Anyone not using their child benefit yet?

[arabicabean]

Hi,

I'am a first time mum and have recently started receiving child benefit. I was interested in whether others were using theirs? Mine is paid into a new account I opened and its kind of exciting getting the monthly statements. Are you using yours yet or just watching it accumulate?

expat- Dh has been here since 2002, I came end of 2003, so as his spouse I get permanent residency linked to his HSMP, our son can apply for citizenship immediately as he was born here. See how things can be misinterpreted by lack of personal interaction.

I feel, coming from a third world country, in England everything is available on tap, don't see why one person gets flamed for mentioning a number that happens to be a big deal, which seems to 90% of the population or is that just 90% of mumsnet population?

oh jeez, no need for a flamathon, surely?

my SIL is a fab mum and all-round lovely person. she's also the person who last week said with a completley straight face that she and my bro had yet to find a house to buy because "£3m really doesnt get you much." Anyhoos, when we were both preg with our pfbs she chatted to me about saving the CB in the CTF for dd when she was older and i swear i almost screamed and ran out of room as twas quite an insenstive thing to say to poor-pants us. but you know what i just shut the f* up, because she just does not know and there is no malice there. i think the op's insensitivity was well and truly brought to everyone's attention by page 3 so lets just leave it.

and for the record i'm thinking long term with mine and have a rolling investment of 62 scratch cards a month.

LOL at poor Fio and her polecat pleas

Mine gets spent on paprika flavoured Cracky Snacks from Lidl.

just making a point that not only poor people (or whatever you prefer as politically correct) suffers.

I too think the OP doesn't ring true!
It's like starting a thread saying,'Hi, I'm new to MN and I was just wondering how you all like to be shagged!

Even Xenia wouldn't be on here saying £18 is loose change!

We don't need it and put it into an account. IMO, it's a disgrace that is isn't means tested. Thousands of M/C families up and down the country are using it simply to bolster the savings accounts of their already priviledged offspring.
When MN interviewed David Cameron, that was my question to him but it wasn't used.

I think the OP deserves a flaming for being so dim. She's saving up the child benefit to spend on something nice for herself. She resents paying tax in this country, but chooses to live here. She has enough money for £80 a month not to make a difference. I don't resent her her income, but I do feel unusually aggravated by her insensitivity. And those who are so keen to defend her.

How would you means test it, though? At what household income would you cut it off?

Means testing costs an absolute fortune to administer so probably wouldn't save that much money. Also, as littlemydancing says, CB is a way of HMRC knowing that you have a child.

Well, there in lies the problem. There's no point denying it to couples earning, say 40k pa who are both working full time and struggling to pay stupidly high childcare costs.

I don't know what the answer is. But couples like DH and I don't need it. He earns a 6figure salary and I spend £200pw in Waitrose without blinking. I have a friend whose company (she works for)accidently didn't pay her for 2months. She didn't even notice!!! I'm telling you this to show why it should be means tested. I have no idea of the logistics. It's just that when I was growing up, family allowance day was the day we ate well so I know how vital it is to many, many families.

My husband earns a six figure salary too but I use our child benefit on the children.And it does get spent,every month,because that is what it is for imo.
Agree re op,but I think many people in this countryhave no idea how other people manage financially,and what is money needed for essentials in many households may get spent on other less essential things in others,as eveyone has different ideas about what constitutes'essentials'
The money is for the child,and should be spent on whatever will make a difference to each individual family.

Actually it was a general interest in whether other new mums were using it or just letting it accumulate. I was not asking for anyone's expenditure details. I had absolutely no idea that £18 a week was such a significant amount. If I had, there would have been no need for my query. I think I have a better understanding of MN demographics now. Thank you.
As for spending it on myself, it bears no relation to what I spend on the baby, he will not suffer.

I didn't think you were denying your child anything by saving it up for yourself. As you have already reiterated you also spend a shed load on baby, without the need to draw on the CB.

Still think you are a stirring troll.

Well your last post clearly shows that you know absolutely nothing about MN demographics.
Just for your information, the demographics of MN is very much that of liberal, easygoing wit, regardless of financial circumstances. There are plenty of mums on here who are far more well-heeled than you dear but they give weaning/potty training advice just the same.
Potter off now, there's a good girl!

I dont know how any of you are managing to get chb paid DIRECTLY into a childs account. I used to work there and this was never allowed and I have just checked the website to see if the rules have changed. Having this benefit paid into a childs account does not appear to be an option. Please could someone enlighten me.

From HM Revenue & Customs website :

'Child Benefit can be paid into any bank, building society, or National Savings & Investments (NS&I) account that accepts Direct Payment. '

My CB is paid into my DS buildng society young savers account has been for the past 7 years.

Quite straight forward really .

No, we weren't allowed to do this. We have it paid into our current account then the following day a DD transfers the exact amount into the DCs accounts. (50% into each despite DS technically getting more)

Thanks Captain - must have changed since I worked there.

That must have changed then.

Or maybe not!

we have it put into our current account.

but DLA can be put into an ISA.

I was told it can be paid into any of those bank accounts as long as they are in the nominated carers name. I was specifically told it could not be paid into the child's account.

I always knew it could be paid into any account that accepts direct payment (but not direcctly to the child).

Well the account is a young savers account but of course our names are on the account as well as someone must be able to sign withdrawals etc ( a bit diffciult when you are a baby )

myredcardigan to quote you "Just for your information, the demographics of MN is very much that of liberal, easygoing wit, regardless of financial circumstances."

Your last posting is a shining example.

Good night, I think there is no more to say on the subject.