Sally Redux

Dear oh dear.

Giantaxe

The UK needs to do a much better job of targeting towards where the need is. Two simple examples: why provide prescriptions and bus passes free of charge to all retirees?

dogloverus

They could argue that they paid millions in tax so are entitled to their scripts and bus passes in return. They could say that why should those who have contributed nothing get them?

scrubbedexpat099

You are out of date, child support is the latest one.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2...no-10-treasury

Notice the quality of the source.

Giantaxe

Sure "they" could. It doesn't mean it's good public policy to do so.

Giantaxe

Sounds like a good idea to me although the threshold should probably be higher and a "cliff" needs to be avoided.

Sally Redux

At one time the argument was that it was cheaper in terms of administrative costs to just pay it to everyone with children.

Giantaxe

At one time it was a tax benefit rather than an allowance. It was changed back in the days when the tax collection system treated married women as second class citizens and taxed them as an appendage to their husbands - the concern was that husbands would pocket the tax savings and the child wouldn't benefit. Very sexist in both directions, imo.

So what I would do have a child exemption like they do in the US and phase it out for higher-income earners.

Sally Redux

Out of interest, what sort of level would you set for removing it?

It sometimes seems like people earning around 45,000 quid get squeezed the most.

Giantaxe

I wouldn't have a threshold. Instead I'd start phasing it out when one's income was above the start of the 50% tax band, i.e. £150,000 a year iirc.

Sally Redux

Yes that makes sense. The current UK govt proposal seems tough on families with one earner at the 42,745 level.

SultanOfSwing

Grow up.

Marocco

In London, you can hardly walk down any street without seeing "help wanted" signs in restaurant and shop windows. So much for the "not enough jobs" myth.

Giantaxe

Which state is London in?

SultanOfSwing

Unrest? Undress??

I'd guess either Maine or Ontario