General Chat

What did you think of the Budget ???

Apart from disgust that the disabled will lose £3500 a year, and low income families will lose tax credits - but all is well, those earning over £40,000 a year will be £400 better off (not that they'll notice it).

I was intrigued that yesterday he said that tax on sanitary products (that, due to EU regulations he couldn't axe), would be put towards 'women's' charities ie refuges etc - but it had to be applied for (so they wouldn't necessarily get it).
My first thought was 'Oh, women are paying extra tax on something we can't do without, to protect women (on the whole) from men!!!'

Yet today he said he would make a 'deal' with the EU to axe the tax :-S
If he can do it now - why didn't he do it years ago?
Also, where will the funding for women's refuges come from??

As for the 'sugar tax' - just call it ANOTHER tax :-(
But very handy to drown the attacks on the poor and vulnerable that were hidden in the budget.


....well, you did ask...... :-D

To be honest
I was disgusted at what they are doing to the Sick and Disabled

As for the sugar tax does that mean Diet Pepsi
will be cheaper thank the normal one
I think they will put up the cost of both

And I don't think the EU will do a deal with him on anything
they are taking the urine out of this country :-(
and we are paying them billions to do it :-( :-( :-( :-( :-(

I'm disgusted that he has not made any increases on alcohol - alcohol related violence costs this country millions and causes misery to people who are the victims of drunken behaviour

Of course, tobacco gets hit again, but who would you rather face on a night out, someone who has drunk one too many or someone who has smoked a few fags - if you were a nurse in A & E, would you rather treat a drunk or a smoker - I rest my case

Hear Hear Ann. That is exactly the thoughts of myself and OH.

thank you :-D

He did raise the tax on wine so that will be dearer.

I suppose he has tried to do something about obesity, he did try and get the firms who produce fizzy drinks/squash etc to voluntarily cut down on sugar, some of it is horrendous how much sugar is in it, as the firms didn't do it voluntarily he has put the tax on. Trouble is, all they do is pass the tax on to the customer so it doesn't hurt them. I can't think ti will be enough to stop people buying it. what they should be doing is make sure parents are educated about the dangers of too much sugar.

I don't think that increasing the threshold for 40% is helping the rich though, that is more for the middle classes, some teachers earn that amount these days and maybe higher grade nurses etc. Salaries are a lot higher than when I was working.

Yes it is disgusting what they are doing to the sick and disabled I agree.

Good he is helping small businesses, that will help when they have to pay higher minimum wage.

And I did note that people who sell on Ebay etc can now earn 1000 a year without being liable for any tax.

And no extra tax on fuel, that has to be good.

The problem with cutting the amount of tax small businesses pay, (which I agree with in principle) is that it will further reduce money going to local councils.

The Government has already cut funding to Councils, that has led to 'frontline' services to the elderly, sick, young and vulnerable being slashed. This is yet another cut to local funding.

It's very clever, as people assume the Councils have randomly stopped services, but with their funding reaching the same (in monetary values) as that in the 1940's, it means services are also becoming similar to those in the 1940's.

Very much a 'divide and rule' Government, even to the extent of turning people against their local Council!! (and, as a rule, I have little time for them)

They can raise the alcohol tax as much as they like for me
Ann is right about smokers
been less harmful or offensive than drinkers
:-( :-(

I've been reading about the logic of the cuts they will be making and some of it makes a kind of sense. For example when people are first diagnosed there is an initial outlay for equipment and aids to help them live as normal a life as possible and after that outlay then expenses are much less.

However, I would argue that there should be a one off grant at diagnosis so people can buy everything they need and not have to save up from the benefits received. If day to day expenses for some are less after that then surely any money saved should go to those struggling to get by?

They don't need to buy aids
Occupational Therapy will provide most of them if needed

Most Disabled people are living on a very limited income

ESA IS ONLY £109 if in the support group (I just looked it up )
not a lot with rising fuel and food costs
Some will get DLA on top but quite a lot don't

Most of these poor people have paid Taxs all their lives
Shouldn't we at least try to provide a reasonable amount per week
for them to live on
Its not like they are living in Luxury like those MPs :-( :-(

Joy, some aids *do* have to be bought. Only "essential" aids are free. This was the case with both of my parents. They also had to pay for an extra stair rail, despite it being recommended by the OT. It would have been free if they'd been prepared to go on a waiting list until the money was available.

Where did I say people didn't deserve a reasonable amount per week? Some people need a lot more than they are getting, others less. My friend's father has thousands in the bank saved from his and his wife's disability benefits. They could obviously have got by on a lot less, given that they had good pensions as well.

Things are not always clear cut.

But they are not going to take the £30 a week from the rich sick and disabled
It will be all of them-- even the poor ones
I feel for the ones that will suffer or struggle

If somebody's on an Oxygen machine
that could add another £25 a week to their electric bills

NOBODYS ASKS TO BE ILL :-(

And it could happen to any one of us at any time :-( :-(

http://www.nhs.uk/conditions/social-care-and-support-guide/Pages/equipment-aids-adaptations.aspx

The Government are due to spend £1.6bn over the next 3 year to Maximus, to assess the sick and disabled for work!!

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/dwp-fit-to-work-assessments-cost-more-than-they-save-report-reveals-a6801636.html

This inhumane process costs more than it saves :-(

I do think people who fake Disablement should be punished
and I think we all know at least one of then :-( :-(

But the real Sick and Disabled have my respect
I don't know how some of them carry on and still be cheery :-D :-D :-D
BLESS THEM

I agree, Joy.
MP's who claim false expenses should also be punished - and I don't mean just pay the money back - they STOLE it from us!!

Maggie I know somebody who's medical was assessed by a midwife

What does she know about
Lung cancer heart attacks heart and lung transplants
and COPD

Maximus same as ATOS , ARE A COMPLET JOKE
:-( :-( :-( :-( :-(

They are, Joy, and a complete waste of money. It's just corporate vindictiveness for the sake of it.
It achieves very little - a few may truly be able to work, but that is very few, at the cost of unnecessary stress/sanctions/appeals to the majority.

Initial grant then means testing?

TBH the whole benefit system needs a shake up.
A friends daughter, admittedly some time ago, asked and was given an allowance to enable her to live independently. It was a 'gateway' allowance to other benefits. The advisor was extremely surprised that she didn't want or need to claim.

The person I know on Oxygen
Was sent for a work related meeting at the job plus centre
And were told he could drive a taxi
his wife pointed out
where would he get insurance to carry fare paying passengers
After having lung cancer a massive heart attack
and COPD in the lung he has left and his larger Lung completely removed
She then told the adviser to put him down as an astronaut
and as he had his own Oxygen supply they would only have to buy him the suit
They where then told the wife was been aggressive (rightly so she was )
and the adviser said her mother was on Oxygen
and the wife said and what "£$%^ job did you give her to do
The adviser replied she was to ill to work
and the wife said YES and so is he
The wife then finished the interview by saying
Why don't you pop him down for a dirty porn phone line £29 per hour
and if they want more heavy breathing
I can stand on the poor buggars Oxygen lines

At which the Husband and wife walked out
Telling them where to go and what to do with their meeting
Funny they never got called back in for a second meeting

Where has the common sense gone
its shocking how some sick and disabled are treated :-( :-( :-(