UK benefits system - what would you change?

[Galactico]

Just a bit of curiosity, really.

Many people agree that the benefits system isn’t fit for purpose now. Whether that be because they feel it’s too easy to get them and so there’s a lack of incentive to work for some people, or because people are subject to degrading assessments and the constant threat of being sanctioned/removed.

Any opinions?

What for making sure children actually are fed? Work for your money then spend it how you like (obviously not including disabilities).

How do you decide how much a person needs to spend on food, etc? What happens when their gas and electricity go up? Will they get that to cover the extra? Sounds too much of a faff to administer

Quite. The socialist Mumsnetter position on here is that ‘working people are always better off than those on benefits even if the benefits are generous, because they get pension contributions and can choose their own care home’. Well that’s a miserable existence if ever I heard one - slave away for 50 years just to be able to choose to die in a nice room. I would rather not work, spend that time with my little ones, and take my chances at the end (not that I will). And when the same mumsnetters argue that social care should be free for poor pensioners, it’s not like the decision would even come back to bite you is it?

Cuppasoupmonster

what if you work and claim benefits? 50% of benefits claimants are working, so where do they fit in?

What’s wrong with paying a proportion of benefits in food vouchers for any supermarket to ensure there is always money for food and getting vouchers for energy? I would do this weekly though. Some people are just really bad at budgeting and can just blow their monthly money on the wrong stuff!

I would also pay rent directly as happened in the past.

Did you see the farce that the school meal vouchers turned into during lockdown?

Why should people be limited to certain supermarkets? And how would you deal with people who live rurally and would then have travel costs to specific places rather than shopping in small local shops?

And how do you work out how much someone should get in food vouchers and how much in energy? Some people eat frugally and turn the heating up higher, some prefer to wrap up warm and spend on food.

Why, when they cast majority of people on benefits are either working, out of work for less than 6 months, disabled, carers or the likes, the need to be so dehumanising and punitive toward them?

I agree, this already happens with healthy start vouchers. No reason to believe it wouldn’t be the same.

Yes but you currently have TWO incomes, no? Out of that £1700 you'd have to pay all your rent and bills alone, so how would you be better off?

And also working part-time IS WORKING. I specifically said not working.

“Did you see the farce that the school meal vouchers turned into during lockdown?”

Yes but wasn’t that because they were limited to specific supermarkets? It would have to be able to be spent in local shops eg spar and coop as well as all the large ones, not just one specific supermarket.

“Why should people be limited to certain supermarkets?”

See above, they shouldn’t.

“ And how would you deal with people who live rurally and would then have travel costs to specific places rather than shopping in small local shops?”

See above.

“And how do you work out how much someone should get in food vouchers and how much in energy? Some people eat frugally and turn the heating up higher, some prefer to wrap up warm and spend on food.”

No idea but surely they could supplement either with their extra cash benefits if needed.

Yes but PART TIME.

There must be a way round that though surely in this age of technology? Surely if this is the case it justifies why it needs to be done in the first place or implies that people aren’t struggling for food if they can afford to sell the vouchers for less than they are worth as vouchers?

Govt has a terrible record on technology so they'd struggle to find a way to stop voucher bartering.
There are a lot of perfectly legitimate reasons people might need cash instead of supermarket/shop vouchers.
-Clothes/shoes
-local market for fresh produce
-car/bicycle repairs to get to work
-appliances
-dentistry if you can't get an NHS dentist
-vet bills
-paying off debt accrued during the 5 week waiting period for benefits (when as you were paid weekly you couldn't make 1 weeks wages stretch for 5)
-A desk so you/your child can work at home
-bedding/furniture
-bus fares
-logoed school uniform

I agree that benefits, all benefits should be paid in vouchers, or a card that can only be used in certain shops, like Tesco for food, toiletries and household small goods, and Primark for clothes shies etc. Rent and utilities to be paid direct. The American SNAP and EBT systems work, and don't allow for junk food at all. Copies of Jack Monroes books should be issued to benefits people so they have a good idea of what's suitable for them to eat.

The voucher system may be a little more difficult for people claiming PIP. I understand that the mobility part is swapped for the car.

Anyone that thinks a voucher system could work for disability benefits is clueless.

"I understand that the mobility part is swapped for the car."

No it can be swapped for a car.

Why?

"Copies of Jack Monroes books should be issued to benefits people so they have a good idea of what's suitable for them to eat."

What a disgusting comment.

Vouchers are dehumanising. Full stop. This sort of drivel comes from those who have no idea that benefits claimants are just like them - 99% of us are far from reckless drug-addicted, drinking scum that people like you like to portray us as.

Fucking sick.

If anyone should be paid in vouchers it should be MPs, given the provably high levels of alcohol and drug use in Downing Street/Whitehall and Parliament. Those are the people pissing/snorting away our hard-earned taxes.

😂😂 There’s nothing Jack Monroe could teach me about cooking on a budget with flavour AND nutrition.

I like the sound of my heating bills being paid for though.

The whole point of disability benefits is that they are supposed to.make a disabled adult/ child life a little easier which is why you don't have to.give any proof of what you spend it on ,and only a higher rate mobility component of DLA( child) or Enhanced rate PIP( adult page for a mobility car ) my son gets High rate mobility due to.severe mental.impairment ,it is taken automatically from his DLA,to pay for his mobility car.

"Why?"

They don't understand that the extra costs of disability are unique to each person and so having a list of shops where you can use them isn't going to work.
Some of the things I have needed for my son are not even available to buy. I have had to get others to make them or have made them myself.

Yes because obviously people on benefits are to thick to work out how to.eat healthily,and I'm not sure the charlatan Jack Monroe,s recipes are that great .

There should be a drive towards acceptance of good quality second hand goods which would tick the majority of your list. Many schools already utilise this for uniforms, coats etc. Could be used for appliances, desks etc.

There is more of a sense of entitlement nowadays. Previously if people couldn’t afford things they went without.

I do feel benefits should be generous for an initial period following illness, redundancy etc in the short term to allow people to get back on their feet because this could happen to any of us.

Those who choose not to work should get the above. I don’t include those who cannot work due to disability. I also don’t include those who need top up benefits due to low salaries, but would rather salaries were enough to mean no top up benefits were needed.

If people only have supermarket vouchers they literally can't buy those good quality second hand goods. Vouchers force people to shop new in supermarkets even though that would cost more in a lot of cases.