Quote:
Originally Posted by mrmistoffelees
I think you have a bias towards those who claim benefits.
There are those who have no option due to circumstance that need benefits, these people also use services that are funded fro council tax, why should they not contribute a small amount? as the maximum rebate available is ninety percent it is a small amount. Doesn't universal credit have a housing component which replaced housing benefit?
Then, there are those who claim benefits who are quite able to work but see benefits as a lifestyle, THey manage to evade sanction by knowing how to play the system. some also have side hustles such as 'fag houses' and if you're in my neck of the woods, it's quite a few with side hustles or working cash in hand jobs.
We also, hav working families who are working and ineligible for most if not all benefits. Who are also below the poverty line.
Poverty is not exclusive to those claiming benefits.
Finally, how many peoples wages are going up by 5% ?
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Payment for and use of essential services should not be linked. Applying this principle would mean the sickest people in society would have to pay towards their NHS care, whilst unable to work.
The money that those on benefits receive towards their rent depends on their circumstances. Some are on Housing Benefit and some receive help via Universal Credit.
The remainder of their income is for day to day living expenses, so making them pay towards their rent and between 20 to 30%* of their Council Tax means going without essential things (as does the frozen period of benefit uprating that is currently being carried forward yesr on year).
The weekly amount is so finely tuned that only one bath/shower a week is catered for within the allowance!
There are indeed working families in poverty; 40% of those on Univetsal Credit are working. They would face the double whammy of their wages and benefits not keeping pace with inflation whilst prices are skyrocketing.
It is simply not possible to claim out of work benefits without suspensions or sanctions by packing in your job, losing it through misconduct or not being availablr for or actively seeking work. Regular checks are made via form enquiries, checking efforts that are input online, interviews and requirements to attend training courses to improve employability.
Such sanctions are brutal and include a man being refused benefits because he had a heart attack during an interview, a lone parent who was late because her child needed to use the toilet and a man with cancer who was forced to choose between attending the jobcentre or going to a hospital appointment. He chose the latter and was sanctioned.
In this situation it's hardly surprising that people are breaking the law in order to survive, I know I couldn't survive on today's benefits alone.
The 5% figure quoted is said by the Government to be the current rate of wage increases.
* Help towards the council tax now varies across the country. This used to be met in full under the Council Tax Benefit scheme.
The Cameton Government essentially slashed the budget for this, handed the amount remaining to local authorities and said "do what you will with it". The maximum amount of help available is, bizarrely, now dependent upon where one lives!