Do you agree the forthcoming budget cuts on child benefits and winter fuel amongst others will hurt women most?

I don't agree with it but I can see why it maybe needs to be done. The winter fuel payments should and must be means tested so that those who are the most vulnerable can really benefit. They are increasing the age from 60 to 66 to tie in with the new retirement age for a lot of people and I suppose the theory is that whilst someone is in paid employment they should be able to afford to pay their energy bills which in practice obviously isn't the case. The child benefit is going to be reduced for families earning over £40K, the theory being that more money can go to those at the lower end of the scale. Whilst these changes leave a sour taste in the mouth, the reality is that there does have to be a real shake up in the benefits system.

Well the Coalition say it is needed in order to get our way our of the tough economical climate we are in. If it really is needed, then it'll have to be done I suppose. As soon as we come out of it though I would hope that the cuts would be changed so that it would be fairer to everyone once again. If they don't do that, then they're not going to be very popular next election.

These cuts are immoral when MPs are still claiming colossal amounts in so called expenses have subsidised canteens and bars make cuts in their own quarter first. After all they ain't on £6 a hour but on a good salary.

In an ideal world these benefits would go to everyone as we have all paid taxes into the system. But with the economy as it is at the moment I suppose that cuts have to be made. I hope that the child benefits are cut only for higher earners as the least well off otherwise suffer most. I agree that it is women likely to suffer most from the winter fuel allowance cut, especially elderly single women who are probably on very low incomes. I hope that the government will have considered this when it announces the cuts. It is also likely to be young single women who will be worst off from the child benefit cuts as well.

This will probably be controversial but cutting benefits needs to be done. Too many people who are well enough off are still entitles to benefits. Plus having them easy to claim (in my opinion) encourages people to change their lifestyle in order to claim more benefits. Now I am not saying that there aren't people out there who don't need benefits, but I also think there are a lot who can cope without them

hey sporty i agreee with you totally we in this country are too easy at handing out benefits to anyone who asks for it

I think it will be women who are hurt most by these cuts. I do think that there should be no child benefit and no other benefits (like council flats) for any one with just one child. This may discourage the idea that having a child is a way for a single young mother to become independent.

I do have concerns about making benefits means tested. I have heard far too many tales from middle class adults about having their parents bank and building society accounts in their name so their parents can claim the benefits and too many tales about people who can claim benefits not wishing to or not knowing they can apply for means tested benefits. We cannot have a system that is either so open to abuse or is not of benefit to those in real need.

If you assume that there are more female single parent families than male or partnered families and that women statistically live longer than men then yes it probably will affect women more.

Where there are two parents are you insinuating that the partner will not top up the loss? :)

yes, there are more single women parents so of course they will lose out more than men and there are more women pensioners than men.

I have to say the next few years look worrying for all.

It is hard for sure, however there are people who abuse the system by having loads of kids etc and not working and they get money thrown at them, they should be made to provide for their kids too. As for winter fuel that should be given regardless as the elderly do suffer, a distant relative lives in one room most of the time and thats the only room she heats. As soon as you open another door you let all the heat out!