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

And some people can!

There are always going to be winners and losers.

You can't do that. Some employers give people 8 hours a week contracts.

I don’t exactly disagree but I am concerned about the practicality. I worked for DWP and a certain type of refugee were housed locally but were only given housing, utilities and food stamps.
this led to violent muggings for cash so it isn’t without consequences.

And ?

So get a second job.

You mean asylum seekers who aren't entitled to benefits

It's not always that easy.

Very rare seeing 2 parents do the school run. 🤔

The role of the state is not to hold people’s hand through every challenge of life.

Now admittedly this is the Labour utopia.

But if that’s the case, then that’s yet another reason why this policy won’t stop people spending money on cigarettes if they want to and another of example of how in practice it will drive both black markets and poverty - thereby potentially costing the tax payer way more money than it saves.

I do think we deserve much more serious thinking and actual problem solving from our politicians.

Tough times then.

I don't vote labour

I'm quite aware of what tough times are thanks

Even if they’ve paid in for decades?

Unless a pensioner is on just a state pension/pension credit, this latest fag packet idea wouldn’t affect them. 🙄

They would pay for their decadent lifestyle and vices bits from their other income, and just use the state bit for sensible shopping. 🙄

Actually it is. Including ensuring minimum wages are sufficient to live on.

Why do people always insist on punching down? I think it's a disgusting proposal to treat people out of work like criminals that need to be monitored.

Unemployment is set to rise over the next five years if AI automation reaches it's predicted impact. This could be up to 25% of white collar jobs. Think coders, admin, people in finance, anything to do with maths. Are people going to punch down then? I wonder how many people here agreeing with this awful policy will be in the sectors most vulnerable to job losses. Would you like to be treated like a criminal because every job you apply for has hundreds upon hundreds of other applicants desperate for work? Should the lucky in work stop you drawing cash out, strip your benefits, and forbid you from buying certain items?

Worse is the notion that everyone on UC are scum who drinks smokes and commits crimes

So how much would you like the NMW to be?

I am finding the assumption by some on this thread that everyone who has concerns about this policy is somehow a die hard Labour supporter quite bizarre.

Anyone who believes in pragmatic evidence based policy making that actually works should object to this policy. Anyone who understands the basic economic principle of cost shifting should object to this policy. As should anyone worried about the over reach of the state.

I agree with this!

And how on earth would you decide what is ok to buy? Is low alcohol beer ok to buy? How do you buy a bottle of wine for a friend's birthday present.

It's nonsensical.

Maybe Kemi could have some ideas about how to get youngsters (and older) who want to work into jobs and then they wouldn't be claiming benefits.

I saw people suggesting that if you are on benefits you shouldn't be allowed a passport or car, either. So how do you pass right to work checks and get to work? You can't just get those things overnight if someone offers you a job.

There are so few benefits scroungers. I claimed JSA for a few weeks about a decade ago and it is intentionally demeaning. To suggest it's a choice for all but a few is nonsensical.

I thought I’d already clarified - enough to live on.

I’m a lifelong Labour voter but I agree with you! After spending the last 2 years reviewing UC claims and seeing what some people spend their money on! Especially those that are getting thousands per month, not working, have no disabilities and suspiciously seem to break up and get back together with their partners constantly! 🤨

I live near a school - I see two parents doing the school run. I couldn't tell you if they work, though.

Or they are competing against people who have been doing the job for years.

I've been made redundant, I'm doing a course in something I'm retraining in but I'm also paying a lot for it. It feels like such a risk to open a business at this time so I'm also applying for full time jobs and have been knocked back at all lower levels customer service jobs, retail and administrator jobs to keep me ticking over I can only assume because of my work experience. I pay to join a career coaching call on a Monday, and have had my CV rewritten. Guess what, it's expensive AND all the people on it are my age ie late 40/early 50s.

They might. My sister and her DH both WFH the majority of the time and if they don’t have meetings at school pick up will both go and pick their DC up.