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

[pastafreak]

I've just said elsewhere MissT that pensions should be doubled...give the elderly an amount they can actually live on...not just about survive.

[Bobbisox1]

I guess I’d best go back to CB here ;0))))

[Gromit]

// you see them in every town and city outside the bars having a fag so I’m not sure it is a tiny minority //

Your observation is wrong.
The unemployed get £11 a day. That is not going to buy a packet of fags and a few pints.

[Bobbisox1]

So Gromit,are you saying our benefit
System is straight forward with no holes in it?

[Bobbisox1]

Anyway, I’m off out now , byeeeee

[Gromit]

The benefit system is far from straight forward. Which is why £20 billion goes unclaimed. People who need it and are allowed it, do not apply because it is too complicated, or are not told they are eligible.

[sandyRoe]

Bobbisox1,
Other posters have already mentioned that many claiming benefits are in full time work. Then there are pensioners and those too ill to work.
The 'scroungers' would be a tiny minority of benefit claimants. And many of those live in areas where employment has collapsed. Benefits don't provide for two foreign holidays a year and a 50 inch TV. The reality is you buy your clothes from charity shops, you go to food banks, and, perhaps worst of all, you lose hope of ever seeing any improvement in your circumstances.

[goodgoalie]

About to be discussed on Jeremy Vine's Radio 2 show.....

[anneasquith]

For all you abers who see the benefit scrounges outside the pubs smoking, . Do the right thing, report them. The telephone no. Is anonymous. Do your duty don’t just moan about it .

[MissTerious]

Pasta. I think more than doubled! Not because I need it, but because so many people do and they shouldn't have to claim benefits. Many of them can't or won't because the are too proud or virtually housebound! Youngsters these days seem to think that all pensioners are well off because they own their own homes and have company pensions. Back in our day most people didn't have company pensions because pension schemes were not that common. And if they realised just how much our own homes have cost us over the years they would realise that most of us couldn't afford to save. We are comfortable now because of inheritance. But that was in our 60s!

[MissTerious]

Bobbi, come back. Maggie wasn't referring to you.

[Gromit]

// I made the mistake of having a small private pension so I get nothing at all //

Your are entitled to the state pension and a whole host of other benefits, Free prescriptions, eye tests, winter fuel allowance etc.

[Bobbisox1]

I’m just showered and ready to go out MissT ( to order flowers for my granddaughters funeral ) that’s the only reason I signed out , no doubt the debate about benefits will always be a contentious one , laters

[THECORBYLOON]

I'm waiting still to find out how BOBBI identifies claimants out and about.

[pimplyteen]

Any distribution of taxpayer's money can be flawed.
Let's take the billions distributed by the government during covid. Will there be any fraud investigation?

Getting back to the fag person outside the club. If you see someone standing outside Harrods smoking a cigar do, we assume they are stinking rich by cheating the benefit system.

[Deskdiary]

The state pension is not a pension.

If it were a pension, those that paid in more would get more out.

It is an absurdity that somebody who paid in (say) £250,000 over 39 qualifying years will receive the same as somebody who paid in £25,000 over 39 qualifying years.

[MissTerious]

Growing. If you are over pension age you are entitled to all those benefits. And having a private pension doesn't preclude you from receiving a state pension. It might mean you get into a tax bracket though.

[MissTerious]

Growing! Predictive text.

[maggiebee]

To clarify a point - my comment was not aimed at any one person. I just get fed up when I read that someone having a fag outside a pub must be on benefits. Just doesn't correlate.

[MissTerious]

Gromit, gromit gromit