I don't think we've taken in just how seriously a decade of frozen thresholds is affecting middle earners. Here's a graph I just made showing how median fulltimers will soon be paying 40% at margin, whereas in 2010 you needed to be 70% above that median to do so
Today's announcement says WFA eligibility to be determined on an individual basis, even though it goes to households. So couple eligible if neither partner has pension income above 35k, and possibly if either partner has below 35k, even if the other is above? The latter not fully clear.
Restoring winter fuel allowance to most pensioners is nothing to do with targeting fuel poverty. It'll go to couples with nearly £70k total, living comfortably enough to afford annual 4* fortnight in med. www.retirementlivingstandards.org.uk Even billionaires' partners eligible if own pension low!
Tax credits are no more. They may be unmourned but should be remembered as a breakthrough tool in reducing child poverty. My retrospective suggests that Universal Credit could continue in that path, if there's the political will.
Tax credits are no more. They may be unmourned but should be remembered as a breakthrough tool in reducing child poverty. My retrospective suggests that Universal Credit could continue in that path, if there's the political will.
Yes, and let's note there's huge read-across not just to 2010 but also 1997 (youth guarantee sounds almost identical!) New Deals achieved a lot, but didnt permanently create high quality support at the scale we now need.
