| Income Tax rise ditched on 12:58 - Dec 10 with 286 views | Pinewoodblue |
| Income Tax rise ditched on 12:21 - Dec 10 by Churchman |
Firstly I’m sorry to hear of your health issues and I hope the treatment is going ok. While not having had to deal with cancer personally, Mrs C did last year and had another scare (fortunately not a problem) this year, so I have some idea how tough it is.
To your points, firstly some are not fortunate to be ready for a variety of reasons not of their making. That is why a safety net, both in money and other ways, is so important. In another century, another job I met enough people in this situation to know it’s true.
On the other hand, I look at some of my cousins and their children are the third generation to live on benefits. They see it as normal. The state will provide. The future? Eh? Others, like my neighbour, just make the choice of the new Merc, BMW M-plenty and the Seychelles. Their view is live now, tomorrow is tomorrow and who cares. It’ll work out. My mate’s son earns a good living but wants to last the lot now. Life is for living. So his father bungs in on his behalf and badgers him.
For myself, I had a couple of final salary schemes, but moving jobs meant gaps as did working for a private company. So spend it now was very much an attractive option as there were times when my income was poor or even non existent.
I made an active choice because self reliance is very important to me. So I invested in pensions and other investments if and when I could for the both of us. Mrs C had no idea about it - teachers (ex-teacher in her case) tend to not be the slightest bit interested in finance.
Suggestions: So there is a spectrum. I believe people should be encouraged to put what they can, if they can, aside for their future. Saving should not be the dirty word that it is. Self reliance, through education, should be encouraged. This is crucial because if you don’t know why you are doing something you are unlikely to do it.
Employers should be encouraged to invest in pensions and other schemes for their staff. There are plenty of benefits to this for them and the employee, especially if the government encourages with tax breaks. Better that than govt doling out money at the figurative post office.
Finally, I want to be clear that I am not talking about the abandonment of people for whom life has dealt a sht hand, often through no fault of their own. Of course in a civilised society they should get support and if possible help to get out of the poverty trap. That includes provision sufficient to avoid people having to rely on food banks.
Just random thought on what is too long a post |
We live in a divided society but while socialist principles are to the forefront, haves supporting have nots if you like, there is always hope.
All we need now is a socialist government. |  |
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| Income Tax rise ditched on 15:24 - Dec 10 with 215 views | OldFart71 |
| Income Tax rise ditched on 08:49 - Nov 14 by homer_123 |
"...the unemployment rate is rising but corporate profits are rising too."
And therein lies our biggest issue - 'SHOW ME THE MONEY'!
Now, whilst making money and profit is not a bad thing and shouldn't be - it is in the way the world is setup at the moment. In that social mobility is moving backwards at a pace, the cohort that 'have' is now much smaller than it has ever been and yet control more wealth than ever.
The cold, hard reality from a political standpoint is that those with wealth now have an unhealthy sway on the geopolitical agenda.
I'm not sure that AI is any kind of solution to the situation we have put ourselves in. Well, there is one things it might do...... |
I think in the cold light of day the things that have increased considerably and the companies that are making the most profits are those mainly connected with a majority of the things required for day to day living such as energy, food, council tax,rents etc.
I saw on a how today a publican that has started a campaign to bar Labour MP's from pubs and restaurants due to what they feel is the total unfairness of the taxes, N.I. costs etc imposed on their businesses. A fact revealed was that after charging a customer £5.50 for a beer all the profit they made on that pint was 14p.
This government cannot continue to treat tax payers as cash cows. Sooner or later the cows run dry. Then where do they go. |  | | |
| Income Tax rise ditched on 15:49 - Dec 10 with 190 views | baxterbasics |
| Income Tax rise ditched on 15:24 - Dec 10 by OldFart71 |
I think in the cold light of day the things that have increased considerably and the companies that are making the most profits are those mainly connected with a majority of the things required for day to day living such as energy, food, council tax,rents etc.
I saw on a how today a publican that has started a campaign to bar Labour MP's from pubs and restaurants due to what they feel is the total unfairness of the taxes, N.I. costs etc imposed on their businesses. A fact revealed was that after charging a customer £5.50 for a beer all the profit they made on that pint was 14p.
