[Chrysalis]

Originally Posted by Hugh

Some information

IFS Survey of the UK Benefit System, November 2010 - link

In 2009-10, £188 billion was spent on Social Security benefits -broken down in page 6 of the PDF into

Total benefits for families with children £34.1 billion
Total benefits for unemployed people £4.9 billion
Total benefits for people on low incomes £41.6 billion
Total benefits for elderly people £78.4 billion
Total benefits for sick and disabled people £28.6 billion
Total benefits for bereaved people £0.7 billion

In there,
Retirement Pension = £66.9 billion claimed by 12.5 million people
Some form of Disability Benefit / Attendance & Carers Allowance = £26.3 billion claimed by/for 7.9 million people
Child related Benefits = £34.1 billion claimed by 14.3 million people
Housing/Council Tax Benefits = £24.7 billion claimed by 10.6 million people

And obviously, due to circumstances, some people may be eligible/claiming more than one of the above.

---------- Post added at 09:31 ---------- Previous post was at 09:30 ----------

Linky, please?

for what?

its becoming a habit of you guys to ask for links on anything I post.

You want a link of something I said that had no media coverage?

---------- Post added at 17:22 ---------- Previous post was at 17:18 ----------

Originally Posted by TakeCare

Some of you may find these links of interest

http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2...it?INTCMP=SRCH

http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/20...osing-benefits

For me its not just about reform, which is needed, but the depth and speed they are pushing this agenda.

We have IB to ESA
DLA changing to a PIP ( Personal Independence Payment )
Housing benefit being changed

Appeals being won are increasing

Double whammy for some families as if DLA is lost so too is Carers Allowance.

When most groups/charities take place in the Hardest Hit protests, when CAB advisors and welfare rights officers tell you the new system is not working, that changes ahead are not for the benefit of the person claiming but purely a cuts exercise, surely alarm bells should be ringing louder.

These proposals may not affect you now but could do so in the future.

If we add in cuts to social services, criteria for care being tightened, meals on wheels being priced out of reach. Respite places getting less. How much added pressure can some families take.

It is vital that we build a strong foundation for any new system, that is not happening just now. All the govt are doing is slash and burn...cut cut cut.

Sorry for the rant, mean no offence to anyone here but whether it affects us or not we should be looking out for those that cant do it for themselves cos this govt is certainly not doing so.

---------- Post added at 10:57 ---------- Previous post was at 10:55 ----------

Can I just add that some of these proposals are following on from the Labour govt. Just so noone thinks I am just against the present Coalition

Included in those cuts is a very shrewd removal of legal aid as well, a service people can use to appeal against loss of benefit.