It looks like you're using an Ad Blocker.
Please white-list or disable AboveTopSecret.com in your ad-blocking tool.
Thank you.
Some features of ATS will be disabled while you continue to use an ad-blocker.
Originally posted by SearchLightsInc
Rent - Everyone has to live somewhere, its easier to pay the rent for them. They are not "receiving" that money to spend, they never even see it.
Originally posted by SearchLightsInc
Council Tax - All benefit claimants will now have to pay council tax (somehow out of their measly £53/£71 a week) So you can take that off your list. Yet another attack on the already poor.
Originally posted by SearchLightsInc
Alcoholics get a daily allowance do they? Like to see some evidence for that.
Originally posted by SearchLightsInc
If you really want to know what it's like being on the dole, put down your Daily Mail and go and experience it for yourself, or are you to good for that?
Originally posted by SearchLightsInc
And how much money is this country losing due to tax loops that are sought out by the wealthy because they dont feel that they should contribute any of their "Hard earnings" to British society? I can tell you, that the number is far greater than what the welfare tab currently is. Its runs into its BILLIONS.
Having a go at people who claim benefits while your masters are stuff money away in offshore bank accounts and paying the daily mail to make daily attacks on the jobless. You're a fool for buying it.
Originally posted by stumason
Originally posted by SearchLightsInc
Rent - Everyone has to live somewhere, its easier to pay the rent for them. They are not "receiving" that money to spend, they never even see it.
Not true. Housing benefit is paid direct to the claimant to pay the Landlord - hence why rental arrears have jumped massively since they stopped paying Landlords direct, because people see the big lump of money in their account and spend it, knowing it is actually quite hard to be evicted.
It used to be optional, I was under the impression they stopped that loooooong ago because people used to use it as a prop to what some might call luxury spendage. As is, I don't know anyone who's rent doesn't directly go to the landlord, council or Housing association.edit on 10-4-2013 by Suspiria because: (no reason given)
Originally posted by stumason
Originally posted by SearchLightsInc
Rent - Everyone has to live somewhere, its easier to pay the rent for them. They are not "receiving" that money to spend, they never even see it.
Not true. Housing benefit is paid direct to the claimant to pay the Landlord - hence why rental arrears have jumped massively since they stopped paying Landlords direct, because people see the big lump of money in their account and spend it, knowing it is actually quite hard to be evicted.
Originally posted by SearchLightsInc
Council Tax - All benefit claimants will now have to pay council tax (somehow out of their measly £53/£71 a week) So you can take that off your list. Yet another attack on the already poor.
Not true. The benefit still exists, but is has been decentralised to Local Authorities to set their own eligibility criteria and how much relief a household can claim.
Originally posted by SearchLightsInc
Alcoholics get a daily allowance do they? Like to see some evidence for that.
Yes, they get disability and treatment paid for by the DWP.
www.dwp.gov.uk...
www.guardian.co.uk...
statistics.dwp.gov.uk...
Originally posted by SearchLightsInc
If you really want to know what it's like being on the dole, put down your Daily Mail and go and experience it for yourself, or are you to good for that?
Says the guy who clearly believes the other side of the coin without checking his facts.... I've deliberately avoided Mail links above and included the lefty Guardian, as well as Government sources.
Originally posted by stumason
reply to post by Suspiria
Nope, recent changes (last year I think) made it so anyone in Private rented housing is paid direct:
www.gov.uk...
Council tenants still have it paid direct into their "rent account" with the council.
I really wish that people moaning about benefit changes would avail themselves of the facts....
Originally posted by SearchLightsInc
Well, maybe they should start paying landlords directly again since they obviously have a problem with people spending the money. You'd think it was a bunch of 6 year olds running this pissing country. While they're at it, cap the amount a landlord can charge a tenant or something, even out the paying field for those who are working yet forced to take up private rents because they're no social housing!
Originally posted by SearchLightsInc
Well, here in leeds, benefit claimants have to pay council tax now. So to me, its truth. Its yet another attack on the poorest of society, surprise surprise.
Originally posted by SearchLightsInc
And how many alcoholics are there on the dole and how do you suggest we curve the numbers? Its a disease and society needs to do more to put it in decline -
Originally posted by SearchLightsInc
Such as providing worthwhile jobs to the youth and giving people REAL purpose in the world other than going to work and having no money.
Originally posted by SearchLightsInc
First off, i am a woman but i'll let that slide
Originally posted by SearchLightsInc
My point is, yet again people are looking for the poor to "solve their own problems" while the "job creators" sit above everyone watching them bicker, knowing they have all of the control. Im tired of seeing the most disadvantaged in society consistently attacked just because they're on the dole and there's no jobs.
Originally posted by stumason
Originally posted by SearchLightsInc
And how much money is this country losing due to tax loops that are sought out by the wealthy because they dont feel that they should contribute any of their "Hard earnings" to British society? I can tell you, that the number is far greater than what the welfare tab currently is. Its runs into its BILLIONS.