This government cannot continue to treat tax payers as cash cows. Sooner or later the cows run dry. Then where do they go. |
Problem remains we are asking more and more of a shrinking section of the population - the productive portion - in order to subsidise the unproductive. By unproductive I include both those wealthy enough to avoid taxes, and those who wont get out of bed to go to work because they feel sad. There's just not efficient enough filtering of those who genuinely can't work from those who just wont because there's an easier option. The government knows welfare reform is needed and they bottled it. |  |
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| Income Tax rise ditched on 15:58 - Dec 10 with 179 views | Swansea_Blue |
| Income Tax rise ditched on 15:49 - Dec 10 by baxterbasics |
Problem remains we are asking more and more of a shrinking section of the population - the productive portion - in order to subsidise the unproductive. By unproductive I include both those wealthy enough to avoid taxes, and those who wont get out of bed to go to work because they feel sad. There's just not efficient enough filtering of those who genuinely can't work from those who just wont because there's an easier option. The government knows welfare reform is needed and they bottled it. |
Is there actually any real evidence that being on benefits is a choice rather than looking for work? It sounds like a lazy stereotype. Universal credit is less than half the minimum wage for starters. That’s surely got to be a string incentive look for work? |  |
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| Income Tax rise ditched on 16:29 - Dec 10 with 157 views | baxterbasics |
| Income Tax rise ditched on 15:58 - Dec 10 by Swansea_Blue |
Is there actually any real evidence that being on benefits is a choice rather than looking for work? It sounds like a lazy stereotype. Universal credit is less than half the minimum wage for starters. That’s surely got to be a string incentive look for work? |
Well I know personally of some who do and I doubt I am unique. It's not just about income - it's the help with housing, council tax, prescriptions, so on. Lot's of people technically employed but on long term or regularly sick - getting some form of sick pay plus PIP and so on. It all adds up. I genuinely believe those being shafted most are those earning just enough to not qualify for anything, including those on the edge or just above the 40% tax bracket. I know it's not easy to segregate those in genuine need from those just taking advantage of the system, but doesn't make it any less frustrating. | |
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| Income Tax rise ditched on 16:45 - Dec 10 with 128 views | mellowblue |
| Income Tax rise ditched on 16:29 - Dec 10 by baxterbasics |
Well I know personally of some who do and I doubt I am unique. It's not just about income - it's the help with housing, council tax, prescriptions, so on. Lot's of people technically employed but on long term or regularly sick - getting some form of sick pay plus PIP and so on. It all adds up. I genuinely believe those being shafted most are those earning just enough to not qualify for anything, including those on the edge or just above the 40% tax bracket. I know it's not easy to segregate those in genuine need from those just taking advantage of the system, but doesn't make it any less frustrating. |
Same here, and there are plenty of advisors out there who will help you farm the system. | | | |
| Income Tax rise ditched on 17:12 - Dec 10 with 105 views | Pinewoodblue |
| Income Tax rise ditched on 16:45 - Dec 10 by mellowblue |
Same here, and there are plenty of advisors out there who will help you farm the system. |
There are companies out there who make a living out of helping individuals to claim various benefits on a no successful claim no fee basis.
I would add that I see nothing wrong with charities helping individuals to submit claims sometimes you only need to reword some answers to make the difference between a successful application and one that fails.
Back in 80’s I worked for an organisation that used a system to calculate management salaries based on job descriptions. For fun a group of us, at annual conference, discussed the best way to get a pay rise. We changed probably no more than a dozen words in our shared job description. Had it been implemented, which of course it wasn’t, we would have been due a 30% pay rise.
There are always ways to work any system to your advantage. | |
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| Income Tax rise ditched on 19:14 - Dec 10 with 48 views | Swansea_Blue |
| Income Tax rise ditched on 16:29 - Dec 10 by baxterbasics |
Well I know personally of some who do and I doubt I am unique. It's not just about income - it's the help with housing, council tax, prescriptions, so on. Lot's of people technically employed but on long term or regularly sick - getting some form of sick pay plus PIP and so on. It all adds up. I genuinely believe those being shafted most are those earning just enough to not qualify for anything, including those on the edge or just above the 40% tax bracket. I know it's not easy to segregate those in genuine need from those just taking advantage of the system, but doesn't make it any less frustrating. |
That’s fair enough; I don’t know anyone who’s doing stuff like this. There are benefit caps covering all of those items at about £1,200/month for a single (more for a family though). That’s still only about 2/3rd of the minimum wage per wage earner, so I’ve no idea why anyone would choose that route, but maybe they do.
