Benefit Swipe Cards, Good Idea Or Not?

[anotheoldgit]

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/9754188/120000-troubled-families-could-be-legally-banned-from-spending-benefits-on-alochol-and-tobacco.html

But if the idea took off, would it only effect certain families?

/// One idea under discussion in Whitehall is for the 120,000 problem families who were identified in the Government’s riots review to be given the Oyster-style cards. ///

[cazzz1975]

maybe you just need to dial down the aggressive overtones on all your posts, everyone else with the same views can manage to do that.

[Charity]

'charity -does he live at home? if so £56 is quite ok for someone who has no bills -if he has his own place he will not only be getting £56 he will be getting housing benefit, council tax benefit, etc. I do not have £56 disposable income a week after I've paid all my bills and living expenses.'

Jane, I'm confused by your argument. Don't adults who live at home have to pay their way? Don't people who have their own place have to pay for gas, electricity, food etc. out of their benefit payments?

I'm not convinced that you've thought things through but,if you genuinely feel that people are better off on benefits, why not resign and join your friends in that expensive coffee shop (get a taxi there).

[JaneDoe2]

No Charity - when my children have been at home unemployed they have stayed in my house free. That's what parents do, look after their children, its not the governments obligation. If the benefit system is so meager, the payments so 'piddly' why oh why do hundreds of thousands of people flood into the UK every year? Obviously not for all the jobs available as no UK citizen would be unemployed would they? No, because they get a roof over their head and enough money to live on which is more than most countries. A few on this thread are confusing 'passion' with 'aggression' . Charity, you worked in a Job centre and it was heartbreaking well good for you . Try working in India or Sierra Leone and see what real poverty is, children crying with hunger,mothers coming to the clinic with half dead babies, then you would see real poverty, not well fed well clothed and housed people moaning because they are only getting £300 a week.

[mrs_overall]

sherrard is not being rude, just expressing an opinion

[mrs_overall]

Not everyone on benefits lives the life of Riley as you seem to imply.
I know someone who was self employed and is now very ill and unable to work. He has been refused all benefits and has zero income. Luckily he lives rent free but cannot afford any heating or food. Last week he went for 3 days with no food until a friend turned up with some tins for him.
Who needs to go to India or Sierra Leone to see poverty?

[Charity]

'when my children have been at home unemployed they have stayed in my house free'

Good for you. I assume that they weren't claiming benefits.

[JaneDoe2]

Well once again Charity dear you assume wrong. Yes they were claiming Job Seeker allowance ,why would they not? And they were very grateful and certainly did not moan abut the amount. But then they have been brought up to be grateful not grasping

[JaneDoe2]

Mrs overall I have never said anyone lives the life of Riley of course they don't, but they do not live a life of poverty. no one in the Uk really really knows what Poverty is, but that's probably a subject for another thread. I'm done.

[mrs_overall]

You might be done but I am not.
Your sweeping statement that no one in the UK lives in poverty is ridiculous. Do you know the personal circumstances of everyone in the country?
And please don't throw in another comparison about third world countries, particularly India which you mentioned earlier

[Charity]

Jane, it's nice that I am dear to you. Thankyou.

What do you think JSA payments are for?
If you really did allow your adult children to live in your home for nothing they have claimed benefits fraudulently. How disgusting.

[B00]

how is claiming JSA whilst living with your parents fraud?

[China Doll]

'No one in the Uk really really knows what Poverty is'

^^^ I would suggest the homeless fellas at charring cross station might disagree with you.

[mrs_overall]

Thank you for that China. Her sweeping statement was ludicrous

[Charity]

Benefit payments are not intended to be pocket money for adult children who are being housed, fed and clothed by their wealthy parents.

[B00]

But a Job Seekers Allowance is just that, an allowance for helping you seek a job. Are you not entitled to that if you're living with your parents? If not, when did this change?

[China Doll]

Yes you are B00bies. I got £50 every week/two weeks (can't remember which) or something when I was on job seekers. I was living at my mums but that money had to be used for travel to get to interviews, buy my food etc. I obviously didn't get anything else. Horrible time.

[Charity]

JSA is for living expenses while claimants look for work.