'tough but necessary' - what do you think?

[TortBabe]

That is a good idea Rach, I have often said that lazy louts should clean the dog poop off the streets for their dole-money, after all its their bloody macho dogs who are making all the mess (I've never saw a young lad pick a poop up)

[TortBabe]

Originally Posted by stells

Right there with you Clare... with a very similar story...

Life is tough, eh? But I always count my blessings, he is the most adorable wee monkey when hes not having a strop there are people far worse off than me

[yuna1971]

RE: The means testing for Jobseekers and Community Work (long term). It would be tough to implement but if you think about the benefit of what the outcome would be....there would be a lot of good from it. It also could encourage people to try and better themselves - learn something productive and challenging. Yes, it would not be everyones cup of tea, lots of fine tuning. But the thing of it is, that it would keep a person who maybe has just given up and decides to accept being on benefits - and motivate them, encourage them and also get them back in the frame. It would give them something to get up for in the morning and think, yeah I have done something productive for my money - I am not a waste of space, I can earn my money (even if its not much).
In terms of the psychological it could work for that individual and the cause of "what have i got to lose?". And the key thing, as said - it keeps them hungry. It also would enable our streets clean, roads maintained, landscapes and parks bettered (graffiti, vandalism) and other productive things. And it would all be actioned in their own community, under their local authority. Plus other public bodies could be included like the NHS. You can see the scope for which it could be expanded.
As I say, there would need to be some changes, some fine cut tuning and it would cost money to implement and explore legalities.
But....why not, its a new challenging and potentially motivating idea....which yes is tough but it might actually prove fruitful in the long term. xxx
(VOTE Prune Girl 2011)

[yuna1971]

For Clare and Kelly and Sara - I am sorry for your circumstances. Hopefully I didnt offend..with wacky idea number 1 - I totally understand your situation and how difficult that must be for you now or in the past. I think maybe for the real p. takers.....this is who I was referring (the ones you see in the tabloids and the ones who completely exploit the system) xxx I know that there are completely legitimate reasons for many many people for which the system does work and above all provides crucial support.
((hugs))

[Neddy]

Clare even if your son didnt have Autism I still don't think you should work. I really really missed my mum when she started working!

And lets be honest EB is fab, she is so intelligent that she is a fine example of why single parents should be there rather then working. And lets not forget that being a parent is a full time job too I don't know much about your son, but have friends in the same situation and funny enough they all count there blessings too. I have much respect for you Clare and any family who have children that require around the clock care, it can't be easy.

Rach - I just think that the whole 'Broken Britain' business isn't going to be fixed if they started messing with child benefits

xx

[yuna1971]

Yes you are probably right....how bout my jobseekers means testing-community work idea...??

[Helen M]

Originally Posted by yuna1971

Yes you are probably right....how bout my jobseekers means testing-community work idea...??

Doesn't really have much to do with child benefit really does it?

At the end of the day children are the future. When they're older they become the countries future workers and they're needed in order to pay everyone elses pensions, nhs etc.

As far as I'm concerned although its wrong high earners recieve these benefits I suspect the bar is being placed far too low especially on single parent earners. To me if your paying a mortgage, tax on your income and have children to raise you probably don't have enough or barely enough to get by.

Given that children of today will be expected to pay for their university education (which used to be free), much higher house prices (surprise suprise those who are middle aged now never had) or massively inflated rent, increasing food and fuel costs, once they're workers. I think it fair that they be able to be either raised by a single parent when they're young or be given this extra bit of money so that their family can afford to buy them what they need.

At the end of the day we'll be shouldering the responsibility of supporting all these retirees (and there'll be a hell of a lot of them in 10-20 years time) and also manage to get by with lots of other factors as said above.

I would rather they scrap the winter fuel allowance or make it means tested. Given most people in receipt of it don't actually need it... believable when you see M&S stuffed to the rafters with OAPs.

Helen xx

[TortBabe]

Thanks Sara and Rach (no offence taken at all ) I have to agree with you Rach, there are a lot of people who milk the system. My cousin has had severe health problems ranging from Crohn's disease and the most recent a blood clot on his knee that he was lucky didn't kill him and he can't get Disability Living allowance. He has had most of his bowel removed and has to wear a bag. He will tell you he has numerous friends that recieve DLA for non-exsistent health problems. They all spend their days in the local pub with frequent trips to the betting shops And yet he has been turned down numerous times. His own Doc has signed him off work for a year as he can hardly walk with his knee. His wife works every hour God sends to keep their house, kids fed and bills paid. It s so so wrong
Sara thanks for your lovely comments, I do count my blessings. I have a friend who has a 11 year old son in a wheelchair, he is severely disabled, has never walked or called her mum or even been cheeky My life can be pretty tough, but I am blessed with 2 fab kids who are healthy. Your health is your wealth, Billy has a lot of problems, mainly social, but he is healthy! Its a condition and not an illness thank god.

[lisalass]

i started work at 14 for £1.05 an hour at 17 found a job as a care asst for £2.32 an hour i thought i'd hit the jackpot i'm now 42 and get £6.62 per hour but i now am on sick as i can no longer work i will claim benefits i'm entilted to i've done my bit my mum and all of your mum's claimed family allowance it was and is a necessity or it was in our family and helen is right our children will inherit our small earth

[yuna1971]

Originally Posted by Helen M

Doesn't really have much to do with child benefit really does it?

At the end of the day children are the future. When they're older they become the countries future workers and they're needed in order to pay everyone elses pensions, nhs etc.

As far as I'm concerned although its wrong high earners recieve these benefits I suspect the bar is being placed far too low especially on single parent earners. To me if your paying a mortgage, tax on your income and have children to raise you probably don't have enough or barely enough to get by.

Given that children of today will be expected to pay for their university education (which used to be free), much higher house prices (surprise suprise those who are middle aged now never had) or massively inflated rent, increasing food and fuel costs, once they're workers. I think it fair that they be able to be either raised by a single parent when they're young or be given this extra bit of money so that their family can afford to buy them what they need.

At the end of the day we'll be shouldering the responsibility of supporting all these retirees (and there'll be a hell of a lot of them in 10-20 years time) and also manage to get by with lots of other factors as said above.

I would rather they scrap the winter fuel allowance or make it means tested. Given most people in receipt of it don't actually need it... believable when you see M&S stuffed to the rafters with OAPs.

Helen xx

No your right. I was thinking this idea...sort of off on a tangent. But I guess its for a separate thread. xx BTW - agree with what you say. Some good points.