Government Ministers laugh as they make the poor poorer

[TJC1]

Do many on this thread actually understand what was voted through yesterday. Here's a hyperbole-free explanation from the BBC of what actually happened:

 

Working-age benefits including jobseeker's allowance, employment and support allowance and income support: 1% rise in each of the next three years.

 

Child benefit: Frozen until April 2014. Will rise by 1% in each of the next two years.

 

Maternity, paternity and adoption pay: Rise by 1% in each of the next three years.

 

Carer's allowance and disability benefits: Will rise in line with inflation, by 2.2% in April

 

Child tax credits and working tax credits: To rise by 1% in each of the next three years, although some will be frozen in 2012-13

 

Local housing allowance: Capped at a 1% rise for each of the two years from April 2014

Basic state pension: 2.5% in April.

 

Additional state pension: Up 2.2% in April, in line with inflation.

 

 

In short, all benefits are going up.

 

Wrong. There going down, way down below rate of inflation. Local housing allowance was already slashed up to 30%. A million are already losing child benefit this Jan.In short everyone is going to be much worse off.

[I1L2T3]

Do many on this thread actually understand what was voted through yesterday. Here's a hyperbole-free explanation from the BBC of what actually happened:

 

Working-age benefits including jobseeker's allowance, employment and support allowance and income support: 1% rise in each of the next three years.

 

Child benefit: Frozen until April 2014. Will rise by 1% in each of the next two years.

 

Maternity, paternity and adoption pay: Rise by 1% in each of the next three years.

 

Carer's allowance and disability benefits: Will rise in line with inflation, by 2.2% in April

 

Child tax credits and working tax credits: To rise by 1% in each of the next three years, although some will be frozen in 2012-13

 

Local housing allowance: Capped at a 1% rise for each of the two years from April 2014

Basic state pension: 2.5% in April.

 

Additional state pension: Up 2.2% in April, in line with inflation.

 

 

In short, all benefits are going up.

 

Benefits are going up below the rate of inflation so it's a cut in real terms at a time when the costs of living are increasing. Locked in for three years when the government don't know what inflation rates will do. The Tories, Osborne especially, like to gamble. All Osborne's other gambles have failed but like most gamblers he'll have a lot of fun with it, especially as he's playing with other peoples' money.

[TJC1]

In short, we've already screwed the low wage earners now its time to do the benefit claimants.

 

Middle earners, low wage and now benefits nobody is safe except those laughing in Westminster.

[Tony]

Ah, so now we can discuss the facts and their nuances rather than the headlines and hyperbole. Excellent

 

What rises have benefits claimants enjoyed in the last couple of years? Something like 5% wasn't it? That's more than double the current rate of inflation.

[maxmaximus]

Benefits are going up below the rate of inflation so it's a cut in real terms at a time when the costs of living are increasing. Locked in for three years when the government don't know what inflation rates will do. The Tories, Osborne especially, like to gamble. All Osborne's other gambles have failed but like most gamblers he'll have a lot of fun with it, especially as he's playing with other peoples' money.

 

With wages going down and benefits going up there will be even less reasons for the unemployed to take up employment, what we needed was wages going up and benefits going down, the gap between workers and claimants needs to increase not decrease.

[EASTWOOD141]

With wages going down and benefits going up there will be even less reasons for the unemployed to take up employment, what we needed was wages going up and benefits going down, the gap between workers and claimants needs to increase not decrease.

 

What are you on about, the way this goverment is going, there won't be many workers left.

[maxmaximus]

What are you on about, the way this goverment is going, there won't be many workers left.

 

There are more workers now than before they took office.

[EASTWOOD141]

There are more workers now than before they took office.

 

Delusional! the country is in a right mess just admit it, this Goverment has a record of making things worse, remember the only reason your in is because of that idiot Clegg or other wise you would'nt have stood a chance.

[Tony]

Facts are always useful at times like this

 

http://www.ons.gov.uk/ons/rel/lms/labour-market-statistics/december-2012/index.html

 

The employment rate for those aged from 16 to 64 for August to October 2012 was 71.2 per cent, up 0.1 from May to July 2012. There were 29.60 million people in employment aged 16 and over, up 40,000 from May to July 2012.

 

The unemployment rate for August to October 2012 was 7.8 per cent of the economically active population, down 0.2 from May to July 2012. There were 2.51 million unemployed people, down 82,000 from May to July 2012.

 

The inactivity rate for those aged from 16 to 64 for August to October 2012 was 22.6 per cent, up 0.1 from May to July 2012. There were 9.07 million economically inactive people aged from 16 to 64, up 60,000 from May to July 2012.

 

Between August to October 2011 and August to October 2012, total pay (including bonuses) rose by 1.8 per cent and regular pay (excluding bonuses) rose by 1.7 per cent.

[Halibut]

 

Between August to October 2011 and August to October 2012, total pay (including bonuses) rose by 1.8 per cent and regular pay (excluding bonuses) rose by 1.7 per cent.[/i]

 

Who are the people getting these pay rises? My wage hasn't gone up for three years.