How would you reform the benefits system?

Answer 1

Well my view will probably be unpopular but nevertheless it is my personal view.

Pensioners over 65 should receive the equivalent of 44 hours pay at Nat min wage (UK)

Unemployed should receive the equivalent of 35 hours pay at Nat min wage(UK) irrespective of dependants plus normal benefits as payable to working people.

Short term sick should receive same as unemployed.

Long term sick should receive the same as pensioners.

Immigrants (country, faith, colour or creed immaterial) should be made to live or preferably work here for 3 years before receiving benefits.

Answer 2

I heard on the news today that there was going to be a change...it wasn't a complete reform but it is a start the problem is i know from other people that getting benefits can be really hard so i don't understand how it is so easy for people to abuse the system i agree fully that a reform is needed but i also feel we need someone to look out for those that should be entitled to benefits

Answer 3

Proper ID for claimants, not allowing the fit unemployed more than six months benefits when there is a labour shortage, and more 'work or loose all benefits' ultimatums. Later retirement for women (it's sexist to make blokes work longer) and no access to non emergency healthcare or other benefits unless you are a legal resident of a year of more. I'd also like to see more done to prevent teenage pregnancies, so no free pass to a council flat unless you are married and over 18. Maybe pay the teenage girls to get contraceptive implants.

I'd reform the tax system while I was at it. It's pointlessly complicated. Maybe give a taxable allowance for each dependant child or stay at home parent instead of the tax credits. Maybe even a tax incentive to boost the native birth rate.

Answer 4

Benefits paid to people who have worked for the previous 12 months and paid the full National Insurance.
Child Benefit to U.K Residents who have worked full time for the past 5 Years in this country and no benefit paid to women who refuse to name father of child.
No benefits paid to non u.k residents who live abroad e.g Poland.
Housing Benefit paid to residents of the U.K who have worked for the previous 12 months.
Anyone caught cheating the benefit system imprisoned for 6 months and fined the amount they have defrauded plus pay back the same amount.
Unemployed must work a minimum of 25 hours in Charitable occupation to receive unemployment benefit.
Immigrant and Asylum seekers paid minimum in food vouchers and a clothing voucher once a year.

Answer 5

realistically - stopping 'benefits' is never going to happen, because that would result in people, well , dying

how about child benefit - would you deny child bnefit because the parents had not paid enough into the system.

everyone who is deemed as fit to work should be forced to provide lets say a days labour a week for their benefits - there are plenty of jobs that could be created or shared in order for this to become reality - when i was unemployed - i went to an agency and they had loads of work in factories and stuff

once people get used to going out to work, they would realise that in most situations they will be financially and mentally better off in full time employment than sitting on their backsides watching Jeremy Kyle, and that by working, they are putting something back into society and giving their kids a good lesson in how to behave in society

hopefully then - benefits would only be given to those who seriously need them

Answer 6

A lot of pensioners qualify to get new central heating fitted at the taxpayer's expense despite owning their own home. Quite often theri homes are owned by their kids, so taxpayers are paying for upgrades to a privately owned property possibly worth a minimum of £100k in todays market.

Meanwhile many low paid families are freezing their butt off in draughty and damp squalid homes trying to survive on cornflakes and food from Iceland as recommended by Kerry Catona. Many are now losing out even more due to the scrapping of the 10p tax rate.

Answer 7

.. The benefits are being, and have been ripped off for years It would be most enlighting to have details how many foreign nationals are in benfit over here, also how many have contributed to justify payments

I would reform thus, To qualify for UK benefits, people would have to have made contributions for at least, twelve months, to encompass of their respective families.who would become eligable for future benefits

Answer 8

Focus more on the ones who cheat the system ( i know so many who are doing this) ....and make them pay back what they have claimed....look at doctors who give sick notes to claim incapacity for minor ailments and those who claim incapacity for depression to be tested for drug use on a regular basis...not saying that all the depressed are drug users but a lot of them are....stop paying disability allowance to parents with naughty and hyperactive children....look at employers who pay minimum wages but use agency staff and pay over the odds to agencies for that meaning the taxpayer subsidises the underpaid workers with working tax credits...so many things could be changed to save the taxpayer money

Answer 9

I think that they should visit unemployed, single mothers, check their wardrobes, for men's clothing. There are too many living with partners and not declaring. The partner is also taking up an empty house, using it for a giro drop. The single lads houses should be checked also, they will find a lot of them empty. I even admit, many of my friends do this. Two of them for the last fifteen. One even rented his flat out to his druggie sister and her daughter who had lost her house for not paying the rent. Then the sickness benefit. Far too many people on the sick, when there is nothing wrong with them.

Answer 10

if anyone has not paid a certain number of contributions into the system, they should not be allowed any handout, and handouts should be linked to the amount contributed. there should be allowances made for the disabled and elderly.
Old age pension should not be paid to any person who has not been living in the country for, say, 10 years.
The amount paid for housing benefits and council tax should also be under the same rule.
Heating allowances should be voucher paid, and the miserly christmas bonus to pensioners increased, but not paid to anyone on income support.