Benefit State
 

Before I start this is my opinion and feelings of the way the UK currently is.

I moan all the time about how the (undeserving) people claiming benefits would rather claim from the Government than go out and work. We have generations sitting on their asses doing nothing and would’nt even consider looking for a job.

It’s the good working people who are taxed and taxed again who end up paying for them. I know that Canada (Toronto in particular) has its social state / council but is it as bad as it is here???.

It really hit me when this time after returning from Canada it was blatant that so many people are taking the mick out of the UK government and sitting at home claiming and getting free housing and every other benefit that goes with it. Now to be very controversial I would stick my neck out and even say that most of the petty crimes, hoddies and general anti social behaviour come from the people claiming benefits.

In one hand we pay for them with our taxes and then on the other hand they turn around and become a pain to society.

Please note that I don’t want to come across as being snobbish or middle class. After all I grew up in social housing after my parent went bankrupt in the 90’s. However my parents made sure I went to Uni got an education and get out. Now I have my own house and a Family.

For those of you in Canada please shed some light on how it is in Canada and is this something you see when you come to England (the Social Housing in every corner)

Re: Benefit State
 

It's about the same.

Re: Benefit State
 

Pulls up a seat and waits for this one to develop.

I`m way too much of a bigot to be able to express an opinion:p

Re: Benefit State
 

[QUOTE=Almost Canadian;8897254]Pulls up a seat and waits for this one to develop.

I`m way too much of a bigot to be able to express an opinion:p[/QU



:thumbup:

Re: Benefit State
 

You never had a problem expressing an opinion before:p

Is this thread any different to the other benefit thread, or should I merge them?

Re: Benefit State
 

Can anyone help me move this post to "Immigration" as i have placed it in the wrong area!!?!?! Thanks

Re: Benefit State
 

I could, but its not really an immigration topic. That area is for the nuts and bolts of the visa process.

Re: Benefit State
 

This would be the appropriate area for this thread, along with the other benefit thread. Immigration is for visa and immigration discussions.

Re: Benefit State
 

Okay :)

Re: Benefit State
 

Much as it will pain the OP to hear this, I agree with what he said.

The amount of benefits are not the same, but benefits are made to those that require them. I guess the main difference here is that EI, for example, is time limited, so one cannot live on it for decades but, I assume, some other form of benefit is likely to be available to replace it.

We don`t have the Daily Mail here so, on a day to day basis, it doesn`t register on most people`s radar unless, of course, one lives close to a First Nation Reserve, then your local press will likely raise it as an issue, depending on whether said media is left or right leaning.

Re: Benefit State
 

EI maxes out at about $860 biweekly from memory, if you paid in at maximum levels, hardly the lap of luxury. Probably not enough to cover the average mortgage in a major city? Ive spent a few months on EI, and I was well motivated to get back into the workplace!

Once its timed out the next level of "safety net" is basically welfare, far less, and not a comfortable place to be at all.

The social housing situation in Canada I think is not nearly the same as the UK either.

Re: Benefit State
 

I have no idea about the figures but $860 biweekly seems to me to be more than one would receive in the UK.

I used to act for a municipal landlord in landlord - tenant disputes. While I wasn`t too involved in the "means testing" aspect of the disputes, the amount of rent paid certainly lead me to believe that, while I accept Canada may not pay the rent in full, as is the case in the UK, it is not too far from doing so. One memorable tenant`s rent was assessed at $50 a month, and she had run up arrears in excess of $3,000, how, I was never able to ascertain!

Re: Benefit State
 

Its a MAXIMUM of $457 a week. and its taxable income, so you are likely to owe them money come tax time if you are on EI for any considerable period!

The maximum rent assistance you can get used to be ~$200 a month. If you own a house and have a mortgage, tough luck. Living on benefits is no picnic here.

Re: Benefit State
 

The other problem with the UK is that any work nullifies the benefits so it's hard for someone to gradually come off of state-mooching. For example there's nowhere in the UK really like Labour Ready (or at least as widespread) because once you work for the day thats a chunk of your benefits gone.

Re: Benefit State
 

The same is true here isnt it? A day worked is a days pay subtracted from benefits more or less.

Perhaps some people just prefer to be out working, maybe even thinking it could lead them to a permanent position?

