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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think pre-paid benefits cards are a stigmatizing, punitive scheme?

464 replies

ArsenicFaceCream · 29/09/2014 16:22

Just announced at the Conservative Party conference.

They will initially be 'voluntary' for claimants with addiction issues, apparently.

But of course the intention is to roll it out.

Universal Credit is going national in February so this could get interesting, given that UC will be paid to working claimants as well as those not working.

OP posts:
exmrs · 30/09/2014 21:46

Have I got this right , people in jail will be able to buy a small amount of cigarettes either from their weekly allowance or money off their relatives etc but carers,disabled and the unemployed won't ? ?

I really can see a huge influx of desperate people trying to get in jail as at least they would a roof over their head and food

BeyondRepair · 30/09/2014 21:49

My Mum was a carer and her fags kept her going.

Original poster
ArsenicFaceCream · 30/09/2014 21:49

Gosh ex, I think you might be right Hmm

OP posts:
2Bemused · 30/09/2014 21:53

I don't see any difference from pre-paid SIM cards or pre-paid credit cards. Or even store cards, where you can only use them in one particular shop.

BeyondRepair · 30/09/2014 21:54

as dawn said, market much much cheaper, limits you etc....

Original poster
ArsenicFaceCream · 30/09/2014 21:56

Have you RTFT 2B?

What about all the things that have been mentioned that can't be paid for by voucher?

OP posts:
Dawndonnaagain · 30/09/2014 21:58

Just because it doesn't suit you and your situation it doesnt mean it shouldn't be trialled
So, in effect you are happy for those on benefits to be victimised because relatively small percentage are unable to manage their budget. That doesn't seem to me to be particularly fair. You are happy for others to go through what I went through, despite the fact that I look after three people with disabilities and probably put in more hours per week than most?

2Bemused · 30/09/2014 22:02

Arsenic - are you personally affected?
A lot of the social problems these days are caused by the removal of stigmatism.
There is no shame any more.

ilovechristmas1 · 30/09/2014 22:03

ok i will ask this again and maybe the posters that are in favour of the scheme can answer

ok im on benefit and own my own home

this week i need to call a plumber in to fix my overflow

how exactly will i pay him if this scheme was implemented????

joanofarchitrave · 30/09/2014 22:03

[slumps at side of road, defeated]

A store card? A store card. You mean like a Tesco Club Card? On which you store points from food shops you've chosen to make there, and then decide whether to get money off your shopping or save up over months to go to Legoland? You literally 'don't see any difference' between that and having ALL your financial resources tied up in one card, on which you can't get change, and can only spend in certain places? Which, if done like the existing cards, will clear any credit balance at the end of every week?

How hard are you looking?

Original poster
ArsenicFaceCream · 30/09/2014 22:05

So, in effect you are happy for those on benefits to be victimised because relatively small percentage are unable to manage their budget.

Good point.

Besides, a third (!) of the population are adversely affected by the changes announced yesterday. That is a huge proportion of us.

It affects us all, actually. Some people seem to believe they are above society somehow.

OP posts:
Laquitar · 30/09/2014 22:07

I still dont understand though how it will work. Lets say you are on benefits.
Some relative or friend gives you lots of veg from his garden one week or
invites you to their home for 3 days and feeds you, so thats great cos you save that week on food shop which means youcould pay more gas the next week when it is freezing. But
you cant? You have to spend x amount on food? Do i make sense ?

Original poster
ArsenicFaceCream · 30/09/2014 22:08

Arsenic - are you personally affected?

No, i'm not, but a lot of blameless people will be affected in pretty short order.

A lot of the social problems these days are caused by the removal of stigmatism. There is no shame any more.

What makes you think that?

OP posts:
BeyondRepair · 30/09/2014 22:08

So, in effect you are happy for those on benefits to be victimised because relatively small percentage are unable to manage their budget.

Yes this is what it boils down too, But I also imagine the wider picture is making the benefits less attractive and less of a draw to come here - argue till the cows jump over the moon about immigrants getting benefits but its a perception and they do get benefits and lots do come for them.

