.
I think i would still claim even if I didn't need it though.
I feel bad for my ds that I don't put it all into a savings account for him.
Interesting though 2010dad about the stakeholders account , will look into that as i think I could manage putting £28 a month away for ds.

I do claim and put use it to top up my dcs' child trust fund.

I pay my taxes, I am entitled to that benefit. Although I don't need it, I see that as my dcs' money and not for me to turn down on principle.

I am suprised people claim child benefit,and then give it away.For us it gets spent on food etc.It is not a lot of money but I certainly would not give it away.

It either pays for shoes for ds, or goes into his saving for uni account. It also provides my HRP as we are abroad with HM Forces and as long as we are here, and we get CB my HRP will be paid, even though ds is over 12.

Historically, it has not been means tested because it was always paid directly to the mother, to make sure the children actually benefitted from it, as there was a problem with feckless fathers spending it all on booze if benefits are paid to the father. It is still the only benefit that is paid directly to the mother. Means testing would mean that families with high earning fathers would not get it but som fathers would spend all their earnings on themselves and not give their woves enough money to feed the kids. Not so much of an issue today, but still something to think about.

"wives" that is!

We use ours to save for the DC for university, as we won't be able to afford to support them/pay all their fees. I see nothing wrong with doing this - it's for them and pays for something we can't afford otherwise (£15k per child, per year, for 3 years each - out of taxed income), even though we are high earners.

And all those saying it should be means tested - do you feel the same way about the state pension? That's the only other universal benefit. And we all pay for it through our NI.

Mind you, wouldn't be at all surprised if the government are already looking at means-testing the state pension as well.

"i put it into an account for my heroin"

Dont laugh- I know a pensioner who spends his winter fuel allowance on brandy

We'e always claimed it regardless of wether working or not.
It generally goes on shoes and towards birthdays and now 1 weeks payment a month goes into the CTF and bank accounts for when they are older.
We have come to rely onm it which is annoying but it is there to claim and is for everyone so we accept it

I really disagree that it should be means tested - it should just be taxed back off people who don't need it (as currently).

Universal benefits are among the most cost effective in terms of administration and fraud, and have the highest take up (unclaimed benefits are a huge problem among the most needy groups because the systems are so complicated and those most vulnerable are unable to negotiate them).

Universal benefits have also been shown to have a very positive effect on how people feel about the welfare state - more inclusive systems make people feel more positive about paying taxes and contributing to the system - the idea that there is something in it for everyone, not just money flowing one way.

Claim it. Use it on DS. DH (and I will when back off mat leave) pay far more into the system, it's more of a tax break to get a bit back.

However, if it was more like in my mum's day and I had to go to all the effort of queuing up in the Post Office on a Saturday morning to get it, I probably wouldn't bother. As long as it just arrives in my account without thinking about it, then I'll continue to claim. There's a lot to be said for making you go and claim every week (or every 4 weeks or so) to see if people actually need enough to go to the bother.