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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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To love the idea of scrapping all benefits and just giving everyone £500 a month

431 replies

DyslexicScientist · 08/12/2015 11:33

Like Finland are going to do.

Would get rid of all the east that goes on with means testing and would cost about the same.

Would be much fairer as the current system does discriminate against certain demographics.

OP posts:
Samcro · 08/12/2015 11:35

oh yes scameron would do that.....not.

TheXxed · 08/12/2015 11:35

£500 a month isn't enough for disabled people.

JasperDamerel · 08/12/2015 11:37

That doesn't cover rent.

nokidshere · 08/12/2015 11:38

500 a month per person? Or per household? Either way it can't be fair.

honkinghaddock · 08/12/2015 11:38

Dla/pip?

passmethewineplease · 08/12/2015 11:39

Need to be more specific.

Francescal88 · 08/12/2015 11:40

Would that cover housing benefit too? Because down south is much more expensive to privately rent than up north. My monthly rent for a two bed flat is £875, for example. My housing benefit per month is £752

Iliveinalighthousewiththeghost · 08/12/2015 11:43

And what would you do if you heaven forbid became ill or disabled or even just unemployed through no fault of your own. Could you live on £125. Per week. A big chunk of which would be taken out for HB and CTB if you rent.
Can't stand the Im alright Jack attitude. It really gets my goat.
Could you live on a pittance.......so why do you expect other people to.

DKeeneGaga · 08/12/2015 11:46

That isn't nearly enough to live on. Where I live that wouldnt even cover half my rent.

DyslexicScientist · 08/12/2015 11:47

*TheXxed

£500 a month isn't enough for disabled people.*

I think that's pretty ovensive tbh, disabled people aren't just one homogeneous group.

Being disabled doesnt automatically mean you can't work.

OP posts:
Francescal88 · 08/12/2015 11:48

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

DyslexicScientist · 08/12/2015 11:48

That isn't nearly enough to live on. Where I live that wouldnt even cover half my rent

No one said anything about living off it alone. You can work to.

OP posts:
wasonthelist · 08/12/2015 11:49

I think it's a good idea in principle. As an arch lefty I thought it was odd to find I was agreeing with the bloke on the radio from the Adam Smith institute. We would need it to be a decent amount though £500 probably isn't enough. We would save an absolute fortune on admin.

DyslexicScientist · 08/12/2015 11:50

Are you acusing me of being a troll or Finland?Confused

Finland to give every person £576 a month in bid to cut ALL benefits in the country
PEOPLE in Finland are looking at a potential cash windfall as the Scandinavian country’s government has announced it plans to give every one of its citizens £576 a month.

www.express.co.uk/news/world/624756/Finland-basic-income-plans-benefits-welfare

OP posts:
Sirzy · 08/12/2015 11:50

So you would get rid of DLA/pip then?

In that case yabvu, DLA is intended to cover the extra costs of having a child with disability/being disabled. That cost wouldn't go if you come up with a one size fits all approach

WiIdfire · 08/12/2015 11:50

I think you're missing the point of benefits...

DyslexicScientist · 08/12/2015 11:51

We would save an absolute fortune on admin.

Exactly I agree a great idea in principal. Might need some tweeking though.

OP posts:
Sallyingforth · 08/12/2015 11:52
Darvany · 08/12/2015 11:53

I'm in favour of a citizen's wage. The amount would have to be toggled to fit circumstances and the extra cost of being disabled and / or being unable to work but it's a good idea when there aren't enough jobs. I'd like to think that wage inflation would happen as a consequence but this may be hopelessly naive.

intothebreach · 08/12/2015 11:53

Oh great, another thread giving everybody the opportunity to have a go at people on benefits Hmm

There are lots of folk who genuinely need benefits. Shall we let their children starve?

I don't know anything about the Finland scheme though. OP, if you link to some information it might be useful.

stitchglitched · 08/12/2015 11:53

What about those who can't work to top up their 500 pounds?

Samcro · 08/12/2015 11:54

dear OP being disabled does sometimes mean you can't work andif you do your expenses will be higher than a temp non disabled person.

StrawberryTeaLeaf · 08/12/2015 11:55

I hadn't heard this about Finland. Citizens' income is a great idea but the devil is going to be in the detail. You couldn't 'scrap all benefits' in the UK in return for £500pcm for everyone. People would starve. The inflationary issue is complicated too.

DyslexicScientist · 08/12/2015 11:57

Samcro that's exactly what I was saying. The pp implied all disabled people couldn't work.

OP posts:
Iliveinalighthousewiththeghost · 08/12/2015 11:58

Yeah on planet Cameron and planet scientist the disabled can work without any problems. Meanwhile here you know in the real world. It's a bit less realistic.
Now you're having a pop at the poor, sick disabled, mentally ill, and unemployed.. I trust your next thread will be to slate the rich who swindlke millions in tax evasion. Which incidentally costs us much more than benefits !!!!

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