To be agreeing with new conservative benefits proposal re alcohol etc

[Tigerthebreadroll]

They will cut benefits for people that haven't paid into the system and been unemployed for over 6 months (don't quote me on that number ) by 30 % and it will be given on a prepaid type card. Meaning it won't be accepted by betting shops, for alcohol or cigarettes. I feel that's right . Why should tax payers money be spent on funding cigarettes etc but I have no problem with funding the basics like food etc.
Thoughts?
Basically you will claim full benefits if you've worked and paid into the system. Should reduce generational unemployment hopefully

Genuine question, what data shows unemployment has “soared” under Labour?https://www.ons.gov.uk/employmentandlabourmarket/peopleinwork/employmentandemployeetypes/bulletins/uklabourmarket/september2026 It’s up 0.7% from when the Conservatives left office, but nowhere near where it was in the 2010s, for example, and I think the evidence suggests the recent upward trend began in 2022.

I completely agree that unemployment and in particular youth unemployment is worryingly high, and that we need a serious conversation about how to solve it, but I don’t think party political point scoring is the right way to do that.

Besides how much does a person need to drink before they would have seizures if they stop. 1/2 litre of vodka, I doubt anyone would need to do more than taper off from 1/2 a litre a day. I litre a day, maybe? How does anyone on benefits pay for 1 litre of vodka per day?

Truth is getting sober with a bit of medical help is entirely feasible. Where is the incentive to stay sober. Get sober and then UC will insist they join a back to work program. Easy to just carry on using and wallow in self-pity.

You are replacing one allegedly sweeping claim with another.

It is fair to argue about whether the word “unsustainable” is too strong. But saying concerns about welfare spending are “completely baseless” is simply not true.

The OBR has repeatedly warned about long term pressure from pensions, health spending and rising disability and incapacity benefit claims. Welfare spending is also forecast to rise as a share of GDP over the next few years.

The international comparison is selective too. The UK spends less than some European countries, but more than others. It is not true that Britain simply spends less on welfare than comparable countries across the board.

And saying this is all just a story pushed by rich people and the media is not evidence. It is an opinion about motive.

There is a real debate to be had about what should be protected, what should change and whether higher taxes or stronger growth should carry more of the cost.

But pretending there is no genuine affordability issue at all is just as ideological as claiming the system is automatically unsustainable.

Hammering SMEs with taxes and work policies won’t help. Plus look at NEETs figures and general economic inactivity, vacancy rates and payroll. Not just unemployment data which is people actively looking.

Havent RTFT in full, but I totally agree with the proposal.

People aren't stupid they will just sell there cards and crime rates will go up. Addiction is Addiction and people will do horrific things to get a fix

Or if they need to buy Calpol or even a toothbrush/toothpaste? What about washing powder or washing up liquid?

There are plenty of another necessities besides food.

Well you’ll be pleased to hear that no-one is receiving the same in benefits as anyone working. Annual NMW for 21 year olds is £21,364.44 (net) vs JSA £4,968.60.

So why should someone working 25 hours a week not earn the NMW?

Is the Labour government responsible for the rates in all these other countries too?

Well, a smart card is quite high tech. Badenoch is talking about handing out paper vouchers.
And as everyone says, if it’s such a great idea now, why wasn’t it when the Tories were in power?

This!
I went from full time well paid job to UC literally in one day . You won't understand how hard is to live on benefits until you'll do it by yourself. Also, most of UC claimants are at work .
Government should tackle crazy rents and childcare first.

It's IMPOSSIBLE to get out of UC when minimum rent for a terrible state 2 bedroom house, in terrible area, is £1700/month! And childcare, we pay extra £614 for "funded" 30hrs..

So why didn't they announce that they were going to get costs under control by cutting all benefits, for pensioners and working people as well ?

37.8 per cent in work. To me most would be 60 per cent plus. So most UC claimants don't work.

Everyone who contributes is “special.”

I think we should treat people like ends not means.

All the people working and contributing shouldn’t be treated like beasts of burden. They deserve as much consideration as benefits claimants.

If it’s okay to steal their Labour, then I think a quid pro quo for benefits seems to fit squarely within the same social contract.

Now you are getting desperate.

But again with the NEET crisis, the evidence suggests the drivers are incredibly complex: https://ifs.org.uk/publications/why-has-neet-rate-risen-understanding-trends-and-drivers-using-administrative-data

It’s a serious problem, and it requires serious policy suggestions to solve it - and I just do not think what the Conservatives are putting forward is that. It’s divisive and gimmicky and my concern is it will not only not tackle any of the root causes, it will also cost the tax payer money.

8.4 million on Universal Credit. Of these, 3.1 million are in work.

Is showing it to be a Europe wide problem desperate?

I'm not sure if this post was meant genuinely, do you think no one has thought about that in the last forty years? I mentioned in my post he's been through every programme. Many more than once. Not all addictions are overcome, and frankly given how much his brain will have changed from the alcohol use over the years I think it's very unlikely this could ever happen for him now.

Because saying one part of the benefits system needs reform does not mean every benefit has to be cut.

That is not really an answer to the point. The question is whether the specific area they are targeting is growing too quickly, badly designed or creating the wrong incentives.

You can disagree with the policy, but “why not cut pensioners too?” does not prove there is no problem to address.

I wouldn't say two year is 'just came back'. But in terms of our new PM, then yes he is just in.

On benefits? No paracetamol or ibuprofen for you…

'this is how it should be. Respect the workers.'

• just on this point generally, workers should be respected but not just high paid ones. Elder care is an important job yet low paid, for one.

it is when there is overwhelming evidence that the problem in the UK has directly been caused by Labour but do carry on living in blissful denial.

How is it unpaid? They are often getting their housing paid for, money to live on, discounts and subsidies to improve their quality of life. In return they have to do zero work.

There are many unfilled positions in our communities that would benefit from "help".

Community service should be sweeping streets and cleaning up graffiti. Benefits claimants should not be expected to do this.

I too absolutely despair and hold my head in my hands at people who think that some should commute and work and pay taxes, and others should just receive and do nothing. Its beyond a joke now.