Agreed, those just above thresholds seem to be in a particularly bad spot. | |
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| Income Tax rise ditched on 19:31 - Dec 10 with 37 views | J2BLUE |
| Income Tax rise ditched on 15:58 - Dec 10 by Swansea_Blue |
Is there actually any real evidence that being on benefits is a choice rather than looking for work? It sounds like a lazy stereotype. Universal credit is less than half the minimum wage for starters. That’s surely got to be a string incentive look for work? |
I read a book by someone who claimed to have played the system and lived on benefits. Released under a pseudonym obviously. I tend to believe it was a genuine account as it seemed realistic and I found it a bit depressing. Rather than a life of true freedom getting one over on the tax paper I just found it all a bit sad.
He had several failed relationships when they got too close and found out what he was doing
He had to move around when things fell apart
He did quite a lot of "paid hobbies" which were basically cash in hand work jobs.
He read, went for walks and had the occasional pint in his local.
He mentioned the ever increasing number of government schemes and placements you now have to do.
He seemed quite bright so made his money go quite far and earnt extra money when he wanted to but it still felt like it was an incredibly basic existence always looking over his shoulder and trying to keep people from finding out what he did.
Far from feeling angry and cheated, I just thought if you're prepared to accept that then you do you. I think the amount of people who would choose that life is tiny. I really want my freedom from having to work for an employer but it's a hell of a lot better than the life he was living. |  |
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| Income Tax rise ditched on 19:39 - Dec 10 with 31 views | Nthsuffolkblue |
| Income Tax rise ditched on 19:31 - Dec 10 by J2BLUE |
I read a book by someone who claimed to have played the system and lived on benefits. Released under a pseudonym obviously. I tend to believe it was a genuine account as it seemed realistic and I found it a bit depressing. Rather than a life of true freedom getting one over on the tax paper I just found it all a bit sad.
He had several failed relationships when they got too close and found out what he was doing
He had to move around when things fell apart
He did quite a lot of "paid hobbies" which were basically cash in hand work jobs.
He read, went for walks and had the occasional pint in his local.
He mentioned the ever increasing number of government schemes and placements you now have to do.
He seemed quite bright so made his money go quite far and earnt extra money when he wanted to but it still felt like it was an incredibly basic existence always looking over his shoulder and trying to keep people from finding out what he did.
Far from feeling angry and cheated, I just thought if you're prepared to accept that then you do you. I think the amount of people who would choose that life is tiny. I really want my freedom from having to work for an employer but it's a hell of a lot better than the life he was living. |
Sounds similar to a chap I used to work with who (after he finished working) would boast about being on disability benefit. I wouldn't have wanted to live his life at all and think it was very much bravado in an attempt to cover up his misery. I am certain he was much happier when he was working. |  |
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| Income Tax rise ditched on 19:40 - Dec 10 with 30 views | Swansea_Blue |
| Income Tax rise ditched on 19:31 - Dec 10 by J2BLUE |
I read a book by someone who claimed to have played the system and lived on benefits. Released under a pseudonym obviously. I tend to believe it was a genuine account as it seemed realistic and I found it a bit depressing. Rather than a life of true freedom getting one over on the tax paper I just found it all a bit sad.
He had several failed relationships when they got too close and found out what he was doing
He had to move around when things fell apart
He did quite a lot of "paid hobbies" which were basically cash in hand work jobs.
He read, went for walks and had the occasional pint in his local.
He mentioned the ever increasing number of government schemes and placements you now have to do.
He seemed quite bright so made his money go quite far and earnt extra money when he wanted to but it still felt like it was an incredibly basic existence always looking over his shoulder and trying to keep people from finding out what he did.
Far from feeling angry and cheated, I just thought if you're prepared to accept that then you do you. I think the amount of people who would choose that life is tiny. I really want my freedom from having to work for an employer but it's a hell of a lot better than the life he was living. |
That’s nuts. First off it sounds harder work than just having a job and then if he was topping it up with cash in hand it shows the system probably isn’t enough to have any sort of decent life off in any (and ideally it should just be a safety net of course).
Cash in hand must be an issue not just for tax evasion but also around benefit fraud too. But I bet most of us have paid someone cash for a job. I know I have in the past. | |
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