The budget will be 'painful'

[darada]

We're going to get absolutely bent over a barrel aren't we?

I fear the middle classes are going to be hit hardest because the poor don't pay that much (not unreasonably) and the very rich have access to accountants, lawyers and advisers and therefore will wriggle out of having to really pay.

I don't mind paying my fair share but I fear we're going to be squeezed and the money is going to be wasted a lot of it.

Anyone else feel a tad dispirited like me?

They might pay something but I'm not convinced it's a fair proportion of their UK takings and profit.

@Echo21 My bet is on pension relief being cut, perhaps changes to triple lock, capital gains tax, isa allowance.

That. Don't think they'll abolish the triple lock but they could adjust it as was done when it's effect was distorted when wages went down in the pandemic - nil effect on the lock - but recovered which counted.

We're on a death spiral towards a failed society. We've also just gone through a period of wealth destruction re inflation. We're poorer today on average than in 2010. We can't be all things to all people. Do less with less, and if that means the feckless are in trouble so be it. Take some responsibility in your life, this isn't a socialist communist country...yet

I think eg. Amazon pay a pittance of what they should, which is part of the reason town centres are dying. I think eg. water authorities turning huge profits for shareholders while refusing to invest in infra structure which in turn leads to the horrendous pollution of our rivers and beaches should be taxed proportionate to the damage they cause. I think power companies making the sort of profits they have made these last two years are iniquitous.
Of course I don't think they don't pay anything.

I think eg. Amazon pay a pittance of what they should, which is part of the reason town centres are dying

Absolutely. Although these are off shore entities, surely a delivery tax for instance could be brought in, funding lower shop floor rents or rates for our dying high streets. The playing field needs levelling somehow.

What on earth do you think they’re getting? I have a family member who is so anxious that he can very rarely leave the house. I can absolutely assure you that he’s skint.

I don’t want to see private landlords choked off entirely. I worked in London for a couple of years in my youth, had no intention of staying a long time, buying wasn’t on my radar and I didn’t need to permanence of social housing. Having some sort of private rental helps with working force mobility but I agree things are a mess at the moment. Where I live, loads of flats in areas that were popular with first time buyers and young families are now holiday lets.

I don't get the hate for the disabled. If that's a popular view then what hope do we have 😔

Many people only rent because there is fuck all to buy. A cash rich property owner often gets first dibs being in a better position. Once you are renting it's very hard to actually get on the ladder.

Disability benefits HAVE gotten out of hand, but not for those who genuinely need it. I know a couple who are both claiming PIP for a "hidden disability" and are able to claim additional benefits as carers for each other. How does that work?! Don't get me wrong, I don't envy anyone having to rely on benefits because in general they are an absolute pittance. Those working the system really need to be cracked down on.

Absolutely agree! I’ve been thinking how unfair this is and nothing is done about it.

I don’t think it’s hate for the genuinely disabled, but for those milking the system

That's a very very tiny percentage. We should be making it easier for those disabled to access the system. We see so many refusals are overturned at tribunal. Really if you start a thread on here asking (genuinely) for those with experience you'll find out more.

Its just a convenient bogeyman to blame rather than address injustice and inequality (like "foreigners."..)

The key for prosperity in this country really doesn’t lie in clawing back what people perceive as ill founded disability claims.

Those that believe that have just drunk the scape goat kool aid.

The key to prosperity and a happier country in general is decreasing the wealth imbalance and using taxation on those that can burden it (billionaires) help achieve that.

because it was already taxed the first time around when the home-owners paid for it with their income (which was taxed). Why should it be taxed a second time?

I think they'll come up with some sort of triple lock light. Just float the idea out there maybe not this budget but soon.

My grandparents cared for each other. They both had different needs.

Well I doubted their 'fully funded, fully costed', no taxes spiel pre GE but yes

Not surprising but still depressing

...these 2 are claiming for the exact same condition.

Ah right. Still. Maybe it affects them differently

Three out of four members of my sister in law’s family claim disability benefits. One for anxiety, one for diabetes and one for a child with high functioning autism. She works in a low paid job (despite her anxiety), he sits on his arse all day playing video games. They get takeaways several times a week, always have latest gadgets and games, go on holidays (in the UK) frequently. They are absolutely not skint and their disability payments are not needed to cover any specific disability related expenses. They play the system because the system allows them to.

But YOU are a different person who has not paid tax.

If we went by your argument, every time you paid for a service or a product, the person providing that service or making that product shouldn't have to pay tax because you already have.

How can they take a pension if you've earned the pension credits already and have been told for years why you need a certain number?

Arguably people who think all disability benefits claimants are all honest people or who think just because you have a disability means you need to be given free money, have also drunk some Kool Aid.

I don’t disagree that wealth imbalance should be addressed but I’ve concluded it’ll never happen.