MSE News: Government moves towards new monthly benefit system

Percy1983

john539 wrote: »

So you now want to change the basis of our democracy.

Suggest it to your Mp.

Maybe the democratically elected government who are accountable should deal with the real economic problems like lack of affordable housing, high housing costs, greedy landlords, 1% vs 99%, high unemployment, lack of jobs, uncontrolled migration, high inflation, companies not paying taxes, company executives getting ridiculous salaries.

I agree, there is many other problems which need sorting, I am focusing on one which in line with the thread.

moose1982 wrote: »

So anyone who has fallen foul of a redundancy, been made disabled (and not a mild, controllable disability) or other similar circumstances, should have their right to vote taken away? Yet we'll give it to prisoners.

Don't forget that quite a few unemployed do things like volunteer in order to gain confidence, experience and something on the CV, all of which help improve a person. Should a volunteer who has fallen on hard times be tarred with the same brush? I know that most volunteers actually give an awful lot to society. Think about the fire brigade, a lot are now retained firefighters. Think about police, how many special constables do we have? Think about ambulance, it is often St John ambulance service which provide at big events. So I would say that a volunteer gives much in contribution to society.

I never said contribute financially, if somebody is doing something good in there community then thats great, likewise I would take the vote away immediately more a case of if you have been out of work for 12 months out of the last 36 months or such like.

waynesrun

Hi dont know if posting this in right place.My working tax credits was recently investigated. They have now stopped them because they say that i should never have been on them, as i have not been working anough remunerative hours.I had never had this remunerative stuff explained to me befor. And the benefits specialist advisor had not even heard of it ,untill she looked up the rules.I am self imployed and my hourly rate , like most people working as a consultant is at least £40 PER HOUR. If i was working 30 times £40 per hour i would not be needing tax credits. I cant see how there is any logic to this or how it is fair. As it would mean that w.tax credits is not suitable for the majority of self employed people even if they are on a very low income. Also this is not explained anywhere,even on the benefit website. They now say i have to pay all back.

seven-day-weekend

john539 wrote: »

How does that apply to people who have problems you don't have or haven't experienced ?

Such as? .

Heidi-Rose

Percy1983 wrote: »

I have highlighted the problem, its my money which is being spent so I have every right to have a say what it can be spent on.

WRONG!! It is NOT your money! Many people who, through no fault of their own have fallen on hard times and need some help in the form of benefit for a while, have actually worked for a long time. Thus they have paid their share into the system and are claiming money they earned :mad:

One day you might get sick, or lose your job, or become disabled or the victim of circumstances beyond your control. How will you feel if you are told that the system you contributed to will not help you when you need it?

Those on benefit are not lazy, thief's, alcoholics or junkies - WE ARE HUMAN BEINGS!!

Ever tried getting to know someone in these circumstances? Don't judge what you don't understand!

Hey, if ignorance was a barrier to working - Think how many people would need benefit!! :rotfl:

Percy1983

At which point have I said people should get nothing? I have said they should get food and shelter and nothing more.

Would that bother me if I ended up on benefits, not really I already have a TV, PC etc, I will just have to find more work if I want a bigger TV. Would it bother those who can't be bothered to work, it sure would.

property.advert

zagfles wrote: »

What are you on about? No month ever has 5 weeks. They are either 4 weeks 3 days or 4 weeks 2 days, except for Feb which is 4 weeks, plus a day in leap years.

But is will be someone else's fault when they blow all their cash in the first week and then have to live on beans on toast for three weeks.

Its disgraceful that people accepting handouts want to dictate just when their handouts arrive !

john539

seven-day-weekend wrote: »

Such as? .

You've said it shouldn't be a problem going to monthly payments.

Use your brain, think of some of difficult situations people on benefits are in.

A good exercise for anyone is go into a busy Jobcentre & watch the daily chaos they deal with.

What people here say is irrelevant, they will not have to keep the system working.
It would be wonderful if you could control & change social behaviour as simply as this.

Any system has to deal with the practical reality, not some idealistic theory.

john539

property.advert wrote: »

But is will be someone else's fault when they blow all their cash in the first week and then have to live on beans on toast for three weeks.

Its disgraceful that people accepting handouts want to dictate just when their handouts arrive !

Don't be silly, use your brain.

Will you be dealing with the chaos ?

ses6jwg

I get paid monthly like most other people.

All my direct debits come out within 10 days of getting paid so all my bills are paid.

If it is a tight month and I have £40 to last the rest of the month (a position that I have been in) then so be it.

If monthly payments are cheaper to administer, then monthly payments it should be.

If people can't manage their money around monthly payments, tough.

seven-day-weekend

john539 wrote: »

You've said it shouldn't be a problem going to monthly payments.

Use your brain, think of some of difficult situations people on benefits are in.

A good exercise for anyone is go into a busy Jobcentre & watch the daily chaos they deal with.

What people here say is irrelevant, they will not have to keep the system working.
It would be wonderful if you could control & change social behaviour as simply as this.

Any system has to deal with the practical reality, not some idealistic theory.

I have been into the Jobcentre, frequently, to search the database for jobs for people I know who are either unemployed or wanting to change their jobs.

It is a very depressing place, I undestand that, but what does that have to do with monthly payments?

(Unless you are saying that some people will kick off at the Jobcentre staff - this is possible, but it should be dealt with if and when and is no reason not to make payments monthly).