Do you think it's time the UK Benefits system was scrapped?

Question

this is a neutral question. I'm not saying it should or should not. I'm just interested in people's opinions on the subject.

So, please refrain from directing any insults towards me. You don't know my circumstances or I yours.

Answer 1

Not scrapped, but heavily policed. There are people who really do need benefits but there are millions of lying, lazy scroungers who should not be on benefits at all.

Unfortunately, the system will not be scrapped. The government use it as a method of social control - if there were no benefits, they fear that scumbags would rob shops and houses. Benefits serve to keep this scum element under some measure of control.

Answer 2

Not scrapped but updated, the tax system in this country is like a punishment for those who work in normal jobs.
There are no incentives for people to work and by the time you pay all your dues,bus fares or petrol money,lunches,prescriptions, dental treatment, rent, community charges, inflated gas and electric charges etc you are worse off than someone on the benefit system.
How many long term unemployed people do you know who own a car go out to the pub most nights and weekends have plasma t.vs Mobil 'phones?, why should they work all week to keep these luxury's.
Perhaps it is the time to reintroduce Means Testing and regular house visits by the benefit agency to see if you are as needy as you say.

Means Tested meant that if you lived with your family and they worked then they should keep you, anything of value had to be sold if it wasn't then you were not a desperate enough case to receive state money.

Answer 3

I totally agree with Steve M, who wrote the first reply. The system needs better monitoring and organisation.

There are lazy scrounging gits out there who need a good hard kick up the jacksy, but there are plenty of people who have worked all their lives and fallen into misfortune.

(An example of how unfair the benefits system can be, and also a call for those who bang on about 'dole scum' to be less judgemental: I started working the day I turned 16. I worked throughout my GCSE's and A-levels while living in a hostel, and slaved to avoid claiming benefit. I worked non-stop throughout my university degree to survive, barely slept because I worked all night, then completed essays, went to classes the next day, and STILL managed to scrape a first class degree. I got a job immediately after graduating. I had to leave my job when I found out my little sister had cancer, as I had to look after her baby and toddler during her treatment. I was told I am not entitled to any benefits whatsoever, because I was at university in 2003, despite the minor detail that I was earning, paying tax and National Insurance for 12 years. So to those who tar everyone who is on benefit with the same brush: grow up, and don't be so ignorant!)

Answer 4

Not scrapped, but the original idea of benefits as a safety net for those in trouble, rather than a lifestyle choice needs to be considered.

It would not be unreasonable for the state to ask for something back for benefits paid - even if this was volunteer / charity work, that would get people into the work habit, and make them a more attractive prospect to employers.

Many people on Invalidity Benefit would welcome the support to get them back to suitable work, rather than drawing benefit - many others shouldn't be on Invalidity at all; it's a throwback to the 1980s when the Thatcher government widened the Invalidity Benefit net, so that more people drew this, and less drew Unemployment Benefit.

Answer 5

This is a tricky one. There two sides to this argument and both are valid. Scrap the system and hurt those for whom it is a lifeline, those who genuinely need help, and the rest of us in the name of humanity should be happy to help.
Then there are those who take the opportunity to milk the system, people who think the world owes them a living so they can stay in bed or watch daytime TV.
Then there are those who are happy to work "on the side" and claim benefits without paying anything into the system.
We cannot and should not scrap the benefit system, but it needs to be completely overhauled so that only those who genuinely need it receives it and let the scroungers and cheats fend for themselves.

Answer 6

i think of the united kingdom earnings gadget is a symptom of permitting British industry to be destroyed and pushing us into the grotty nutrients, affordable products shopaholic nightmare that we are in now. with out industry there are too few jobs. you're able to do some thing with the unemployed if it became you....as a central authority, that led to the placement in the 1st place......with out industry there's no longer something.....working it down became a brilliant mistake. I say we could get Britain returned into the genuine international. start up procuring nutrients to consume, to no longer throw away. procuring outfits that final, no longer volumes of inexpensive crap that would not. give up importing affordable crap and start up off producing our own products. we desire a rebuild. we desire a sparkling way of questioning in parliament. we desire a central authority that places British interests first. the only reason our advantages gadget is at snapping element is that we've an open border sittuation that still, even nonetheless we are broke, enables thousands into the country, and onto advantages a week. insanity from our own parasite infested parliament, and the jack boot Nazi mentality of the ecu is at fault right here. no longer the gadget.

Answer 7

Yes. It should be replaced with a National Income scheme which every adult is entitled to, regardless of circumstances.

It would eliminate at a stroke the stigma of being a benefits claimant; most of the DSS administration would no longer be needed, leading to huge cost savings, although there would still be a need to monitor the system for fraudulent claims; and it would help to reduce inequality, a proven major source of ill-health and social tension.

The income would obviously have to be set at a moderate level to avoid dissuading people from seeking work, but it's doable.

Answer 8

Definately. As Churchill once said 'State Benefits should be a safety net, NOT the only source of living' or something like that. Scrap the benefits system and let the freeloading cockroaches work for their money and let's see how many kids are fathered by those on the dole! Chances of this really happening though with this spineless lot in charge is is non to hell freezing!!!

Answer 9

I, like many others have paid into it for years so that we should need it when times are difficult. If it was scrapped then where would the money go. It should go to building more schools and hospitals, but i doubt this will happen. The whole welfare system is almost dismantled anyway, so it wont be long now.

Answer 10

I think those benefitting would beg to differ. There are millions of genuine cases, who should not have to suffer for those who are taking advantage. It is their livelihood through necessity more than choice. We are not on benefits anymore but I shudder to think where we would have been a couple of years ago when my dad was out of a job with a family of 5 to support. So 'scrapped' no, but as someone above said, having it heavily policed would be a good idea.

Answer 11

As it is at the moment YES.the benefit system should be like a bank," If you Don`t put in you can`t draw out"
There are too many Idle people who can`t be bothered getting a job drawing benefits and there are all the Immigrants who are getting benefits.
And who pays for it ?? The people who work hard for what pittance they earn.
There are plenty of jobs or the employment agencies wouldn`t exist.
Bring back the system they used to have , refuse 3 jobs and all benefits stop.
It`s amazing how many people on benefits can afford to drive cars with the price of fuel or go to the pubs.