Which Benefits Would You Cut?

[hc4361]

The Daily Mail has asked. I'm very glad I'm not a decision maker as I wouldn't have a clue where to start.
I do think that state pensions should be taken out of the equation altogether, though.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3136020/Which-benefits-cut-Cameron-Osborne-extra-12billion.html

[Svejk]

Why should pensions be taken out of the equation? Some could stand serious scrutiny.

[youngmafbog]

State Pensions will have to go, or at least be means tested. There are not enough young people to pay for the baby boomers.

The benefit system should be made simpler, but under no circumstances should it pay to not work.

[andy-hughes]

I would certainly make Child Benefit means tested, and the free TV licence for OAP's.

[wolf63]

They are not getting my ESA - its mine, all mine!



:-)

[vakayu]

Winter fuel heating allowance to wealthy people as I have read so many celebs say they neither need it or want it,Joan Bakewell famously said before there was no facility currently available to either refuse it or hand it back,though that may have changed?

[Retrochic]

I would change the Tax credit system . If you earn enough to pay tax (up to £33K) then why should the government prop up your earnings with a a'credit'. All this does is discourage employers from raising wages as they know their employees will receive less in Tax Credits if they do this, and it saves them money. Oh and stop paying people to have children (Child Benefit)

[chaptazbru2]

Child benefit and winter heating allowance for ex pats who live in the sun.

[Retrochic]

vakayu -you don't have to 'hand it back' you can give the money as a donation to a suitable charity such as Age UK.

[Svejk]

And disability benefits are another 'sacred cow'. 12% of people convicted in the London riots were on some sort of disability payment.

[youngmafbog]

The problem with removing some items like winter fuel allowance is that it costs more to do it than is saved. It then simply becomes political, which at the moment I dont thin the country is in a position to waste anything just on a political whim.

Yes with you on the child benefit. TV licence should be scrapped though and the BBC made commercial for those that want it.

[hc4361]

I agree the Winter Fuel Allowance should be scrapped and given to those pensioners in receipt of pension credit only.

[youngmafbog]

//12% of people convicted in the London riots were on some sort of disability payment//

If they are able to riot then their benefit can be cut first, clearly not that much of a disability.

[youngmafbog]

//I agree the Winter Fuel Allowance should be scrapped and given to those pensioners in receipt of pension credit only.//

So you are all for political point scoring rather than money saving?

[trt]

Child benefit for only two children.

[Svejk]

It shouldn't be theirs to give to charity in the first place. Charities get their hands on plenty of tax-payers money without more 'ill-gotten' gains.

[mikey4444]

Knowing the DM, anybody who is poor or black or Muslim, or any combination thereof.

[hc4361]

young, it should be very cost effective to scrap WFA and add an extra payment to those in receipt of pension credit. The computers know who gets it so it should be quick and easy, with very little manual input.

[mikey4444]

On a more serious note ::

1. Winter fuel allowance for wealthy people, especially those living abroad
( sorry Sqad ! )

2. Child benefit to people with more than two kids.

3. Child benefit to anybody wealthy.

[Svejk]

I don't buy some of those 'cost more to put right' arguments. It should, imo, be a simple enough matter to get WFA only to those that need it. Or better still, get rid of it altogether.

[Retrochic]

Child benefit should be scrapped for everyone making more than the minimum wage.. There are working families on 40K plus a year with 4 kids getting £1680 per year tax free for the simple reason they have procreated.