Having a go at people who claim benefits while your masters are stuff money away in offshore bank accounts and paying the daily mail to make daily attacks on the jobless. You're a fool for buying it.
Again, not true. The NAO report says that tax avoidance by corporations costs the UK treasury something like £11 Billion a year (other reports say slightly higher or lower), whereas the Welfare bill in the UK is somewhere closer to £300 Billion.
www.bbc.co.uk...
The public finances are dominated by the welfare state, which will cost the UK some £202.6 billion to maintain this year. The welfare budget includes pensions and tax credits, plus unemployment, sickness, housing, council tax, child support and other benefits
Originally posted by SearchLightsInc
And how many Billions where wasted on bailouts?
Originally posted by SearchLightsInc
Wasted money keeping the bottom feeders eh? Lets not forget, Maggie created long term benefit claimants.
Originally posted by stumason
Perhaps, on both counts. As long as rent is capped for private renters who don't claim benefit as well as those who are paid benefits.
Really? Seems to me that you can still claim it.
A disease? Hardly. It's self-inflicted. Calling it a disease makes it sound like it is not anyone's fault, when it is.
So a record amount of people in apprenticeships and education is not good enough?
Fairy snuff My apologies...
Benefits are meant to be a safety net until you sort yourself out, not so you can sit on your arse waiting for someone else to sort your life out for you....
Originally posted by stumason
Originally posted by SearchLightsInc
And how many Billions where wasted on bailouts?
You really can tell when someone is having trouble in a debate when they shift the goalposts...
The bailout was necessary.
Can you even begin to understand what a mess this country would be if we allowed the banks to collapse? Jesus, it would make Maggie look like a friggin Saint...
Originally posted by SearchLightsInc
Wasted money keeping the bottom feeders eh? Lets not forget, Maggie created long term benefit claimants.
You're putting words in mouth now, I never said anything about wasted money nor "bottom feeders". Don't forget, if you've paid attention to my posts, I've been at the bottom of the pile myself.
Originally posted by SearchLightsInc
Something has to be done and its just that simple.
Originally posted by SearchLightsInc
You get a discount - Which means they're still taking money from your pathetic £53/£71 per week. Therefore i am still paying council tax and on top of that, for everything else. As ive said, another attack on the poor.
Originally posted by SearchLightsInc
There are many reasons why people are driven to drink and you'll find that many alcoholics simply cannot just go without. They have serious problems and it would seem its been okay for previous governments to just get them something extra for the drink rather than trying to actually resolve their issues. Either way, because they're an alcoholic its just another reason to call them scum, yes?
Originally posted by SearchLightsInc
Haha, if you call people working 40 hrs a week on £3/£4 an hour "good enough" then i worry for the direction this country is going in. That's slave labour and you know it. Apprenticeships are a great way of fiddling with statistics. Anyone over the 18 should be earning the minimum wage for any job, specially if they're working 40 hours week, call me a dreamer
Originally posted by SearchLightsInc
Ive been trying to "sort my life out" for the past year. The funny thing is, there are people who sit on the dole and abuse the system, i agree. But then there are people like me who WANT to work, who LOOK for work, who actually apply for jobs, go to interviews (if i can get one!) and are STILL bottom of the pile.
Originally posted by stumason
At least you get a discount (and it depends on your situation - you can still get the full discount if you meet the criteria), some of us have to pay full whack, no matter what. You say it's an attack on the "poor", but you "poor" don't realise us "middles" have been squeezed for years.
I lost my tax credits last year (£130 a month) and if my missus gets a job, we lose our child benefit too.(another £130 a month), I don't see anyone leaping to my defence, you just have to suck it up, but it seems the "poor" want us to continue paying while they make no sacrifices themselves.
Again, putting words in my mouth. I know about addiction, my ex was a heroin addict, but I still have little sympathy. We all have problems, but not everyone resorts to destroying themselves.
I did a Modern Apprenticeship and it set me up for my career. I don't have a single bad word to say about the whole thing. I started out on £10k a year, whilst having to work 12+hr days with travel included - you do what you have to do! Even now, I work 48hr weeks, again no one is leaping to my defence.
Please don't think I am making anything personal with you, but I have been there myself and I worked it all out without any help from the Government. For a few months, I was even homeless, but here I am, 10 years later.... Although, according to the BBC I am still only "emergent service" (second from bottom) class as I don't own my own home.
What I am trying to say is don't wait for the system to help you, it won't. Spread your wings, look further afield, move? It's what our ancestors did in the industrial revolution, go to where the work is, don't wait for it to come to you.
I know the country is a mess and I know it isn't easy, but sitting around wiating for the shower of crap in power to sort it out won't do anything.
The country needs a revolution and a top to bottom change, but unless people get galvanised (and lets face it, most think politics is "boring so they won't act) then you have to make your own way.