The benefit system is not generous.

[tonywiltshire]

The benefit system is not generous to people who claim fairly, Income support is only £67.50 per week for those over 25, and this is for everything except housing. The problem is with people who abuse the system by making false claims or hiding assets.

[jackthehat]

That figure is the amount of dole (now Job-seekers allowance) that the single adult id entitled to per week.

[tonywiltshire]

Alberqwerty, sorry just saw your posting. JSA for those seeking work and Income support for those unable to seek work are all paid at the same rate.

[jackthehat]

*pah!
that the single adult aged over 25

[hc4361]

So, are you claiming Income Support in addition to a weekly wage?

[jackthehat]

hc4361 - I don't actually claim, but, from 'whichever' pot it comes....the maximum a single person will receive is £67.50.

[hc4361]

Sorry, jth, I was asking the OP.

[albaqwerty]

Thanks Tony, I wondered if there might have been a slight difference, but obviously not.

[jackthehat]

I don't think he claims, either; he's making a point about the amount the rate is set at and the abuse of the system.

[Jemisa]

Tony, It is not supposed to be generous, If it were no-one would bother going to work at all.
I can assure you too when you reach OAP stage its definately NOT generous.
Who was it who said "Get on your bike" thats what my son & H did.

jem

[tonywiltshire]

HC: If you are working you are not entitled to IS or JSA. This can be the problem if you claim IS or Income based JSA you also are entitled to Housing and Council Tax benefit, and it is not worth taking a very low paid job.
Jemisa: I agree it is not meant to be generous but so many people think it is generous because they read of those who abuse the system.

[hc4361]

You can get IS if you work.
Who can get Income Support

It's for people who all the following apply to:

are between age 16 and the age they can get Pension Credit
have a low income
work less than 16 hours a week, depending on the amount of your wage
aren't in full-time study (but there are some exceptions)
don't get Jobseeker's Allowance or Employment and Support Allowance
don't have savings above £16,000
live in Great Britain

[hc4361]

I do not believe that a single person, living in his or her own home, gets £67.50 per week and nothing else.

[jackthehat]

I'm sorry but that is a fact. This is a little out of date so the figures have been increased.......a smidge.

http://www.benefitsno...k/jsa/incomebased.asp

[hc4361]

Contributions based JSA is payable regardless of personal assets, savings, partners earnings etc.
Non contributions JSA is paid to people who live with their parents and have no other overheads as well as people living alone.
I am sure that non-contribution, means tested JSA paid to someone living on their own gets additional benefits.

[hc4361]

That link is for income based JSA, not means tested JSA

[pretty_snowdrop]

I know someone who is on Income support and is a single mother with three kids. She doesn't go out boozing, doesn't smoke and does not go away on holiday. However she does have a car, the kids have a Xbox, a Wii, a laptop and various other expensive 'essentials'. They have far more than my kids and my husband and myself both work. She is not making false claims either.

[jackthehat]

hc4361 - It isn't.

Why do you think that they would get any more?

[tonywiltshire]

HC: Sorry I was referring to people in full time employment, those in part time work will only be paid up to their applicable amount, which is the same as IS/JSA.
They will also get Housing & Council tax benefit.
JTH is correct and it is not, in my view, generous.

[jackthehat]

Aaarghghh.....

The Government calculate a figure (per week) which they believe that a single over 25 year old can exist.

The money may be paid out of different pots, by different departments but it will always total the Calculated Amount.

I used to work for them....

[tonywiltshire]

PS: People with children are better paid there is Child benefit paid for all children and tax credits, both child tax credit and working tax credit, where applicable, you do not have to have children to claim this.
This benefit was introduced by the last administration to encourage people to work.
Child benefit can be paid for those with children outside the UK.

JTH: You are familiar with the applicable amount.