MSE News: Benefits recipients could lose £1 billion

worried_jim

Surely the headline should read "Taxpayers could save £1 billion".

ceridwen

stroodes wrote: »

can i ask ..........if we are not allowed to discuss benefits ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,why have a benefits board?

Oh .. dont be silly now :rotfl::rotfl:

Can't possibly have the Government (or, more to the point, the Press) seeing posts up by people explaining details of how much income they need just to survive and explaining how much comes in and the difference between the two now can we?:cool::rotfl:

I personally promise that, if ever I get put on the dole again I will find a way to put up a thread on the Benefits Board (and make sure it STAYS on the correct Board - ie Benefits Board) detailing how I am managing ---or otherwise.

I do think we need to read cases of people in that situation that don't have one single factor against them indicating its THEIR fault they're in that situation. We all read of cases of hardship - where we can/do instantly think "Well - if they will have children they cant afford (ie too many or any born 10 months or more into unemployment), smoke, have Sky tv, have debts to start with, etc". If I ever put up a hardship thread - then I would be able to say "Look - no children, no smoking, no Sky Tv, no debt at the outset. NOW - you just try saying its MY fault I cant manage - because I can prove it ISNT".

This is the type of thread we need on the Benefits Board - because I'm sure there are good money managers (such as myself) that are in this position and we arent hearing about them at present.

EDIT; That reminds me - thinking of single childless "good money manager" peeps on beneft - Pagan Girl are you out there? Are you still unemployed?

NewStart09

Well they should stop us paying their ridiculous allowances.

What other job gives such a liberal allowance, I have worked at Senior Management level and never been able to submit receipt for reimbursment for my second home furniture tv, pay my electric bill etc...

The mere thought they can submit an allowance for a 42p candy bar (Mr Cameron shows no shame in doing this) is just absurd! With their £60k+ pay surely they can afford this!!!


We need a petition to Ban MP allowances that would save the UK tax payer millions over the years, let that money be spent on the children or caring for the elderly, MP's need to start living in the real world......I would compare this to Maria Antoniette let them it cake bit..........!

Dognobs

I have not had a payrise!

I can speak from both sides as I was unemployed for a year and claiming. I WAS SHOCKED AT HOW MUCH HELP YOU GET!!! It is too much! I own my home so I was not reciving HB and only had a small amout of CTB paid. OK my wife is working in a ok job HOWEVER we have never lived above our means we made adjustments and have no debts and we lived fine. I also have ASD (I was only getting JSA) so finding a job was harder for me. But I work out that we are about £50 a week better off with me working but It is PRIDE and GOOD FOR YOU TO GET UP IN THE MORNING AND DO SOMETHING! Why people get upset is you see ALOT of people on ESA / DLA for stress, depression, anxiety, drugs/drink problems, chronic fatigue syndrome, Bad back etc driving around in a brand new disabilty car and leading a normal life when challanged they just say I was having a good day. Or a single parent walking around with UGG boots owns 50" tv and a iPhone getting a brand new build council house and grants for furnish it. Yes there will be the few that struggle but it won't be many. BENIFITS ARE A LIFELINE NOT A LIFESTYLE. Lets get rid of the greedy and help the real needy!

Lou76

Dognobs wrote: »

I have not had a payrise!

I can speak from both sides as I was unemployed for a year and claiming. I WAS SHOCKED AT HOW MUCH HELP YOU GET!!! It is too much! I own my home so I was not reciving HB and only had a small amout of CTB paid. OK my wife is working in a ok job HOWEVER we have never lived above our means we made adjustments and have no debts and we lived fine. I also have ASD (I was only getting JSA) so finding a job was harder for me. But I work out that we are about £50 a week better off with me working but It is PRIDE and GOOD FOR YOU TO GET UP IN THE MORNING AND DO SOMETHING! Why people get upset is you see ALOT of people on ESA / DLA for stress, depression, anxiety, drugs/drink problems, chronic fatigue syndrome, Bad back etc driving around in a brand new disabilty car and leading a normal life when challanged they just say I was having a good day. Or a single parent walking around with UGG boots owns 50" tv and a iPhone getting a brand new build council house and grants for furnish it. Yes there will be the few that struggle but it won't be many. BENIFITS ARE A LIFELINE NOT A LIFESTYLE. Lets get rid of the greedy and help the real needy!

I take exception to this.

I have M.E. (and Crohns, to boot) and I found myself unable to work, and unable to pay the bills.

Being single, and having a mortgage, the 'benefits' were not exactly forthgiving. I found myself saddled with a load of debt, just to keep a roof over my head, which I'm now gladly paying off, and didn't have the luxury of leaving the house, let alone in a "brand new disability" car.

I was lucky if I was well enough to leave the house once a month, I'm still the same. I only go out if I feel well enough, therefore look well enough, hence people who actually see me must think I look great. That was one of my biggest hurdles; people judging me by thinking I looked well, when I knew I wasn't.

I'm fortunate enough that, despite a 7 year gap in my CV; I've found an employer who will take me on, and allow me to work around my illness. :T

I may have M.E., but it's never been an excuse to not work. It's simply a barrier to overcome...

thelawnet

wakeupalarm wrote: »

"Benefits recipients could lose £1 billion"

Jesus Christ!, How much are they being paid? :eek:

In excess of £150b. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/7868132/State-spending-on-benefits-doubles-to-152bn-since-Thatcher-era.html

mr-tom_2

It is perfectly simple. Average benefit increases should be linked to average salary increases.

Those complaining about 4.5% should try working their butts off for 0% year on year.

(edit) Here's a thought - why not trade the "Benefits recipients could lose £1 billion" headline for "Taxpayers could be given back £1 billion" or even "UK to reduce overspending by £1bn"?

misfit

mr-tom wrote: »

Those complaining about 4.5% should try working their butts off for 0% year on year.

I haven't seen anyone on this thread complain about getting 4.5%, just people moaning that they shouldn't.

mr-tom_2

misfit wrote: »

I haven't seen anyone on this thread complain about getting 4.5%, just people moaning that they shouldn't.

I said "those complaining", not "those in this thread complaining"

misfit

Still haven't noticed anyone anywhere complaining. Just lots of righteous people turning purple with anger at the thought that people on benefits might get 4.5% or whatever it may be. I haven't heard one person on benefits yet demand that they should get anything extra. If anyone is to blame for this then it is the government that devised this scheme and has now seemingly changed the rules. I cannot believe that people are furious at the people that are to get any increase...this scheme was not devised by them, it was introduced by this government.