Benefit System

[Eastender]

For all the people that earn a honest crust, wave the flags and cheer, at last a shake up in the Benefit system. Or do you feel its to late?

[rov1200]

It seems the answer to all this complexity and fraud generated by a multitude of benefits is for the government replace the current system with 'NEGATIVE INCOME TAX'.

This is not a totally new idea as it was suggested by Milton Friedman when he was an advisor to Thatcher but today its more relevent. The benefit is that just one department the Inland Revenue can pay out money to those deserving as well as collecting from tax itself. If you think about it this makes sense as the current system is wide open to fraud.

One advantage of the new system is that rich people who receive child benefit will no longer do so.

[Everhelpful]

Dot and bobjugs make the most sense.

[sandyRoe]

Since when was having a roof over your head considered a luxury? If someone has a mortgage and then they become unemployed, they eventually receive the interest only part of it. It's better for all the family that they don't have the added stress of losing jobs and then their home.
It seems some who post here would bring back the workhouses...

[rov1200]

As I said above the government are considering replacing benefits with a negative income tax. See how it affects you:

http://www.telegraph....x-under-shake-up.html

[thetruthhurts]

Another benefit bashing thread, oh joy!

[ABconsultant]

Eddie some on here live in la la land i would love them to come out of work and see what they can claim. The person who has posted this question also posted this

http://www.theanswerb...w/Question833279.html

I now think He/She was just annoyed about the cold He/She was working in not the old folk

http://www.telegraph.....4bn-in-benefits.html

When or if they cut the benefits there will be a lot more old folk going to an early grave.
As for yourself best of luck mate.

[rov1200]

Eddie I'm surprised you kept in work until nearly 60. My brother who is 47 was laid off and he had a degree in Computing. The reason was the managers were in their 20's and did not like giving orders to someone far older.

The Labour party only looked after the down and outs who had little savings and relied on the state to live. The £16000 savings limit on council tax was a disgrace and has been like that for years.

I can only assume you have savings otherwise you would be entitled to more.l

[modeller]

sandy # Since when was having a roof over your head considered a luxury? If someone has a mortgage and then they become unemployed, they eventually receive the interest only part of it.#

Sandy it sounds a reasonable argument but the reality is that many people buy very expensive properties which they can't afford on an interest only repayment basis because they know the governmment will pay it for them, whilst they are on benefits .

[thedodge]

Like Eddie has had trouble my friend has had three of his old mates commit suicide over the las two years, All had worked since leaving school when they came out of work they had NO SAVINGS and were told they could not claim any of these benefits that would give them an easy life.
So that is another three English males that you kind people will not have to help.

Starve the sick back into work but if there is no work sod them let them starve.
Thatcher would be proud !

[bobjugs12]

Christ on a bike, this has stirred up a hornets nest.

Eddie, mate you are a perfect example of the people in this world who should be supported by benefits. You have massive experience and skills in a certain field. But when you couldn't find work you swallowed your pride, and got a job that is beneath somebody of your skills.
My post wasn't aimed at people who have work, and are struggling to pay for life with their wages; but people who have no work, and feel that menial jobs are for somebody else. Me personally, after 10 years in the RAF and now as a Ambulanceman, if I found myself without employment I'd rather go and serve in McDonalds than go onto the 'dole'.

This isn't about workhouses, or starving the poor. This is about making people realise that life isn't a free ride until the job they deem worthy of them comes along. So what if you have a Doctorate in Quantum Physics, if the only jobs available at the time are shelf stacking at Asda, then IMO thats where you should be, and if that job working for NASA comes up afterwards then great. At least you've been contributing back to society in the meantime.

[poodicat]

Have you a job bobjugs?

[bobjugs12]

Yes poodi, I'm still serving till Friday prior to commencment of terminal leave, I then start with the Ambulance service the following Monday (and god am I gonna get hit by the taxman!)

[cazzz1975]

plenty of people would love the shelf stacking job bob, its not a case of being to proud to take a menial job, its the fact that for every one menial vacancy there are hundreds of applications. most people would do anything than claim the dole, the jobs are just not plentiful enough.

[bobjugs12]

Cazzz, McDonalds are always advertising, so are Asda's and Sainsbury's (admittidly I'm basing that on this neck of the woods and cannot comment about other parts of the country, but at the same time, i'm also basing my opinions on the people I know around this neck of the woods as well)

[cazzz1975]

of course they are always advertising, but they put your name on file after you apply and that is it. dont believe the hype that there are surplus jobs and unemployed people are merely lazy wasters..

[bobjugs12]

Cazzz, I never said unemployed people are wasters. What I have said is the benefit system is there as a safety net, and yet too many people abuse the net for their own gain.

[cazzz1975]

yes but most wouldnt choose a life on benefits, there is nothing like earning your own money and holding your head up high.

[bobjugs12]

Cazzz, a large part of this is based on the people I grew up around, on my estate. Those people are still there, and have never made any moves to change. There are girls I grew up with who now have a brood of children, and seriously view each child as a way of upgrading to a bigger house, their daughters are starting along the road towards motherhood. There are lads I knew who have never worked a day in their life, and never contribute to their kids upbringing. This is still happening on the estate, and there are new families going down that route every week.