Benefits for the well off

[Two_Sheds]

Did you think benefits were for the poor?

Apparently 80% of statutory maternity pay goes to households on £40k+ (but most fathers don't take their paternity leave because they can't afford to).

Wow. 25% of all benefits go to people with a household income of £40k or over, mostly in the form of child benefit, tax credits and state pensions, along with winter-fuel payments and free TV licences. I didn't know that, and I'm a bit shocked.

I think these benefits will soon be subject to means-testing, which of course has an inherent cost.

Wouldn't it be better then, if people who don't 'need' these benefits gave them to charity. Kind of a tax write-off?

[Nicos]

Urmm..I have a problem with questioning if the elderly should be means tested for fuel benefit etc . For those of my parents generation who were exceptionally careful to save up for old age - and bought insurances to pay for burials etc - and struggled to have any 'spare' cash for birthday gifts for grandchildren and managed to put cash on one side "for a rainy day" to be told that for being responsible people -not blowing their money-they would then not be entitled to some extra cash.

So...should I blow all my money now so I will be entitled to these benefits, or sit quietly on a small emergency fund and risk no help later....difficult one 2sheds

[Eco-Chic]

Universal benefits are a lot cheaper to administrate than means tested benefits which involve high bureaucratic administrative costs.

[SarzWix]

It's having hundreds of different departments for different things that costs all the money. If they just had one thing that assessed every household according to inhabitants, circumstances (ie. illnesses etc) and income, and said 'right, you need X amount to live off, here's Y to top up your income', they'd save a fortune! And it may be non-PC, but I don't agree with paying to folks who don't need it. A member of my family has the child benefit transferred straight into the kids bank accounts as their pocket money What's that all about?! (ok, so maybe I'd like to be able to do that, mine are lucky to see a pound a week )

[janeyo]

My OH earns a very good wage but couldn't afford to take paternity leave as with me not earning due to having a baby, the money they were offering was ludicrous! Not even enough to make a dent in the mortgage that month. Many men are in the same position.

Now he is self employed and (if we have any more children) won't be able to take time off then either.

I have no problem with accepting the child benefits I am entitled to as I worked for years and OH has paid huge taxes for years, subsiding the benefit system, I like to think we are getting some of it back. And it means he doesn't have to keep giving me 'his' money all the time.

[SarzWix]

Yer, but, you're not just giving to the kids for pocket money are you janey? It's a valid and helpful contribution to your household finances!

[janeyo]

No it buys their shoes!
Grandma gives them pocket money! From her old age pension lol

[SarzWix]

Yeah, my kids get pocket money from Grandad, bless 'im

[snuffer]

Don't forget, the welfare state isn't just benefits. When taking into account such things as health care and education it has long been known that the middle classes are the greatest beneficiaries of the welfare system.

The popular press would have us believe that it is the single mum on the council estate but any student of GCSE sociology will tell you different.

[PAULW]

The people earning big wages are also the ones that are paying bigger taxes so why should they miss out on statutory benefits, this all smacks of the politics of envy,
IMO it is ridiculess to tax the low earners so much then give the money back to them as benefit ie working tax credit

[SarzWix]

I have no problem with accepting the child benefits I am entitled to as I worked for years and OH has paid huge taxes for years, subsiding the benefit system, I like to think we are getting some of it back...

I just read the link that Two_Sheds put in the first post, and it mentions that, saying that in fact it would lead to lower taxes which would probably be of greater benefit to 'middle-class' earners. Have a read, it's a really interesting article

[Pies]

Universal benefits are a lot cheaper to administrate than means tested benefits which involve high bureaucratic administrative costs.

You reakon

http://www.politics.co.uk/news/economy-and-finance/tax-credit-overpayments-are-breathtaking--$1282544.htm

I have workmates who earn over £35k plus company car plus final pension.They get family credit.They admit they dont need it but as they are entitled they claim it,they know that when they do need it the state wont help quick enough.The other stupid thing is there is no reason to extra work as the benefit is reduced.So guess which idiots get all the shite work

[jackie j]

My next door neighbour saved the family allowance for her son and when he was 18 gave him the windfall, he has been able to buy expensive cars, etc while my sons have had to struggle just to get by, and they still stuggle. I have been a single parent on benefits with four sons, while their dad gave me just £50 a week and no extra's for school trips, clothes and the like. I was allowed to earn £15 a week and any extra was taken from my benefits, I had to pay my ex £10k to stay in the house and not have to move into some squalid house, but I didnt earn the vast amount he did, he got away with it because he and his accountant lied about his earnings as a self employed builder.
We are now comfortable with the money my OH earns allowing me to work part time, we dont have expensive things, smoke, or drink. My daughter is lucky cos she gets £15 a month pocket money plus £10 a month top up, but she does have to buy some of her clothes and make up with it. She has learnt to handle money and will think twice before spending.

[jaykay]

This is a tricky one. I don't envy whoever gets the job of sorting out the system - he/she will never be able to please everyone as there will be perceived 'winners' and 'losers'.

For my own point of view, raising children isn't cheap (we've got 4!), but do think things like child benefit should be across the board (not means tested), so it applies to everyone, not just the allegedly better off.

[Brengirl]

Nothing in this world seems fair if we personally are on the wrong side, so to speak. Swings and roundabouts comes to mind.