Do You Think Benefits Should Increase In Line With Inflation ?

[Bobbisox1]

There’s more vacancies than people out of work ,Liz Truss when she came to power said benefits would be reduced if it’s proven that the claimant wasn’t actively seeking work, she’s now facing a rebellion with calls for an increase for those on benefits

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-63125506

[MissTerious]

Pasta. My view on state pensions is that they shouldn't be classed should receive a state pension and their should be a fixed amount for all. So state pensions should be raised to an amount that can be lived on comfortably and there should be no extras to apply for like pension credits, etc. A cheaper system, and rich or poor should get the same amount. Much, much cheaper to run with far less staff running it. Available to all who holds British nationality.

[sandyRoe]

That 19th Century concept of 'the deserving poor' seems still to be with us judging from some of the answers here.

[naomi24]

Fatticusinch, no idea what you're talking abut. As far as I'm aware the wealthiest in society neither claim benefits nor scrounge. Perhaps you posted in the wrong thread.

[MissTerious]

Shouldn't be classed as benefits.

[pastafreak]

Statistics here from August 2021...

https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/dwp-benefits-statistics-august-2021/dwp-benefits-statistics-august-2021

[MissTerious]

Basically the benefits system just doesn't work any more. Also I don't believe in child benefits either. If you can't afford children then don't have them.

[bednobs]

but they currently are MissT
i suspect the answer to this question changes depending on 1)whether the responder gets benefits and 2) whether the responder is comfortable or not (financially, not whether they are on a sofa or not :))

[Bobbisox1]

Sandy, the welfare state was introduced to help those on hard times, surely you must see it gets abused?

[douglas9401]

A couple of quid here or there can be dismissed while illegal immigrants are housed, fed and watered instead of being repatriated with vigour.

Once that disgrace is sorted we can revisit the old 'scroungers' stuff.

[JJ109]

The pension system is definitely flawed.

I have been married to my wife for 35 years. She was Thai but became a naturalised British subject and lived in the UK with me for 18 years, before we emigrated/retired to Thailand. For 8 of those years, I was the only breadwinner - she did not take any benefits. Therefore she only has 10 years of NI contributions and is entitled to a pension of about 200 pounds per month. However, because she lives abroad 1) her pension will never increase and will stay static until she dies - no yearly increase 2) She cannot claim pension credit.

At the moment we are financially OK based on my pensions, but should I pre-decease her then she will have no alternative but to return to the UK leaving her only relatives over here, who would not be able to support her, and she would then claim accommodation and pension credit in the UK. It would be much cheaper to increase her pension and better family wise if pension credit was abolished and pensions were increased for ex-pats in line with the pensions in the UK.

[maggiebee]

See the "holier than thou" brigade are out in force today.

[naomi24]

Who are they, maggiebee?

[Bobbisox1]

Maggiebee instead of attacking the poster might I suggest you have an input….or not!

[douglas9401]

"Maggiebee instead of attacking the poster might I suggest you have an input….or not!"

Haaaaaahahahahahhaha!

(See 'Gully' posts and others ad nauseam)

[pastafreak]

Calm down Bobbi...maggiebee has not singled anyone out.

[Bobbisox1]

I’m very calm thanks Pasta

[MissTerious]

Bednobs. When I say pensions should be raised I mean raised a lot. Regardless of whether you are rich or not. I personally don't care whether the recipients are rich or poor. It would actually make a huge amount of civil servants redundant though but they could claim benefits! State Pensions are classed as a benefit. I know that from experience.
I don't care if the rich get richer as long as the poor get richer too, as long as the poor pensioners don't have to claim benefit.

I don't think there are many pensioners on sofas!

[MissTerious]

I am neither rich or poor. But we have been poor.

[THECORBYLOON]

BOBBI, how do you identify claimants in the street?