The Budget

[divine]

Originally Posted by Desmo

Another thing I've always suggested as well, but many people thinks that it creates a them and us situation and that people using vouchers would get looked down upon. Oh well

Solved very simply by giving them a debit card instead, but a debit card that will only authorise payments for essential foods and things from Asda, Tesco or Morrison etc.

They don't stand out, no huge stigma over getting out a voucher book (though maybe there should be tbh?), sorted

[Will]

Vouchers seem like such a sensible way to go. They give gas tokens for gas metered homes, why not do the same for food?

[Desmo]

Originally Posted by divine

Solved very simply by giving them a debit card instead

That seems a better way to go about it. Would also stop the vouchers being traded for cash. Only problem is that it would probably cost a bomb to operate the system whilst not really saving an awful lot of cash.

[Mark]

Originally Posted by TinkerBell

I don't see why people can't see the difference between NEED and GREED.

May I reserve the right to take umbrage at that statement?

I have a bus pass. Do I need it? Absolutely not. I can afford the buses, and did so up to the point where I got the pass. Does that make me greedy?

Way I see that is (a) I'm paying about 20x the cost of that pass in taxes every year, so why not claim some of it back, and (b) the bus company benefit from me having and using that pass because I've used the buses much more as a result of having it.

That doesn't mean I don't see Kitten's point. Would I complain if I had to give up that pass to benefit the lady earning £7k? Probably, but I would accept it because it's clearly the right decision.

However, because of my situation it would seem to be incredibly hypocritical of me to bemoan the bankers getting child benefit, or my colleagues getting cycle to work vouchers.

PS - instead of vouchers, how about Tesco clubcard points? Every little helps. OK, that wasn't entirely serious but haven't vouchers been abandoned on some schemes because they were getting traded for cash to fund drug habits? Debit card is an interesting idea in theory but also very difficult to enforce (cashback at Tesco, anyone?)

[Admiral Huddy]

Desmo for MP

[Desmo]

Originally Posted by Mark

Debit card is an interesting idea in theory but also very difficult to enforce (cashback at Tesco, anyone?)

It clearly wouldn't be a standard debit card though. It would have to be solely for the purpose of buying certain items from certain places. No cashback available. But to administrate something like that would be pretty epic.

[Jonny69]

Originally Posted by divine

Solved very simply by giving them a debit card instead, but a debit card that will only authorise payments for essential foods and things from Asda, Tesco or Morrison etc.

They don't stand out, no huge stigma over getting out a voucher book (though maybe there should be tbh?), sorted

This partly exists already in the form of the PAYG debit card. I can't see any reason why it couldn't extend to benefit. Then it would be easy to police and restrict what can be bought on it.

So no, you can't use it in Nike Town and no you can't use it in Threshers or to buy booze or fags in Tesco. And no cashback, it's benefit to put food in your mouth and keep you warm. Pretty simple.

[Pebs]

I think the people with all the shiney new gadgets living the life of reilly are subsidising their money somehow. In all honesty benefits really aren't much at all and I'd challenge anyone to live for a prolonged period on them and maintain a decent diet/put fuel in a car/clothe growing children.

You can't make judgements, it's just not fair. Do you know hand on heart why that woman or man is sat at home claiming benefits? Do you know the background? Does the woman with 3 kids who's husband has run off deserve benefits as much as the dad who's never worked cause he can't afford childcare? Or the 18 year old who's got kids by different dads, do you decide she gets sod all based on what you see or do you take into account the fact she grew up in a hellhole of a kids home and didn't go to school etc? Where do you start and more importantly where do you stop? Who decides who is deserving?
I'd say the majority of us here have ok jobs, can afford food every month etc. Yeah there's a lot of wasters, a lot of people taking advantage, playing the system. But we haven't got a beggar every 5 yards like in the US, if you get sick you'll be treated etc. There but for the grace of god.......let's hope none of us find ourselves in a situation where we need the help and have to face judgement.

[Pebs]

And imvho, dictating what people can and can't spend money on is stepping into Animal Farm territory.

[Haly]

Here here Pebs