Is the UK welfare system sustainable?

Question

Or will it lead to revolt from taxpayers eventually?

People on benefits get their council tax paid in the form of council tax benefit. At least where i live.

People on disability benefit get a mobility allowance which allows them a brand spanking new car up to a certain price. Never mind the minimuum wage worker that has to pay their taxes so the lawyer with the bad back can be more mobile he?

Answer 1

No. Yes.

Answer 2

No I don't think it is sustainable. A revolt has already begun older people are going to jail rather than pay their huge and ever increasing council tax bills, the daily express newspaper headed campaigns to get rid of inheritance tax and there is a pressure group called the taxpayers alliance. All of this does not matter though as the government has an excellent ability to only hear what it wants too and tax the rest of us into oblivion to attempt to pay for it.

Mickyrisk, just wanted to add that their are some benefits that are not means tested i.e. Child benefit.

Answer 3

I'm in favour of the government benefit system
(no I am not on benefit myself, and I never have been)
Some do take advantage and if you know any one doing this then shop them, don't just whinge about it!!
One thing I do object to is paying for other peoples kids, I don't care if the parents are married or not,I do care that I have to pay because some people pump out kids without a thought as to how they can afford to keep them. (yes I do have a couple of kids)!!
There was a recent story about a feller with 15 kids complaining that his local council wouldnt give him the house next to his and make one large house out of the two, he eventually got his wish, the council (you and I) paid, we also pay their rent , poll tax and just about every thing else!
However that is the only bit I object to, we should look after our elderly, (they have paid enough into the system)
and we should look after our sick, and the goverment should ensure that there are jobs available for all!

Answer 4

I am born in the U.K., but haven't lived there for 39 years...I have never worked in the U.K. either. I am in Canada. When I listen to my family back home and the amount of tax they pay and the cost of living...so that some lazy A** can sit on welfare and pop kiddies out one after another, get a free car for heaven sake ! I would be livid. Yet, U.K. keeps bringing in more people who - tell me if I'm wrong - take more from the system than they give. Something, somewhere has got to give.

Answer 5

Will the UK have a baby-boomer retirement flood that will consume all other parts of their budget?

I hear all those in the US saying the Social Security Trust fund has all these trillion of dollars. It is like Jimmy Stewart said in ITS a WONDERFUL LIFE there is no money in the vault, its out in the economy. The thing is Social Security can only invest in government debt.

One party in government will always say to put it in a Locked Box, because they know it can't be. If all the funds for future recipients were put in a Locked Box the economy would be illiquid. That is what caused the great depression.

Answer 6

People on benefits pay tax too e.g.Council Tax, so people on benefits would have to revolt against themselves.

People on benefits get a REDUCTION in council tax, I've been on benefits and my sister is on benefits. You must live in a remote place or not know facts.

Get a free car? who does? I don't know any English people that do, it's probably these bloody immigrants.

Answer 7

It would be if governments genuinely believed in it and didn't use it as a way of papering over cracks and effectively subsidising slave wage employers.

For the asker's information, the rich lawyer in the wheelchair wouldn't get benefits because such things are means tested. But don't let your ignorance get in the way of facts :)

Answer 8

don't think so as full time carer on £46 per week to care for close family member saving Gov approx £500 per week they give me nothing have to fight for every little help I can get ..they don't care .... don't even get help with car tax use own car over 65yrs forget it ,, still paying tax ..council tax .. and everything else .... you get nothing unless you have payed nothing ...believe me just asked for shower means tested applied for grant 14mts a go person disabled broke hip has seizures has catheter need shower everyday sorry no help what they need blood and now told means tested we will assess when get home but may take x mths and prob not welfare state think not x amount of £ put into care for elderly were it gone still have loads t spend on what you bunch of cretins OK wash your self how where ..for god sake who are these people waiting on their patients dying me thinks

Answer 9

No it takes the piss.We're the ones who pay hundreds of pounds every month out of our pay but still we have to pay for dentist and prescriptions, i don't see how people who cant be arsed to work should sit on their back sides all day every day and get everything given to them on a plate. If people are out of work, why not make them fruit pick instead of getting people from overseas to do it because British people don't want to do it, there is plenty of work out there but people are being fussy, everyone should be put in work, its not fair!

Answer 10

Yeah right revolution by the terminally rich! As north sea oil drys up current welfare levels will become unsustainable and women will have to start working to the same age as men but our ancestors fought to hard to give up too much.

Answer 11

Yes, of course. They will just increase the taxes.