Quote:
Originally Posted by garinda
The social benefits system does need a major overhaul.
It should be there as a safety net for those genuinely in need. Not as a career option for the work shy, which for some it most definitely is.
A system that allows able bodied people to be financially better off for not working, is wrong, both for society and for them as individuals.
This country now pays out more in social benefits annually than it raises in Income Tax. That is wrong.
I firmly believe all social benefits should be means tested. I'm still amazed that we pay child benefit to children whose parents who are city bankers etc, and who probably have combined earnings in excess of £250,000., that should be stopped.
The benefits system should benefit those who genuinely are in need.
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What worries me is that the "major overhaul" you talk about will be done under a Tory Government. I don't agree when there's talk of means testing for basic benefits like JSA and child allowance, for the simple reason that these are paid directly to wives/individuals that may have a partner earning an income, but that income could be kept by the earner and non of it passed on to the wife/partner.
Taking into account the income of benefit applicants is already a requeirment in almost all of benefits paid, but it's another case of thin end of the wedge.