to think benefits should be capped at minimum wage

[moogster1a]

A little idea that all benefits should be capped at a weeks worth of minimum wage; so 37 and half hours times whatever minimum wage is now ( £6 pounds odd ).
That way no one gets paid more for sitting at home than they would for going out to work.
Out of this, all rent prescriptions etc. should be paid, the same as most people in low paid jobs have to pay for everything.
it might also provide an incentive to go out to work to up your wages if you progress in a company.
Just think it would be a lot fairer.

FolkGirl

How many children do you have?

Im interested to know how you have worked it out that being on benefits as opposed to a yearly wage of 35k will make you better off?

And by the way, many councils provide litter picking and cleaning equipment to groups who want to do something for their area. There are 'River watch' groups throughout the UK, your council can advise you, these are so popular and rely on people being interested.

If you haven't got transport, tell people, ask for some. Tell the local church and ask if they know of a minibus someone can lend once a week - many of them sit parked up for whole days at a time. Organise a regular weekly trip somewhere you want to go, coming back at a time you want, say a large central lending library with a story session. As I said, people can only say no, but one day someone will say yes.

Well anyway, I've got to go and do things.

I think what I've taken from this is a strong feeling that, however it is achieved in the end, to remove this 'bad feeling' over benefits, the wage of a full time worker on minimum wage should be well in excess of the total benefits to someone out of work but capable of work.

Why anyone would think otherwise is beyond me. I cannot understand why anything beyond the basics- food, shelter and warmth should be covered in the long term by the state for someone capable of full time work. You want more? A tv, internet, pretty clothes, posh food? Work for it.

You don't want to work but want a high standard of living? Do one. You want endless state funded children when hardworking families can't afford another without compromising living standards? Do one.

The benefit system is now (often) a crutch for lazy people, not a safety net for those in need. It needs reforming, and that is why people get so angry about it. It should never be the case that there is a few tens of pounds difference between full time work and state handouts. How ridiculous that we have got to this state of affairs. Thanks Labour.

Our SureStart Centre has been a lifeline to us.
They do such important work and should be kept open to continue that. If they close then what happens to all the services they allow people to access?

Jade

I think what I've taken from this is a strong feeling that, however it is achieved in the end, to remove this 'bad feeling' over benefits, the wage of a full time worker on minimum wage should be well in excess of the total benefits to someone out of work but capable of work

Yes so the issue isnt that benefits are too much but that NMW is too low.

i have to say surestart is also a gatewy for parents that need a ear or often hold specilaist clinics , physio or Ot or Salt when parents can discuss concerns pick dc with problems up early before they fall through gaps

I couldn't care less if people are on benefits. What I care about is whether their kids are getting a decent stab at life, and whether they are able to support themselves as adults, breaking the cycle.

Right, you make it sound simple Amber. But increase min wage, increase company costs, increase output costs and therefore cost of goods, surely results in stuff costing more so affordable by increased wage but not by those on benefits, which have stayed at the same level. So not helpful in the end. Oversimplified yes, I know!

SS also provide cooking lessons for some parents that need help to cook,also lessons in budgeting .Also some run education programs basic numeracy level

If you say so, insertusername but I don't think it was a point well made. The 'Welfare' system in this country supports people so that they don't starve, get made homeless... your arguments are just that really, for the sake of arguing. We could all do that, on every thread, no?

I totally agree. There is something wrong with the system when people do not see the point in working as they get payed more in benefits!

boffin

that sounds brilliant,
my social skills are fuckign diabolical, always have been, my neighbours knock round and leave if my partner isn't in.

If I could arrange that all by email I would.

My autistic child suaully screams throughout any liasons with other people that I attempt.

It is a good idea though.

I have absolutely no friends what so over, though, which is my fault.
Speaking to strangers is just really difficult... :/

''I couldn't care less if people are on benefits. What I care about is whether their kids are getting a decent stab at life, and whether they are able to support themselves as adults, breaking the cycle.''

It's hard to break the cycle (of course not impossible). You grow up in a place where no-one works, no family nor friends. That becomes what you expect. The people around you don't value school, have no books and no aspirations, also hard to get out of that mindset once you've grown up with it. So kids in that situation don't have as good a stab at it, by default. Surestart etc. can help to a degree, but they waste a shitload of money too. Our country doesn't seem to have a shitload of cash spare right now, sadly.

boffin,
it's not fair to assume there's a cycle and people are on benefits because their parents were.
My parents worked and I absolutely hope my children do.

i think the NMW is fine, its the cost of every day living which is the issue. If we had not privitised most services then the cost would be lower.

Still think benefits should be a life line. anything about shelter, warmth, food and clean water is a prvilage and one that should be worked for.

Boffinmum if you want to break the cycle then it starts with mum & dad, not child who learns by example. Make mum & dad work for their benefits (which would provide a sense if being, self-esteem, confidence and skills) then the child will grow up understadning that if they want anything, then they have to work for it.

I don't think surestart waste a penny

Jade but if NMW was higher then the gov wouldnt be paying out so much in tax credits, the gov is subsidising companies to pay low wages by having tax credits-ideally they shouldnt be needed and wouldnt so much if NMW was higher.

Haven't read the whole thread but can imagine it's turned into a benefit bashing opportunity (that's usually what happens on here)

I'm not on benefits and neither is my DH and do you know what I'm grateful I'm not on benefits. Grateful that DH earns enougth to support us - I was recently made redundant. I know so many people who through no fault of their own have lost their jobs and are struggling to make mends meet via benefits. I think they would rather have a job than the small amount of money paid out to them in benefits (and lets not forget the huge sums of money people pay in via tax and NI during their working lives).

I know some people on benefits take the piss but that's life, there are always people who play the system. The majority of people I know on benefits would rather have a job.