To be sick of people saying everything should be means tested

[Neededanewuserhandle]

It's ignorant, ill-informed and shows a lack of consideration given to the costs and complexities. Just saying "x should be means tested" as if it's a magical answer is stupid.

Like what?

Examples please

Do you mean like bus passes?

Pretty much any universal benefit has been mentioned on here - often (but not always) the ones given to older folks.

Heating allowance?

Do you think things shouldn't be means tested then? What's the alternative?

I think given that child benefit is means tested then they can means test other things too

Bus passes are nor means tested.
PIP and DLA are not means tested.
Please be more specific as to what benefits you think should not be means tested and then we can discuss merits of each one. Not all can be countered with same argument.
Are you talking about whether state pensions should means tested?

It's an interesting one because means testing is one very good way to carry on with the narrative that people who use benefits or receive them are scroungers. Universal benefits were used by the Labour Party to get people to buy into the welfare state. The less universal certain benefits are, the more people think they are for the very poorest. A bit like food banks, it's another way of changing how people think about others, and not for the better.

When I look at the fact that 20% of the tax I pay is spent on welfare I think too right everything should be means tested. https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/how-public-spending-was-calculated-in-your-tax-summary/how-public-spending-was-calculated-in-your-tax-summary

Yeah I agree completely.

The issue with means testing everything is that ultimately it removes the levels of society that we’ve had for generations and whilst yes the concept of ‘everyone should have everything’ is wonderful in theory, in practice it removed the motivation to work harder and improve your own situation.

For example, and I’m just putting this out there, I have a relatively high earning DH in a professional and respected job who me and both children are financially reliant on. People perceive us to have a ‘comfortable life’ not rich just ok. Because of him we receive no benefits not even child benefit…fine no issues.

Recently I questioned whether this marriage was right for me, I checked out what financial support I would receive on my own with the kids 😂😂😂 there was pretty much no damn difference. If I left my DH I would receive so much ‘means tested’ support and UC that my life would change very little. I couldn’t actually believe it.
I find myself feeling incredibly sorry for the ‘Squeezed middle’ who in theory are working professional and difficult roles (nurses, teachers…etc) but live the same lifestyle as those working on a checkout and claiming UC.

where’s the motivation there?

What's the alternative?

Are you talking about the thread on prescription charges? I am over 60, still working yet get free prescriptions, I would be very happy to pay ... surely it should at least be raised to state retirement age? I recall my DF (fortunate enough to have a good pension) genuinely wanting to pay for his prescription but there was no opportunity, in the end it was suggested he made a donation to 'Friends of the Surgery'.

What benefits are universal? I don't get any that I can think of 🤔

An excellent example of just how badly means testing can be.

Ah, I see, so it is a benefits bashing thread. quelle surprise. I'm off

Yes, I agree. For some things the costs of means testing outweigh the savings. For others, there's no sensible reason for means testing- we all have NHS treatment free at the point of use so why means test prescriptions? (I'd have free prescriptions for all throughout the UK.) Keeping some things universal helps to ensure that people buy into the system and realise that they benefit from it as well as paying out. It also ensures that people take up what is due to them- the number of people who don't take prescribed medicines to save the prescription cost is shocking and probably costs the NHS more in the long term as illnesses don't get treated.

Of course welfare does include pensions which is by far the biggest spend. Yet strangely, nobody wants rid of that one!

Fuck me, where did you get that from - my intention was precisely the opposite.

Means testing prescriptions would mean that the rich end up getting their drugs from outside the NHS which would eventually result in everyone paying for them.

This. I don't see why my taxes should fund people who don't actually need help.

Surely the drugs would cost more then the cost of a prescription

Also I like the means tested argument because it's all based on the delusion that most UK tax payers are putting in to system.

Truthfully it's higher rate taxpayers who make a net contribution- short of that, everyone below is getting more than they pay in tax.

Are you including VAT etc?

So everyone should get benefits? What do you suggest should not be means tested?

Only thing I can think of is free school meals for primary children.

@Neededanewuserhandle did I quote you? Please refrain from swearing at me.
I was quite willing to join your conversation until other PPs started the old, boring, bashing crap. You've even got one woman who's benefit bashing single mums who claim benefits but still considered leaving her unhappy marriage and researched...wait for it...how much benefits she could claim. Amazing.
I don't want to be a part it, is that OK with you OP?