Private companies checking benefit claimants

[Hammy02]

David Cameron is going to work with Experion to check that benefit claimants are not spending money that they should not have. I think it's a great idea. Why should taxpayers pay for someone who doesn't work to have Sky TV, a car or a huge TV? If they can afford these, either the benefits they are receiving are too high or they have another source of income. Surely benefits are to keep people out of poverty and that is all?

There was a system in place before tax credits .was there not? ..and anyway the 40 quid a month minimum was originally paid in your wages ..they just moved it around

I am sure when i got married 13 years ago that we got some kind of tax relief (or dh did) for us being married whioch stopped when tax credits were introduced. I didn't dream this, did I?

x posted with usualsuspect. I am sure it was £80 p/m regardless of how much you earnt and how many children (or none) you had

TheJollyPirate - you're all entitled to an opinion, for goodness sake.

I just think that receiving benefits means one is almost automatically not so motivated in reducing waste and increasing efficiency.

People seek to ring-fence and protect their benefits, in knee-jerk fashion.

I, for one, discount the views of those that are claiming benefits. Just a preference.

You may approach the subject differently. That is your choice.

it just went to the man I think dino

family allowance was introduced in 1945 aswell

Just expressing my opinion Barmy as you often tell people they are free to do.

Next time I see your name I shan't bother posting, its always the same with you, your view does not change throughout! You just like a good old benefit bash! (well, if you want a personal comment you sound a bit like a broken record actually)

Go and enjoy.

The tax relief did stop ..it was just paid in a different way

I'm still not clear if I'm allowed an opinion .

I'm a SAHM, so pay no income tax. My DH works and does. Am I entitled to a viewpoint by proxy? We do receive £40ish a month in CTC.

Does my previous 20 years tax paying count for anything, or do SAHM automatically lose the ability to form a sensible idea once SMP expires?

Barmy, I'm not sure how removing the minimum wage will help. Surely then companies will be free to pay their workers proportionately less than they're getting now? I don't see them suddenly deciding to pay more because there is even less legal requirement for them to pay a living wage.

tethersend - higher earners generate wealth and shouldn't be taxed too highly or they just b*gger off and/or slide into tax evasion.

There's a thread on the Politics board about the "gerrymandering" charge if you want to discuss that. Rather obviously, I don't see anything wrong with correcting the inherent Labour-bias in the voting system.

that is what I thought usualy suspect. Did someone send it into room 101 and everyone magically forgot it existed before?

We got less tax relief btw barmyarmy, incase you are interested..

Yes it was paid mostly into the mans wages ..the idea was for the family to be able to choose whose account it went into

lol at usually suspect. I think I am losing my marbles

barmyArmy, some higher earners hide their earnings in offshore accounts. I know about all this stuff as I buy The Sunday Times and they tell you how to do it

Labour have always been about state dependency, but they really went mad this time (getting back into power after yrs in the wilderness went to their heads)..

The conservatives have always been about self motivation, the cream rises to the top with them & they reward that.

Labour have created the benefit culture we now find ourselves in & the sense of entitlement that's all around....I'm sure some people would happily let the government breath for them if they get away with it..

Tottwriter - having to pay £5.93 p/h means there are some employers out there who are employing 1 or 2 people, when they might be paying 2 or 3.

Minimum wages increase and maintain unemployment.

More people in work = more economic activity = more wealth = more people in work = more competition amongst employers = wages have to go up to attract people.

No one ever mentions it on MN ..but I can remember because we never claimed it for ages because it was too complicated thats why high earners get it because they got it before just in a different way

BA loves to turn every thread he's on into the same argument... is that perhaps because he only knows one?

I waited a long time for his reply the last time we debated the same issue, but he chose to remain silent.

Perhaps he had some pheasant to cook, or was watching his flatscreen TV. Or maybe he just had the entire economic infrastructure to support. I forget.

Anyway, I vote to discount the views of anyone who has the words 'Barmy' or 'Army' in their username, as they are obviously far too objective to contribute any interesting opinion to the debate. Anyone with me?

I think it sounds like we are turning in to a big brother sate.

Would you like the gov looking at your bank account and to see what you are spending your money on?

Is it not like a company checking to see where there money is being spent as you are one of there employees?

I dont like the idea at all.

I know someone who is a single mum, lives in a council house and is ill and does not work. She has 4 TV's that her family give her, her Dad put her on his car, she had two holidays this year and she owns a dog.

I had to get rid of my dog as i cant afford to feed him when my DS came along, we cant afford a holiday not even a camping one, my DH is Disabled so our car is on motability but if not we could not afford one and we still have to limit the milage as we cant afford the petrol.

Its not fair but then i think she saves lots of money and eats at her mum and dad's everyday.

I think that benefit fraud should be stoped but i also think that the wage should go up too.

well no-one has queued up yet to take over my caring responsibilities and allowance I notice
oh and my free car

Isnt BarmyArmy something to do with cricket?

I think BarmyArmy is something to do with cricket..

DP, the cream can only rise to the top because the milk is underneath supporting it.

The same with economy really, the cream rises on the work of the folk earning £5.93 per hour.