British Gov't on Welfare: "Get off your Bums!"
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http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20101111/ap_ ... are_reform
Off the sofa! UK gets tough on welfare
By DAVID STRINGER, Associated Press David Stringer, Associated Press Thu Nov 11, 5:33 pm ET
LONDON – Britain announced the most radical overhaul in decades Thursday to its once-generous welfare system, pledging harsh penalties for those who refuse jobs and community work service for the unemployed in return for benefit checks.
Work and Pensions Secretary Iain Duncan Smith unveiled sharp changes to the country's cradle-to-grave social safety net, which was first introduced after World War II to better protect newborns, families, the jobless and the sick.
Critics have long said the British system offered hefty benefits unavailable to other citizens across Europe, the U.S. and other major economies — encouraging some people to snub modest jobs in favor of an easy life on handouts.
"The message is clear. If you can work, then a life of benefits will no longer be an option," said Prime Minister David Cameron, whose government last month announced it would slash benefits payments by 18 billion pounds ($29 billion) under a four-year package of spending cuts worth 81 pounds ($128 billion).
Under the new plan, many of the 5 million people who claim jobless benefits in Britain will be ordered to regularly do four weeks of unpaid community work to remain eligible for their 65 pounds ($105) weekly welfare payment. The stints could include manual labor tasks like removing graffiti or gardening in public parks.
Unemployment claimants routinely also receive other welfare payments to help with housing costs and raising children.
The plan is the centerpiece of Cameron's legislative program, and one of the key elements of his strategy to fix so-called "Broken Britain," his election slogan for the social problems that he says have blighted the nation's prospects.
Duncan Smith said under his reforms, those who turn down job offers, fail to show up for job interviews or decline to take part in community projects face tough punishments. Benefits will stop for three months on a first offense, for six months for the second time and for three years after a third breach.
The system is still much more lenient than that in Spain, where a third offense means a person loses their welfare payments for good.
Duncan Smith insists the changes are not just to reduce the country's budget deficit but are meant to jolt a group of around 1.4 million Britons who have been without a job for about a decade.
"For too long, the success of our welfare system has been judged by the number of people who are on benefits," said Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg. "Our welfare system should be judged by the number of people who are off benefits and into work."
Britain's reforms echo a program by Sweden's center-right government to get more people into the work force and reduce the number of benefit-takers.
Sweden's motto — "it should pay off to work" — was echoed by Duncan Smith.
William Oketch, a 30-year-old who lives at a homeless hostel in Camden, north London, has received benefits for several years. He acknowledged, however, that many people become dependent on welfare payments, because they often amount to more than many-low paid jobs.
"This system is really discouraging for people. They get stuck because they might want to change things and get a job, but it just doesn't make sense for them to do so," Oketch said.
France is grappling with a similar problem, as benefit payments often pay more than some ordinary jobs. Many people hesitate before accepting job offers, or wait until they are no longer eligible for payments.
Economies across Europe have squeezed welfare in recent years — particularly in the wake of the financial crisis. France has tightened eligibility criteria, and even the once-generous Netherlands has in cut back, despite low unemployment rates.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel said in September that benefits should guarantee basic needs, but that her priority was to motivate people to find a new job. As in Britain, Germany has trimmed payments for new parents.
In the U.S., the government is also trying to encourage those claiming aid to go back to work within two years, but individual states have the primary responsibility for making the law work. Payments in most cases were limited to no more than five years, and states can impose "family caps" to prevent mothers from getting added benefits for children born while on welfare.
Critics of Britain's reforms accused Cameron of victimizing the long-term jobless, particularly since community service is similar to punishments given by courts for minor criminal offenses.
Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams said the changes might force some vulnerable people "into a downward spiral of uncertainty, even despair."
The main opposition Labour Party said it agreed that Britain's long-term jobless must be cajoled into returning to the work force, but argued that the sluggish economy, and loss of about 250,00 public sector posts, means that jobs are incredibly scarce.
"There is a fatal flaw at the heart of these proposals — without work they won't work," said Labour lawmaker Douglas Alexander.
___
Gillian Smith and Benjamin Timmins in London, Louise Nordstrom in Stockholm, Geir Moulson in Berlin, Daniel Woolls in Madrid, Camille Rustici in Paris and John Heilprin in Washington contributed to this report
Off the sofa! UK gets tough on welfare
By DAVID STRINGER, Associated Press David Stringer, Associated Press Thu Nov 11, 5:33 pm ET
LONDON – Britain announced the most radical overhaul in decades Thursday to its once-generous welfare system, pledging harsh penalties for those who refuse jobs and community work service for the unemployed in return for benefit checks.
