I Can't See What Is Wrong With This
By Janey1966
@Janey1966 (24170)
Carlisle, England
October 4, 2010 8:22pm CST
In my opinion, it's about time the richest in society had benefits withdrawn. I find it obscene that certain factions of the media think that parents earning £75,000 between them are virtually on the poverty line. It's ridiculous..and anyway these reforms won't come into force until 2013 anyway. I don't know why everyone is so tetchy about it.
At least Ed Balls from Labour said that he realised that most people in "Middle England" earned no more than about £22,000 a year and he's right too. My husband falls into that bracket..and we don't have kids and struggle to get by. So parents (or one parent) earning this money aren't going to be affected by the Coalition's reforms, which is fair, in my view.
I find it really odd that posh parents are up in arms about not getting Child Benefit in future. Well, they should sell their "Chelsea Tractors" (4x4's) then. In London they're only used for school runs anyway!
http://uk.news.yahoo.com/5/20101004/tuk-osborne-scraps-child-benefit-for-hig-45dbed5.html
At least Ed Balls from Labour said that he realised that most people in "Middle England" earned no more than about £22,000 a year and he's right too. My husband falls into that bracket..and we don't have kids and struggle to get by. So parents (or one parent) earning this money aren't going to be affected by the Coalition's reforms, which is fair, in my view.
I find it really odd that posh parents are up in arms about not getting Child Benefit in future. Well, they should sell their "Chelsea Tractors" (4x4's) then. In London they're only used for school runs anyway!
http://uk.news.yahoo.com/5/20101004/tuk-osborne-scraps-child-benefit-for-hig-45dbed5.html3 people like this
7 responses
@RawBill1 (8531)
• Gold Coast, Australia
5 Oct 10
I think it is fair enough that these people who are earning that much should not get any extra benefits from the government. We earn no where near that much and we do not claim any child payments through the government anymore. We used to, but then we earned a bit more than previous years last time and had to pay them back thousands come tax time. So we decided to not claim it at all anymore and hopefully this will make it easier on us at tax time. 75,000 pounds equates to over $200,000 here. That is a massive amount of money to be earning each year!
I wish I was earning that!
I wish I was earning that! @Janey1966 (24170)
• Carlisle, England
6 Oct 10
Well, at least a new poll has indicated that over 80% of people are in favour of these new proposals so I reckon it's the media (yet again) creating this storm. I wish they'd stop it!
@RawBill1 (8531)
• Gold Coast, Australia
6 Oct 10
The media are to blame for a lot of things. They beat up stories so badly that people go running around scared and stressed over nothing half the time. One reason why I never watch the TV news or buy newspapers!
@Janey1966 (24170)
• Carlisle, England
7 Oct 10
Newspapers in particular can be very damaging. I don't mind the "under cover" stuff they do, especially in relation to animals. When I was younger I supported many a campaign to release dolphins from parks in this country..which, thanks to Labour, are now banned. This is why I shall never, ever vote for anyone else. Sure, they have their weaknesses, all parties do, but Labour do try to change things for animals and people less well off, whereas the others don't give a sh*t really!
If you scroll down you will see a link that will tell you all you need to know about the Tories and LibDems over here. The latter party, in particular, would never get anything done if they were in power on their own as they aren't capable of agreeing on stuff. They get in the way, rather than to help. "Hot air and no action"..it should be their new slogan!!
If you scroll down you will see a link that will tell you all you need to know about the Tories and LibDems over here. The latter party, in particular, would never get anything done if they were in power on their own as they aren't capable of agreeing on stuff. They get in the way, rather than to help. "Hot air and no action"..it should be their new slogan!!
@thedailyclick (3017)
•
5 Oct 10
Politics, Politicians and Government – pah
I’ve not looked into this child benefit changes properly because quite frankly they don’t affect me. But from what I garnered from the news on it that the scheme is flawed. If you take a traditional family unit of two parents, the minute one of them individually earns over £44,000 they lose benefits, which personally I don’t see a problem with. But if both the parents earn individually less that £44,000 but combined more they will still get the benefits which to be honest is a friggin joke.
The trouble is that a certain aspect of society deems poverty as not be able to buy their children the latest toy, the newest games machine and really don’t understand what living life p!ss poor really feels likes. I don’t begrudge them the money they earn but they need to understand that depriving a child of a new toy because they don’t get child benefit isn’t really a hardship.
@Janey1966 (24170)
• Carlisle, England
5 Oct 10
And some don't even use Child Benefit on their kids anyway..it's extra income for them. I find that sad too.
@bobmnu (8157)
• United States
5 Oct 10
I am one of those that many would consider rich. For the past several years my family has volunteered to help with a Christmas Food basket project. We provide a food basket and presents for the family at Christmas. We work at various projects to rise money and we donate every year to help the cause. For many of the people this is their Christmas. Every year we have several people who are not satisfied with the presents available (we ask each family to fill out a sheet with what the children want and their sizes). There are always some who state on the sheet that they want a name brand clothing or the most popular toy or a very expensive gift (Game Boys, X Boxes etc) and are upset when they don't get them. It seems that every years there are a few who demand more and tell us that they are entitled to something better. One lady demanded that we give her 18 years old son his own food basket and a gift card so he could shop for him self, because he did not like what was available. She told us that he was 18 and entitled to his own package even though we give one to the family. Every year we have several people from other communities who want to receive a package (food basket and gifts). They become upset when we tell them that they have to go to their community. Most reply that they have been there but want more so they drive around to the different communities looking for the free packages.