Re: Benefit State
 

Or in Scarborough near rent-geared-to-income housing. In Summer those apartments are packed with Newfies, sleeping on the floor contrary to the lease. They come and earn enough for their stamp then go home and laze all winter. It's an entrenched culture of benefit exploitation such as the Mail regularly has conniptions about.

Re: Benefit State
 

EI payments are about 55% of your average wage over the previous 6 months.

It also covers maternity leave and sickness for those who do not get sick pay from their employer.

Re: Benefit State
 

'yis my son. 'Tis payback for Confederation.

In a similar vein, in that part of rural Newfoundland that depends upon the fishery, everything revolves about getting your 14 weeks work so you can get EI through the rest of the year. Whilst, I can see the argument for sustaining rural communities, the Daily Mail reader in me gets all hot under the collar about supporting people who could/should go find a year round job somewhere else.;)

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To a maximum. (Previously quoted up thread.)

Re: Benefit State
 

Thinking of those housing projects, and the many elsewhere in the GTA, and the sale of council houses in the UK, I wonder which country now has the more state owned* housing.

* State owned in all forms.

Re: Benefit State
 

The problem with benefits in the uk, as far as I can see is they are poor for people that need help and rewarding for those who chose to exploit the system

Re: Benefit State
 

Where is it not so?

Re: Benefit State
 

I can't speak about anywhere else from experience, but I don't here of many countries putting people up in 1 million plus pads at tax payers expense.

Re: Benefit State
 

Is that a regular occurence in the UK?

Re: Benefit State
 

If they have the place already, and unemployment is likely to be a temporary state of affairs, I dont see who gains by them being forced out in the short term. Obviously abuse of the system is a problem with any welfare provision, regardless of location.

Not sure what would happen here were I unable to afford my mortgage payment through short term unemployment, there seems no welfare coverage for that.

Then again, in some parts of the SE a million quid doesnt get you too much. Should all the unemployed be removed from central london?

Re: Benefit State
 

I accept that living on benefits is no picnic anywhere. I was merely suggesting that if the OP thinks that Canadian welfare is similar, say, to American, s/he is in for a big surprise.

Re: Benefit State
 

for people to be helped by benefits after losing a job even help with housing cost I am all for, but for someone to be living in benefit culture to demand a move because he doesn't like the neighbourhood and then to be moved to a 1 million plus pad is plain wrong.As is a woman drawing £390 per week as a single mum with 2 teenage kids. How many working families have that much cash to spend after the mortgage ,council tax kids school dinners and so on have been paid for?

Re: Benefit State
 

Lets face it, we all know the real cause of all these problems in the UK is uncontrolled immigration. Droves of immigrants have been abusing the hospitality of the British tax payer for a long time now. It's one of the reasons I emigrated.

Re: Benefit State
 

You had me going for a minute....:rofl:

Judging by comments in the press and on forums in this part of Canada there might be the equivalent.;)

Again, I have to say that is a myth.

Housing Benefit can still be claimed on a low income basis if the wage gain is not sufficient to take care of rent. The assessment process does leave a gain on benefit levels.

Housing Benefit can be extended for a month regardless of new wage levels. Back to work grants are available.

It's all there if people can be bothered to look and actually read the literature issued and on display in Job Centres.

It's not great, but it's better than benefits and it can lead to better.

Re: Benefit State
 

There was a channel four documentary last year that you should watch if you can. It's interesting viewing, especially seeing how the companies contracted to "help" unemployed people turn out to be just cash grabs from the tax payer.

http://www.channel4.com/programmes/benefit-busters

There are also couple of people shown where the marginal benefit of working meant was such that it just was not worth it for them. Would you put in a 40 hour week to be 10 quid better off?

Re: Benefit State
 

I seem to recall mentioning that kind of stuff in a post a few weeks ago.:)

Yep...there will be a few where it's just not worth it where there are costs involkved in getting to work, for example. But there are a whole lot more with more significant gains and people who do gain don't make good copy. ;)

Re: Benefit State
 

I like benefit states. :thumbup:

Re: Benefit State
 

Here's a slight rehash of something I posted a few weeks ago.

Re: Benefit State
 

That's an hareng rouge. The point is that, wherever you go, some people milk the system while some people in need go without.