'The purpose of Welfare is to help people into work

[AnnieMaybe]

This is what David Cameron just said at the end of the BBC benefit programme

Does he not know what welfare is? Has he forgotten the ethos of where it has evolved from

[Boudica1990]

[Confused] I thought it was too, or a way of topping up income to have a standard of living above the bread line.

It was never ment to be a long term system from cradle to grave as it is now.

But I don't know maybe I'm wrong and confused

[formerbabe]

Welfare is to help those in need till they can get back up on their feet....in my opinion. I do not believe it should be a lifestyle choice.

Unfortunately, too many people have taken the piss with it and now everyone gets punished.

[consideringadoption84]

Depends, doesn't it? I guess you could see JSA that way and maybe some kinds of income support but not benefits for people who will always or often unable to work.

Plus, what about people who get welfare and are already I'm work?

[consideringadoption84]

in work and be unable, sorry.

[fayrae]

I think he is right. What is it supposed to be, otherwise?

[LineRunner]

But Cameron's words don't make sense, do they, when applied to old people who have nothing apart from state support, or a parent looking after a child with a disability, or an adult with cancer.

The purpose of the state, on the other hand, should be to ensure that there are living wages available to those who work, affordable housing available to those in work or unavoidably in receipt of state support, and a fair and equitable education system.

[deakymom]

it is but it would be better if there was jobs real jobs not zero hour contract still "working" just not earning sort of jobs because if you're on a zero hour contract and they give you no hours you can only claim housing benefit and council tax benefit so you have a roof over your head but no food (unless you have kids and get ctc obviously) but even then you still get less than people on the dole and you are classed as "working"

[StarlightMcKenzie]

It would be lovely if it DID help people into work. But of course welfare would then mean decent tax breaks for small businesses, decent salaries once there, affordable childcare and transport and homes for that matter. It would also mean proper investment in the NHS to ensure a fit and healthy workforce, decent public services and support rather than blame when things go wrong.

[StarlightMcKenzie]

And WORK needs to be properly recognised when unpaid or when a part of your past due to retirement or Ill-health.

[Boudica1990]

Personally DLA and state pensions or carers allowance need to be sepearted from the "benefit" umbrella. It should be classed as social support. There is no benefit to being disabled, caring for a disabled person or to being aged and vulnerable in today's society.

When people refer to benefits they are referring to JSA and such, and that by the nature of its name is to support people back into work.

[RhondaJean]

I thought the purpose of welfare was to support the weakest in our society and try to create a more equal world.

[ICanSeeTheSun]

I think he should start by looking closer to home.

Maria Miller defrauded the tax payer of £45,000, yet he has backed up her.

[GiveTwoSheets]

Cameron what a guy aye still always kicking boot in at welfare/benefit it sure does help with sweeping under the carpet the mps expense fiddlers.

[meditrina]

If he was talking specifically about JSA, then fair enough. If he was talking about an underlying ethos that people should be helped to find work, as far as they are able, then that's OK too.

I doubt very much he was naive enough to equate all benefits recipients with those two ideas, so I suspect that how comments may have been eited. I didn't see the programme - did they show exactly what he had been asked?

[fifi669]

I think it most def is the point. The welfare system is a safety net to protect those that lose their jobs or find themselves unable to work. It should help and encourage people back to work where it is possible. This may be through training or rent payments or just by subsidising childcare to make it affordable. It was never meant to be a choice.

[meditrina]

If he was talking specifically about JSA, then fair enough. If he was talking about an underlying ethos that people should be helped to find work, as far as they are able, then that's OK too.

I doubt very much he was naive enough to equate all benefits recipients with those two ideas, so I suspect that how comments may have been eited. I didn't see the programme - did they show exactly what he had been asked?

[meditrina]

If he was talking specifically about JSA, then fair enough. If he was talking about an underlying ethos that people should be helped to find work, as far as they are able, then that's OK too.

I doubt very much he was naive enough to equate all benefits recipients with those two ideas, so I suspect that how comments may have been eited. I didn't see the programme - did they show exactly what he had been asked?

[meditrina]

Sorry! Don't know what happened to result in multiple post!

[gordyslovesheep]

sorry are pensions (the largest 'benefit' in the welfare budget) there to help people into work then

[misskelly]

I think that is a ridiculous thing for him to say. Many people in receipt of benefits are in work. Many more are too old/disabled or caring for someone and can't work. Those who are getting benefits and are unemployed but looking for work are actually only a small fraction of welfare claimants overall.

[StarGazeyPond]

I thought the purpose of welfare was to support the weakest in our society and try to create a more equal world.

The problem is that some of the 'weakest' have taken advantage and become more 'equal' than others to the detriment of all !!

[Boudica1990]

These threads always become divided.

I don't think anyone working/claiming whatever expects the frail 70year old with arthritic hands and a ailing husband to work, no that's what they get a state pension for (which IMO should be much greater) society also does not expect the severely disabled or mentally I'll to work a 40hour week, and people inna similar situation. I happily pay in to the tax system with the hope that people Luke I mentioned before are helped and supported, have clean living, warm houses and food. I would love to think that my contributions would go to a family with a autistic child and they could have a brand new shiny sensory room fitted for free to benefit their child's wellbeing and life. But it rarely does, instead what I see is my tax money being spent supporting work shy people with 7 children who refuse to take a job cleaning because its underneath them. But it's fine for me to have previously done a similar job for 2 years to keep my afloat and still pay in to the welfare pot. Personally I didn't mins the job it gave me plenty of meantime as I polished and vacuumed away in my own world.

So does it really matter what Cameron has said....no because we all know the Ruth and we just accept it and we continue to pay in the hope that someone in genuine need receives what they deserve a quality of life.

[Boudica1990]

Damn iPad autocorrect, you get the jist

[ImAThrillseekerHoney]

One purpose of welfare is to help people into work.

[JohnCusacksWife]

..and he's absolutely right, as long as people are able to work. I'm sick to the back teeth of busting a gut at work to support folk who've decided that it's acceptable for them to be supported by the state indefinitely. I live in a small village and have seen the same people hanging around the village pub, day in day out, for years. They don't work, haven't for years and don't seem to have any expectation that things need to change.