Government to require banks to do monthly checks on the accounts of people on benefits and report back

[IncompleteSenten]

I read about this here.

metro.co.uk/2023/11/06/benefits-claimants-to-have-bank-accounts-checked-monthly-in-crackdown-19779875/

Do you think they will do it or it'll be blocked?

It sounds awful. If I was on unemployment benefit I'd feel really humiliated. I understand fraud happens but bloody hell this is really not on.

@BIossomtoes said:
Newsflash - a minimum wage job pays considerably more than benefits.

1. What do you mean by "considerably more"? (A percentage figure, if possible.)
2. Should costs of working be factored in? How much does that mw job bring in after allowing for transport costs, costs of presentable clothes and hair, childcare costs etc?

Yes, that’s a sensible post. 🙄

Unfortunately tory mp's actually profit from the benefit system being LL themselves . So until rents come down the benefits bill is always going to be big . After all we don't want to see people sleeping on the street in tents do we..

No no, sleeping in tents is a lifestyle choice!

Actually, in quite a few cases it is, in a way. Many homeless people have a companion dog, often the dog is keeping them sane. They would rather live in a tent than be parted from their friend and support.

Because this is opening a door to the government restricting civil liberties, in this case focusing on people on low income/unemployed ur unable to work.

This has happened regularly since tte Tories have come to power, slowing attacking things hoping no one will notice until it’s too late.

They’ve done that with the NHS, right to go down the streets for a rally etc etc…
Do we really need something else yet again?

No, I know them - I thought that was obvious, sorry! They deal drugs. Obviously it's not always a Range Rover. I also know a few people who claim and work, though probably don't earn enough for a brand new car - one is a roofer, another a hairdresser, another sells nicked building supplies (some sort of rubber stuff, I don't know the exact details but think it's for building!) etc. It's only the dealers that I know are making a lot, but I don't think any of them are depositing the money into their bank accounts.

If you're not doing anything wrong (and I assume the vast majority of claimants aren't) then why would you care?

Because people have a right to privacy, to go about their business without government intrusion, because to catch the minority who claim when they shouldn’t they need to breach the human rights of everyone claiming benefits. Because systems make mistakes, and in the case of benefits claimants could easily leave someone with no income while they try to sort things out - and benefits hardly cover the cost of living week to week much less allow someone to pay off debts accrued after a government fuck up. Because even people on benefits deserve a degree of dignity and respect. Because it’s half a step away from deciding what people can spend their money on.

Not wanting someone to trawl through your bank account doesn’t mean you have something to hide.

@Jellycatspyjamas thats why back in April 2020 i said the "all in this together" rhetoric was a load of bollocks

Because systems make mistakes, and in the case of benefits claimants could easily leave someone with no income while they try to sort things out

Exactly. I think I have come across threads on MN where people have had benefits stopped while investigations take place.

All it takes is one malicious anonymous call from someone with a grudge.

It's not unusual to use open banking in lending nowadays. Where the lender will have full access to you bank statement history (12 to 18 months worth, anyway).

I would imagine they will do spot checks to deter fraudsters. Don't really see what the problem is.

So, so, so many of these benefit cheats are amazingly open about their finances. Well, at least in MN world they are. 🤔🤔🤔

Universal credit for a single person over 23 is £368.74 a month. The take home pay for that person working a 37 hour week for minimum wage is £340.21 a week. If you want the percentage you can work it out yourself.

This should be rolled out nationwide, and the 16/30 hours a week "actively looking for work" should be done in a supervised location, just like being a workplace, or voluntering, street sweeping / picking up litter or dog muck etc.
Money for nothing...

Food parcels instead of cash would mean a LOT more kids got something to eat at home instead of being squandered away down the pub, gambled or smoked away too.

🏃

Why don’t we just reinstate workhouses @Thatladdo?

This this this and this.

Interesting idea that would make a real dent in the housing shortage, not so fair on kids who cant help their parents not being employed though.

Sure food parcels went well in lockdown didn't they ? If you like your food mouldy . Also can this government be trusted to hand out contracts to food companies rather than a mates mate .

Shall I take off the costs? What figure should I put?
I can quite happily work out the percentage - manually or on a spreadsheet.
But can you?

What food budget would the person have on benefit?
By how much would you allow them to increase it, once they were in work?

Do what you like, I really can’t be arsed. The figures speak for themselves.

My disabled son's benefits are paid into my account and I give him money into his account when needed. I pay all his bills from my account.

This. I also want to know what they are doing about:

• the dental crisis aka we don't have any fucking dentists
• the failing NHS
• Inflation and our rapidly failing economy
• Tax evasion/avoidance by the super rich - who are getting more and more wealthy off the backs of literally everyone else
• our polluted waterways
• The harm being caused to our young people by the internet and social media, and in turn to society.
• I am sure others can add plenty that is not coming to mind right now as Britain is on its fucking knees

This is NOT the fault of the poorest and most vulnerable in our society, so what is pissing me off more are these transparent attacks on benefit claimants and the ill and disabled. And of course let's not forget the immigrants.

Sadly, I am not sure that labour will be much better. I don't trust any of them. We need a complete shake up of the whole system.

Not open in the sense they tell me how much they earn but they don't keep it secret that they do cash-in-hand or deal - I used to do drugs and my ex dealt drugs. I don't know how many signed on but certainly some did (including my ex) as they thought it made them look less suspicious and also helped them get housing benefit. I know of several others who would claim housing benefit to pay their family members or friends, and one who also had his own property while claiming housing and paying his uncle. In fairness, this was a few years ago and I don't mix in those circles any more so I don't know if things have changed (though I suspect not). The hairdresser is a friend of mine, she's also on ESA (or the UC equivalent I think, she's not been on it as long as me) and isn't allowed to work. The roofer was another friend's ex (he's now even dodgier from what we hear!), the guy who sells the rubber stuff is sort of a friend though I don't know him well, he certainly doesn't hide it and laughs about having to sign on. I didn't realise people were unaware of this sort of behaviour, we may move in different circles! But just because you have no experience or understanding of something it doesn't make it untrue.

"At this festive season of the year, Mr. Scrooge," said the gentleman, taking up a pen, "it is more than usually desirable that we should make some slight provision for the poor and destitute, who suffer greatly at the present time. Many thousands are in want of common necessaries; hundreds of thousands are in want of common comforts, sir."

"Are there no prisons?" asked Scrooge.

"Plenty of prisons," said the gentleman, laying down the pen again.

"And the Union workhouses?" demanded Scrooge. "Are they still in operation?"

"They are. Still," returned the gentleman, "I wish I could say they were not."

"The Treadmill and the Poor Law are in full vigour, then?" said Scrooge.

"Both very busy, sir."

"Oh! I was afraid, from what you said at first, that something had occurred to stop them in their useful course," said Scrooge. "I am very glad to hear it."

Nothing to worry about computers making mistakes, eh ?

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-67335868

Do people really think and believe the vast majority of claimants who don't work at all are honest? I mean likely those who claim top up are but have you ever met any of these people? If you have you'll know they are way more likely to do drugs, buy dodgy things and don't even believe in paying any tax at all often. All teachers know the difficulties of say 3rd or 4th generations of these families. Not all but quite a large minority are playing the game.