Social Welfare in the UK

[Whickerman]

There's a budget here in Ireland in about a month, and there's uproar because the govt plans to cut social welfare. I'm genuinely lucky in that both my wife and I are in full time employment, but I guess it's bloody hard if you're not.
At present, here, a single person on the dole or pension gets €204 a week (£184 sterling). Lone parents get €204 plus €26 per child but can earn a further €145.60 without loss of benefits.
Also child benefit is at €166 per month for the first child, the same for the second and increases to €203 per child thereafter - (every parent gets this, regardless of income/job status).
Everyone on benefits gets free medical treatment and medication, and there's the usual social housing etc. Granted this isn't a fortune but we don't have water rates or council tax here.

How does this compare with the UK?

[littlegriff]

cant comment on child benefit as have no children, but i was made redundant in january and the kind government gave me 65 pound per week for first 6 monht and 3.85 a week after that, no help with mortgage, but i did get 20 quid of my council tax but still had to find 79quid to pay that.

[albaqwerty]

unemployed single man in UK £64 per week

Child Benefit can't remember eldest child, but £20 per week for younger don't know about subsequent children tho

Housing Benefit paid, but have to pay about £3 per week towards water rates

[Pigletion]

http://www.direct.gov...ngforwork/DG_10018757

outlines job seekers allowance, but web site as a whole would probably answer all your questions. I would hazard a guess that at the moment you are better off...

[naomi24]

Hi Whicker, I'm sorry, I don't know the answers, but just out of interest I would like to ask how water and all the things that we pay for through our council tax are funded in Ireland.

[naomi24]

Thanks Annie. Are the tax rates higher than ours?

[craft1948]

Well the UK pension is £97.00 per week........

[naomi24]

Sorry, another question. Whicker says everyone on benefits gets free medical treatment, so does that mean that those not on benefits have to pay?

[naomi24]

So if you're not on benefits you have to pay for medical treatment and hospital stays?

[pericat]

yep

[pericat]

i was at the docs on monday and paid 60 euro

[naomi24]

Thanks very much Annie - and sorry to interrupt your thread, Whicker. I was just interested to know. I'll hop it now. :o)

[Whickerman]

wow... that's low.

Just off the point but to answer the other questions

Naomi - sorry, first time back since my question. Yes, €50 to €60 per GP visit (they can charge what they like) but at least 20% more for an out of hours service; A&E is €120 per visit. You then have to pay for your medication - usually capped at €130 a month per family if you have a drug refund card, quite a few don't. About half the population has private insurance but you have to pay up front and claim back (unless you use the insurer's A&E, and there are only a couple in the country) so it's not easy being sick.

All rubbish collection is paid for, usually to private firms (in big towns/cities the councils still do this) at a rate of about €400 a year but water is supplied. Our income tax is 20% and 42% plus national insurance and some levies, this pays for all council services to private homes; as Annie has stated businesses pay for what they use. We pay car tax etc too.
Pensioners also get free tv licence, electricity and travel.

[Whickerman]

how do you live on £64 a week?

[naomi24]

Hi Whicker, I hope all is well with you. Thanks for all the information - and to Annie too. This has been quite an education. Many people here say they have to wait ages to get an appointment with their GP, but I wonder if your doctors' surgeries are emptier than ours due to the cost? That's a lot of money to anyone who doesn't have much.