Are You Really Better Off Living on Benefits?
by In the UK it is said that many are actually better off living on benefits rather than going to work. This leads to lack of motivation and a huge burden on the tax paying public. What can be done about it?
This subject is a source of many complaints and much agravation to the tax paying public in the UK. However I was speaking to a friend recently and she has recently found a job after a long time of being unemployed. She calculated that she was £7 per week better off working than on benefits. However, although she found that she was feeling better in herself and had more confidence, she doubted that this £7 difference was enough to motivate other people to go and find a job.
So, I though what would motivate people to find work – should jobs be available? Well 2 things immediately spring to mind.
1 – Only allow people to claim benefits for 6 months and then make them prove that they are actively seeking work. I recently heard that in Poland when you are seeking work under these circumstances you are given a book but the Benefit people and when you go to an interview you hand the book to the person interviewing you and they have to stamp it with the company stamp and then sign and date it to prove that you have actually been there.
2 – If the minimum wage was increased then the difference between claiming benefits and earning a wage would be greater and this would motivate more people to go and find work. Money is a good motivator for many.
What do you think of these ideas? Do you think they would work?
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Post CommentKittyK
On May 26, 2011 at 6:41 pm
My thoughts and feelings are that if someone is able to work and a job is available then get out and work and earn a proper salary to support yourself! There are no “free rides” in life and while many people have experienced unemployment, it is not a way of life – it is temporary at best!