MSE News: Autumn Budget Statement: Benefits to rise 5.2% with inflation

poppy10_2

Vincent_Buenisedes wrote: »

They've been conditioned to that line of thinking by the constant vilifiction of anyone unfortunate enough to claim benefits by the government and media.

Actually, no. I have first hand experience of many people who are living large while gaming the system

nineteenseventy

poppy10 wrote: »

With respect, it's a tiny minority of benefit recipients who would buy their food from health food shops or farmers markets.

A system similar to the food stamp setup in america, whereby benefit money for those out of work could only be spent on essentials such as food, clothing, shelter would work out so much cheaper for the taxpayer, whilst still providing a safety net for those that fall out of work. It's ridiculous that I am paying taxes for a workshy JSA-scrounger to watch Sky Sports HD on his 60" plasma screen when I can barely afford either myself. Benefits are supposed to provide basic support, not provide luxuries to those unwilling to work for them.

Just out of interest, do you truly think that all the public sector workers who have/will be made redundant will be watching sky sports all day etc etc? When I think of all my colleagues made redundant in March who had to sign on, all professionals with degrees, many who had been managers for decades...I just can't see them spending all day watching Jeremy Kyle in tracksuits while eating a family size bucket of KFC...

tagq2

zagfles wrote: »

Did you think the previous govt should have cut benefits when inflation was negative in 2009 then?

Well, it wouldn't be cutting in real terms[tm] - assuming you're happy with the choice of month in general - so there are no grounds for objection on that basis.

Killmark wrote:

I did some calculations that show that if NWM had risen at the same rate as JSA (using the government uprating methods since its introduction) it would be at approx £4.76 an hour.

JSA is IIRC uprated on the assumption that it isn't used for housing and council tax costs - a general wage almost certainly will be. But RPI, say, wouldn't pull minimum wage that much higher than your amount.

The lower bound on increases should apply to NMW, not least to stop the (well-engineered) bickering as waged labourers complain that they're not getting as good a deal as people they perceive as "not working". As for people who can command above minimum wage, they need to organise their labour and continually campaign for better conditions - if they demand less for others rather than more for themselves then they're only harming their own cause.

seven-day-weekend

sunnyone wrote: »

Your son and his partner both get DLA so their household income is increasing by much more than their hourly rate but you didnt mention that.......... My son does not get any Benefits whatsoever.

And your pension is going up, as is your husbands IB.............Yes I know that. Doesn't mean I can't think the rise is too high in this time of austerity..

What about his gold plated teachers pension which is that and his IB+ your state pension make your income ay above pension credit level.........Yes, answer same as above. Except he lost 1/4 of his 'Gold plated ' Pension when he took early rertirement because of his health. he will never get that back


The minimum wage has also gone up way above benefit levels since it was brought in and the same goverment also started the tax credit system which your son and his partner must benefit from in the form of disability working tax credits if their household income is on the breadline as you imply......................They have never applied for tax creditrs and don't get them..

See my anwers in blue above. And anyway it is irrelevant what my income is. I can still think the rises are too high. And FYI, I know what it is like to live on a tiny income from Benefits, and we had a small child and a mortgage to pay at the time. So I do know what it is like to live on the breadline.

ceridwen

neverdespairgirl wrote: »

A lot of people would. But it wouldn't bother me at all. That sort of thing never does. Why would I care what someone sitting at a checkout in a supermarket thinks of me?

:rotfl: sorrees....there...but the impression I've formed of you over the years would be that you come from a bit upper-crust, wealthier background than mine and therefore probably feel a lot more "immune" to what anyone else might think than most of us would. The mention of tiny old t.v. in post above also tends to confirm that impression in my mind.

Thats not said in any "negative" sorta way about you - but I'm aware that a friend I have from a very "posh" background simply wouldnt even think of wondering what anyone would think of her (supermarket assistant or otherwise). Most of us come from a background ..errrr...rather less "posh" and would be aware of "what people think of us" and would feel the need to be at pains to point out "Its not my fault I'm in this situation...I'm not a chav...I WILL be back in work soon I'm sure...etc.....etc....." and find the experience humiliating. Certainly most people I know would find it as humiliating or nearly as humiliating as I would personally....

