Unemployed. Vouchers instead of cash???

Question

Do you think that some of the unemployed in Britain could do more to find work? I believe that if after a set period, lets just say 9 months for arguments sake, somebody remains unemployed, instead of receiving job seekers allowance in the form of cash, they should maybe receive vouchers, or a card loaded with credits that can only be used to buy essential food and other items needed to live. So alchol or cigerettes could not be purchased. This way the state is still suporting these people, but making it difficult for these unemployed to enjoy themselves. Thus maybe giving the unemployed more incentive to get a job? Also perhaps children in these families would be fed better and have a slightly better lifestyle.

Silverbirch, that is a good point. I was thinking that if the unemployed had cards similar to ID cards with photo's etc loaded with credits, it would perhaps make it harder to sell your credits. I think any solution that makes it harder to squander your benefits has got to be good. Also if severe penaltys were in place to people who abused the system, it may work.

Answer 1

I totally agree with this. It makes me so mad that both me and my husband work 50 - 60 hours per week each just to be able to afford rent (yep, can't afford a mortgage)and enough food and clothes and there are lazy gits that are sponging off the state (using my tax money to pay for their mortgage when I can't afford one of my own) that live in far better luxury than me, running decent cars and having nights out. I don't smoke, drink occasionally and simply can't afford luxuries. It really makes my blood boil.

Answer 2

what a bloody sensible idea, they could have the vouchers with set amounts for clothing , food, gas electric etc and the cards should not be allowed to for the purchase of alcohol or ciggerettes, now i have actually been on jobseekers allowance before and was on it for 2 months (very hard time finding work), and i think this would be a brilliant idea, because even though my children never went without anything during this period, ill admit i did but myself ciggerettes each week, and that money could have been spent better!

Answer 3

Your idea is good in principle, but don't you think that the real scroungers (a lot of people on jobseekers are simply looking for work)would do anything rather than work. There needs to be a bulldozing of the Incapacity Benefit system also as just about everyone seems to know someone who is claiming Incapacity Benefit fraudulently.(Incapacity pays more than Jobseekers!)

Answer 4

I'm not sure about this but I do know that there are a lot of unemployed people out there who have never worked and don't intend to.
This is clearly wrong and needs to be tackled.
Those people that are genuinely out of work through no fault of their own should be helped and it's these people that probably suffer most from benefit thieves.( Lets not call them scroungers they are by every definition, thieves).

Answer 5

I totally agree, Austraila was just talking about a similar plan but there was a massive outcry and I've heard nothing since. Working as a teacher you see all too often that the money is not put towards what it is intended for.

Answer 6

Thats a very good idea, but i dont like the thought of ID cards, it makes identidy theith(sorry i cant spell well lol)

Answer 7

Absolutely correct. The PC lot would probably say it goes against their human rights to smoke and get pi**ed.Not with OUR money though!!

Answer 8

In the USA, they have food stamps. People sell them to get cash.

Answer 9

good idea but bring it down to 6 months.

Answer 10

totally agree