General Chat

Will It affect you ?

What are your views ?

Is it fair to those people working hard in Jobs to make money to lose out ?
What cuts do you think the government should make ?
............. ................. .............. ................. ...........
It wont affect me but -
I think those on the higher bracket who already get child allowance for their children, or those already registered as pregnant should not lose this benefit for the kids they already have.

I do think any more born to those in the higher bracket after say a 12 month deadline, shouldn't get the benefit as the parents can then make that decision if they can afford to support another child without the CA.

I also think CB should stop for all after child 3 in all cases (four if twins are involved) again applying to babies born after a years deadline, & not those already relying on the benefit only to struggle once its gone..

It may make people think twice about having another child they may not financially be able support themselves, and I'm talking about mainly those on other benefits long term who keep on churning out more kids at our expense. (I know a family with five kids, Dads a chav who wouldn't know work if it slapped him in the face.
In cases like that of those on benefits, to stop the children not covered by CA missing out, multi shop use vouchers should be given covering groceries (say Asda, Iceland or Tesco food & clothing not electrical etc) Various other clothes shop retailers such as Primark , Mothercare & M&S. To ensure the money is used on the children, not to fund sky sports or other luxuries.

if there on a high income they dont "need" CB, i agree after so many kids it should be stopped too, x

I think it should be abolished altogether (as I just said on FB). If families are on a low income then child benefit should be an element of the other benefits they receive.

And it shouldn't be given after pregnancy number 2, the world is overpopulated enough as it is without encouraging people to breed. Not that long ago you didn't get it at all for the first child only for subsequent children, quite the wrong way round.

If people can't afford children then maybe they should think twice before getting pregnant. The current system seems to encourage people to have more. There has to be an element of social responsibility and the current system doesn't take that into account at all.

I've just googled and found out how much it is these days.

*faints from shock*

Gwynne

In principle I support the proposed changes. However, just as there are inequities in the Tax Credit scheme now, so will there be for the loss of Child Benefit.

As has been pointed out in BBC News 24, it would still be possible for a couple who individually earn just less than the 40% cut off point to be eligible, but for a couple with one person earning just over the 40%, they won’t. Even with lower salaries, (example below) the same principle applies.

In round fgures. (adjust the figures if the tax band is wrong)

Couple A earns £25k+ £20k = £45k will be entitled
Couple B earns £38k + £7k - £45k won’t!

The suggestion to limit the CB to the first 2 children is more appealing, although it should not be retrospective.


Edit - the 40% tax band starts at £44k, so the same principles apply if both partners earned £43k making a total family income of £86k.

I get CB for my two (15 & 11) it goes into the pot for general household money eaters, such as weekly food bills & children's clothes & other bits & pieces that they need.

We both work, him full time (good money but he does put in lots of hours & it means time away from home) & more - & me part time (pittance)
Our outgoings eat most of that away (essential such as mortgage & insurances, food & utility bills, car etc)
In one hand & out the other :o((

Without CA it would drop our monthly income & we would have to tighten our belts further.

Although I think every little helps, and I dont oppose our country giving some help when another country faces huge loss of life. I do think they shouldn't give away cash to overseas ventures other than for an emergency. I also think funding for minority social centres should stop & they should fund themselves, alongside those for British people & faith.

Lastly i think jobs in Britain should go to those people born in this country first. Too many people coming over from the EU getting jobs which should be filled by those on benefits who can work but wont. (especially single people with little outgoings)

I get it, and I have always thought it should not be a universal payment, my brother and I talked about this oooh must be 30 years ago lol, even the Queen was entitled to it ( though she never claimed it lol) , D and I were talking about it yesterday and agreed there should be a cut off salary beyond which it is not paid at all.

I would pay it for the first two children and then either not at all for subsequent children or on a sliding scale perhaps, half for the third, 1/4 for the fourth.( Except for twins/triplets etc who would get the same) .

