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?

Oh come on, most people on benefits aren’t spending them on ‘good quality second hand’ items. They spend it on stuff they want then beg for freebies on Facebook where I live, usually under the guise of ‘a friend who has had a house fire’.

Hardly my fault you live in a shite area surrounded by chancers.

The majority of people on Univesal Credit - a benefit - work.

I mean it would be nice if it became common practice to hand things down or donate things for free when you no longer had the need for it like most people did when I was younger and new clothes etc seemed much less affordable.

@Lollipop999 that level of community spirit is hardly going to be fostered in a society that explicitly tells the poor that they cannot be trusted to spend the small amount of money they manage on correctly.

I'm all for UBI

If not, then getting rid of the 3rd child rule

I work ft and am disabled - I also get UC.

I also buy 99% of my clothes from Vinted/eBay, but you want me to buy from Primark. Have you shares there?

Carer's Allowance needs to be increased. And it should continue to be paid to carers who reach state pension age.

I get a lot of my son's toys second hand on eBay (breaks toys easily due to disability) so I would need a voucher that can be spent on there.
I would also need vouchers that can be spent on all the special needs second hand selling sites and all of the specialist equipment sites ( beds, sn buggies, seating, harnesses and other safety equipment), medical sites ( continence products) and vouchers that I can give to tradespeople who have done work related to his disability, in our home.

Primark and Tesco vouchers won't cut it.

Great idea!

Doubt this is true. Have you seen the amounts? It's a pittance.

Most people on UC work.

To get free school meals and free dental etc it is a really low amount so many do not get.

You should go on it if it is so good!

Rishi? Liz? Is that you?

What a sick thing to suggest.
I really hope that you never need benefits one day. If I had to live like you suggest, I would take my own life.

This is one of those ‘where to even start?’ comments.

Let’s have the state decide when you can shop. Maybe Tesco can have an approved foods for scroungers aisle too. Can’t have them buying branded beans!

They can cross reference with jack minor’s book to identify ‘suitable foods’ for the poor.

Primark can print a logo on the allowed clothes so everyone can know they were provided by the taxpayer.

In fact, let’s not have vouchers. We’ll pay Tesco direct and they can pick up their allocated rations weekly.

Seriously. People on UC are humans.

The problem with that is that if you are a carer caring for a disabled child,and are also.in receipt of tax credit ,universal credit, for example than however much you increase it by your tax crefits/ universal credit will reduce making you no better off.

This is a joke right?

You are one of these people that think people that don't work should be given all that is going.

Believe me I would go on it if I could. People have it made literally. You must be extremely rich to be so sympathetic to the scroungers, to actually feel sorry for them? People like you actually exist? Wow!!

Not in the UK, but our experience over the last 6 years as an employer who is working very hard alongside a parole officer trying to keep someone in the workforce and out of trouble:

1. ditch privacy laws. As an employer we should be able to talk freely and quickly about missed work opportunities with the benefit provider (ie if we have offered work, and he doesn’t turn up, then he shouldn’t be receiving a benefit). Same if a workplace drugs test is failed.
2. stop monetary payments going into bank accounts and instead have the benefit pay rent, car expenses, electrical and water expenses, pre loaded credit for grocery shopping of a sensible proportion.
3. focus on multi generational unemployment.
4. to be eligible for any benefit credit, there needs to be some sort of community work, budgeting/home science or training opportunities provided where attendance is mandatory. If they can’t be arsed to turn up for that, they won’t be making an effort to attend work.

It’s not a one size fits all answer, but it would solve some of the issues we have experienced with our fellow and his family (kids going hungry because the money has been spent on a hairdo or new clothes/new mobile etc). There’s other stuff that goes on, his partner had a restraining type order on him, so if they argue she calls the police and they take him away for 48 hours, thus he doesn’t attend work and we don’t get to hear about it…

current systems just don’t work and so open to abuse…

As always on here this has just turned into a vile benefit bashing opportunity by people who don’t have a clue.

I give my parents most of my PIP care for the care they give me. (They don't qualify for carers allowance) How if we had vouchers would that work?

I just remembered how the income support system worked in Finland when I was on it (I don't know if it still works the same as they moved it from the responsibility of adult social care to the agency that oversees all other benefits so might have changed a lot now) and every month I had to send in my bills (electricity/heating, water, medical, prescription receipts etc.) and they would add the cost of those to the basic support amount so yeah, got my heating bills paid, never had to worry about how high those were (though back then that wasn't a worry).
I did like how they had flexibility to make decisions about extra payments (you were assigned a social worker that you applied to each month, either in person or by form) so they once approved a new vacuum when mine broke, and when I escaped my ex and got my own place they approved a washing machine and gave extra money so I could get some furniture as all I had was my suitcase and DD's travel cot. Now its not run by social workers I expect there's less flexibility or understanding of different circumstances.

Make sure corporations are paying good wage so top ups aren't needed, no zero contract hours unless necessary.

Better childcare rates so again don't have to pay people for it.

Better policies to allow everyone to work including those with disabilities

Benefits left for those disabled, caring and cannot physically work. Therefore reducing the overall bill but also making sure those who get it get decent amount.

"Scroungers"... nice.

Who are these people on UC who have it made? I must be doing something awfully wrong.

People on a lot of benefits have a lot of health issues. Pretty pathetic to be jealous of that, and pretty vile to call them scroungers.

I don’t think benefit claimants are scroungers in the vast majority of cases. However on another thread, the posters seem to genuinely think having ADHD should entitle you to a state funded cleaner even if you are able bodied. Fantasy land.

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.

You realise that them include people in work? I work part time, can’t work full time due to my child’s complex additional support needs, I recently claimed UC for the first time in my adult life - I’ve worked since I was 16, in mostly professional roles.

I really don’t need anyone to decide what I spend my money on, nor do I need my food shopping policed and I certainly don’t need to be told what food is “suitable” for me to eat. How fucking patronising.

I do need a bit of a safety net while caring for my child and attending multiple appointments and meetings for her care mean I can’t work full time. I need some flexibility for the times she can’t cope with school and needs to be at home.

I’m very aware of the attitude that all benefit claimants are scroungers, that they live a life of luxury on the public purse. My self esteem has taken a hit having needed government support to make ends meet. I constantly try to figure out how I can commit to full time work at this stage of my child’s life, and I simply can’t, that doesn’t mean I’m lazy, or feckless or stupid, just using the safety net that we as a society agreed should be there.

Lack of suitable childcare is a major reason why some parents of disabled children cannot work.

Especially as children get older and still need childcare due to disabilities.

I’ve been able to work while my daughter is in primary school, she’ll access specialist provision for high school and the transport arrangements mean it’s going to be very difficult for me to continue in my job after summer because I can’t get childcare that works in conjunction with the school/transport. I’m now having to completely rethink my working life post August.