Budget review

[Desmo]

Nope. I put in all the hard work and when it all goes tits up due to a bad economy I get bugger all help

[Matblack]

Originally Posted by Desmo

So where do I get my help from? I've paid my taxes for a bloody long time and if my business goes bust, being self-employed, I get no help. Where is the incentive for people to start up their own small business?

Your fuxed, you'd be a case for income based JSA but.......

If you have a partner who works an average of 24 hours a week or more you cannot usually get income-based JSA. This work does not affect your contribution-based JSA.

Theres a definate issue there, are you paying NI?

If you have been paying NI, which is effectively an 'insurance' policy then I can sort of see why this happens but your right its still not entirely fair. The option I suppose is that you are forced to pay NI at a level you would have it paid for you if you were working for a company but obviously this is also an issue for people planning on starting their own company, possibly more so than the risk of not getting government help if it all goes tits up :/

MB

[Admiral Huddy]

Originally Posted by Kitten_caboodle

yeah I never thought that was fair. At the company I used to work at they used to give people the option of going over the tax bracket or staying just under it and taking benefits instead (shares etc) so they weren't taxed at 40pc.

I know a lot of peop, who have choosen not to exceed the limit for this very reason. Unless the amount paid is well above the threshold then your silly to accept an annual salary just above. There are too many other considerations to bear in mind like bonuses, interest and any other income that will be taxable at the higher rate.

The smake in the face for me is overtime. I'm on call every other week and sometimes get called out overnight. Pisses my off when nearly half that goes on tax.

But as I said, it's something you accept.

[Admiral Huddy]

Originally Posted by Kitten_caboodle

Well I don't agree that the gap should be as large as £32,400 - £200k+ - that's certainly not fair.
There's a huge difference between the standard of living that comes with just over £32k and that which comes with £200k so I think that seriously needs looking at. But no, I don't think it's morally right to do it.

Whether or not you take the shares instead, which some companies do as a standard practice - that's for the individual to decide.

the 200k was just an example I think.

Basic rate of tax should be for the majority of working class IMO, but it appears that working class is banded.

[Dymetrie]

At the start of 2002 (I think) when I found myself unemployed I applied for JSA (with the intention of not being on it for long because I get bored when not working). My records were checked for the previous 3 years and allegedly I didn't pay enough NI to qualify to receive anything, at all. I had been working for the entirety of that time, and I was a student FFS!

Did they take this into account? Did they accept the fact that I was working my sac off to try and find a job? Did they expect me to live on fumes (this being London and all)?

It was at that point that I lost all respect for the DWP. Here was me, an honest person who had been paying taxes on virtually full time work for 6 years, paid my way through University and I was being ignored and crapped on when the slapper who lived 2 doors down the road popped a sprog and got a free house, money to buy her sprog a playstation (at 18 months old!) and everything she asked for...

Bitter? No, I'm not bitter, disillusioned and pissed off? Yes.

[mejinks]

A Disabled friend of mine can claim over £300 a week with disability/jsa/whatever else and theres me paying a shade over £200 a WEEK in tax. How the **** is that fair?

[Dymetrie]

Originally Posted by mejinks

A Disabled friend of mine can claim over £300 a week with disability/jsa/whatever else and theres me paying a shade over £200 a WEEK in tax. How the **** is that fair?

He's disabled...

Seems pretty fair to me unless.. Can he work, is he trying to? Or is he just sponging?

[mejinks]

Originally Posted by dymetrie

He's disabled...

Seems pretty fair to me unless.. Can he work, is he trying to? Or is he just sponging?

She.

Yes, she can work, but suffers from the fact she cannot lift her arm above shoulder height and suffers with PTSD.

She would be willing to work and is allowed to work 16 hours a week before it affects her benefits.

[Haly]

Originally Posted by Kitten_caboodle

I have to say that sounds a bit unlikely - the highest payment rate is £62.25 and anything extra such as housing benefit/council tax help goes straight back to pay for those things. Does she work the 16 hours? If so, that makes more sense but I find it hard to believe he takes home £300 p.w unless she is paid for a helper - and that should go straight to the carer.

If she is claiming disability I don't think she's allowed to claim JSA...because she can't be actively seeking work if she's disabled... and JSA is only £57 per week iirc so she's not going to be raking it in on either.

I agree. Sounds like a lot more than meets the eye.
I know my Dad gets nowhere near that amount for disability benefit, I don't think he even earns that much and he works part time :undecided:

[mejinks]

Originally Posted by Kitten_caboodle

I have to say that sounds a bit unlikely - the highest payment rate is £62.25 and anything extra such as housing benefit/council tax help goes straight back to pay for those things. Does she work the 16 hours? If so, that makes more sense but I find it hard to believe he takes home £300 p.w unless she is paid for a helper - and that should go straight to the carer.

If she is claiming disability I don't think she's allowed to claim JSA...because she can't be actively seeking work if she's disabled... and JSA is only £57 per week iirc so she's not going to be raking it in on either.

I will ask next time she comes down, but afair, she is claiming all sorts, including attendance? allowance, higher disability, and yes, 16 hours a week work, which is minimum wage.