I will be interested to see what the plan is re older children, aged to 19 who currently get CB until they leave full time education. The last plan was to make education compulsory to 18, which i thought was a bad idea... I don't think if a child of 16 has the means and the will to get a job at 16 they should be tied in to school till 18 ( D just misses this anyway and is already building an empire similar to the manner of Allan Sugar lol) though of course every child should have the opportunity to stay on if they wish, and university fees are another area of concern, if the tuition charges, presently capped are allowed to rise beyond the reach of the poor and middle income earners it will be a huge step backwards to when Uni' was for the rich only.

I assume for those who do stay on till 18 there will be other benefit if they stop the CB for them.

Child benefit works out at about £1000 for the first child, £700 for subsequent children.
Taking the feckless and lazy out of the equation, and starting at the greedy ones at the top:

Those who have offshore accounts - therefore not paying tax in this country - and not contributing anything to this country should lose it - they should also forfeit free dental and health care.

Those who can afford to pay for their children to attend Public schools (as opposed to those whose children are on a scholarship), but not including those who claim a bursary, pleading 'poverty', should lose it.

The average weekly income in 2009 was £500 a week (gosh, I wonder who they are!), so any family (joint income) earning over twice this amount - that's over £52,000 a year should forfeit it.

It should be paid until a child has finished state education - ie 18, thereby allowing children to take 'A' levels.

CB is also paid to any child born in the UK where they and their parents have emigrated eg to Spain as my ex (British White) neighbours have. They are no longer contributing to the UK economy via income tax, so why should they claim/be entitled to CB?

As some people go without to sent their child to a Public (paid for) school, or are helped out by grandparents, we can't tar everyone with the same brush.

My feelings are , it should stop after child no 2 if this is a single mum on state benefits .
It should not be given to families who's income is over 50,ooo a yr .
It should be given to children who's parents are unable to work through disability or no fault of there own.

I feel so sorry for mums who are on state benefit with young babies who's husband has left with no support left in place and they get slated for being on benefits for no fault of there own cb should be paid to all her children, i also thing csa should be circumstantial where dads have been kicked out cause mum has a new fella, he should support mum if he wants her that bad instead of crippling a mans wage sorry going off topic

When I was in receipt of Family Allowance, as Child Benefit was know, in the '70's, I cannot remember receiving anything for the first child, only subsequent children. First child payment came in a little later. And, printed in the back of the booklet was 'This book is the property of the mother'. Being ordinary working class, I welcomed this money on a Tuesday, from the Post Office, to take us through the week on food.
But I think things have changed alot in this country since those days. People are on higher salaries, and in many households, both parents work. So, in those cases, I do not think they need it. I am suprised to read on this thread about people from overseas being able to claim this, and think that we need to get our own house in order, with everything, before doling out money to other countries, by what ever means, with the exception of disasters.
Having said all of that, I would not like to have to feed and clothe children these days, with the prices as they are. However, it is not just that that people have to provide for their children, though I think private school fees are their own personal choice and responsibility.
Hope I have not tread on any toes here.
Julia in Derbyshire

i think it will save us millions and its a good idea

though i aslso think it should not be paid to
those who live abroad and pay no uk tax

It should only be paid for the first two children. How are they going to monitor an honest account of a household's income?....Too many 'single' mums with unaccounted for men on the sidelines living with them and bunging them cash! As a couple who have always worked, brought up two children without ever claiming benefits, I do get Pxxxed off when I see so many 'Wont Work' people having better cars, and a lifestyle/possessions similiar or better than my own! errrr I work! I SHOULD have more than them! How come I haven't!

Rita there was no allowance paid for first child, my second was born in 1960 - I think it was five shillings. Then at some stage think it was still in sixties paid for first child.

Have a feeling it became eight shillings for eldest and five shillings for each child thereafter. We found it took all our time to care for two even with my sewing and knitting nearly every stitch they wore apart from shoes and underwear. So I then crossed my legs!!!!!!!!

