ger147
Tour Winner
No such increase to the 40% threshold in Scotland so nothing for the higher earners up here.
Tax and Benefits Cuts
- Thread starter SwingsitlikeHogan
- Start date
No such increase to the 40% threshold in Scotland so nothing for the higher earners up here.
SwingsitlikeHogan
Major Champion
If it is the case that benefits in England are the same as those in Scotland - then I can make the comparison. And notwithstanding the perceived amount of 'scrounging', I suggest that it is not OK to expect a couple in England in the same circumstances as my sister - to move from £150/week to £100/week with little or no warning - and then for them to live and pay all bills on an 'income' of £14 a day - when higher earners in E&W are receiving a tax cut.
HowlingGale
Head Pro
Not saying it's right but the unsustainable benefits are being cut right across the board. Like I said in a previous post. Hopefully we get the ones who can work back to work, freeing up more for those that need it. FWIW I know of people who are surviving on less. It must be a horrible situation not being able to work rather than choosing not to.
SwingsitlikeHogan
Major Champion
Since I was asked - here is a link to where my £50/month will be going. Feel free 
http://pilgrimproject.org.uk/
http://pilgrimproject.org.uk/
SwingsitlikeHogan
Major Champion
Horrible indeed - and largely either ignored or dismissed by many who are not in that situation or do not understand it. My point is not the benefits system - but the fact that my disabled B-i-L has been reassessed under PIP and he and my sister a losing one third of their benefits at the same time as the wealthy are getting tax cuts.
How about choosing to increase the PIP and Carers allowances, instead of giving it to the wealthy in tax cuts. So that the outcome of his PIP assessment would have minimal financial impact on my B-i-L.
Since I was asked - here is a link to where my £50/month will be going. Feel free
http://pilgrimproject.org.uk/
Good on you Hogie, but you say will be going. So what are you doing now? What social responsibility do you exercise now, apart from being our moral compass.
SwingsitlikeHogan
Major Champion
As you have asked - I am an elder in my church - and contribute muchly to the church coffers in addition to providing pastoral support to church members and their family as and when required. I also volunteer in an addiction support charity.
Norrin Radd
Tour Winner
pip and carers have been increased not cut .in your family case they may have been cut ,but as you say they were reassessed so now their option is to appeal the cut ,if they are unlucky to not win then im sure their housing benefit and council tax will all be paid for them ,
and i should know as i am in exactly the same position as your scotish family ,in that i get pip my wife gets carers for me and i get a paltry
373.10 per week jsa which was exactly the same amount i got on esa..
fortunately for me i am in the throes of getting a hackney cab licence and will be earning again once all the i`s have been dotted and the t`s crossed.
it hasnt been easy living on next to bugger all and if it wasnt for a certain person on this site christmas would have been a total disaster,but thats another story to be held between myself and my good samaritan as im sure he wouldnt want to be named .
its tough out there in benefit land and i was signed off work for nigh on 17 months ,only signed fit for work in january this year ,it has taken me a couple of months to get a job ,but as above its yet to be finalised . carrying an injury which stopped me from back to my original job was a big kick in the nuts and you can bet that many more people have suffered the same fate as myself ,probably a lot worse..
people will always moan about the benefit system and those that are able to get a holier than thou attitude should look at individual cases and not lump everyone in the same bracket ,tarred with the same brush .
unfortunately the changes are going to affect a lot of people in a lot of different ways ,now to my mind if you dont like it then do something about it ,no other bugger will do it for you thats for sure.
and i should know as i am in exactly the same position as your scotish family ,in that i get pip my wife gets carers for me and i get a paltry
373.10 per week jsa which was exactly the same amount i got on esa..
fortunately for me i am in the throes of getting a hackney cab licence and will be earning again once all the i`s have been dotted and the t`s crossed.
it hasnt been easy living on next to bugger all and if it wasnt for a certain person on this site christmas would have been a total disaster,but thats another story to be held between myself and my good samaritan as im sure he wouldnt want to be named .
its tough out there in benefit land and i was signed off work for nigh on 17 months ,only signed fit for work in january this year ,it has taken me a couple of months to get a job ,but as above its yet to be finalised . carrying an injury which stopped me from back to my original job was a big kick in the nuts and you can bet that many more people have suffered the same fate as myself ,probably a lot worse..
people will always moan about the benefit system and those that are able to get a holier than thou attitude should look at individual cases and not lump everyone in the same bracket ,tarred with the same brush .
unfortunately the changes are going to affect a lot of people in a lot of different ways ,now to my mind if you dont like it then do something about it ,no other bugger will do it for you thats for sure.
jusme
Challenge Tour Pro
As stated earlier , I support and assist disabled and sick people with benefits and in other ways of course (my job) so I don't want to come across as giving the OP a hard time, but honesty in discussions such as this is important. No couple who are in receipt of DLA and carers allowance are living on ONLY these two benefits. If one or more can't work through illness/disability then they have to be on ESA and the carer possibly also on the same or JSA, or are at least entitled to same but choose not to claim for a complex reason or 2. Sorry OP - genuine in my expression of not wanting to add to your woes/stress/annoyance but now we cleared up where the reduction has come from, time for further clarification.
