Benefits Crackdown

Never been out of work my whole life, tho last 25yrs with one company, last year at 54, everything was paid off and just decided I'd had enough, the job I'd enjoyed prior to covid became hell and I was counting down the days to retirement which I'd always said would be 60. Worked out that downsizing and economising we could afford it sooner so thought, sod it, life's too short........
I've been fortunate that I started a pension when I was 18 and my employers have contributed throughout my career, but we've been frugal, it hasn't been done through house sales, before the kids on here pipe up, I've rented half my life.Tbh this last year since I stopped working has probably been our most extravagant with a bit of tax free pension cash.
Next year we finalise the retirement plan, currently having a narrowboat built and we'll become water gypos, travelling the canals and rivers of the UK.
My mental health has never been better, no point in working to the detriment of all else when you may never reach what you're working for...life's too short....I measure wealth in the freedom and quality of life I now have not £...... do it now.

 

I'd love to know why it's one or the other. They can either go after the fraudsters who cheat the benefits system stealing money from those who actually need it. Or according to many they can go after the fraudsters who cheat the tax system stealing money from us all.
Why not both?

 

Robin Hood in reverse Tories take from the poor (benefit cuts) and give it to the rich (inheritance tax cut) which will benefit the mega rich the most. Same old Tories and yet some absolute Muppets amongst the working and middle classes still vote for them and I'll never understand why.

 

Bigotry is a big reason for quite a large number.

 

Could you not find another job or career move that paid the same but was better for your mental health? My point was having the routine of work and stability of money each week is generally better for people mental health than ligging in bed then watching homes under the hammer.

 

Money worries and living pay cheque to pay cheque is a struggle.....

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/money/consumer-affairs/six-figure-earners-living-paycheque-to-paycheque/

 

Read and weep. Just how the Tories rule.

 

I wouldn't be surprised if going after the benefit fraudsters cost more money than it raised, as well as just giving us a whole new class of people who still need to be supported somehow. Let's face it, the tiny proportion of people who have been pretending to be disabled for the past couple of decades aren't just going to pick up 40 hours per week somewhere and crack on. Would you hire them?

What's more important, for me, is that it'll harm an awful lot more legitimate claimants as a side effect. I think with benefit fraud we have to accept that it's a tiny amount of money and concentrate on making sure that nobody falls into that trap, or is given the opportunity, in the future.

People who evade tax are at least making money somehow, so presumably have some kind of stake in society - give them an amnesty and then crack down in a couple of years.

This all presupposes that our politicians actually care about making things work properly, of course, which I accept is a bit of a wild idea.

 

100%. Every civilised, compassionate system has the potential to be misused. Luckily, the vast majority don't do this, but we have to accept that a tiny majority will. The irony is, making enough money to live off by cheating the benefits system is so complex and time-consuming (not to mention stressful) that it would be simpler in most cases just to go and work in a factory or supermarket. Not the most glamorous of jobs, but solid, reliable, and in the case of the big supermarkets, with plenty of social perks thrown in.

 

Thank god the government has seen sense and decided to spend £150 million in foreign aid because of climate change, while the rest of the country just swims when the rivers over flow.

 

that totally sums up my working life up to retiring, and since retiring I just don't get the folk who say they are bored, every day seems to be full of stuff to do, either hobbies, reading, small jobs ( arthritis limits me a bit) dog walking etc.
That being said some folk don't help themselves, a retired neighbour we are friendly with says she is bored a lot but the time, but then says she has no hobbies and doesn't even read books surely its never too old to start.

 

I just don't see why ( whatever party is in power) it is hard to create a fair system where the ones who need help get it and the ones who don't get weeded out and put back into work.
With son who was severely disabled the stuff and appointments we had to go through were ridiculous, when he became an adult it should only have taken one interview and look at his medical condition ( no chance of improvement)to see and realise that he would never be able to work but that didn't stop them putting us through reassessments for years, all of which cost money.
With a common sense approach and some diligence, surely it should be possible to pick out the needy cases from the ones trying it on.
Same with the ones who never had any intention of working , not sure what it is like now but it used to be ridiculous the number who got a job then after a few months threw on the sick for like forever, its all taking money from the honest types.

 

Can't agree more, retired at Christmas last year and there aren't enough hours in the day..but your also right that putting the effort in is key. I do a walking/ Hiking routine on a Thursday then finish in a cafe...but we go no matter what. recently did a bit of DIY stuff for two hard working neighbours and volunteer at a local club..stick BFC on that list and life's brill..

 

People living beyond there means if your earning those sums and living week to week.

 

Been retired 16 months and don't know how i had time to work, never board but so glad i worked hard to get a decent pension enabling me to live comfortably.

 

Nothing at all, old mate. However, I'd expect greater effort & monies being available against what costs the country, and will return, more.

 

Not necessarily. If you live in London or roundabout, with a 500k+ mortgage, a few kids childcare to pay for, I can see how you'd need a 100k salary to make ends meet.