council tax band G & H to double

[StrawberryThief1930]

has anyone seen the rumours that the council tax rates for bands G and H are going to double?

I know everything is just rumours at the moment but im worried this one might stick. easy to implement in an existing system and doesn't require the revaluation of thousands of houses etc.

I'm about to buy a G band house. Seriously questioning whether we can afford it. The current council tax is £4k a year. so £8k a year. Over £300 a month more than we had budgeted. we have spreadsheets coming out of our ears trying to check we can afford this house. Buying with a 40% deposit. im sweating...

anyone have the same worries? or further thoughts?

And why do you suppose that is? There are some pointers at the bottom of the page.

my comment is based on health factors which social services naturally factor in

'I don't understand the current envy of different generations, it's really unhealthy'

It is unhealthy but, if you don't understand it, you should try to because there are very valid reasons for it.
Current middle aged and younger people are the first generations in hundreds of years who are and will continue to be poorer than their parents and grandparents. Despite this, the state spending and advantages have continued to mainly advantage the old and the wealthy. Young people are fully aware of this.

You don't actually think that SSs make these decisions mainly based on health needs?! If funding is needed, they will always take the cheapest option. Councils do not have the £££ needed as you surely must realise.

The triple lock was introduced after years of the state pension not keeping up with the cost of living.

Currently it stands at half the full time minimum wage

The Triple Lick is

• Not always a full guarantee: While the triple lock aims to keep pensions in line with costs, the State Pension alone is often not enough for a comfortable retirement. It is intended as a foundation upon which individuals build with other savings and investments.

Annual cost estimates for 2025
Lifestyle Single Person / couple

Minimum required
£13,400 single
£21,600 couple

Moderate
£31,700 s
£43,900 c

Comfortable
£43,900 s
£60,600 c

A single person on a full state pension does not meet the minimum. ( These figures assume no housing/ rental costs )

Your post doesn't make sense. Do you mean that the houses on either sold of you are being sold to pay for care? Who do you think will buy them? Are you suggesting that it is unfair that people with expensive assets should pay for a service that they need? If so, who do you think should be paying it so that their children can inherit lots of £££ instead?

Not a fan of democracy then @RosesAndHellebores?
It's shocking to see how selfish and entitled some wealthy pensioners are. This attitude is part of the problem in the UK.

Of course they don’t but that doesn’t negate the fact that it is better for people to stay in their own homes
Better for them from a health perspective

You do know the adult social care budget is for all adults ie 18plus

Everyone needs the services
We all benefit from the police and street lighting
Its not exclusive to just some people in some homes
We all benefit equally over our lifetime

By this logic, presumably you are in favour of above inflation increases on at least some benefits, especially for those under 25. 😂

The state pension was never meant to provide anything more than the basics. People should have saved up and many (although not all) were in a very good position to do so. Salaries were considerably better compared to the cost of basic things such as housing, people could afford homes, frequently on one wage, jobs tended to be more stable, there was no student debt and most could get a decent job with few qualifications, the stock market has boomed for 40 years.
The triple lock is clearly unaffordable because of current demographics and debt problems. I expect the inevitable (its removal) will only happen during a crisis because all parties are frightened of the revolutionary OAPs!

Yeah, I agree. It's the same sense of entitlement that makes people refuse to work more than 16 hpw to protect their benefits. I didn't get wealthy by working 16hpw but every penny I've earnt has been taxed to the hilt whilst those who can but won't work are subsidised.

Sometimes it's better, sometimes not. It depends on the individual circumstance but this isn't really relevant to the other poster's point that those who can afford care should pay for it.

Budget breakdown of Adult Social care

That's called a straw man argument.
It's not all about you and how hard you think you worked.

I think you meant to quote a different post.

Actually, it's a fact. And no I don't think benefits for under 25s should be triple locked in the same way as pensions are for people older than 65 and rising. The under 25s can work and work hard, peoviding no disabilities. Find me a British cleaner in the south east. £17.50ph.

Yes I see where you are coming from

people with properties however modest being used as cash cows

See the budget breakdown
Care homes are only necessary if the health and safety of a person at home can’t be achieved

That pp obviously didn’t know that if you can pay you do pay and in fact
that poster clearly didn’t know the average paying person in care subsidies the random person in the rooms next door ( not paying from their savings or assetts ) on average over £10k a year!
Yep
Paying directly from their assets yet again.

Again, this isn't about you and how hard you think you have worked and how lazy others are. At present, there is still some semblance of democracy, which you don't seem to believe in, and we live in something called a society.

Who is being used as a cash cow? You do know that this policy hasn't been confirmed right? The opposite is true, in fact. Those who have benefitted greatly from unearned, asset price inflation have been positively discriminated against. Middle class workers on PAYE have been heavily penalised and taxed more and more.

I personally know several people who’ve played the 16h per week scam. I very much doubt any of the Labour cabinet know people like that - not the type to frequent their Islington kitchen suppers.

You weren't talking about necessity. You were suggesting that decisions by SS are made on the basis of health needs.
I struggle to sympathise with these sort of posts from (mainly) older, well off people. Why would someone with the benefit of plenty of £££ feel jealous of someone with none? I would far rather by wealthy, own an expensive house, have the great benefit of choosing my care if needed when I am older rather than the opposite.

I think it is more nuanced tbh

good on them

A democracy means people can vote governments out. We do indeed comprise a Society. Society means helping those with very little and that includes pensioners struggling on £12k per annum.

Agree
That 16hours needs to be increased to 30
Thats 30 hours per person and not to be shared between a couple
The hours then are in line with free childcare hours and more akin to a full working week
Ive never heard of 16 hours for a couple equaling a full working week, it’s ridiculous and no wonder the UC bill is so high

Ive never worked, and still don’t, so little.