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Original poster

UK benefits system - what would you change?

410 replies

Galactico · 06/01/2023 21:36

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?

OP posts:
itsjustnotok · 22/01/2023 17:40

@Galactico i think the benefits system is really complicated and I would find it hard to on one where to start. I don’t however understand Pupil Premium lasting for so many years, even if a child comes off free school meals. I think that should be income based. My friend has had it since her DD was in primary, she’s had a really good job and still gets it and does really well from it. That I don’t get because there are parents out there that struggle and get nothing.

YetMoreNewBeginnings · 22/01/2023 17:42

Florenz · 22/01/2023 17:11

No sanctions for missing appointments? So you make your claim, and get benefits paid for the rest of your life, regardless of what you do?

It's not particularly onerous to expect people to attend a meeting, on time, once every 2 weeks. Working people have to get to work on time every day, 5 days a week, every week. And then they have to do a days work once they get there!

I know three people who have been sanctioned because the job centre refused to change their appointment time and they - sensibly - opted to go to that job interview they had lined up (and had proof of) instead…

YetMoreNewBeginnings · 22/01/2023 17:44

itsjustnotok · 22/01/2023 17:40

@Galactico i think the benefits system is really complicated and I would find it hard to on one where to start. I don’t however understand Pupil Premium lasting for so many years, even if a child comes off free school meals. I think that should be income based. My friend has had it since her DD was in primary, she’s had a really good job and still gets it and does really well from it. That I don’t get because there are parents out there that struggle and get nothing.

PP is done that way for several reasons. Two include the fact that a lot of people yo-yo qualify. Once you’ve been on benefits or in a low income bracket once you are statically more likely to be there again.

Plus the impacts of that time aren’t just disappeared as soon as the family situation changes. So the extra help is often still needed.

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about this subject:

Benefits
RoseHansBolo · 22/01/2023 17:46

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XenoBitch · 22/01/2023 17:47

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Poverty and starvation does not get people jobs.

YetMoreNewBeginnings · 22/01/2023 17:51

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They are temporary.

Contribution based JSA only lasts 6 months.

Income based is conditional on following all the things set by your work coach.

itsjustnotok · 22/01/2023 17:51

@YetMoreNewBeginnings i get the yo-young. I just can’t get my head around someone on a really decent wage still getting that money for such a long time.

RoseHansBolo · 22/01/2023 17:52

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XenoBitch · 22/01/2023 17:54

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If unemployment benefits are temporary ..meaning they will at some point be stopped, then you will have people in poverty and starving.

RoseHansBolo · 22/01/2023 17:55

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XenoBitch · 22/01/2023 17:58

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What jobs are these? My money is on them being zero hour crap on minimum wage. No one will come off benefits (so avoid sanctions) on those.

YetMoreNewBeginnings · 22/01/2023 18:05

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The fact that the jobs available and the people available don’t always match up seems to bypass people.

OnlyOpenMouthToChangeFeet · 22/01/2023 18:05

Citycentre3 · 06/01/2023 22:45

People on Universal credit seem to be raking it in with other benefits. Universal credit seems to be the golden egg for everything else.

It is grossly unfair, especially for those who work, but earn less than the Universal credit bunch. If I hear oh you can qualify for this that and the next for those on universal credit one more time I shall scream. It is an utter disgrace especially where child care is concerned, why do they get extra money towards child care if they are not even working???? While other people work full time just to pay child care costs and are left only marginally better off!

It is frankly taking the piss out of decent people. I have heard Universal credit people boast that they use the childcare payment just to lounge in bed or just get some "me" time. Utterly disgusting system that allows that to happen.

You cannot claim childcare payments on UC if you are not working, I'm really not sure where you've heard that one.

JenniferBooth · 22/01/2023 18:07

If people are expected to do more hours then
a. those hours need to be guranteed each week without fail
OR
b. If you are an employer who doesnt want to guarantee hours but want your employee to keep themselves available just in case then you are asking them to be ON CALL and they should be paid accordingly.
If its good enough for some professions its good enough for others.

XenoBitch · 22/01/2023 18:08

JenniferBooth · 22/01/2023 18:07

If people are expected to do more hours then
a. those hours need to be guranteed each week without fail
OR
b. If you are an employer who doesnt want to guarantee hours but want your employee to keep themselves available just in case then you are asking them to be ON CALL and they should be paid accordingly.
If its good enough for some professions its good enough for others.

I totally agree. I do not understand how zero hour contracts are allowed to be a thing tbh.

RoseHansBolo · 22/01/2023 18:41

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RoseHansBolo · 22/01/2023 18:44

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XenoBitch · 22/01/2023 18:48

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Health care should not be an option for people who just need a job. That is not fair on the patients they are looking after.
Would you want a loved one to be looked after by someone really disinterested and not suitable for the role.. simply because the Job Centre forced them there?

JenniferBooth · 22/01/2023 18:53

@RoseHansBolo 40"000 care workers quit because of the Covid vaccine mandates Not to mention the rest who also quit because they didnt want double the workload due to their colleugues quitting
You reap what you sow

Comefromaway · 22/01/2023 18:54

There are lots of healthcare jobs available/advertised, yes. But due to the hours/rotas you generally need to be able to drive and have complete flexibility eg no children or other caring responsibilities.

YetMoreNewBeginnings · 22/01/2023 18:57

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How to miss the point.

some of the most often advertised jobs atm are for lorry drivers and teachers. How many people can walk into the job centre and match those?

Or, locally here, for people to do night shifts in a factory when there is no childcare open?

Heath care, or social care, are not jobs that can or should be done by just anyone. It’s ludicrous to suggest so.

It’s also amusing that Tesco always comes up - they are not an easy company to get a job with.

JenniferBooth · 22/01/2023 19:07

The fruit picking option always comes up too. But a. this usually involves living away from home. b. people living in social housing cant live away from home. Its a breach of the tenancy agreement. And even if they took the risk some busybody would report their house/flat as not being lived in/abandoned.

Of course you could always campaign for more rights for SH tenants.

feellikeanalien · 22/01/2023 19:10

So many people on here who have absolutely no idea what life is like for those on benefits particularly those who have caring responsibilities. I have found this thread really depressing.

DressingForRevenge · 22/01/2023 19:22

Ffs. Those Tesco/caring jobs will come with LARGE UC top-ups because the wages are shit.

I work FT for the government and get UC.

wrap your tiny head around that for a moment.

JudgeRinderonTinder · 22/01/2023 19:27

Education for the judgemental arseholes who have no idea about a person’s circumstances or health and what life is really like but feel qualified enough to sit on their high horse declaring that it’s a lifestyle choice/too easy/too much and unilaterally deciding who is well enough to work and who isn’t. Listening to too much tory hate. They are utterly clueless.