Working for benefits

[IVFNewbie]

Could there be an argument made to make people that are eligible for work to do some community based work in return for their benefits?

Many people on benefits already work. There are another group, of disabled people, who probably want to work but can't as employers can't make adjustments necessary to enable them to work. I think the government are at the moment looking at plans to tackle long term unemployment by making people do a work trial. I'm not against that idea if a person is unemployed long term and refuses to apply for a job. However it's important they protect the disabled by trying to bring in stronger legislation making employers do more workplace adaptations or allow disabled people to WFH if the job allows. A lot of customer service or phone based jobs could allow that.

Oh I remember this I had a few "trials"
was a terrible scheme actual free labour if I remember right it was in conjunction with job club.

Oh LOOK

ANOTHER benefit bashing thread

Perhaps if people stopped leaving the rubbish all over the place and not doing graffiti we wouldn't need people to clean it all.
Maybe a "Keep Britian Tidy" campaign should be something the government should focus on rather than making life harder for those who need to recieve benefits.

Have you heard the latest Tory polling ?

there are also people that want to work but survive on benefits (which indicates that this is a proper, decent wage and enough to live on)

So achieving the level of "surviving," "indicates a proper, decent wage and enough to live on." Congratulations on winning the runners up prize in the race to the bottom.

Oh, how cynical, you are! But right.

Oh, look:

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2024/01/14/general-election-poll-tories-worst-defeat-1997-labour/

I think people that are capable of work should work. I think if you're receiving benefits because you're unemployed you should have a buffer period where you are able to look for specific work but after a while I think you should have to consider other options.
I believe that's how it works atm however unsure how well its enforced.

I don't believe this is a good idea as it sends a punishment message as opposed to encouraging and supportive.

Remember it costs money to work, transport, suitable clothing, childcare or other care duties. A lot of people on benefits are people unable to work or are meeting family needs which don't fit in neat boxes.

I assume you mean the tiny minority who made it a lifestyle choice. Exactly how are you planning on mandating it, you can't starve them and make them homeless.

In your scenario you will force more hardship on the vulnerable and your target won't care.

No there wouldn't
If there was a job, they would get a fair wage
Also, Workshy?!!
A majority of claimants of UC are in paid work
Benefits are not freely given, you know
And don't start on Disability benefits, I'm not in the best of moods today

Its funny how MN is rife with benefits bashing, yet things that cost the country far more (like corporate tax evasion) doesnt gain even a portion of the outrage.

Also any fraud is dwarfed by unclaimed benefits. Not that any of the bad faith posters here (if they exists IRL) would give a toss.

There's a thread going on at the moment about how to get away with not paying tax on a second property but the most vulnerable in society are being bashed here. Laughable.

I already work.

Ooo didn't you realise people on UC work??!

No one should be forced to work for benefits. It's such a them and us attitude where people who think they are superior get to sneer at the unemployed. If there is work to be done employ people and pay a fair wage. I'm not against offering people work experience, training etc but not exploiting them on workfare schemes.

I m receive some benefits but also work full time.
I'm not sure why you think I should be doing some community based work.
I could reduce my working hours & increase my benefits to have time to scrub some graffiti or litter pick I am happy to do any kind of work I am able to.
Not sure why I am more responsible for this kind of community work than anyone else. How about people who use more than their 'fair ' share of NHS resources. Perhaps people with cancer could clean the hospitals?

Or perhaps the Tory donors & voters that benefit from Tory policies should be the ones doing the community jobs & hospital cleaning as their 'pay back'

Me too. I work full time!

In Spain - this is how it's done. Those on benefits have to contribute to society every 3-6 months for a period of time doing litter picking, volunteering etc in order to get the next 3-6 months of benefits payments. This is how it should be done here too...

If you want to start a discourse about something new rather than disingenuous benefit bashing, how about looking at universal basic income?

It leads to less employment as people on benefits are doing jobs that were previously done by paid staff. I saw it happening in the UK.
I mean if your question is how do we exploit the poorest people in society, then this is a good way to do it.

@Nadeed was going to comment the same thing, but your post puts it perfectly.

No. It's that simple. If there is work needing to be done pay people a proper wage to do it.

@MrsSlocombesCat I don't get the level of envy aimed at benefit claimants, usually from people who are so much better off. In what world would someone on (say) 80k with their own home, kids having music and sports lessons, nice holiday every summer ever be worse off than someone with much less just because that person gets universal credit? The envious bunch should give up their fat salaries and nice lives and go live in a tower block on less than their current office lunch budget if they think it's so good.