do "we" have the right to say what benefit claimants spend the money on?

[DizzyHoneyBee]

In the news today, a think tank suggests that many would support restrictions on what benefit claimants can spend the money on.

www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-19792066

What do you think?

"mad banners has not heard of libraries then psssst there free. "

And they're closing down at an alarming rate ... what are people supposed to do? Look through the window at an empty building and imagine it's full of books?

Internet is vital, it has been for many years, you walk into a high street shop to hand out cvs and spec letters and they will just refuse to take them and tell you to look st the website, not to mention the cost of printing the cvs, would you really begrudge people something that costs as little as 7 quid a month that can be used to save money, find the majority of jobs white cvs and cover letters, teach you a vital skill for the modern age?

You need internet and a phone to find a job, simple as.

mine arent. infact they opened a huge brand new one not far from me a few months ago.

I was rather surprised, Bucket, when my multiple and very expensive insurances stopped paying out. Upon reading the necessary paragraphs of small print I found my insurers were, indeed, entitled to stop paying after 18 months or two years (the mortgage cover turned out to be one year). Also that my second-to-top-level BUPA limited the number of claims payable which, once the ceiling was reached, entitled the insurer to reassess my policy as a new application - excluding my ongoing conditions from cover.

I had thought that throwing money at potential crises would cushion me from disaster. It did, but the cushion was only good for slowing the decline: it was more of a leaky air mattress than a trampoline.

I never had such an arrogant attitude as yours, but was still shocked to find myself unable to prevent a violent change of circumstances. It will be interesting to see what happens if you have to discover you're more dependent on good luck than foresight.

Well good for you, tell us all where you live so we can direct all the unemployed people there.

sun, libraries have the internet you can use for free.

I teach mums and babies on benefits who have been failed by the education system. Mainly when they got pregnant, you know, that thing you don to get a house and all .....

Most of them come to our charity as they have a reading age that is frighteningly low. Half of this years intake read at a 4-5 year old level or below . The Sun or the metro is targeted at age 8 RA or so.

Since the Tories came to power it's much harder to fundraiser (and I do it through trusts mainly). Some of the organisations I ask for money from were set up specifically to fund charities like us. But they're not giving the grants any more - not to the women I work with. And they are the poorest of the poor. It's frightening how many of the women are underweight. From not eating because the price of food has increased so much. About half of them smoke. At least it suppresses the appetite.

That there is anyone who thinks a scheme of vouchers is good in this country then I'm disgusted. Before my current work I did work with destitute asylum seekers. I don't want to see the families I teach going down that route. We should be proud to be a society that can support the needy.

MrsBucketxx I'm not going to make the obvious retort to that ... suffice it to say: a lot of people take advice when they buy them, it doesn't mean the advice is good, or that they haven't been misled.

And anyway - why is it acceptable for you to claim on an insurance policy you have paid for, but not acceptable for people to claim benefits they have paid for?

I agree Sun

I work for JCP and those who have no internet access (or can only access it once a week from a work club) are seriously disadvantaged in finding a job. Nearly all employers expect you to e-mail a CV and covering letter to apply for jobs, the rest are online applications and electronic/downloadable application forms.

You also need an e-mail address that you can check daily to see which companies have replied/offered an interview. And a phone number with voicemail/answerphone in case they call you for the same purpose.

MrsBucket where is this utopia in which you live? This place that has no knowledge of the hardships this country is facing?

I might use my scrounged money to get a bus there.

Sun - The govt wants to make UC available by internet only. It has been strongly explained that not everyone has, or can access, the internet. Last time I looked, they were suggesting access points in jobcentres. Very handy for those who can't travel, the blind, the mentally disabled, those in isolated villages, and so on.

mine will pay my mortgage in full if i have any life threatening ir life limiting illness, and a pension there after. i pay more now but its worth it.

MrsBucket where is this utopia in which you live? I might use my scrounged money to get a bus there.

wannabe

"We should be proud to be a society that can support the needy. "

This, exactly ^^

Libraries are closing down every week here.

You have to queue for 30 min slot on a PC if you are lucky enough to have an open library within walking distance. It has to be within walking distance as you can't afford the fares to get there otherwise.

And you need to be job-searching every day in order to be successful in finding the usual retail/labouring/warehouse jobs most people are looking for. Because they are gone in a day as everyone is applying for those types of work.

I don't know why jcp, don't Havre internet, get rid of those stupid machines that tell you fuck all about the vacancy and just give you a print out yo take to the advisor and replace them with pc's, you have to sit around in there for hours anyway might as well do something useful, on your way out or to your appointment there can be some guy on a desk to ask you what you've applied for today.

any life threatening ir life limiting illness

Have you checked what they mean, exactly?

I've got depression - Not allowed for more than X treatments
and CFS/ME - Not recognised as life limiting

The rules will have changed since I fell foul of them but, believe me, the clauses will be there. Insurers exist to make profits, not take care of you. Don't be so smug.

Wannabe

libraries have the internet you can use for free

Er, some libraries do. Where there still are libraries, that is. The one in my town charges £2.50 an hour.

Mine does free slots but they have to be booked weeks in advance and they fill up fast.

Sun

There are plans afoot to have internet-enabled PC's installed in Jobcentres. We first heard about this last year and are still waiting, was supposed to be September.....

My library no linger exists, and it's a 20 mile round trip to the nearest one, and the bus fare is nearly £7. Imagine making that journey, 5 days a week on JSA. In fact, don't, it's not possible.

My sister got pissed off by the libaray cos half the time the printer doesn't work and you can't put discs or anything in them, she used to write her cv out fresh evetytime until I pointed out to her how to save it on the email account.

Good I hope it happens tho knowing them it will be a restricted pile of crap made more for putting more cash in the hands of approved vendors then helping people find jobs.

sunwukong you make a valid point.

The women I work with - some have smartphones but none have home internet. They are ridiculously unsavvy about the Internet, despite being on average about 21. Because they can't afford it.

Personally I'd give a laptop and Internet access to every teenager in the uk. They might look for porn or drug dealers, but they also might look for jobs or inspiration. I'm sure cancelling trident would pay for that!!