While these people are not the majority they are also not isolated cases. I would say the majority of the people we serve come back each year and they have come to expect it at Christmas time. What is disappointing is the number who thank us for what we have done for them. One thank you or this is wonderful does a lot for the people who are working there. Those comments are becoming fewer and fewer each year.
@rogue13xmen13 (14403)
• United States
5 Oct 10
That is not below the poverty line. Here in the U.S. if you make $50,000 to $75,000 a year, you are working middle class, if you make under $50,000 a year, then you are close to the poverty line. I think that it's ridiculous, but this is how society works. People are dictated by societal standards and how much money the bring home.
@Janey1966 (24170)
• Carlisle, England
5 Oct 10
No, it's not below the poverty line here either which is why I can't see what the problem is with them moaning about the Child Benefit being taken away, as it only applies to 15% of the working population anyway. Here in Carlisle further north there won't be many people on £40,000 a year, that's for sure..not even the guys.
@evanslf (484)
•
5 Oct 10
I understand why the government is doing this, but also understand why people are complaining as well. What would have been fairer would have been to use the household income not the blunt instrument of one person being a higher rate taxpayer automatically disqualifying a family from child benefit.
I know the govt says that using the household income would lead to complex means testing, but don't they do this already through the tax credit system? Surely, the info collected through the child tax credit system would give the government the information that they require regarding a household income so that this could then be applied to child benefit payments?
As the proposal currently stands, a lone parent family (or family with only one earner), who gets £44,000 a year or above, will be automatically disqualified. Granted, £44,000 a year is not poor, but living on this kind of money in London with 2 or more children is pretty hand to mouth, or paycheck to paycheck stuff. This family, particularly if it has 3 children for example, could be facing a cut in gross income of 8%. That is quite a lot of money, particularly when one is living in rip off London. On the other hand, a dual income family where both earners earn below the £44000 threshold, will be unaffected (so a family receiving just under £88,000 a year will still get their child benefit). Understandably perhaps, the family which is on just over £44000 a year might feel slightly miffed at this...
@Janey1966 (24170)
• Carlisle, England
6 Oct 10
Like I say, they should sell off their 4 x 4s if they don't like it. They should try living in the real world. I cannot abide Londoners who want to commute from the countryside, bleeding the rest of the southern counties dry as it drives the locals THERE out of communities they have lived in since they were born because they cannot afford to live there anymore. This happens up north as well, it's not just confined to southern England. Programmes like "Location, location, location" haven't helped matters either and in my opinion, should be banned from our screens altogether!
@Janey1966 (24170)
• Carlisle, England
5 Oct 10
It makes a nice change the Conservatives bringing something out that affects the richer in society. I don't know many (if any) people up here in Carlisle that's on £40,000 a year. It's all well and good stay-at-home Mums with rich husbands moaning about it but in the "real world" both parents have to work because one wage doesn't sustain the family. This is why Child Benefit is invaluable to those families.
@chrismurphy85 (100)
•
6 Oct 10
The whole idea of having State Benefits was meant as a safety net and to help those in financial hardship.
Anyone who earns £44,000 per year is far from financial hardship than, say, someone who earns £14,000 per year.
It is not justifiable that the many struggle to provide food and clothing for their children, and even heat their homes, while the few continue to recieve these benefits, that, quite frankly, they are perfectly capable of living without.
State Benefits like Child Benefit, Tax Credit and Winter Fuel Allowance should definately be means-tested and only given to those who can't cope without it.
@Janey1966 (24170)
• Carlisle, England
6 Oct 10
It seems the media have created this storm of dissent as a poll in one of the papers indicates over 80% of people are actually in favour of this new proposal, which I'm really pleased about.
@sulsisels (1685)
• United States
5 Oct 10
Hi Janey..I find this so absurd..To collect benefits when you are earning that kind of money is ridiculous. If they only knew what real "poor" people live on, maybe they would change their tune. I, personally, live on disability which amounts to 8128.00 a year!! I also get food stamp aid at 40.00 per month..I don't know what food is costing over there, but over here, 140. per month is a joke. In reality I spend that much a week. I have no choice but to make this work and somehow I do. I can afford nothing other than keeping the lights on and the water running. Until Dr.s tell me i can return to work, this is what it is...I wish these people who are bit***ng about losing benefits while making 40-70 thousand a year would clear the fog and see what the real "poor" like myself and thousands others in the U.S. are doing. I don't spend my time complaining and crying over it either. It is what it is and you make it work or you don't. The government dosen't care one way or the other....sadly..
@Janey1966 (24170)
• Carlisle, England
5 Oct 10
I understand everything you are going through. As John works we're not so bad (and I'm not high maintenance) but many of those on higher incomes squander their money and live beyond their means, which is why they seem to think receiving Child Benefit is their right. They can't have it both ways! They can't slag off single mothers who don't work for taking Child Benefit as they actually need it, then moan when they don't get it and DON'T need it?
You see what I'm getting at? The winter fuel allowance is another one. Because the previous government thought it was unfair for it to be means tested they gave it EVERYBODY over 70 I think it is..could be younger actually, I can't remember. So, people who can actually afford their fuel bills get a winter fuel allowance!
Crazy isn't it?