(I know...I know its "not done" to mention class - even though its STILL such a huge influence in Britain...but to put it quite bluntly as far as I can see:
- its people who are "respectable working class" or "middle class" that would find a voucher system humiliating and belittling. The f*ckless "underclass" wouldnt give a damn for one reason and "yer more upper class" wouldnt give a damn for another reason. The vast majority of us though would feel in a position where we DO "give a damn" and would be upset by it.)

duchesspink1

poppy10 wrote: »

Actually, no. I have first hand experience of many people who are living large while gaming the system

if you know people that are living large and gaming the system then its your duty to report them. I know that most on here aren't living large or gaming the system and its hurtful to suggest otherwise based on your experience

Mikeyboy01

I think people are getting a little over excited by all this good luck to whoever gets the rise and anyhow its not their fault they never asked for it yet it again it the stupid politicians we have. We live in a country which is not fair as a matter of fact a world that is not fair. also like most of the population at some point have been unemployed and it is not easy however there is a small minority milking the system but I am sure with the confidential reporting hot line etc they will get caught not all but quite a few. I hated being on the dole as I am sure the majority do as well so lets not tar everyone with the same brush. There are a lot more things important in the world and indeed this country for us to worry about. Good luck to them. My beef is with the idiots that is in goverment not the recepients they gave it to.

zagfles

ceridwen wrote: »

:rotfl: sorrees....there...but the impression I've formed of you over the years would be that you come from a bit upper-crust, wealthier background than mine and therefore probably feel a lot more "immune" to what anyone else might think than most of us would. The mention of tiny old t.v. in post above also tends to confirm that impression in my mind.

Thats not said in any "negative" sorta way about you - but I'm aware that a friend I have from a very "posh" background simply wouldnt even think of wondering what anyone would think of her (supermarket assistant or otherwise). Most of us come from a background ..errrr...rather less "posh" and would be aware of "what people think of us" and would feel the need to be at pains to point out "Its not my fault I'm in this situation...I'm not a chav...I WILL be back in work soon I'm sure...etc.....etc....." and find the experience humiliating. Certainly most people I know would find it as humiliating or nearly as humiliating as I would personally....

(I know...I know its "not done" to mention class - even though its STILL such a huge influence in Britain...but to put it quite bluntly as far as I can see:
- its people who are "respectable working class" or "middle class" that would find a voucher system humiliating and belittling. The f*ckless "underclass" wouldnt give a damn for one reason and "yer more upper class" wouldnt give a damn for another reason. The vast majority of us though would feel in a position where we DO "give a damn" and would be upset by it.)

:rotfl:What has being "posh" got to do with whether you care what perfect strangers think of you? I don't, and I live in a working class area in north Manchester, definitely not "posh":p The person on the checkout really won't give a toss who you are, or what you pay with as long as they accept that form of payment. They don't have time to sit in moral judgement on every customer.

Reminds me of a few years ago when everyone in our office got sent on a week long training course in London. We went one at a time so there was cover in the office, they booked us into a hotel and we had an expense allowance for evening meals.

The first person who went came back saying the hotel food was rubbish and overpriced, cost more than the company's evening meal allowance so had to pay for some of it our of her pocket. I asked whether there weren't any restaurants in the area, but she was shocked that anyone would consider going to a restaurant on their own:eek:

I asked !!!!!! the difference was between eating on your own in the hotel restaurant and eating on your own in a public restaurant. Her answer was that the waiters and other customers might think you're a billy-no-mates, whereas in the hotel they knew you were on business! :rotfl:

When I went I ate in a different restarant every night, always well within the company's allowance, and much better food than the hotel, and I didn't give a toss what the waiters or other customer thought Besides there were a lot of others (probably business travellers) on their own.

If you live your life scared to do things because of what other people who you'll probably never meet again think, you'll have a very sad little life!

tatonette

tomjonesrules wrote: »

Not everyone on benefits sits on their backside all day watching Jeremy Kyle, but thanks for confirming the stigma attached to claiming.

I watch it every day LOL!

When I work I record it.

How sad am I? But I just love it and would love to know where all the people that come on actually live. Are they real?

I cannot believe that so many have such a chaotic life.

Oh yes, and I have breakfast in Morrisons at weekend!!!!

cit_k

flight747 wrote: »

Benefits should NEVER get increase ! NEVER NEVER ! The public sector workers is caped 1%. All hard workers get no pay rise and most of them get pay cuts to kept their job safe.

Jobseeker Allowance should reduced 5% not increase!

The government are in a mess again. Millions will think AM I BETTER OFF ON JSA than minimum working wage ?

Disgraceful Tory.

JSA will go up from 67.50 to 70.87 in April 2012, plus DLA, SDA as well. And ESA too.

Words fail me, do they not teach basic maths at school these days, and concepts like inflation?