Work and Pensions Secretary Iain Duncan Smith unveiled sharp changes to the country's cradle-to-grave social safety net, which was first introduced after World War II to better protect newborns, families, the jobless and the sick.
Critics have long said the British system offered hefty benefits unavailable to other citizens across Europe, the U.S. and other major economies — encouraging some people to snub modest jobs in favor of an easy life on handouts.
"The message is clear. If you can work, then a life of benefits will no longer be an option," said Prime Minister David Cameron, whose government last month announced it would slash benefits payments by 18 billion pounds ($29 billion) under a four-year package of spending cuts worth 81 pounds ($128 billion).
Under the new plan, many of the 5 million people who claim jobless benefits in Britain will be ordered to regularly do four weeks of unpaid community work to remain eligible for their 65 pounds ($105) weekly welfare payment. The stints could include manual labor tasks like removing graffiti or gardening in public parks.
Unemployment claimants routinely also receive other welfare payments to help with housing costs and raising children.
The plan is the centerpiece of Cameron's legislative program, and one of the key elements of his strategy to fix so-called "Broken Britain," his election slogan for the social problems that he says have blighted the nation's prospects.
Duncan Smith said under his reforms, those who turn down job offers, fail to show up for job interviews or decline to take part in community projects face tough punishments. Benefits will stop for three months on a first offense, for six months for the second time and for three years after a third breach.
The system is still much more lenient than that in Spain, where a third offense means a person loses their welfare payments for good.
Duncan Smith insists the changes are not just to reduce the country's budget deficit but are meant to jolt a group of around 1.4 million Britons who have been without a job for about a decade.
"For too long, the success of our welfare system has been judged by the number of people who are on benefits," said Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg. "Our welfare system should be judged by the number of people who are off benefits and into work."
Britain's reforms echo a program by Sweden's center-right government to get more people into the work force and reduce the number of benefit-takers.
Sweden's motto — "it should pay off to work" — was echoed by Duncan Smith.
William Oketch, a 30-year-old who lives at a homeless hostel in Camden, north London, has received benefits for several years. He acknowledged, however, that many people become dependent on welfare payments, because they often amount to more than many-low paid jobs.
"This system is really discouraging for people. They get stuck because they might want to change things and get a job, but it just doesn't make sense for them to do so," Oketch said.
France is grappling with a similar problem, as benefit payments often pay more than some ordinary jobs. Many people hesitate before accepting job offers, or wait until they are no longer eligible for payments.
Economies across Europe have squeezed welfare in recent years — particularly in the wake of the financial crisis. France has tightened eligibility criteria, and even the once-generous Netherlands has in cut back, despite low unemployment rates.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel said in September that benefits should guarantee basic needs, but that her priority was to motivate people to find a new job. As in Britain, Germany has trimmed payments for new parents.
In the U.S., the government is also trying to encourage those claiming aid to go back to work within two years, but individual states have the primary responsibility for making the law work. Payments in most cases were limited to no more than five years, and states can impose "family caps" to prevent mothers from getting added benefits for children born while on welfare.
Critics of Britain's reforms accused Cameron of victimizing the long-term jobless, particularly since community service is similar to punishments given by courts for minor criminal offenses.
Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams said the changes might force some vulnerable people "into a downward spiral of uncertainty, even despair."
The main opposition Labour Party said it agreed that Britain's long-term jobless must be cajoled into returning to the work force, but argued that the sluggish economy, and loss of about 250,00 public sector posts, means that jobs are incredibly scarce.
"There is a fatal flaw at the heart of these proposals — without work they won't work," said Labour lawmaker Douglas Alexander.
___
Gillian Smith and Benjamin Timmins in London, Louise Nordstrom in Stockholm, Geir Moulson in Berlin, Daniel Woolls in Madrid, Camille Rustici in Paris and John Heilprin in Washington contributed to this report
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Oh... and community work... strangely enough in the areas where councils will be cutting budgets, ie street cleaners, etc. So..... government cuts budgets for councils and welfare. Councils cut basic services because no money but, hey... let's replace these jobs FREE OF CHARGE by people who should really be looking for a 'proper' job. Just like when the prime minister was hoping that the cuts in policemen on the beat would be replaced by volunteers - you know.... part of the big society.
