Some Benefits should be given in forms of vouchers instead of cash

lily76

I remember very clearly that a mum complains that J.oliver's cooking materials are 'too expensive'. However, she was smoking and having loads of beers in the fridge. Child Benefit or tax credit should only be used on children not their parents. Vouchers could be a better way.

lily76

I was shocked a 17000-income family with two children after tax earns only 15000 less than a 50000-income family with two children found from yesterday's metro.

aliasojo

I could only see this working if it was a generic food voucher universally accepted by every supermarket. Even then I can see problems. What if extra cash was needed for an unexpected bill one week/month and all you had left was vouchers, but you had enough left in the cupboard to carry you through foodwise?

And yet again, it would be a case of those who manage to budget being affected by those who don't. An unfair situation.

Our family gets child benefit and tax credits, I'd be the first one with a placard protesting, if I was given vouchers instead, just because someone else makes poor lifestyle choices. :rolleyes:

hermanmunster_3

vouchers eg milk tokens / fresh fruit & veg tokens have been used in the past but many supermarkets take them for ANY purchases so tends to defeat the object really.

frustrating earning more money these days, but quite enjoy the child benefit (actually dunno how much it is as DH gets it) - paying ludicrous amounts of tax - 50K + few years - decided not to work so much after that...:rolleyes:, getting the child benefit means we get at least a little bit of it back!!!!

looby75

there is a poster over on the discussion time boards who has explained perfectly why vouchers for benefits would be a disaster for everyone.

I am on benefits at the moment and my children come first, I don't smoke don't or drink excessively, why should my option to buy from discount supermarkets of fresh produce from the farmer market be curtailed because a minority (and contrary to what some people believe it is the minority) of parents on benefits don't feed their children properly?

donaldtramp

Some Benefits should be given in forms of vouchers instead of cash

I remember very clearly that a mum complains that J.oliver's cooking materials are 'too expensive'. However, she was smoking and having loads of beers in the fridge. Child Benefit or tax credit should only be used on children not their parents. Vouchers could be a better way.

Totally agree. Vouchers should be handed out in place of taxpayers hard cash. There should be a stigma attached to leeching from the state. Far too many have simply chosen benefits as a lifestyle choice, it is far too easy.

lostinrates

aliasojo wrote: »

And yet again, it would be a case of those who manage to budget being affected by those who don't. An unfair situation.

So teach people to budget! Its also unfair that I don't look like Claudia Schiffer, but thats less easy to rememdy. If people are unable to budget, i.e,they do not have the capacity to learn to do so, then we have a deeper problem: and I feel these people are going to suffer what ever the system, how it is now included. Perhaps people who are intellectually unable to make decisions need guidance, and greater control, to help prevent them making poor ones? Its a scary and dangerous road to go down though.

aliasojo

lostinrates wrote: »

So teach people to budget! Its also unfair that I don't look like Claudia Schiffer, but thats less easy to rememdy. If people are unable to budget, i.e,they do not have the capacity to learn to do so, then we have a deeper problem: and I feel these people are going to suffer what ever the system, how it is now included. Perhaps people who are intellectually unable to make decisions need guidance, and greater control, to help prevent them making poor ones? Its a scary and dangerous road to go down though.

I agree with you in theory, but I'll be damned if I'm going to be negatively affected because of a minority. No matter what the cause of their inability to budget.

My eldest son is 'intellectually unable' to manage his own finances in a successful manner, which is why he has help to do so. However, his situation should not affect what happens to others. That would be very wrong.

Guy_Montag

lostinrates wrote: »

Its also unfair that I don't look like Claudia Schiffer...

You do in my mind :smileyhea

DaveLy

lily76 wrote: »

I was shocked a 17000-income family with two children after tax earns only 15000 less than a 50000-income family with two children found from yesterday's metro.

Based on 1 person working, 1 stay at home parent.
50k = 35.4k after tax
17k = 13.5k after tax

21k difference. Thus the 17k family must recieve £577/mo in benefits extra?

lostinrates

Guy_Montag wrote: »

You do in my mind :smileyhea

I'm about half a foot shorter, and less blonde..I'm more ' golden blonde' than white blonde, and my eyes aren't blue! ...but thank you! (I might stick that one in my sig too:p) I've actually seen her in the flesh, and TBH, she is amazingly more beautiful in real life. I'm not often awed by people, but I admit to staring, because she is, in real life, a creature of unearthly beauty.