Benefits Cap

[KimberleyChris]

Cant you get a lodger??? thats what people used to do when they found themselves with excess rooms and short on cash... ??

Well, it would have to be a total stranger, because we are strangers ourselves here. Also, everybody with any sense got out of Cumbria two years ago. There are lots of empty places already.

Our place isn't a palace, it's a smallish run-down ex-council semi.

I know what you mean, and thanks. But would you fancy it? A total stranger?

[TheFaQQer]

I'm not necessarily in favour of a cap, but there are a few things that I'd like to see changed.

1) Housing benefit to be paid directly to the landlord / housing provider (assuming that doesn't happen already)

2) Certain benefits to be paid only in vouchers which can only be used for children's clothing and food. Nothing that can be used for alcohol or cigarettes. Nothing that can be transferred / sold on to provide cash which can be squandered.

3) Community service work (rather than giving the unemployed to Poundland to stack shelves for free) for the long-term unemployed. Stop them lounging around watching ITV2 all day.

[KimberleyChris]

I'm not necessarily in favour of a cap, but there are a few things that I'd like to see changed.

1) Housing benefit to be paid directly to the landlord / housing provider (assuming that doesn't happen already)


3) Community service work (rather than giving the unemployed to Poundland to stack shelves for free) for the long-term unemployed. Stop them lounging around watching ITV2 all day.

1. Good idea. You used to be able to elect to do this. Also would make extortionate rents visible to the government.

2. For minimum wage? Yes please...when can I start?. Can I keep a part of my benefits for just a month or two to get me started again?

[Joeman]

I'm not necessarily in favour of a cap, but there are a few things that I'd like to see changed.

1) Housing benefit to be paid directly to the landlord / housing provider (assuming that doesn't happen already)

2) Certain benefits to be paid only in vouchers which can only be used for children's clothing and food. Nothing that can be used for alcohol or cigarettes. Nothing that can be transferred / sold on to provide cash which can be squandered.

3) Community service work (rather than giving the unemployed to Poundland to stack shelves for free) for the long-term unemployed. Stop them lounging around watching ITV2 all day.

A special "Im On Benefits" credit card, that the Goverment fund and review/restrict the spending habit of, and make the statements public to the tax payers so we can see what the job dodgers are spending our money on!!... Imagine the shame of having to buy all your goods with the "benefits" card..(whcih should be made from lead and beep loundly when used) that might shame the parent to get a job and a bank card of their own..

[The Spartan]

A special "Im On Benefits" credit card, that the Goverment fund and review/restrict the spending habit of, and make the statements public to the tax payers so we can see what the job dodgers are spending our money on!!... Imagine the shame of having to buy all your goods with the "benefits" card..(whcih should be made from lead and beep loundly when used) that might shame the parent to get a job and a bank card of their own..

Hell to the YEAH, WHS

[Ignis Fatuus]

This seems perfectly fair to me - what are the counter arguments I'm missing?

If some people are living better on benefits than they could on a wage, that must mean that wages are too low.

[Joeman]

Well, it would have to be a total stranger, because we are strangers ourselves here. Also, everybody with any sense got out of Cumbria two years ago. There are lots of empty places already.

Our place isn't a palace, it's a smallish run-down ex-council semi.

I know what you mean, and thanks. But would you fancy it? A total stranger?

Its common place in London to live with complete strangers in shared accomodation, its good fun too!
Obvioulsly you need the supply of people, and the jobs for them to do so they can pay the rent, so might not work in Cumbria, but when times are hard, sacrifices need to be made, and taking in a lodger isnt really that much of a scrifice IMO...

I've rented a spare room in a tiny two bed flat to a couple of strangers before, they became good mates, so it can work well

[The Spartan]

If a family earns £26k and has many children, aren't they legally entitled to benefits too, meaning they don't have to live on £26k?

To a point probably but not the the extent that a lot of people get and there are plenty of hoops to jump through where they can just say no!

Whereas if you're on benefits and not working and have kids you get:
A house rent free
Don't have to pay council tax
Don't have to pay water rates
Get family allowance
Child benefit and other benefits like winter fuel allowance etc

[d000hg]

1) Housing benefit to be paid directly to the landlord / housing provider (assuming that doesn't happen already)

It used to be that way, not any more. I don't know why, as the owner of a house let out to DSS tenants I'd prefer the old way

[KimberleyChris]

Its common place in London to live with complete strangers in shared accomodation, its good fun too!
Obvioulsly you need the supply of people, and the jobs for them to do so they can pay the rent, so might not work in Cumbria, but when times are hard, sacrifices need to be made, and taking in a lodger isnt really that much of a scrifice IMO...

I've rented a spare room in a tiny two bed flat to a couple of strangers before, they became good mates, so it can work well

Thanks, but as you say, it wouldn't workin this ****hole.

If I lived in London, I would have never been unemployed in the first place...(look down :-)