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

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Comments

  • LizEstelle
    LizEstelle Posts: 1,559 Forumite
    dori2o wrote: »
    I'm sorry if my dysgraphia offends you. I don't actualy think I do that bad considering and I do try and proof read everything I write.

    I couldn't care less what 'reason' you offer up for it. The fact is that you do it when you shouldn't. There are dictionaries and spell checkers to help you so, frankly, you can choose between your 'dysgraphia' and sheer, sodding laziness to blame for your poor English.

    You know ... L A Z I N E S S? ... exactly the kind of matter which you appear to hold against many others.

    There is more than one route to being considered as 'scum' and, whereas doubtless, you will shout from the rooftops your right to be excused, will you be quite so keen to give a fair hearing to the protests of others, one wonders?

    Yours, pal, is the moral cesspit whence spring the likes of Hitler, Stalin, gas chambers and gulags...
  • Who said the meek will inherit the earth! Pah.....

    The poor getting poorer and the rich enjoy watching the poor rot....

    this thread is just mental masterbation......


    SIMPLES!
  • dori2o
    dori2o Posts: 8,150 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts
    LizEstelle wrote: »
    I couldn't care less what 'reason' you offer up for it. The fact is that you do it when you shouldn't. There are dictionaries and spell checkers to help you so, frankly, you can choose between your 'dysgraphia' and sheer, sodding laziness to blame for your poor English.

    You know ... L A Z I N E S S? ... exactly the kind of matter which you appear to hold against many others.

    There is more than one route to being considered as 'scum' and, whereas doubtless, you will shout from the rooftops your right to be excused, will you be quite so keen to give a fair hearing to the protests of others, one wonders?

    Yours, pal, is the moral cesspit whence spring the likes of Hitler, Stalin, gas chambers and gulags...
    There are times when dictionaries etc are useful, like when writing letters, something I do every working day.

    However, a public forum is hardly the most important of places to ensure grammar and spelling are A level standard.

    How about you grow up.

    As for holding my opinions against those that are LAZY, yes I do have a problem with them.

    I have no problem with the genuinely ill, I even have no problem with single parents who cannot work due the age of their children i.e. below school age, or those who cannot afford childcare even with the help given to them assuming the child is again under school age.

    What I don't appreciate is those who are fully able to work, but don't even try. There are members of my own family I would claiss as wasters. They're either alcoholics who only become alcoholics at the time of their assessments, or who are too bone idle to even attend a jobcentre appointment and then blame the fact they have no money on the system being unfair and how as he was 'born and bred' in England he has a right to benefits.

    It is these sort of people who should be denied the ability to breed another generation of wasters.

    There's also those who refuse to do anything for themselves, despite fully having the capability to do so.

    Stupidity has nothing to do with how many or few qualifications you have, or you ability to spell or add up, even read or write. It is about your own ability to at least have the god damn balls to stand up and try and do something, whether thats picking turnips on a farm, or becoming the next Nobel prize winner.

    My own brother has only 2 GCSE qualifications, both grade E, but there are few plumbing and heating engineers in this area better or more committed to the job than he is.
    [SIZE=-1]To equate judgement and wisdom with occupation is at best . . . insulting.
    [/SIZE]
  • where i come from grammar is someone that sh'gged granpa.
    Have you tried turning it off and on again?
  • I have no problem with the genuinely ill, I even have no problem with single parents who cannot work due the age of their children i.e. below school age, or those who cannot afford childcare even with the help given to them assuming the child is again under school age.

    Well that'll be a good proportion of claimants that get to keep their ovaries then. Thank goodness for that !
    There are members of my own family I would claiss as wasters. They're either alcoholics who only become alcoholics at the time of their assessments, or who are too bone idle to even attend a jobcentre appointment and then blame the fact they have no money on the system being unfair and how as he was 'born and bred' in England he has a right to benefits.

    It is these sort of people who should be denied the ability to breed another generation of wasters.

    A bit taken aback that you use your own family to base your opinions on. And advocate that some of them are complete wasters,bone-idle and alcoholics. I sense some bitterness there. But do you really think it's fair to put the rest of the country's claimants in the same pigeon-hole ?

    The genuine far outnumber the 'workshy' out there. No need to be quite so bitter towards those you don't know, or their circumstances.
    It all seems so stupid it makes me want to give up.
    But why should I give up, when it all seems so stupid ?
  • StevieJ
    StevieJ Posts: 20,174 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Combo Breaker
    edited 15 August 2010 at 11:01AM
    dori2o wrote: »
    There are times when dictionaries etc are useful, like when writing letters, something I do every working day.

