Originally Posted by polly (Post 609551)

You have totally misread me. I would never advocate anyone who has genuine reasons for not working, being h assled into doing so.

The problem in this country is not people who find themselves with problems after working for x amount of years the problem is the hardcore unemployed, the wont work cant work brigade, these are the problem.

I would also suggest that you have no idea what is like to work 12 h ours a day 6 days a week and a few on Sunday to keep a famil when the other partner can not work and be constantly turned down for any help because you are working, but one gets on with it and works around family circumstances.

Originally Posted by vicky1 (Post 609579)

Nat Min Wage

Sounds Chinese to me

Originally Posted by onlyme (Post 609546)

Couple of arguments against this. Firstly housing benefit is means tested, so any wages I receive would go straight to housing benefit first, before hitting my pocket. Therefore, If I had a part time job at minimum wage, I would have to work approx 20 hours before I even touched the dole money, another 10 ish hours to repay the dole money. Out of that, I would also pay 70-80 for childcare to cover that (although working tax would pay 80%).

Bearing in mind, I have worked for the last few years with a knee condition with which I could go on disability for life (or until a series of operations that arent guarenteed to fix the problem), any extra money that I would get on disability gets knocked off housing benefit automatically so I would be no better off. Also, my disability would appear on my work record, which, although I appreciate there is meant to be no discrimination, I would prefer no to take the chance.

Also, the value of training that I have undergone over the years is huge. If I was a brain surgeon in the same circumstance, would you ask them to work in the community, or as a virtual pa for 60 quid a week? In a country where the Government complain there is a skills shortage etc, surely they should look to make it easier for those that desperately want to work in a job that they have strived for?

I find it embaressing telling people I am unemployed (And I dont mean to offend anyone here). The treatment you receive from the job centre etc is disgraceful, and is only the start of strangers who know nothing about your circumstances judging you and looking down on you. In fact, when I went for my interview with the 'Lone parent adviser' (what joy that was!), after about half an hour of her 'speaking' to me she asked for the necessary paperwork to complete the claim including my last pay slip. She looked at it, paused for a few seconds, and then apologised saying "I'm sorry, I;ve been talking to you like this, and you pay more tax than I earn a month". Its a shame people think they have the right to talk down to you whatever situation you are in, God forbid they find themselves down on their luck on day

Originally Posted by Loz (Post 609584)

You misunderstood me.
I wasn't referring to everybody on benefits just the dole dossers who have no intention of working.
I know exactly what its like at the job centre.
I had to stop work for a while a few years ago to care full time for my father.
When he was well enough for me to go back to work i went to the job centre and felt like i was being lumped in with all those who have no intention of getting a job.
Anybody without a genuine reason not to work should be made to work imo.

Originally Posted by andrewb (Post 609596)

At council level there are lots of places where we could have additional jobs, just the council cant afford them. I don't believe there is anything wrong with having people do some work for their money, if they're unemployed for a long period. We just have to be careful to not take jobs away from people that actually want them.

Originally Posted by andrewb (Post 609596)

At council level there are lots of places where we could have additional jobs, just the council cant afford them. I don't believe there is anything wrong with having people do some work for their money, if they're unemployed for a long period. We just have to be careful to not take jobs away from people that actually want them.

Originally Posted by onlyme (Post 609571)

Incidentally, missed out amounts from working tax etc. Looking at the entitled to website, there COULD be an additional 160 ish weekly with child benefit for 2, housing benefit etc. Sounds great until we carry on with outgoings:

Statistics show approx 115 a week shopping for a family of four, not including clothing. So that leaves 45 a week. Travelling to work and back, lets use a basic of 1.50 each way for buses, 15 on a 5 day week.

That leaves us 30 quid purely based on essentials. And those benefits are based on the MAXIMUM that could be granted.

Originally Posted by Less (Post 609649)

Oh God! Cyfr is getting involved, there goes the thread!

Never intends to do a proper days work in his life, managed to get a pass to a red brick University, (It's only a fancy college for goodness sake), and as usual talking from no experience, come back in 30 years when instead of all your theories on how to keep you on the gravy train have come to nothing, wake up now and realise everyone and every job is essential for the well being of each of us.

None of us want to clean the streets, but fortunately there are people that are willing to work for the Councils and clean our muck away, don't demean this merry band any further by forcing them to work alongside dollopers that would only disrupt their work pattern.

Originally Posted by cmonstanley (Post 609742)

what about helping build an integrated transport system cut the costs tenfold.after seven weeks the grafters get a permanent job.save importing foreign workers to do the job.....:rolleyes: