John Bird on Benefits
John Bird,the founder of the Big Issue.should know a thing or two about poverty and also how the benefit system works. One thing he said was that to deliver a pound of benfit to someone who needs it costs five times that amount.
He’s just been on BBC Breakfast more or less saying that no-one should get benefits unless they sign a contract to perhaps do voluntary work.
If you can see the interview watch it.
I think he’s right, as from experience of life, I know of various families, who do nothing except sponge on the rest of us. And they have done for several generations! With the budget on Tuesday promising pain for us all, those on benefit must do something in return. One thing they should do as a condition of benefits is look after their health. After all is fair to fund their drinking, smoking, drug abuse and over-eating and then have to pay further costs for their treatment on the NHS?
One thing that annoys me, is if you drive past the Job Centre in Cambridge at say ten in the morning, there are always a few scruffy individuals outside smoking and drinking lager. Surely there is something more productive that they could do!
The Anonymous Widower 
Sorry, you are so far out of touch it is unbelievable! In general I do somewhat agree with your points made but you have to realise that the welfare system a) isn’t open to all and b) everyone isn’t treated equally.
Some people will scrape by because of protected characteristics such as being a Single Parent. This is the old fashion British society values of Host and Guest. Guest gets better treatment than Host. Have one kid they will try to make you go back to work (damn right) but have them popping out left, right and centre, … they are free to lay back and claim. These can’t be touched because it is another human life involved. Everyone else suffers a huge unfair system where jobseekers are sanctioned and the disabled forced on to jobseekers allowance or denied benefits.
Doing voluntary work helps no one. Employers don’t care about unpaid work or that forced “voluntary” work. Also, it eliminates jobs in councils and the third sector. Whether you see it as a punishment or more of a civil obligation (in exchanged for benefits:- gratitude) it will affect your job hunting which goes against the whole concept of jobseekers…
Finding work isn’t easy with the lack of jobs/so many people going for the same amount of jobs. One of the jobs I recently applied for was for an Administrator at a new build organisation. I met all the criteria (possibly slightly overqualified – but not enough to be deemed that) and had to send a written application to the LMRA (recruitment services) at the Jobcentre – I assume because the organisation was new. Although I am not guaranteed a job; considering I live just 2 minutes away from the place and was a strong candidate, I was disappointed to learn that I wasn’t even invited for interview because the Jobcentre refused to consider me (perhaps due to known involvement on these sites). Perhaps additional qualities such as reliability isn’t important to them neither.
I ran a blog which I recently discontinued (click my name) and I am also active on http://intensiveactivity.wordpress.com and it is so clear that the majority of jobseekers want a job and are looking for a job. Of course you get the lager louts and generation claimants but this is where corruption in the system begins! These people are allowed to claim (these are passive receivers which was outlawed 14 years ago!) so they can implement tougher legislation on everyone else to make bigger savings (JSA; them forgetting about these claiming other benefits too). When they mess up your claim or sanction you… you focus on getting your money back (due to bills etc. need to be paid) and the job search temporary stops. These people then claim for longer because of it.
Also, your attitude on the “big fat benefit cheat” stereotype is out of order. Me, claims JSA – no other benefits. I do not smoke or take any type of drugs; and never have done. I only drink socially at xmas and the odd event such as weddings etc. Also, I do not over-eat. I am healthy, walk my dog twice a day and always keep active. Scum out there do exists and although it is a major problem, it makes it hard on the rest of us.
Comment by Flexible New Deal | September 1, 2010 |
I was probably a bit over the top, but something has to be done to make sure that those that need bebefits get the right amount. But there are a lot who need to be taken in hand.
Comment by AnonW | September 1, 2010 |