'Should we starve the jobless back to work?' poll discussion

Suelynn

I've been unemployed for 5 years now. I've tried to get a job, been for many interviews and just had no luck.

The main reason(s) for me not getting a job is AGE, I'm 55 years old. Another reason I sometimes find, is the fact that I have Epilepsy.

Should I go without payment, simply because I was born at the wrong time or have an illness which many people are frightened of?

triticale

teddyco wrote: »

We need to elect a government who's sole aim is to bring manufacturing back to impoverished areas of Britain and fight for British jobs only for British workers.
Once the jobs are there, then we can stop the benefits and give people back their self-esteem.

Labour had 13 years to do it, and the Lib Dems will only continue the carnage. The Conservatives are the only party that has a plan to lower corporate taxes which will attract business back to this country and provide real jobs in the private sector, and not phony government jobs that rob the rest of us to provide.

In the meantime, the benefits system should only be paid to people who have built up 'credit' in the system by actually holding a job and paying into it. We should stop giving benefits to assylum seekers and force anyone who comes to this country to work for several years before getting benefits.

So how does that work, then?

Wednesday

teddyco, can you say xenophobia?

I'm no expert, but many of the people who come to this country are looking for work, often work that our indigenous population don't want to do because they claim it wouldn't be worth their while coming off benefits.

I'd much rather have people in the country who wanted to work - regardless of where they come from - than live in an area full of people who were born here and who are happy to sit in their PJs while I work to pay their benefits (which I do). Now, if an MP could promise me to ship these people off to a remote island somewhere they'd have my vote.

Of course benefits are a valuable safety net for those genuinely in need, as they should be. Unfortunately, Britain has created a culture of getting unemployment benefit for nothing in return, and the workshy are taking advantage of it.

If they'd put half as much effort into jobhunting as they do figuring out how to play the system..........Well they wouldn't would they? They don't need to.

eleroo

I cant work due to a disiblitiy and I am most annoyed with the attitude of all the parties on benefits and going back to work, they say if you dont find work then they will cut your benefit. how on earth are people supposed to live are they to be homeless and starve because no money or not enough money is comming at all. It is the same with the pension statuse but that is another complaint. There are not enough jobs for people out there so dont hurt people in the mean time.:j

shropshirelady

jamesd wrote: »

silvasava, someone retired now who has a full contribution record could expect £7,000 to £8,000 a year or £134 to £153 a week in basic and additional state pensions combined. They would probably also have some job-related pensions as well. For the exceptions, Pension Credit pays £132.70 per week. In either case Housing Benefit or its equivalents could be available as well.

This compares to £5,746 a year, £65.45 a week, plus housing benefit for an unemployed adult.

So around half as much today for an unemployed single adult as a retired single pensioner. Worth remembering that the poll choices left £7,500 a year as the lowest possible choice that wouldn't cut income to below current benefit levels.

Martin nicely explained one of the general benefits to society of the payments: avoiding pushing lots of people into crime. Another major benefit is some underlying protection as a safety net for all of us who may fall on hard times at points in our life.

I don't know where you get the idea that someone who has worked all their lives can expect £7000 to £8000 in state pension. I have worked since I was 15 with full contributions and my state and extra state pension totals £5354 PA. I do have quite a small company pension which brings me above the level for pension credits and have to pay tax on part of that. Having gone without over the years to buy my own property, I have to continue working in order to maintain it.

I know someone who has not worked for about 15 years and would have to earn £22,000 to be no worse off. This person lives in a good sized house and gets mortgage paid and refuses to downsize to 'afford' to work.

Techno

My view has always been that people should not get something for nothing and that if people are on a benefit they shouldn't be starved or given vouchers but should have to make a contribution in kind to their community (like a volunteering scheme). There are very few people of working age, (even those on incapacity benefit or with quite significant disabilities) who couldn't make some kind of contribution in kind to their community. It may not save money (though it might) but it would help people to develop or use their skills for others and in exchange that must surely increase their own sense of self-worth. Unfortunately our benefits system does not encourage this and makes life difficult if people try

minicooper272

Coming from a personal experience here, my sister has just graduated from university and is living with someone who was on the exact same course. They have both been struggling to get work - she has taken on several different part time jobs to get by and he has gone on benefits. She finds it frustrating that he seems to be better off than she is - she struggles to afford food each month, yet the government pay his rent, council tax and give him money towards bills plus they give him £96 a week to live off of. As a result, he is quite happy to keep up this set up.

My other personal experience is coming from it as a student. I'm on a degree with pretty much guaranteed work prospects at the end of it, but it doesn't allow me a lot of free time to work. Because of this, I live off of the sums I earn in my summer months (usually around £3000), the £50 a month my parents give me and I only get a measly £91 a month from the government (which I will have to repay when I actually get a job). This money covers rent and living costs (though I will point out, I'm exempt from council tax) so if you deduct £50/week in rent, I'm left with about £36 a week to live off of. And this has to cover bills too. Do you think that is fair really? I'd actually be better off going on the doll... And that's sad.

glider3560

Those who have commented on the voucher idea not being able to pay for travel, then the vouchers could be made so they are accepted on buses, trains, taxis, etc.

bradders55

It is difficult but I feel if the person is able then they should not be able to draw benefits without some sort of payback, ie do some work, voluntary to benefit society who are paying their benefits. I have been unemployed and would have been much happier doing some sort of work to allow me to keep my work ethic going. Fortunately I was able to survive without benefits of any description by taking odd jobs and it was hard but I felt embarrassed to take benefits. So many people young, middle aged and older just cannot be bothered or are too PROUD to get their hands dirty. Benefits encourage people not to work as they are so often better off than taking a job that pays less than benefits, this is totally wrong, and it is not good for society as a whole. Get all the lazy benefit scroungers back into the work place by force if needs be. The ones who are unable to work due to illness then may be better off as the country will be able to pay them benefits that allow them to live more comfortably.

Just my opinion. It is not good for the soul to scrounge or stay in bed all day.

Matari

Sorry but this is completely wrong - those under 25 get 51.25 per week and people over 25 get 64.30 per week (with council tax and rent paid) but no help towards bills - in fact people on benefit have to pay their water rates and tv licence out of their benefit. So I am bemused as to where you got £96.00 per week from.

minicooper272 wrote: »

Coming from a personal experience here, my sister has just graduated from university and is living with someone who was on the exact same course. They have both been struggling to get work - she has taken on several different part time jobs to get by and he has gone on benefits. She finds it frustrating that he seems to be better off than she is - she struggles to afford food each month, yet the government pay his rent, council tax and give him money towards bills plus they give him £96 a week to live off of. As a result, he is quite happy to keep up this set up.

My other personal experience is coming from it as a student. I'm on a degree with pretty much guaranteed work prospects at the end of it, but it doesn't allow me a lot of free time to work. Because of this, I live off of the sums I earn in my summer months (usually around £3000), the £50 a month my parents give me and I only get a measly £91 a month from the government (which I will have to repay when I actually get a job). This money covers rent and living costs (though I will point out, I'm exempt from council tax) so if you deduct £50/week in rent, I'm left with about £36 a week to live off of. And this has to cover bills too. Do you think that is fair really? I'd actually be better off going on the doll... And that's sad.