Should unemployed people in receipt of social security benefits be forced to take a job.?

Question

Let me be clear about this, I have no objection to the state giving a helping hand to people who are unemployed because of unavoidable circumstances but why should taxpayers have to pay for people who simply will not work? Why do some unemployed people justify their refusal to accept a job offer on the grounds that they would be worse off than on benefits.
We the taxpayers are not here to guarantee anyone's income level. What do you think?

Answer 1

I can agree but also disagree with your statement. I work hard to provide for my family and nothing burns me up more than to see a person standing in line, talking on a cell phone, wearing designer clothes and jewelry I could never afford, pay for their groceries with food stamps and 2 cases of beer with cash. You see people taking advantage of the system all the time. But then the whole system is flawed anyway. Some who have not had the advantage of college are expected to work at jobs that pay minimum wage, and we all know no family can survive on that. Instead of raising minimum wage, helping people to find jobs, getting them training so they may have a trade, we send them a check. Yes, they should want to help themselves instead of asking for a hand out, but for some, this is all they know.

The reality is a single mother who wants to get off of Welfare and get a better job can not because as soon as she gets that job her Welfare is cut and her new job doesn't pay nearly enough to care for herself and her children.

We need to change the system. It's like the saying goes. Give a man a fish and feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish and feed him for a lifetime.

Answer 2

I agree with you, wholeheartedly; however, you can understand that if someone gets paid less to work 9 - 5 5 days a week than to stay at home do s*d all and get paid more, you would have to be stupid not to take the handout no matter what your moral feelings would be. The system is totally wrong. If you are fit and able but cannot get a job there must be a reason, and this we should address. If you ARE fit and able and unemployed then you should do voluntary work, but call it something else because it should be enforced; ie. cleaning up litter, shopping for the elderly, helping in adult education facilities, until you find employment. I agree, why should I work my ar*e off to pay for everyone else's inadequacies. I have no objection if there is a genuine reason for not working, it's the layabouts I object to. Surely they must want more out of life, we are only here the once and what an awful existence some people have.

Answer 3

If they do not have any mental or physical health problems (and this can be verified by a medical doctor/psychiartrist) then YES. I say that benefits should be given out for a maximum of 6 months then withdrawn. However, I also think more should be done to ensure that discrimination in the workplace is eradicated. If someone can do the job, then they can do the job! I don't see why employers need to know if someone has a disability or whether they are a different race or religion, or whether they are 24 or 54. If someone is the right person for the job then surely any special arrangements can be made afterwards, hence all this demographic stuff can wait. Often, I think this kind of personal information is what causes discrimination between one person getting the job and the next person.

Answer 4

Just a note to the person above me - people dont get benefits when they are studying - well maybe if the job centre sends them on a crappy course like how to work in a call centre/chicken factory.

Yes. People should be working for their allowance and if they dont it should be taken off them. The amount of money that gets paid out we could have street cleaners and extra refuse collectors and all sorts. My dad lived off the state and I always said I would never, and when I was unemployed for a while I still didnt claim cos i was only unemployed for a week and then it was so easy to find another job.

Some people get used to living off benefit, its a way of life. If you go down to your nearest council estate you will find the majority if people living their are on benefits of some sort. Dont get me wrong because I recieve Tax credit benefit too, but thats because I work 30 odd hours a week and still at a crappy wage (though ive just graduated so shouldnt be too long!).

Plus where do these people think they will end up living off benefits for the rest of their lives? How are they going to better themselves. Oh you have got me started now.

Answer 5

Very interesting topic you have chosen with a diverse amount of opinions. But I believe that if they are trying to make an effort and can provide proof of this ie; studying, learning basic skills required for the field they are interested in or are doing some community volunteering. Then they should be allowed a benefit. then it will show the person concerned what offers are out there and gain training along the way. (If they have not much of an idea for a career, I highly recommend customer service. Always good to start in a company with a smile on your face.)

Answer 6

The vast majority of people will work if given the chance of a job that offers reasonable pay and working conditions. I hope you don't favour slave labour?
Those who as you put it "won't work" may well have problems and need help that society is not offering. After all why else would anyone accept the pitiful amount offered by the state?

Answer 7

What about the civil list which pays out for the 'royal' family should that money be stopped and those people be forced to get a job? why should taxpayers support that?

i prefer my money going to genuine people who are in poverty through unemplyment.

Answer 8

They already are. The terminally workshy get their benefit stopped if they do not take jobs that are offered. Those on incapacity are a different matter.

Answer 9

You got the Right Idea, but that's only the tip of the iceberg.
Most people who aren't working don't want to work. And it's mostly due to the fact that after one makes good money. They think they're too good to work for less.
Instead of denying Disability to those that need it. We
need to crack down on those that abuse it. They need to show proof of residence, and that they are using the money we provide correctly. Not blowing it
on crack and whores.
Instead of cutting aid on Medicaid and Medicare. They need to crack down on medical people that are overcharging and charging unecessarily.
But no witch hunts. We need to be fair. Hospitals get
took too. When industry makes a high tech machine for
$250,000 and sells it to them for$ 5,000,000!
We all need to take our share of the responsibilty.

Answer 10

Why should someone work if there going to be worse off,the Government should incourage people to work by raising the minimum wage from a miserly £5.35p/h to £7.00.