Food Stamps instead of cash

[mungbeanz]

What do you think about giving people on the dole food vouchers and a small amount of cash instead of all cash?
Do you think this could be a viable alternative and encourage out of work people to find a job if they want to spend money on luxuries?

I think that it would encourage people on JSA to spend less money on cigarettes and playstations. Many countries don't have any welfare, so why should our generous system pay for big tellies and Embassy No.1? It seems that people in Britain expect to own anything they want even if they can't afford it.

This isn't a rant. I would like to know if this system could work. I know that many peopel on the dole do struggle, but there also seems to be a few who know how to abuse the system. This system could help stop this maybe?

[mungbeanz]

Probably. But the way the succesive governments have been handling the situation, it needs some sort of overhaul.

[Frank97]

I think it would just lead to more crime because junkies will still need cash to buy drugs.

[daffy654]

NI number on vouchers would be pointless, who is going to take the time to check it when serving in a shop?

[fliptheswitch]

I don't know where you're getting this "big tellies, Playstations and cigarettes" crap from, Mungbeanz?

Anyone on Jobseekers would never be able to afford these luxuries, unless they were working on the side.

I think food tokens are a terrible idea. If someone wants to spend their weekly benefit money on something other than food, then what on earth has it got to do with anyone else?
Also, there are many, many people who are made unemployed through no fault of their own. People who don't want to be unemployed, but can't find jobs. Why should they have this stigma attached to them, just to make you feel better?!

I thought the government was supposed to be cutting benefits, for people who had been on them long term? What happened to that?

[mungbeanz]

OK no food vouchers. Another idea would be to build huge dinner halls where the unemployed would be fed a set munu. Then they could have their benefits reduced to a few pounds for day to day travel and the like.

[mccfluff]

i don't disagree with you there but i don't think food stamps are the answer

[mccfluff]

what about bills, elec, gas, water etc etc

[Davethedog]

The point I was making is that if you can penalise the father you might stop so many acting irresponsibility. I am all for the safty net, I think it is essentail to the civilised society, there is no doubt that some milk it. I am all for the mistake but “Once is nothing, twice is coincidence, three times is a moral certainty" not only that a number of these children are not given any chance by thier parents.

[mccfluff]

a voucher is just a promise of cash, beleive me if you wanted to turn it into cold hard reddies you could

[fliptheswitch]

"Another idea would be to build huge dinner halls where the unemployed would be fed a set munu"

Are you serious?

[mungbeanz]

"If someone wants to spend their weekly benefit money on something other than food, then what on earth has it got to do with anyone else?"

It has everything to do with everyone else. Welfare is to maintain a basic standard of living while searching for a job. i.e food, electricity, aroof etc.

[mungbeanz]

I'm deadly serious fliptheswitch. I've lived in countries which have no welfare system and people get by. They don't hold out their hand every week for their 'entitlement'. I sympathise with many people that use the JSA becasue they have lost a job and are searching for another. But people should have no right at all to expect to live off the state and not look for work.

[Frank97]

But dinner halls do exist, I've known people who will spend their whole giro on drugs and then simply go to the local soup kitchen or kingdom hall in order to be fed.

[daffy654]

Dinner halls?!? I am shocked you haven't suggested poor houses or work houses yet mungbeanz.

[fliptheswitch]

I completely agree with you about the people who expect to live off the state, and who have no intentions of finding work at all.
However, you can't tar everyone with the same brush, so what about the genuine people. Should then still have to go to the big hall and sit like a homeless person?

[jackthehat]

In addition to the costs of the food-stamps, how much would you say was a fair cash amount, each week to cover the following?
Water Bill
Electricity Bill
Gas Bill
Insurance (house)
Insurance (personal)
Car (fuel, insurance, road tax)
Prescriptions (contrary to popular opinion these are not free for all)
Pets (food and vets)
Clothes and shoes (not designer, just practical)
Toiletries
Financial obligations (credit cards/loans - once the PPI period has expired)
Household DIY emergency materials.

Which countries are you talking about........?

[mungbeanz]

It seems I can't win with my ideas. But I feel that the dinner hall idea could work for the long term unemployed. Get 6 months of dole then its off to the dinner hall. I bet loads of people would find jobs in that 6 month window.

[fliptheswitch]

Ah, ok. Now I may start to agree with you. I do agree that the long term unemployed, should be gently pushed into getting jobs, but I really don't think the food hall would do much.
If we're talking about people who make a career out of being on the dole, then I doubt very much they'd give a toss about having a meal in a hall, with other scroungers. They'd probably see it as a social event! :P

[fliptheswitch]

Any more ideas?

[ummmm]

So you'd expect a mother to drag her children out in all weathers to dine in a hall? What if this hall is miles away?

And these countries you talk about...do they get money deducted at source for such scenarios?