The state benefits system mega-thread.

[OLD BOY]

Originally Posted by jfman

As an economist I actually know that to be untrue.

If you can't introduce genuine competition into a market all that happens is supernormal profits enter the private sector to the harm of consumers.

I don't know which books of economic theory you have been reading, then! I have personal experience of privatising services and I can assure you that it is true. You are also ignoring the reason I gave you for fares increasing as they have.

[jfman]

Originally Posted by OLD BOY

I don't know which books of economic theory you have been reading, then! I have personal experience of privatising services and I can assure you that it is true. You are also ignoring the reason I gave you for fares increasing as they have.

Privatising a market that doesn’t introduce genuine competition doesn’t lower costs for consumers. It develops into oligopoly, which I’m sure you know from vast experience in the field, doesn’t drive down prices as in perfect competition.

[denphone]

Originally Posted by jfman

Privatising a market that doesn’t introduce genuine competition doesn’t lower costs for consumers. It develops into oligopoly, which I’m sure you know from vast experience in the field, doesn’t drive down prices as in perfect competition.

Gas , Electricity , Water and The Railways have all gone up and in most counts it is a much worse service then before.

[Mr K]

Originally Posted by denphone

Gas , Electricity , Water and The Railways have all gone up and in most counts it is a much worse service then before.

Yes, but on the bright side Den shareholders and directors are quids in.

[RichardCoulter]

Various disability charities are asking for donations to prevent the eviction of a disabled man and his six week old baby. As it is due to rent arrears (even though it is through no fault if his own) this means that his local authority would not help him as he would be classed as 'intentionally homeless':

https://www.gofundme.com/f/stop-evic...-week-old-baby

He had his ESA stopped after he missed appointments following a stroke. Due to his health, he can't claim JSA as he doesn't meet the criteria for looking for a job, so has been left virtually penniless.

In these circumstances, people can appeal (and often win), but this can take over a year. His landlord is sympathetic, but he uses the rent to pay the mortgage on the property.

Kind and generous people have now cleared his arrears, but they need a little more to pay the rent whilst the DWP sort things out.

I find it heartwarming that people can help a stranger in need, but i'm also dismayed that it has had to come to this.

[1andrew1]

Originally Posted by OLD BOY

I have told you more than once already that it is government policy to increase rail fares to pay for the investment necessary to overcome decades of neglect by the former British Rail.

Government policy is to increase fares 1% above inflation to shift more of the cost burden to passengers from general tax-payers. It's not about compensating for any previous under-investment.

[OLD BOY]

Originally Posted by 1andrew1

Government policy is to increase fares 1% above inflation to shift more of the cost burden to passengers from general tax-payers. It's not about compensating for any previous under-investment.

It is the previous chronic underinvestment that has created the need for a massive programme of works now.

[jfman]

Originally Posted by OLD BOY

It is the previous chronic underinvestment that has created the need for a massive programme of works now.

Underinvestment that was a conscious choice of Governments that wanted to absolve itself of responsibility for it, and ignoring the value of high quality infrastructure to the economy.

[RichardCoulter]

Originally Posted by jfman

Underinvestment that was a conscious choice of Governments that wanted to absolve itself of responsibility for it, and ignoring the value of high quality infrastructure to the economy.

Leading up to privatising nationalised industries, it was common for the Government to starve them of investment to show how much 'better' they would be in private hands.

I think that some things are better in the public sector, some the private sector and some the voluntary sector.

The railways would be better in the public sector IMO. It was one of the more complicated industries that they sold off, presumably this is why it was left until one of the last.

I used to travel regularly on the last train from Birmingham to Leeds, changing in Manchester. If the train was late, the connection in Manchester was held back. After privatisation the two seperate companies faced fines for lateness, so they didn't like to do it.

I was once completing the change and was actually shouted at to "run" and "hurry up" by the Manchester to Leeds train staff! If attempting to harass a disabled customer is supposed to be an example of improved service, come back British Rail, all is forgiven (a complaint was made and I was compensated for the humiliation).

[1andrew1]

Originally Posted by OLD BOY

It is the previous chronic underinvestment that has created the need for a massive programme of works now.

That's irrelevant. It's a political decision that more of the cost of running the railways should come from rhe fare box and not general taxation.Not saying that policy is good or bad, just that that is the reason for above-inflation fare rises.

[OLD BOY]

Originally Posted by jfman

Underinvestment that was a conscious choice of Governments that wanted to absolve itself of responsibility for it, and ignoring the value of high quality infrastructure to the economy.

I don't disagree.

---------- Post added 24-08-2019 at 00:04 ---------- Previous post was 23-08-2019 at 23:54 ----------

Originally Posted by 1andrew1

That's irrelevant. It's a political decision that more of the cost of running the railways should come from rhe fare box and not general taxation.Not saying that policy is good or bad, just that that is the reason for above-inflation fare rises.

How is it irrelevant? It is an explanation of why rail fares are so high.

[RichardCoulter]

Fresh questions arise over Atos disability assessments:

https://www.disabilitynewsservice.co...p-assessments/

[RichardCoulter]

Man to take his brothers ashes to the appeal after DWP said he wasn't sick enough for PIP:

https://metro.co.uk/2019/08/29/man-t...ough-10652853/

Why on Earth wasn't his claim fast tracked under the special rules?

[nomadking]

Originally Posted by RichardCoulter

Man to take his brothers ashes to the appeal after DWP said he wasn't sick enough for PIP:

https://metro.co.uk/2019/08/29/man-t...ough-10652853/

Why on Earth wasn't his claim fast tracked under the special rules?

His last claim for PIP was more than a year before he died. Applied "February last year" ie 2018, died April 2019. Probably didn't notify of any change of circumstances. That's assuming he had been specifically given less than 6 months for the fast track rules to apply.

PIP isn't meant to live on as such, although people do. That is ESA.

This is what he "needed" the money for.
Link

He was just so, so depressed and then he started drinking more again.

And he recounted the tragic moment that Jamie noted that he "wasn't sick enough for PIP", just moments after the consultant had told him he was going to die.

So he wasn't given a terminal prognosis until after the PIP decision.

He said: "He knew he was going to die but it would have been around now that it happened if he'd had his twelve months as expected.

Wouldn't be covered by the 6 month fast track rule anyway.

Central to this case seems to be not informing the DWP of a change in circumstances. They're not mind readers.

Once the appeal process is started, you can send in new updated info/reports right up until 7 days before any tribunal hearing. The DWP reassess the decision each time.

[RichardCoulter]

Want to have a go at trying to justify this death?

https://www.theguardian.com/society/...efits-dwp-dies