Family benefit changes have come into force
MORE than a million better-off families have lost some or all of their child benefit.
Families with one parent earning more than £50,000 lose part of their child benefit and it will be fully withdrawn where one parent earns above £60,000.
The government hopes to save £1.5 billion a year as a result of the changes.
David Cameron described the move as "fundamentally fair" but Labour said it was a "huge assault" on families.
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The prime minister said: "I'm not saying those people are rich, but I think it is right that they make a contribution. If we don't raise that... from that group of people — the better off 15 per cent in the country — we would have to find someone else to take it from."
Shadow chancellor Ed Balls said the Government should tax the richest, rather than make changes that affect those on middle incomes.
Swansea East MP Sian James said her office was bracing itself for a deluge of inquiries about the changes.
The changes came in yesterday — the day before a Commons debate over the welfare system, when MPs were set to discuss plans to break the link between benefit rises and inflation.
Other changes set to come into force throughout the year will affect council tax benefit and housing benefit.
Comments
by missbuffay
Tuesday, January 08 2013, 10:39PM
“I agree that if people choose to have children then they should pay for them. However, why just abolish child benefit for people that work, why not remove child tax credits aswell. Or at least limit the amount, for example, to 2 children per household. I realise that this sounds harsh but removing child benefit is not going to resolve the bigger (and more costly issue) of families that have lived a life on benefits and are getting away with popping out children as a way of increasing their income and house size.”
by GorsseinonJoe
Tuesday, January 08 2013, 12:17PM
“Can anyone justify earning a possible £100k a year and still be given a "benefit" handout of £1,750 a year from ANY Government?
The average wage in the UK is £26,500, probably the average in Wales is a lot lower than this.
Only the top 15% of earners will "lose" some of this benefit, I use the term loosely because I would suggest that earning over £50,000 a year is hardly on the breadline when there are families surviving on £12,000 who get less than those on the upper limits for Child Tax Credits.
Let's get Mean Testing in and give benefits to those who need them not those who don't.”
by Jiffy
Tuesday, January 08 2013, 9:45AM
“williamwaun - you are clueless fool. The taxes you pay today are not being kept in a little box that's opened up when you hit 70.”
by williamwaun
Tuesday, January 08 2013, 9:22AM
“I will end up working till I'm 70+ I would have paid enough taxes in my lifetime to support myself. Sorry if I hit a nerve Jiffy.”
by Jiffy
Tuesday, January 08 2013, 8:25AM
“Poor, sad williamwaun doesn't understand that these children will be expected to pay to keep him well, fed and warm when he's past begin able to pay his way in the tory Britain.”
by williamwaun
Tuesday, January 08 2013, 8:08AM
“About time to, why should a person on 50k a year have child benefits. You wanted the children why should you expect me and others to pay for your children.
The last Government got us into this mess, and if we don't take control of our debts we will end up like Greece.
I get up every morning to go to work and there are others in my village who have never worked in their lives, with several children. Like I said you wanted the children, now you pay for them.”