Child Benefit Payment Cut-Off For Families

Child benefit payments to more than a million people are due to be cut from Monday, as part of the Government's plan to reduce spending.

If either parent earns £50,000 then payments are to be reduced on a sliding scale, with those on a salary of £60,000 or more losing it altogether.

Treasury minister David Gauke said it was a decision that had to be made to save the taxpayer as much as £1.5bn a year.

"Everybody has got to make a contribution, we're reducing benefits and we've made some cuts in benefits," he said.

http://uk.news.yahoo.com/child-benefit-payment-cut-off-families-020119735.html#lIAhUro

Sounds good to some. But, and correct me if I'm wrong, when the child benefit was introduced, it was decided to make it a universal payment so that everyone would benefit not just the wealthy. A means tested system sounds good but the upper and middle-classes were better able to fill out the forms, and the working-class had neither the time, or inclination to follow through the process.
And believe me as someone whose had to fill out benefit forms, they are not made for ease of understanding. Benefit forms are so complex that most people, and I'm talking about educated people, get lost amongst all the jargon and give up trying to fill them out. Saves the government a fortune.

I would ask why someone who has a parent that makes £50,000 a year needs child benefits, but my mum makes something over £30,000 and told me that if her mortgage goes back up again we'll be buying Sainsbury's basics to afford the shopping each week. You'd think someone on that money would have a reasonable amount of money left over after paying bills, but apparently not. Seeing as I'm 17 and not in education, she doesn't receive any child benefits anymore. Apparently I'm too old for child benefits, but too young to be expected to contribute at home so I can't get unemployment benefits.

I bet there are plenty of mums who earn loads less than your mum who wonder why somebody who earns 30k a year need child benefit.As for your situation the government love it because they don't have to pay benefits to you or your because your not in education mum and they don't have to pay out for your education either,win win.If I was you I'd head to the nearest college and do some pish key skills or something it'll help your mum out and it gives you breathing space to find a decent job.

I did an apprenticeship assessment to try and get something in construction at a college a while back so if I have no luck with anything else I'll have to turn back to that. I keep hearing how plumbers are always packed out with work so it's always something to run to. I might have a proper job opportunity on my hands though so hopefully I can actually jump straight into work. I'll probably hit the no-experience wall though knowing employers nowadays.

Can't go wrong with a trade,mate of mine did his research and found out that in his area they had no plasterers for about 30 miles and does nicely,Different in London I know but the trick would be finding the trade gap in your area is,be that butcher,sparky or whatever.

I work in the public sector and we are going to get bummed big style if call me Dave gets another term.

Well plumbing and electrics is what people always need apparently. Plumbers and electricians always seem to be packed out with work and never have any free time to themselves. The guy who was working on our home recently said he'd take me on but he hasn't got much work at the moment (probably a load of bollocks) when I was asking him how he got into his work.

And I'm not sure how much we should worry about David (Ca)moron getting back in; no one's had a good word to say about him since he sat his arse on our desk. Wouldn't surprise me though.

Poverty is relative. Arguments over different levels of income can only benefit the ruling class by further dividing the workers.