Let's help Duncan Smith - how would YOU improve the benefits system?

marklv

weehev wrote: »

i've only briefly scanned the thread so my thoughts may already be covered.....but

1. benefits paid in food/clothing vouchers that cannot be used for alcohol/drugs/fags/50inch tv's
2. reduce benefits so its not a comfortable life
3. make people work for benefits, even if its just picking up litter, cleaning grafitti or even helping out in care homes/animal rescue centres etc
4. if convicted of a crime and fined - automatically take this from their benefits
5. stop jobseekers allowance after say 3 yrs, how can someone not find a single job in 3 years!!! if they can't its cause they are unwilling to take on certain jobs.
6. stop throwing money at schools, youth centers etc in poorer areas, thye do not appreciate it and its not making any difference
7. prisons - return to basic cells, no fancy food, computers, gym equipment etc - its supposed to be punishment!



i seriously disagree - a huge percentage are quite happy to spend everyone else's money in the pub all day, they then have children who are brought up to do the same.

this topic makes me so mad - time to stop punishing those who spend all their life working hard only to lose half of it on tax for those who are too lazy/idle to do anything except take take take

Have YOU ever been unemployed, you stupid moron? Do YOU know what it's like to live on £65 a week and still have to pay the rent or mortgage? No, then shut up. Stupid imbecile! :mad:

marklv

Pennywise wrote: »

Anyone can find themselves unemployed for short periods of time, but I find it utterly bewildering that there are some who manage to be unemployed for several years, unless they have a disability.

Jobs come and go all the time. Even in disadvantaged areas, rural villages, etc., you can't tell me that there are NEVER any jobs, even for the unskilled etc.

There must be a reason why some people are long term unemployed and it's not that there aren't any jobs. Like a lot of others, I believe it's because it's simply not worth their while accepting a low paid job because they won't be better off enough giving up their time.

The Tory's are right to challenge the "not worth my while" attitude - let's face it, someone has to. Making life on benefits more difficult whilst at the same time finding ways to improve "back to work" training & work experience seems the right way to tackle the problem.

You are an ignorant idiot. Go and get a job shovelling !!!!!! and see how you like it! Cretin. I really cannot stand patronising, sanctimonoius comments from people who 'talk the talk' but have never 'walked the walk'.

marklv

greytroot wrote: »

Well your assumptions are quite wrong there - after working in the same job for 21 years I found myself out of work for the 1st time in my life, with no qualifications only experience. For the last 3 years I have applied for everything from gravedigger to tennis court attendant with no success (I am also not disabled - whatever that has to do with unemployment anyhow). Feedback is usually think i would get bored or no qualifications.

So i moved locations in an effort to find employment (not suitable employment just a blinking job). After another year still no luck, but I dont waste my time either (work as a volunteer 3/4 days a week). By the way I was luck enough to have savings and am therefore unable to claim any of the so called unemployment benefits that is until my savings are diminished.

I will agree there are people that fall into your rant but this is not the "norm" from people I know.

Never been on a back to work thingy as I am not entitled........

I would consider going abroad. This country has nothing to offer any more.

ILW

marklv wrote: »

You are an ignorant idiot. Go and get a job shovelling !!!!!! and see how you like it! Cretin. I really cannot stand patronising, sanctimonoius comments from people who 'talk the talk' but have never 'walked the walk'.

If you are out of work and !!!!!! needs shovelling, why should you not do it?

Thrugelmir

marklv wrote: »

You are an ignorant idiot. Go and get a job shovelling !!!!!! and see how you like it! Cretin. I really cannot stand patronising, sanctimonoius comments from people who 'talk the talk' but have never 'walked the walk'.

Handling oneself in an adult manner is key to being employable.

Having a chip on the shoulder rarely makes a good team player.

However difficult life is. With the inclination to better one self in the end one can. Even if its just voluntary work in the interim period. Even this opens doors.

thescouselander

I think the term benifits is misleading and needs to be changed. Perhaps they should be called Government Handouts instead.

StevieJ

marklv wrote: »

Have YOU ever been unemployed, you stupid moron? Do YOU know what it's like to live on £65 a week and still have to pay the rent or mortgage? No, then shut up. Stupid imbecile! :mad:

You do more to discredit the unemployed than any of the Daily Mail types on here, why would they have to pay the mortgage/rent out of £65?

vivatifosi

I agree that cuts need to be made and also agree with many of the government's proposals. However there is one thing that concerns me: what will happen to the unemployed with learning difficulties.

I meet a lot of people with learning difficulties who get despatched to the library by the Job Centre. I know from speaking to people at the Job Centre that they have a lot more "customers" (sorry don't know correct term), less money to go round and face further cuts themselves. They therefore send those with learning difficulties to the library, or to local NGOs for help. The problem is that libraries and NGOs are having their budgets cut too. So if someone turns up who needs to know how to use a computer to type a CV, or fill out an application form, or even send an e-mail, there aren't going to be the people to help. So people may end up in a sort of limbo, plus because they have learning difficulties, I've found people also don't understand their own entitlements, so are less likely to find the help that they are entitled to. I hope that the new system takes such people into account and gives them the hand that they need to do what afterall they want to do and find a job.

ILW

StevieJ wrote: »

You do more to discredit the unemployed than any of the Daily Mail types on here, why would they have to pay the mortgage/rent out of £65?

From some of Marks previous posts it appears he turned down many jobs because he considered them below him, whilst happily taking the benefits cash.

ILW

vivatifosi wrote: »

I agree that cuts need to be made and also agree with many of the government's proposals. However there is one thing that concerns me: what will happen to the unemployed with learning difficulties.

I meet a lot of people with learning difficulties who get despatched to the library by the Job Centre. I know from speaking to people at the Job Centre that they have a lot more "customers" (sorry don't know correct term), less money to go round and face further cuts themselves. They therefore send those with learning difficulties to the library, or to local NGOs for help. The problem is that libraries and NGOs are having their budgets cut too. So if someone turns up who needs to know how to use a computer to type a CV, or fill out an application form, or even send an e-mail, there aren't going to be the people to help. So people may end up in a sort of limbo, plus because they have learning difficulties, I've found people also don't understand their own entitlements, so are less likely to find the help that they are entitled to. I hope that the new system takes such people into account and gives them the hand that they need to do what afterall they want to do and find a job.

Think you have a very good point, the problem over the last decade or so is that the system has been worked by the idle at the expense of those who have true need. In a limited budget resources need to be concentrated on the most vunerable, not on those that have just found a way of never working.