so is "Call me David" finally showing his Thatcherite traits?

[Bobbisox]

On Sky News this morning, his Chancellor, George Osborne was said to have ducked and dived in a Q and A session regarding child benefit and winter fuel payments, it is thought that the latter will now only be paid to the 66+ pensioners and not 60 as it is now, the child benefits will be reduced for the 2/3/4 child or more, which tbh cant be a bad thing, this may or may not stop the young girls going on to mass produce often with a different father each time.
It appears the elderly and the young are always the soft targets, why not the fat cats and the MPs contribute to the austerity cuts we are about to have? and catch up with the Tax evaders who don't pay a penny in revenue here....because the old and young don't shout so it's an easy option?

[Xaviour]

stop child benefit for anyone on benefits and for anyone with a house hold income over 25 grand. cut winter fuel payments in half to. finally we havea government that will cut where necesarry

[Bobbisox]

yes naomi, I am a pensioner, albeit a young one!
maybe I don't need the winter fuel allowance unlike some 60yr olds who would <sorry phone ringing)

[Bobbisox]

there are lots of Fat Cats who do not contribute to the wealth of this country and prefer to stash their money away in a Swiss account, tackle them too?

[Bobbisox]

Xaviour I don't think thats the answer, the kids would be the ones to suffer in the long run

[ummmm]

The winter fuel allowance is automatic when you get to a certain age. I read an article where someone tried to return it because he didn't need it. Guess what? They do not have a system for returned payments...

[Xaviour]

over 25 grand i said thats not poor. and pensioners dont need the winter heating money its just used for holidays to turkey and the like

[Sqad]

bobbi...don´t worry, they will be investigated where possible, but the problem with "hammering the fat cats" is twofold, one they may go elsewhere (good thing you may say) and the increase in taxes from the "Fat cats" is negligible, compared to the huge taxes from the middle classes.

[McMouse]

I am retired and live off state pension and draw down from my self funded pension pot. I do not need winter fuel payment but get it. My elderly mother-in-law will come to live with us from next week and she will get a tv license exemption which she doesn't need and nor do we. She has more genuine state benefits than you can shake a stick at and has her work cut out spending excess income. Because of her very advanced years she is regularly assessed by various local government agencies who prompt her to claim whatever is going. In my opinion the sooner the government sort this benefit mess out the better. Yes, my overall household income will go down but so it should.

I have asian neighbours who have a huge house with at least 8 bedrooms. The guy is a local builder and I'm sure he pays his taxes. However he has a large extended family living under the one roof and the mind boggles at the total amount of state benefit going into their pockets. The place is full of elderly aunts, masses of young kids etc. As far as I can make out all the people of working age are in employment so they are not work-shy. But they still get all the benefits which they don't need.

[Bobbisox]

totally agree Vibra, I would like to see a means test but they wont have that because the better off would lose out no doubt, I wouldn't mind being means tested and if we lost it at least it would be fairly done and we probaly would lose it as we have both worked bloody hard and each have a private pension for our sins !

[naomi24]

Well if you don't need your winter fuel allowance Bobbi, why are you complaining. Surely Dave is right to take it away from you, isn't he?

[Xaviour]

but over 25 grand per householsd is a means test isn it? mcmouse there are too many benefits paid out and they can easy save money from thse who dont really need what they gte even if they are entitled to them at the moment then a review is needed. toffs get child benefit and they even give it to millionaires

[Bobbisox]

New Labour caused us to live in a benefit society...and now we pay the cost!
holidays to Turkey at Xmas Xavier...too bloody cold..lol

[Bobbisox]

just incase you missed my point naomi, he probably will but there are some in a lot less fortunate position than me!

[ummmm]

My Grandad doesn't need it...but at the age of 86 he's paying £2,200 a month for care. I don't think that's right.

He only has £2,000 a month coming in.

[Xaviour]

and dont start me on old people in council hoses that has 3 rooms and there are people on waiting list i know for years can only get offered something in a tower block and they work and have kids . to many old peole in under occuppied houses and theres not enough for the working class familys who cant get a mortgage and are trapped

[Sqad]

bobbi.......I agree, that means testing would be the answer, but I think you will find that the Unions and the left of centre Politicians are against it on the basis that it would "stigmatise" the poor and they would feel embarrassed in some way.

I must say, that when I went to Grammar School and University, we were means tested and I got free lunches, money for the uniform and a grant for my University fees.
I never felt stigmatised or embarrassed.

[Xaviour]

new labour started the welfare state? have you missed the last 40 years before new labour was in the 90s?

[craft1948]

Last winter a friend of mine was complaining at her direct debit increase for her domestic fuel bills. I suggested that she pay the £250 winter fuel payment straight to her supplier to reduce her indebtedness.....she replied that she couldn't do that as she used it to buy Xmas presents!

[naomi24]

I don't believe I've missed any of your points Bobbi.

Ummmm, how's he managing that?