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.

Amazing idea overcooked - people will rant about the nanny state but I'm sick of hearing that people bought a new telly with their health in pregnancy grant and the like. If people are going to prioritise smoking themselves into an early grave over their children's health the government shouldn't give them the money to do it.

It's all academic anyway, because there are no jobs

Well yes, insert. Eating out is pricey and a luxury. Benefits are a safety net. Since when do safety nets come with the facilties of nice hotels?

Amber, but that wouldn't help those on benefits, who have the same cash, while nmw increases and the cost of basic items increases. Or am I missing you point?

People need support for all sorts of reasons, which is why I have no problems at all with people receiving benefits. But in the cases where there is a cycle, I would hope that could change.

In terms of the obstacle of social skills, that is indeed hard. Admittedly I am quite outgoing so this sort of thing looks easier for people like me. I think if I was in a situation where I felt unhappy about my lot yet too worried about social interaction to do much about it, plus the added complication of a child with ASD, I think I might set myself the task of somehow getting to an ASD support group and surviving an hour at a coffee morning or whatever as a task. Then when I had recovered from the shock of that, I might go once more to build on my success. Do something three times and you have made it a habit. Then I would pick another thing, for example making a point of leaving the house once a day at some point and saying hello to someone and discussing the weather. I would then award myself a mental gold star every time I managed to do this. I honestly think social skills are like a muscle that needs to be exercised and practice can improve things.

Before you know it you'll be having the entire neighbourhood in for tea and buns while you float about wearing a frilly apron LOL!

insertcleverusernamehere - where does this extra pay come from? companies cannot afford to pay more without making redundancies which then impacts company performance and more unemployed.

I do agree that all jobs should go to British people first (not European) and if then you struggle to find a suitable person for the job, then you can go outsied to other nationalities.

I think what is being said is that if someone is on benefits, meeting a friend for lunch should most definitely be out of reach.
exactly. Huge numbers of people who work hard for low wages cannot afford ( or have the time) to meet friends for lunch. If you are on JSA / IS you should not be able to afford a luxury like that.
You want to see friens, have them over to your house.
The whole point of the thread is that lots of people seem to think that the benefits system should give them enough mo ey for this sort of treat. It shouldn't. It's a prop and support when times are very tough. Shouldn't be a lifestyle as good as working.

JuliaScurr there are over 400,000 vacancies. plenty in my area in the south & plenty nr liverpool where my family is from (just checked on directgov)

Agree agree agree moogster.

TRTM, the problem is, people won't tale them because they'd only be a few quid better off (if at all) than on benefits, it would seem.

take, not tale, clearly.

''I get my rent paid and some council tax, but I still have to pay the normal bills that everyone else has to like gas, electric, phone and buy food.

Once everything is paid, there is nothing left for "leisure". I buy cheap supermarket clothes when the ones I have already are beyond repair, and things like meeting a friend for lunch are way out of reach. There just isn't the cash to do it.''

Forgive me, but that seems right. You can manage a house and basic bills, but not expensive clothes or meals out. Fair enough, that's the point of benefits. If you could eat out once a week and buy the odd pair of designer jeans, there would be something wrong with that, no?

MrSpoc if we protect jobs for British workers industry suffers. British people need to sort themselves out and apply the same work ethic that Europeans have - they will get the job hands down due to communication skills if they show that they can compete with the work that Europeans are willing to put in.

Julia - There are jobs but people don't want to do them!

zukiecat surely you are exactly the sort of person the system is designed to help because you're off work with illness. Similarly if people are genuinely seeking work then they should also be supported. I think people take issue with the choice that some people make to live on benefits when there is nothing stopping them from working.

insertcleverusernamehere - if entraupaners where to pay them selfs less then where is the point in doing it for yourself?

I started my own company last year. now employ 6 people. to get the company going i did not pay myself. Now i take more then enough to live and more than my employees.

Bob Diamond may be a "DIRTY BANKER" But he has worked hard to get where he is and why should he pay out more money to companies who are a risk. Remember banking is a business not a goverment toy.

I was talking about jobs based in the UK where EU citizens and British people are in direct competition. I definitely believe there should be penalties/taxes involved for companies who outsource abroad to encourage that money to stay in the country and provide jobs here.

merielandmatt - that is the point entirly. British people get benefits NOT to work and complain there are no jobs BUT other nationalities are employed because they do have a good work ethic.

Make Brits work for their benefit money they will then want to get a better paid job, work harder to get the better positions, breaking the cycle.

Then stop companies giving jobs to other nationalities unless they can show thay the job cannot be done by a Brit (skill shortage etc).