    However, a public forum is hardly the most important of places to ensure grammar and spelling are A level standard.

    I agree but you should take more care when you are writing something like this :p
    However what we should have in this country is a stupidity test, anyone who fails should be steralised and unable to breed
    .

    Do you change the meaning of words to suit yourself:)

    Stupidity has nothing to do with how many or few qualifications you have, or you ability to spell or add up, even read or write. It is about your own ability to at least have the god damn balls to stand up and try and do something, whether thats picking turnips on a farm, or becoming the next Nobel prize winner
    'Just think for a moment what a prospect that is. A single market without barriers visible or invisible giving you direct and unhindered access to the purchasing power of over 300 million of the worlds wealthiest and most prosperous people' Margaret Thatcher
  • pingu2209
    pingu2209 Posts: 246 Forumite
    I appreciate that I stand slightly right of mean:-

    1) A certain percentage or £ amount of benefits (dependent upon nos in your household) should be paid as food stamps acceptable at all stores. Food stamps would not be able to be used towards cigarettes, SKY TV, alcohol or pay as you go mobile phone top ups!

    2) Those on dissability benefit need to be tested by an independent organisation every 2 years on their ability to work. Even if they could work in a fast food outlet or as a cleaner, they should have their dissability/housing benefit reduced by amount they would earn if working on minimum wage for 5 hours a day 5 hours a week.

    3) School leavers can only claim job seekers allowance for 1 year max after they leave school. After that time they must carry out unpaid work for a minimum of 5 hours a day 5 days a week. Failure to turn up for work on more than 5 occassions within a quarter will mean loss of all benefits. This still leaves time to search for work.

    4) Benefits for those born in the UK can only be claimed for over 25s (including housing benefit and job seekers allowance) once you have continually paid income tax for 3 years. For those born in another country benefits for over 25s will only be paid after income tax has been paid continually for 5 years.

    5) Child benefit only paid to those households with an income less than £50k.

    6) Child benefit would be payable up to 2 children only. If you decide to have more, that is your choice, but you won't have any more money if you do. Even those families that come from other countries (EU or non EU) will only have child benefit up to 2 children.

    7) The scheme to give children circa. £500 when they are born should be completely scrapped.

    8) Council houses/housing association/housing benefit for private rentals - any housing benefit should be a maximum of £500/week and/or a maximum of 3 bedrooms - which ever is the least amount in the area you live.

    9) Those in council houses/housing association housing etc must keep the property up to a suitable standard. Regular quarterly checks will be carried out and failure to maintain the property will mean you lose your housing.

    10) Single couples or elderly couples should not be allowed to remain in 2 and 3 (god forbid 4) bedroomed properties for life. Once the youngest child leaves home they must downsize to a 1 bed property.

    11) Carers allowance should be paid at an increased rate - at least £200/week plus housing benefit and no council tax etc. However, every 2 years there needs to be a stringent independent assessment as to whether the person needs to be cared for. None of this "I am a carer for my 6 year old son who has asthma".

    12) Pensions should be from a minimum age 65 or after paying a minimum of 40 years 'stamps' - which do not include time when you have been on job seekers allowance etc. Minimum pension should be £200/week.

    13) Children's education should be costed out on a yearly basis. If, for example, it costs £4000/year to educate a child in a state school, the parents should be able to take 2/3rds of the money and put it towards private school fees. The remaining 1/3 would be kept for the local state school to help shore up the costs of the most geographically local state school.


    I can't think of any more just now ... but I am sure I will later!
  • SingleSue
    SingleSue Posts: 11,718 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper Photogenic
    pingu2209 wrote: »
    I appreciate that I stand slightly right of mean:-

    1) A certain percentage or £ amount of benefits (dependent upon nos in your household) should be paid as food stamps acceptable at all stores. Food stamps would not be able to be used towards cigarettes, SKY TV, alcohol or pay as you go mobile phone top ups!

    I am not in favour of stamps, more because of the embarrassment already in place by being on benefits..if they did become a reality, then obviously, I would have to deal with that but it would probably be midnight shopping (yes I have pride and maybe it is silly but it is pretty much all I have left). I don't have Sky, don't buy phone top ups, purchase alcohol (maybe very very rarely, you can usually count my units of alcohol on one hand per year) or cigarettes.
    2) Those on dissability benefit need to be tested by an independent organisation every 2 years on their ability to work. Even if they could work in a fast food outlet or as a cleaner, they should have their dissability/housing benefit reduced by amount they would earn if working on minimum wage for 5 hours a day 5 hours a week.