Dont shoot the messenger but I imagine this is one aim behind such policies.

Anyway I hope, and would like to think the Polite and Passive Brits would be marching on this one?

ilovechristmas1 · 30/09/2014 22:09

ha ha yes you make sense

it's these new proposals that dont make any sense Smile

Original poster
ArsenicFaceCream · 30/09/2014 22:09

Sorry;

A lot of the social problems these days are caused by the removal of stigmatism. There is no shame any more.

What makes you think that 2B?

OP posts:
Original poster
ArsenicFaceCream · 30/09/2014 22:10

Sounds right Laq

OP posts:
Laquitar · 30/09/2014 22:12

Fucking hell i ve just read the post @22:2 and i feel sick now.

Idontseeanysontarans · 30/09/2014 22:12

Jacks I already tried asking that, strangely enough either certain posters don't know or don't care. Because it doesn't affect them directly presumably..
I would imagine it would be along the lines of:
Bus fares? Walk everywhere! Keep fit and earn your benefits!
Utilities? The Taxpayer will let you have so much water and power per week depending on how much you deserve.
Extras? You poor people don't deserve extras! (Opinions like this one can be seen on numerous food bank threads about biscuits and small treats that I remember seeing)
Christ at the moment it doesn't affect us directly anymore but it can still piss me off.

joanofarchitrave · 30/09/2014 22:14

Laquitar that's right. The Azure card, the current scheme for those refused asylum that I keep banging on about, is only for those who are destitute. The money on it above £5 is cleared every week and if you get help or stay with someone and leave too much on it too often, you are at risk of being declared not to be destitute and having that financial provision removed altogether.

LyingWitchInTheWardrobe2726 · 30/09/2014 22:17

Joan... Sorry, didn't mean to shame you or anybody; I'm shaming myself if I did.

I think that some people are confused about what the mechanics of this system would be, some (like me) take it on face value that it doesn't have an ulterior motive and we'd be wrong. I can be very naïve sometimes and, having had a gambler for a dad and a mum who was beside herself frantic at having no access to anything, saw this as perhaps a positive thing. It isn't, I get that.

I do want to know though what we can do about it? I'm unaffected by the proposal but want to fight it because it's wrong. So what can be done? Petitioning MP's? Might be a start. I have no idea.

I really want to know which party to vote for come election because we're not going to have proportional representation, more's the pity.

I once saw an excellent car sticker in a car, I'll buy it if I ever see it in a shop.... "Guy Fawkes! Where are you, now that we need you?".

cleoteacher · 30/09/2014 22:19

Mrsjavvy- sorry but I disagree with the statement how they want to spend their money is their business. It is not their money, it Is paid by the tax payer! If people earn their own money than yes, they are entitled to spend it how they like but if their lifestyle is funded by the tax payer then I for one want to know where my money is going. If this means that people on benefits who spend that money irresponsibly time and time again and have things I as a worker do not have then I want a say in it and feel these cards are a good idea.

But as I said before it would be a minefield to decide who should and shouldn't have one and to police it. I don't think people who are genuinely struggling on benefits between jobs and can't work for genuine reasons or are claiming benefits for other reasons and just trying to do their best with what they have should be part of the scheme but as someone said deciding who are deserving and undeserving really is a matter of opinion.

Laquitar · 30/09/2014 22:21

Thats crazy Joan. So basically it will be harder for people to budget and toeconomize. The ones who need every penny:-(

gamerchick · 30/09/2014 22:22

Yanno what I find amusing and horrifying in equal measures I'd all the wanking that goes on...people smug in the suffering of others as the welfare state is dismantled around them.

What a lot of those on their lofty perch don't realise is that they're shooting themselves in the foot because you never know what is around the corner or when you might have to rely on that 'safety net'.

Hard to imagine now but nobody knows really.

TheBogQueen · 30/09/2014 22:23

Do you know what percentage of budget is paid to unemployed people?

Anyone want to guess?

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