Benefits and the deficit: what would you cut?

Kohoutek

The other end of the extreme - Singapore

http://www.economist.com/displaystory.cfm?story_id=15524092

"The state’s attitude can be simply put: being poor here is your own fault. Citizens are obliged to save for the future, rely on their families and not expect any handouts from the government unless they hit rock bottom. The emphasis on family extends into old age: retired parents can sue children who fail to support them. In government circles “welfare” remains a dirty word, cousin to sloth and waste. Singapore may be a nanny state, but it is by no means an indulgent nanny.

The government does run a handful of schemes directed at some of the needy, from low-income students to the unassisted elderly. But these benefits are rigorously means-tested and granted only sparingly. The most destitute citizens’ families may apply for public assistance; only 3,000 currently qualify. Laid-off workers receive no automatic benefits. Instead they are sorted into “workfare” and training schemes."

StevieJ

MissMoneypenny wrote: »

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Pensions - Have to pay in for 39 years instead of the 30 the government have dropped it to in April this year. No years counted towards this for signing on the dole.
n.

How do you expect someone to plan for retirement if you are changing the rules all the time? BTW where does 39 come from ahh I remember that was just for women who have retired earlier and lived longer on the old system. I have genuinely never been able to work that one out

MissMoneypenny

StevieJ wrote: »

How do you expect someone to plan for retirement if you are changing the rules all the time? BTW where does 39 come from ahh I remember that was just for women who have retired earlier and lived longer on the old system. I have genuinely never been able to work that one out

Is is so hard to work for 39 years of your life?

I put 39 years as I was trying not to disadvantage the men:D

MissMoneypenny

Housing Benefit/LHA - Can only be claimed if you have worked full time in the UK for at least 5 years just before you claim. Claim limited to 12 months maximum.

StevieJ

nembot wrote: »

Try going to Europe and claiming benefits, without having to put something in first, they would just laugh.

Easy going, politically correct and caring Britain, such admirable strengths yet also the cause of our undoing.

I don't know much about european benefits but I thought they had to pay the same benefits to other europeans as their own.

MissMoneypenny

StevieJ wrote: »

I don't know much about european benefits but I thought they had to pay the same benefits to other europeans as their own.

I read on another list from someone who claimed he was Spanish (so don't know if it was true). People claiming in Spain can only claim back the working years they have put in to Spain, otherwise they get the equiv. of £30pw total benefits.

Graham_Devon

MissMoneypenny wrote: »

Housing Benefit/LHA - Can only be claimed if you have worked full time in the UK for at least 5 years just before you claim. Claim limited to 12 months maximum.

Is this in relation to foreigners?

Mr.Brown_4

The defence budget, not mentioned, is 32 billion.

Afghanistan.... because we're worth it.

MissMoneypenny

Graham_Devon wrote: »

Is this in relation to foreigners?

To anyone. Look on the benefits board and you will see people who say they aren't getting on with their mum and would like to have their own place and only get JSA. Or a girl (or boy) who would like to live with her partner but neither work.

stueyhants

The_White_Horse wrote: »

Cut 30% from every public sector worker earning more than 20k

So you think an experienced Nurse in a intensive care unit helping to save children's lives every day warents a 30% salary cut when they only earn £26k a year ?

If your going to force key public servants on to low wages your going to get poor quality staff, you'd better hope your kids or even yourself don't need life saving treatment in the future !

I accept your premise of a wage cut accross the board but it needs to be set a lot higher, say around 40/50k mark. 20k is not a lot of money to live in the SE.