A good debate, this one.
I don't think pensions are the same as other benefits.
A pension is something that you would expect permanently once retired, theoretically in return for a lifetime of contributions. Other benefits should be a temporary measure to help people through troubled times to get back on their feet.
I agree that most benefits should be paid in vouchers so that it is spent on things you would want it spent on, so food, etc, not plasma TVs etc.
The number of times I've heard people say that they would be better off on benefits than a low paid job! When are politicians going to get it into their thick heads that the way to deal with this is to make benefits less appealing, and focus the spending on the low paid, as Slacker said earlier about the changes to tax credits. There's a million and one things Govt, (of any party) could do to reduce the massive over spending on benefits but they haven't got the balls, look at the farce regarding child benefit which was going to be reduced for any higher taxed person, but because they didn't want to upset their "main supporters", there's been all sorts of messing about with it. As far as I'm concerned NO-ONE in the high tax bracket should get ANY benefit...(except a pension), and child benefit should only be paid out permanently for the first 2 children....no wonder we can't get spending under control when we give public money away so easily.
And as for Emma's comments on Pete's post about the benefit cheat, not only do they give you a bad name, but they are stealing money paid by taxpayers like me, to people who really do need it, so the undeserving, un-needy and downright dishonest are taking money away from those people struggling to find work, the genuinely sick and disabled....and bugger all seems to happen to stop it.
Topic: Pensions (Read 11849 times)
