General Chat

There is no problem if ALL benefits, like pensions, are taxed. The same for all, as long as a married (or registered as a family unit) couples get 2 Personnal Allowances.

Grandpa,those 'single parents' are raising tomorrows tax payers.We try to do a good job and some of us don't look at things as 'why should I when I dont have'.All situations change and no body should be put upon because their situation differs from their neighbours. What a subject eh !!!!Did you fall out of bed this morning and hit the floor with a bang? In answer to your acyual question....NO.... Elizabeth. (who thinks life itself is taxing enough).

I think that a more relevant point, and maybe the one Jim is trying to make, is that single parents and those on benefits should not be treated more favourably than working couples. Sometimes, and I am not saying in all cases, the grossed up value of benefits and allowances can equate to a very high salary. Just to take housing benefit as an example, with the average cost of a modest house at £120,000 or so, a free house is worth say £600 a month which would otherwise be paid out of taxed income, grossed up say £850 a month.

As soon as I read that I thought 'Oh Grandpa Jim you do like living dangerously. For my part I am fed up with reading from the younger members of society that they are paying for my pension... So what, I paid for my parents' generation's pension, that is how it works, or should I say worked, because it obviously is not working now. All of us who worked paid contributions towards the pensions funds in some way or other. we, the pensioners of today are NOT sponging off the younger workers of today. No Jim it wouldn't work taxing single parents more because they would only become more needy and have to claim more money from the state to make up for what they would be paying out. It would be more to the point if we tried to eleviate the problem of having so many young teenage single mothers. If America can encourage them to 'just say no' why can't we? Ann Glos

Hi Blue!! I mean there have been cases on tv (wife swap for example) & in the papers were a couple can receive £30,000 plus in benefits between them. I mean why shouldn't they pay tax on that amount, same as ordinary working families do? Don Believe me at with care fees at £2000 + a month you better have a lot stashed away chuck!! lol :0) Joan

i agree with one of the replies - we're not all the same. I have raised my son since he was 6 months old (now nearly 4), and i have no choice but to live off 'hand outs'. My son has health problems and i cannot work (unless there is a really nice boss out there). We are at the hospital every 2-3 months. Don't label us, its not always our fault. Although my son gets disability allowance, i find it hard to survive on what i get, and if i could work i would. I even have to live with my parents as i can't afford my own place (i'm 26)

I agree with you Joan, xcept for the 'spend all your money'. I would not wish to live 'provided for'. I would rather /hope I can pay for myself !!!

Both my daughter and I supported it Don - it was the males in our lives than decided to give it up and 'go away'.

I don't think they should, but I do think that everyone (including those on benefits) should be taxed the same as the next person, without exception if their income exceeds the taxable limit. That would stop people living off benefits who could work, but don't because it pays them not to. As for the elderly having their care paid for, that only happens if they have no savings or home to sell. For the others who have been careful with their money it is all taken from them. So the moral of the story is to make sure you spend every penny & make yourself homeless before you're 80 !! :0) Joan

Why is it that we no longer wish to encourage and support marriage and stable partnerships ?

What started that Jim? Why should they be taxed more, do you have a reason? I just LOVE the label 'Single Parent' The only one you would not argue about was born over two thousand years ago, what was his name again??? Oh yea...........JESUS Why is it that the single parent who should be penalised is usually the mother...having been one through no fault of my own, let me tell you it is no fun for the mother and definitley no fun for the children!! Deanna X

A knighthood for Paul. Off with Grandpa Jims head LOL.

personally I think working single parents should be taxed LESS as they have more of a burden in raising their children alone

They certainly should not be taxed less, 'cos that would (indeed prob does) encourage less marriages/stable partnerships !!!!

My daughter is a single parent and because the father doesn't want to know she has to exist on state hand-outs so in the end it would be you that was paying the extra tax. Her baby is under a year and I don't blame her one bit for not wanting to go back to work yet - you hear such horror stories re child care. I was also a single parent for several years to 3 children aged 2,4 and 7. Again the father didn't want to know as he had his 'new' family to take care of, and it was a real struggle trying to feed and clothe 3 children on about £30 a week. Grandpa Jim, you try being a single parent for a while and then see how you feel about the extra tax.

I resent the insinuation that a person will be 'dumped on the state' simply because they've been a single parent. I was a single parent for 14 years and worked full time. I've a personal pension, I've saved and I will be able to provide for myself when I'm elderly. Don't lump all single parents in the same box

The reason the elderly will be dumped on the state is because Equitable Life, Robert Maxwell, our beloved Chancellor et al have been stealing money from people's pension funds. At least single parent families have a child or two - I heard on the radio recently that 25% of female graduates will remain childless. This must mean a fair proportion of men aren't producing offspring either. Who will take care of them, financially or, if they need it, physically?

Grampa - been really peaceful on here today.. brave man you! I think different catagories of people should be taxed differently anyway. Why should my taxes pay for my neighbours four children be educated ? I dont have children - why should i pay for education? Jessx

In the age of the Nuclear Family, the task of taking care of the elderly usually became the responsibility of the children. So should single parents be taxed more to pay for the care of the Elderly who will get dumped on the State?