    Some of those receiving DLA (disability living allowance), do actually work too and in fact, the receipt of this benefit can actually enable them to work. It is not the case that all receiving disability benefits are not working.
    3) School leavers can only claim job seekers allowance for 1 year max after they leave school. After that time they must carry out unpaid work for a minimum of 5 hours a day 5 days a week. Failure to turn up for work on more than 5 occassions within a quarter will mean loss of all benefits. This still leaves time to search for work.

    I have no comment on this one...it may work, it may not work especially in high unemployment areas. I do though agree with the responsibility of presenting yourself at work and on time every day.
    4) Benefits for those born in the UK can only be claimed for over 25s (including housing benefit and job seekers allowance) once you have continually paid income tax for 3 years. For those born in another country benefits for over 25s will only be paid after income tax has been paid continually for 5 years.

    This could impact those who have been economically active but have lost their job through redundancy before the age of 25. As an example, I was a high rate tax payer by the time I was 21 (and a tax payer from age 16), under your suggestion, despite being very economically active, I would have received no assistance at all.
    5) Child benefit only paid to those households with an income less than £50k.

    I would agree.
    6) Child benefit would be payable up to 2 children only. If you decide to have more, that is your choice, but you won't have any more money if you do. Even those families that come from other countries (EU or non EU) will only have child benefit up to 2 children.

    I agree in a way, a problem could occur if you have triplets..which one do you decide doesn't receive it?
    7) The scheme to give children circa. £500 when they are born should be completely scrapped.

    Agree and I believe it has already been scrapped in the last budget.
    8) Council houses/housing association/housing benefit for private rentals - any housing benefit should be a maximum of £500/week and/or a maximum of 3 bedrooms - which ever is the least amount in the area you live.

    Agree but this could also cause problems in high rent level areas (my weekly rent is not even a 5th of this). The argument against this is that in some areas, there is still those working who need to be close ish due to the high cost of commuting. They could always move out to a cheaper area but then the cost of commuting in to their employment would make it economcally a non starter.
    9) Those in council houses/housing association housing etc must keep the property up to a suitable standard. Regular quarterly checks will be carried out and failure to maintain the property will mean you lose your housing.

    Housing association tenants are already subject to outside inspections, not sure I would like the idea of having someone checking my house every 3 months, not least because it would completely unsettle my two autistic children which would take weeks to calm them down again from....not even my parents can visit let alone a complete stranger.
    10) Single couples or elderly couples should not be allowed to remain in 2 and 3 (god forbid 4) bedroomed properties for life. Once the youngest child leaves home they must downsize to a 1 bed property.

    Agree but some time should be allowed for adjustment.
    11) Carers allowance should be paid at an increased rate - at least £200/week plus housing benefit and no council tax etc. However, every 2 years there needs to be a stringent independent assessment as to whether the person needs to be cared for. None of this "I am a carer for my 6 year old son who has asthma".

    I agree re the increase in carers allowance but I think your amount is too high (I am a carer). With DLA checks, in a lot of cases, there is already a stringent assesssment that the person still requires the care and ergo, the benefit, that said, it wouldn't be too much of an inconvenience to have checks as long as the checks were not miles away and not done by ATOS with their computer says no system! Also, there are varying degrees of Asthma, some mild and needing very little care, some very severe requiring a lot of care and frequent hospital admissions (one of my youngest sons disabilities is severe asthma with frequent hospital admissions, usually in a very serious and life threatening condition - this is not the main condition he receives DLA for though - eldest son also had asthma and no claim for disability was ever made as his was very mild in comparison)
    12) Pensions should be from a minimum age 65 or after paying a minimum of 40 years 'stamps' - which do not include time when you have been on job seekers allowance etc. Minimum pension should be £200/week.

    Agree re 65 but the 40 years stamp could be difficult for some especially if time has been taken to care unofficially for someone (as in no payment of carers so no stamp paid for them), or through illness.
    13) Children's education should be costed out on a yearly basis. If, for example, it costs £4000/year to educate a child in a state school, the parents should be able to take 2/3rds of the money and put it towards private school fees. The remaining 1/3 would be kept for the local state school to help shore up the costs of the most geographically local state school.

    I don't agree. It would make the state system seem even more of a dumping ground...and I am perfectly happy with the state schools my boys go to.
    We made it! All three boys have graduated, it's been hard work but it shows there is a possibility of a chance of normal (ish) life after a diagnosis (or two) of ASD. It's not been the easiest route but I am so glad I ignored everything and everyone and did my own therapies with them.
    Eldests' EDS diagnosis 4.5.10, mine 13.1.11 eekk - now having fun and games as a wheelchair user.
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