I was listening today on the radio about child benefit and how much it all actually costs.
The total cost is 11 yes 11 billion pounds a year.
The debate was should it be a means tested benefit, rather than just giving it to everyone? The scenario was David Camerons new baby, and the fact that he is rather wealthy, and should the more wealthy actually get or indeed need this benefit.
The saved cost of 11 billion quid a year, could do many other worthwhile things than give money to people who have kids.
Why should the Government support people who have/want kids?
At the very least I believe it should be means tested and anyone earning over say 35 grand a year should not receive it. The Cameron family as an example will get almost 50 quid a week for their children....that is a crazy system and I believe one that should be looked into further.
Apparently this benefit started in the 50's and was paid to Mothers to spend on their kids welfare, as at that time they believed giving the money to the Fathers would result in it being spent on other things, rather than the kids.
Times were completely different then to today, and if the benefit is to be paid surely it should not be paid to people who earn vast sums of money.
IF people want children surely it should be their responsibilty to ensure they can afford them?
Is this benefit out of date, and should it be scrapped, or should it only be paid to a certain section of society that is determined by how much they earn?
But why in 2010 should the Government pay people to have kids?
I reckon they should pay people to have motorbikes, as I am helping to save the planet as well. :twisted:
well the only reason you can't get decent day's work out of a kid anymore, is they are too obese to fit in a chimney.
:laughabove::laughabove::laughabove:
Given the huge resources now devoted to means tested income supplements for people with children it does seem to me to be an anachronism.
I have never understood why we have all those forms etc. If you work legitimately the tax office know all about it. If you work for cash you would be a fool to declare it on any application anyway. So, the Tax Office knows as much as it is likely to know about a person's income. There is ample information about how many kids you have - via school applications, doctor's lists etc. All of which is information available direct to the Government. Whether you have a live-in partner or the kids have an akcnowledged parent not living in is also easily established from doctor's registrations, where bills are posted to etc.
So why does anyone have to apply for anything apart from medical/disability-based benefits? Surely the government have all the information they need to a) invite adults to the Job Centre and/or the family planning clinic and b) top up incomes that fall below a given minimum? The cost of spot checks would have to be balanced against the risk of over-payment, but it isn't rocket science.
This, surely is one of the few upsides to the all-seeing society we are already in?
Mind you - it can't be all that all-seeing, bearng in mind they lost a dead MI6 operative for a fortnight in the middle of London. :giggle:
That's a fair point foxy.
I wont express any views on the true income position of those not subject to PAYE for fear of the usual responses from the usual sources. Suffice to say if we based benefits on declared income outside of PAYE the system wouldn't be any cheaper or any more efficient.
Would you boys please grow up. Or perhaps start a thread on the use of the word anachronism in the 21st century.
I refuse to be drawn into this dull debate.
Could a passing mod have a look at the personal comments on this thread and have an edit if they deem it appropriate please. This nonsense really must be stopped. How can we expect to encourage participation by a wider audience if this kind of nonsense is allowed.