46 replies to this topic

[Blue Louis]

I have just read this article in the Telegraph http://www.telegraph...-are-spent.html

I haven't got the foggiest idea what the percentages are of those on benefits who not only smoke (heavily) but also drink, but I wouldn't mind betting they are above the national average.

If that is the case, then if people on benefits were to receive credits for food and essentials, exchangeable at the check out, might this not be a good idea?

[j300c]

But wouldn't that infringe their human rights (the right to scrounge off us I mean).

[avtur1]

This is no doubt a very touchy subject and I speak as one who has never in my 40 years of working life claimed any sort of benefit ... there have been a couple of occasions when I came close but was defeated by the complexity of claiming anything ... last attempt was over 25 years ago.

I heard a news story quite recently about the benefit system in Australia, there is a move there to pay benefits by way of credit into an account which can only be accessed by means of a debit card. The way card systems works is that the card is programmed to work only in certain types of retailers. So taking the worst case scenario you couldn't use the card to place a bet in the local bookies, but you could go next door to Asda and buy the weeks food shop.

If we are going to have a welfare system that looks after those who find themselves in a difficult position then that's probably a good thing, none of us know what is around the corner so having a social safety net seems like a good idea. As a life long tax payer then it is true for me to say that I have my concerns that the payment of benefit doesn't always go to where it is supposed to go.

If benefit payments are supposed to cover the basics such as food for kids then I have no problems at all if the payment system imposes restrictions to ensure that that is what the benefit is spent on ...  it is a sad reflection on our society that some adults do not have the discipline to properly control their spending and will more likely spend their benefit on "fags and booze" rather than looking after their kids.

I have no problem at all in being a member of a society which chooses to look after those who fall on hard times ... however I have no interest what so ever in supporting those who can't be responsible for themselves ... and more importantly for the children they chose to bring into this world.

Without a shadow of a doubt I support any move that helps to ensure that benefit money is spent on the things it is supposed to be spent on.

[olderbutnotwiser]

Blue Louis, on 01 October 2012 - 04:39 PM, said:

I have just read this article in the Telegraph http://www.telegraph...-are-spent.html

I haven't got the foggiest idea what the percentages are of those on benefits who not only smoke (heavily) but also drink, but I wouldn't mind betting they are above the national average.

If that is the case, then if people on benefits were to receive credits for food and essentials, exchangeable at the check out, might this not be a good idea?

Perhaps you should leave the ideas to those that do then?

[indoors]

olderbutnotwiser, on 01 October 2012 - 05:06 PM, said:

Perhaps you should leave the ideas to those that do then?

Good Post.
indoors.

[Brassneck]

Brilliant idea................... until the black market for trading credits gets underway.............. and the Government hikes taxes somewhere else to make up the shortfall from fags and booze.

[bi6als]

You assume ALL peopleon benefits are scroungers

Im not on benefits but if I was I would view it as a refund of a fraction of the many many tens of thousands of pounds Ive paid in tax.

[yozza]

I will probably get called everything under the sun ie sponger, doleit, lazy and other things for what im about to say. I for one worked for over 28 years from leaving school, without claiming a penny in benefits. Then unfortunately through no fault of my own I had to give up work due to my health. So for myself and my wife to survive we had to claim benefits. And yes we can control our money, as we have other debts that need to be paid off as well as pay for the essentionals.

Unfortuately I wish I could return to work, but im unable to

[Predictable Bob]

Alan, I suspect that you're wrong !

People in your position are those that the benefits system is there for - it could happen to any of us

[AlBundy65]

Agreed, what was the saying?, a safety net, not a comfort blanket.

[olderbutnotwiser]

People on benefits are stigmatised enough without the unhelpful labels heaped on them by the sort of people who believe what The Daily Mail has to say.

For every benefit scrounger there are many, many genuine claimants who hate the fact that they need to claim without having to stand in the queue at Tesco and be further labelled by handing over "vouchers" instead of money.

[Blue Louis]

olderbutnotwiser, on 01 October 2012 - 06:55 PM, said:

People on benefits are stigmatised enough without the unhelpful labels heaped on them by the sort of people who believe what The Daily Mail has to say.

Just to correct you Jim, the article was in the Daily Telegraph and not the Mail.

Like several others here I worked my butt off for most of my life until one day, through no fault of my own, I was forced to go and sign on.

The total humiliation and experience of the sad episode was shared by several others who were in the very same situation on that momentous day and resulted in me gaining a significant understanding of the benefit system.

[The Drifter]

olderbutnotwiser, on 01 October 2012 - 05:06 PM, said:

Perhaps you should leave the ideas to those that do then?

That surely would be a situation where we never say a thing, For who has any idea officially  based on what the recipients spend their benefits on. I haven't got the foggiest either, But I know at midday almost everyday of the week the betting shop in the local center is the busiest retail shop there with the off licence a close second. What I see paints a thousand words so I for one would not leave what I have to say simply because I don't have official figures which I would think the government also lack.

[bi6als]

Blue Louis, on 01 October 2012 - 08:04 PM, said:

Just to correct you Jim, the article was in the Daily Telegraph and not the Mail.

Like several others here I worked my butt off for most of my life until one day, through no fault of my own, I was forced to go and sign on.

The total humiliation and experience of the sad episode was shared by several others who were in the very same situation on that momentous day and resulted in me gaining a significant understanding of the benefit system.

But obviously no idea of the statistics

You present a very bigoted view.

I hope anyone reading this does not consider your views to be those of all caravanners

[bi6als]

The Drifter, on 01 October 2012 - 08:31 PM, said:

That surely would be a situation where we never say a thing, For who has any idea officially  based on what the recipients spend their benefits on. I haven't got the foggiest either, But I know at midday almost everyday of the week the betting shop in the local center is the busiest retail shop there with the off licence a close second. What I see paints a thousand words so I for one would not leave what I have to say simply because I don't have official figures which I would think the government also lack.

I wonder why that is
As far as I am aware most benefits are paid directly to a bank account

or do all the scroungers use the Bank next to your Betting Office


Unbelievable..........the levels of bigotry in this thread............