[dizzyblonde]

TBH I can't see how a family with an income of over 44k is going to notice £80 a month disappearing if they only have one child. Your second child gives you another 50 odd a month, so perhaps more noticeable, and again with a third child. If you can't manage on that income, you need to look at how you manage yer money.

For a couple that earns well below that as a joint income, I would certainly notice if both my kids benefits were withdrawn. Times are slightly hard, ask me a few months ago, and I'd have said I wouldn't get my knickers in a twist over it. I've been entitled to 10 or so quid a week in Child Tax credits since Peg moved here, but haven't bothered to claim, but now with two children its needed.

Now to be really effective, I'd like see chavvy layabouts* lose their child benefit, make em get off their ass and go to work for it like anyone else....but then that sounds really horrid, why should people that work get nothing, but people that don't get everything?

*In this I mean those who purposely prefer to sit about doing sweet FA, as opposed to those who have no choice due to illness or other, and those who really would rather work, but have no luck.