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

BargainGalore

Not everyone on low incomes or benefits smoke/drink to excess nor have sky tv and latest 40" plasma, so why should they have vouchers and not able to make a choice for themselves, they are after all adults.

looby75

MiserlyMartin wrote: »

I agree. Vouchers all the way instead of flat screen TV's

will someone please tell me what I'm doing wrong.

I'm on benefits right now but I don't have a flat screen tv or money to pi$$ up a wall.:eek::eek::eek:

where am I going wrong?

MRSTITTLEMOUSE

What is it with this board and flat screen tv.
I don't like them myself especially those horrible tacky ones you hang on the wall.Totally tasteless.

eyeinthesky

SingleSue wrote: »

Just one small question on that last post....what about those who had their children when they could afford it, had no inkling things were going to go horribly wrong etc.

You can be as sensible as you like and plan so very well for the future but it can still all go wrong and very quickly.

Hi Sue, we all know that things can go wrong, redundancy, illness, marriage breakdown, etc. That is why we have a welfare system, but it should be for when things go wrong, not a lifestyle choice. My main point is the taking of tax then making people claim it back in benefits. Why not just give people a proper tax-free allowance to begin with, based on their circumstances and dependants? How can it be right to take money from low earners with one hand, then give it back with the other? All this leads to an increasingly bloated public sector. I also don't agree with the child tax credits/ child benefit system. All benefits should be means tested, and not just handed out willy-nilly. I think it is ludicrous that a family with an income of say £30k, can get child tax credits. Surely, a proper tax threshold would negate any need for this?

SingleSue

Must admit, I agree with you completely there!

spuds_2

I haven't read all this thread, but I am assuming noone has yet posted this young lady's story:

29-stone mum feeds her eight-month-old triplets McDonald’s:

http://www.thescottishsun.co.uk/scotsol/homepage/news/article2399352.ece

"Anyway they don’t always have junk food — sometimes I cook a microwave meal. "

"Leanne steers away from healthy foods in case it makes her tots anorexic".

"Leanne receives £140 a week tax credit, £42 a week child benefit and £45 family allowance. She spends the £227 on food and ten cigarettes a day."

Poor kids. Not much of a start in life is it?

Antispam

So its okay to pay some benefits in vouchers in the off chance these will be used to pay for there kids.

This is ill conceived idea and will penalise those who are responsible. I can see some selling these vouchers

What next employers paying vouchers to employees, unhealthy food and bad habits are not always attributed to people on benefits

Antispam

Below I agree but giving vouchers is not the solution.

How about education and giving people information and help

If you have been brought up on a bad diet giving vouchers will not change your lifstyle

spuds wrote: »

I haven't read all this thread, but I am assuming noone has yet posted this young lady's story:

29-stone mum feeds her eight-month-old triplets McDonald’s:

http://www.thescottishsun.co.uk/scotsol/homepage/news/article2399352.ece

"Anyway they don’t always have junk food — sometimes I cook a microwave meal. "

"Leanne steers away from healthy foods in case it makes her tots anorexic".

"Leanne receives £140 a week tax credit, £42 a week child benefit and £45 family allowance. She spends the £227 on food and ten cigarettes a day."

Poor kids. Not much of a start in life is it?

JasonLVC

Some Councils will ask new housing tenants to go to Wilkinsons or B&Q, buy the paint and do the place up themselves.

They usually provide the ternant with vouchers in that regard - so there is a time and a place for vouchers - not becuase we don;t trust the person to go and blow the vouchers on something inappropriate but just becuase it is easier to give them £150 B&Q vouchers rather than having to check off receipts on an expense claim or having to send your own painters in at £50 p/hour.

There are also still food vouchers in circulation for those people to spend at supermarkets - but again, although they are called food vouchers, other non-food items can be bought such as frying pans, cutlery, etc.

Vouchers for all benefits? It's just demeaning to the many to attack a problem cuased by the few.

Robust screening procedures for beenfit claimants and tighter conditions and who can claim and when is the only way to fix the problem - but that will involve more staff (cost) and a few disgruntled people from various sectors of the media and community.

ILW

Antispam wrote: »

What next employers paying vouchers to employees, unhealthy food and bad habits are not always attributed to people on benefits

You are missing the point, an employer CHOOSES to give an employee a salary in return for what the employee does. Taxpayers are FORCED to fund benefits and have no say in the matter, short of refusing to pay and possibly being put in prison.