Raesy92
Assistant Pro
Reading this thread briefly there is lots of talk of scroungers and people claiming benefits because they are lazy etc. A major part of the problem is that many single parents (probably not just single) with young kids are better off claiming benefits than actually getting themselves a part time/full time job.
Many of these parents want to work, but in doing so they would be making themselves worse off due to child-care commitments and so on. This is a fault of the current system and it is unfair to label these people as scroungers or lazy, they just want the best for their children. The problem continues when their kids are then old enough to go to school, yet they have become used to this way of life which is then hard to break.
Many of these parents want to work, but in doing so they would be making themselves worse off due to child-care commitments and so on. This is a fault of the current system and it is unfair to label these people as scroungers or lazy, they just want the best for their children. The problem continues when their kids are then old enough to go to school, yet they have become used to this way of life which is then hard to break.
SocketRocket
Ryder Cup Winner
Maybe we could get one thing straight. I don't believe anyone has suggested there are not people on benefits who are genuine and deserve them. I keep reading posts where the same line is rolled out that it's unfair to call all claimants scroungers, so lets all agree thats not the case.
I dont like the way some people continue to claim benefits because they would not be better off in work, thats a horrible attitude. If someone is capable of working full time, even if they are earning the same as similar as benefits then they should work and benefits should not be available. The job of the unemployment agencies should be to asses what type and level of work someone could do and then help find them a job. Rotting away on benefits is a social cancer.
Raesy92
Assistant Pro
Firstly my post wasn't aimed directly at you, but I have seen many comments running that kind of theme.
Secondly, around 1% of welfare benefits is spent on unemployment benefits. It's a tiny proportion of government spending yet everyone seems to take most exception to this. Of this 1% an even smaller percentage will be people claiming the benefit and not even looking/wanting to work. Of course these people will be receiving other benefits such as housing and child support but the reality is that there are much larger issues at hand. One mainly being tax evasion from the richest in society, yet we chastise the poorest.
Maybe somewhat surprisingly, unclaimed benefits are higher than that of benefit fraud. While there are obviously those that milk the benefit systems, it is probably a much smaller percentage that what you actually think.
ger147
Tour Winner
Bit of a bummer that you can't go back to your old job but good news that you're able to get back out there and earning. I hope the hackney works out for you.
Norrin Radd
Tour Winner
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thanks Gerry ,I have got my driving test for the licence this coming Friday,and the knowledge test is the following Tuesday, its then onto the medical on the Thursday ,if all are passed [fingers crossed] then its just waiting on the DBS check to clear and the actual issue of the licence itself.
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im hoping to be driving and earning by the beginning of May.
D
Deleted member 16999
Guest
Hope everything works out for you with the Cabbie job.
I thankfully (fingers crossed) haven't experienced anything like you've been and are going through, I only know from the RBL casework how little income some families have coming in and how they manage is beyond me.
Good luck and best wishes for the future.
Doon frae Troon
Ryder Cup Winner
Brilliant post.
I used to work as a local government officer and the number of myths that float around about benefits are truly unbelievable.
My wife worked for a while as payroll manager for a large company and the number of false claims by sales/management she knocked back was also 'unbelievable'.
Good luck next week job wise and good wishes to you and your family
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SwingsitlikeHogan
Major Champion
Quite the contrary @jusme - this is very useful information - as for personal and family reasons I need to understand my sister's financial situation. If she is not being open and honest with me about what they receive, then I have to get to the bottom of it and understand why I am not getting the full story.
BTW - what's the difference between ESA and JSA? I may have some questions to ask my sister...
Many thanks for your help.
jusme
Challenge Tour Pro
Your welcome. DLA is a disability benefit paid to anyone regardless of income. Carers allowance is as stated. Neither are base benefits and assuming both are out of work both are likely entitled and I am sure receiving other base benefits. I say likely as there are exceptions but these are very very rare and almost everyone on DLA would be on ESA. The carer if ill also is likely to be on ESA and if not ill then income support or JSA.
JSA - job seekers allowance is for those that are actively seeking work or fit for work. You may know it as 'dole'
ESA - replaced the old incapacity benefit and is for those who are sick/ill and are unable to work for anything ranging from months to for ever. It covers everything from short term illnesses to permanent and unchanging conditions. It's a more complex benefit than the old incapacity.
EVERYONE who is not working (assuming they are claiming welfare) is on a base benefit - including both your sister and BIL. DLA and carers allowance are not base benefits. They are supplementary to base. Ask away if unclear or further questions arise. Best of luck.
Old Skier
Tour Winner
Norrin Radd
Tour Winner
oops just noticed the figure i put in for JSA that i get ,its not 373.10 per week ,its £73.10p per week ,looks like i forgot the shift button .sorry .
