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

[sandyRoe]

^. Indeed someone on benefits wouldn't be anywhere near a pub. If they liked a drink and a smoke they'd be at home drinking cheap cider and smoking roll ups.

[Gromit]

If bobbisox1 gets no state benefits, she has either not applied for any, or she is not yet pension age so is not eligible.

[netibiza]

Miss T. "Available to all who hold British Nationality " Well that's racist! What about the foreigners who have worked and paid in UK for 50 yrs +/-? Everyone who has worked long enough is entitled to it!!!

[bobbinwales]

Gromit...benefits paid to supermarket staff are due to low wages...its because so many choose or have to work part-time for childcare or other reasons

[bobbinwales]

^ SHOULD of said..are NOT due to low wages

[bednobs]

i dont think there's anything inherently racist about saying that benefits paid in britain should be for british people?

[pimplyteen]

I may be wrong, but I think the OP is talking about unemployed people more than any other benefits that all or many of us are able to claim. May be the poster can clarify?

[MissTerious]

That is certainly not racist, neti. If foreigners have worked here and lived here for years I would wonder why they had not got British nationality. I would include British who lived out of the UK. Its possible to have dual natiinality.

[sandyRoe]

A lot of Irish spent their lives working in the UK. Should they be excluded?

[JJ109]

I don't get any benefits whatsoever living in Thailand. No winter fuel allowance, but over here it would have to be an air-con allowance in the summer, or any other benefits, prescripions, cheap travel or anything else. I also have to pay hospital bills and doctors by myself, but it is my choice to live over here, so I am not complaining about any of that!

However, I have paid NI contributions just like everybody else and I don't see why my state pension does not increase each year as it would do in the UK. After all I am less of a drain on the economy compared to if I lived in the UK.

[THECORBYLOON]

You chose to move to a country where your state pension does not increase and you are not like everyone else in Great Britain with regards to its rate of inflation and fuel bills for example.

[MissTerious]

I don't know Sandy if there are any special agreements with Ireland.

[JJ109]

Yes - it's my choice - but what you don't understand Thecorbyloon is that there is inflation over here also, admittedly not as high as the UK - but when there is high inflation in the UK, the pound plummets and my pension when received each month also plummets - so inflation in the UK does affect me. Before Brexit the rate was 53 baht to the pound, it is now 42. That is a 20% REDUCTION in pension each month, irrespective of inflation rates!

My choice, and I still prefer to live here - but my state pension should increase as everybody else's. I paid the same NI contributions.

[MissTerious]

I agree with you JJ. You are British and your pension surely should be affected. Just the benefits like winter heat allowance

[JJ109]

Thanks MissTerious!

[MissTerious]

Shouldn't be.

[MissTerious]

Neti, I was only talking about pensions, not benefits that might be paid to immigrants. I am still wondering about you calling my post racist. There was no hint of racism.

[THECORBYLOON]

There is no Reciprocal Agreement between the UK (which includes the Channel Islands and the IOM) and Thailand so there is no increase in State Pension.

[JJ109]

TheCorbyloon - so what!

That is true but why does that matter. You are talking about a British subject's pension, not any reciprocal arrangement re benefits between countries. If you are going to quote that, then please enlighten me why that matters!

[Bobbisox1]

Gromit I am 76 next month but I don’t class my state pension as being a benefit ,you will probably disagree with that.
Maggiebee ( apologies to you )
I know a few personally who stand outside bars with their fags that are on benefits ,Would I phone up and shop them? Not on your life would I ( which AA suggested) it’s not within me do that , I hope that answers the question directed at me , I guess it’s a case of me putting up and shutting up !