It is interesting to see countries like England and France actually pushing through new mandates and cutting costs no matter the fallout. The US is better at spending more money and adding more programs and I can't see Uncle Sam making and passing these types of proposals unless forced to (like California because they don't have any money). Our plan is to print more money . . . I think a handful of countries have tried that in the past and it didn't work out so well . . .
Here are some things that people collecting unemployment/welfare can do:
Clean up the streets - by hand - commercial and residential areas
Clean up the parks -this can be done in addition to those that are employed by the parks
Soup kitchens
Cleaning up riverbanks and areas near waterways
Businesses can "hire" them to clean up office parks, parking lots, and buildings
There are plenty of more, but I have to get back to work on a paper on Composition and Pedagogical Theory........yikes
Bunch of rich bastards who have no clue about the normal people trying to liver their lives. They talk about people on benifits yet what about their rich friends that dodge tax? George Osbourne let Vodaphone off 6 billion in tax that they owe!!!! 2/3 of people on benefits are in employment.
Totally agree with Rita here, sack the staff and get the unemployed do it for free.
What I am saying is that the work these individuals do can be supplemental -something to get them off the couch. I would make sure - if it were my job to do so - that nobody would lose their jobs.
And, as you say, there is a lot of charity work people can do.
Not to mention the wimps and turncoats of Lib Dems. I was hoping a lot more from them.
In my household were are 'attacked' from all sides. I work a full week but since it's 'local' (ie not central london, I don't earn a lot of money, but just enough not to be entitled to anything), I have a disabled husband (not a scrounger, a truly disabled husband who suffered a massive stroke at 49 and who will most probably never be able to work again - he was the main bread winner bringing in about 65% of the household income) and a 16 year old daughter. From a benefit point of view, my husbands disability allowance has already been reduced by £30 a week. It would seem the goalposts for getting this allowance has changed as they acknowledged his circumstances had not changed but yet they reduced it. He is panicking about all these new rules about benefits wondering if 'they' will find him fit for work (assessments are done by third party - not automatically a doctor who can understand certain conditions). From next year, my daughter should have been able to get a grant to help with education costs - not much £20/week but that would have helped with equipment, travel costs (train - expensive), etc. Furthermore, for her, university fees are trebling. I could go on...
Reform is necessary. Such extreme ones are not, especially now. I'm just hoping the student protests of last week-end is just a start. The French know how to do it...
I understand what you are saying, but I'm still thinking if there is enough work to warrant 'supplemental' staff, get the staff needed and pay them. That might help with unemployment issues. The problem with the government here is that their policies are making people lose their jobs, the work is still there so this 'community' work is to fill in. Government happy - costs cut implemented. Councils/certain people happy - streets still swept.
Time and effort should be put in actually helping these very long term unemployed get back to work - presentation, interview skills, sharpening their skills (if any), giving them some skills, etc. Not being used as free labour. So they do their regular stint at community work... what else is anyone doing for them to help them get a job? Punishing them if they can't? Driving them further into poverty?
If it's to get them off the couch, let them do REAL charity work.
Agreed. How many people do we know who actually devote some of their time to help the underprivileged and those less fortunate? Not many.
As far as the supplemental work is concerned, my idea rests in the fact that companies aren't hiring, and the government agencies - local and state - can't afford to put people on their payroll, so these "jobs" aren't really jobs, but a way to earn their "handouts."
As far as training, this should be part of an unemployment program as well. I agree 100%.
The sad thing is nobody is hiring. And, if we raises taxes, then people will use that as an excuse for not hiring - essentially stating that they want all the money for themselves instead of their employees. And then Obama will be blamed for "demonizing the rich" and not doing enough about unemployment.
Tough isn't it but remember the rich are getting hit the hardest
I wouldn't be suprised if the LibDems are a non entity next election.
I know... I happy I'm not rich!
It's not a surprise that latest polls show labour ahead in the polls. I feel the Lib Dems have shot themselves in the foot with this 'alliance', renegating on the main issues of the party (those issues which got them all these votes).
The hell is happening out there?
why dont they just KEEP them employed doing the same bloody job at least they paying taxes to the county and there not out of work :roll:
bloody cameron
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KLni3wbndls
Exactly!