I know I never cashed it weekly but kept it for their Clark's shoes.

Am horrifed to hear that ex-pats can claim it. Are they going to stop the Poles claiming benefot for children back in Poland? Expect other nationalities do it as well.

WHEN I RECIEVED MY FIRST CB IT WAS FOR THE SECOND CHILD I GOT 90p A WEEK ADDED 10p AND BOUGHT A POUNDS WORTH OF SAVING STAMPS FROM THE POSTOFFICE EACH BOOK HELD £10.
THIS WAS FOR SHOES FOR THEM THEN SCHOOL UNIFORMS OR OTHER NEEDS AS CROPPED UP BUT EVEN THEM DAYS £52 DIDNT LAST LONG BUT IT WAS A GODSEND.
I USED SAVING STAMPS BECAUSEYOU COULD CASH THEM IN ANY POST OFFICE.
BUT I DONT AGREE WITH THE HIGHER WAGED FAMILIES GETTING IT I KNOW OF A FEW WHERE
THE CHILD HAS IT FOR SPENDING MONEY..
BUT NOT THE FOR THE REASON IT WAS MENT FOR.

BUT THEN IM AN OLD GRUMPY AND THINK THAT THE ITSTHE LOWER TO MIDD WAGE EARNERS DESERVE IT..NOT THE HIGHER.
JUST GOING TO GOOGLE AND SEE
HOW MUCH CB IS WORTH NOWADAYS

OMG........
I CANT BELIEVE IT

Hiya All.
1971 and I didn't get it for first. second born in 1974 and got £1.50 then sometime around then got £1 for first as well.. Or it could have been £1.50 for both to be honest not sure when we got for both. Third born in 1977 and we definitely got for all three then..
Like Julia did food shopping mid week with it. some pocket money for the kids and always an ice bun each from the post office shop..
I agree though it should stop for very high earners we knew of some that laughed because they could get it!
Tricia x

Oh and I remember we lost tax concessions to get this CB to be aid oops Paid direct to MUMs..
We also lost married persons tax allowance!
We've lost Mortgage Tax relief!
All stopped so they got more tax to supposedly pay for these extra benefits..

I would like to know though, WHERE are all these Jobs they are talking about so people don't have to claim any benefits? There certainly aren't ANY of that pay a decent wage or full time hours here in Lincoln..

I had my first child in 1959 and and a planned second in 1963, but all the time we chewed our fingers to the bone incase I became pregnant again. my third child was born in 1965. This put a great strain on our marriage as I could not take the pill.

. With birth control today there is no excuse for any woman/girl to become pregnant, but it is a right of passage for immature boys/girls to have sex and ignore precautions.....

It used to be the lads who wore the conquest badges, but it is the girls now. Each time I walk to the paper shop sitting outside, smoking, well dressed, young girls, 18ish, bouncing the pram up and down whilst they decide what to wear when they go to the nightclub on Saturday...whilst a pensioner has to decide what they can afford to eat today.

Through no fault of my own, I had to bring my three children up on my own and the FA was a lifeline, we did not have holidays, black and white TV no phone, but i came through it debt free and with my head held high.

In all honesty, do a family with an income of £45,000 need family allowance??

Might be interesting to know?

£20 today is the equivalent of 1 pound, 17 shillings and 7 old pennies in 1950, £1 6s 2d in 1960 and £7.02 in 1980.

I was looking to see if I could find a comparative 'shopping basket' but I can't... to see what it would buy then and now.

ROSE
I THINK THAT IT WOULD BE HARD TO COMPARE SHOPPING BASKETS,IF I REMEMBER 40 YERAS AGO I MADE ALL DINNERS COMPLETLY FROM SCRATCH,DIDNT EVEN KNOW ABOUT MADE MEALS
MADE EVRYTHING EVEN FISHCAKES