Working 12 hours a day every day of the week, worth less than a London cube

[Michael_W]

Just a note on the working time directive (mentioned in a couple of previous posts), which is clearly misunderstood, you can work more than 48 hours a week wether you opt in or opt out, it is taken on an average over a rolling 17 week period and holidays are taken into account, so work it out accordingly. The opt out that some employers will offer you will just allow your employer to not have to monitor your hours, which the working time directive requires them to do !

[ECCOnoob]

All jobseeker benefits are below minimum wage, the only reason benefits get to become higher than minimum wage is when you factor in housing costs & disability premiums.

 

The cost of housing is too much, and the benefits keep the cost of housing high, hence my dislike for landlords who are taking a hell of a lot of money from the state and workers, due to the high cost of housing, some of them like Obelix even believe they produce something, he believe's he produces CAPITAL, I don't know whether I should laugh, cry or worry for the future!

 

I have been through this argument with you plenty of times. Suppy and demand drives up AND REDUCES the amount a private landlord charges. Nothing is for free. A landlord has to BUY and property to rent initally which beleive it or not also fluctuates.

 

Considering most people on benefits live in state funded houses the state only has itself to blame if their own rental costsa are too high

 

1. Reducing benefits to below minimum wage would encourage work, but the only people whom could have their benefits reduced below minimum wage are the disabled.

 

Plenty of households get jobseekers for both parents, child benefit, housing benefit and council tax benefit. That is certainly NOT the same as minimum wage! That same household then chooses to have another child to which they obtain further child benefit and may obtain further housing benefit if they need something bigger. THIS is the sort of cuts I want to be made. Nobody should be able to comfortably 'live' on benefits if they are fit to work.

 

2. Many disabled people already get more than minimum wage, which quite frankly is a disgrace. They should get the equivalent of minimum wage and no more. The NHS and various other subsidies meets additional costs and provides them with vast amounts of very expensive healthcare. Why the hell should they get free travel, free motability cars and free taxis?

 

Many disabled people NEED benefit more than the minimum wage to survive. Some people are born with disabilities which need lifelong care and specialised equipment. This has to be paid for out of thier disability allowances and mobility allowances. Of course it is above the minimum wage. What the hell did you expect? There is no such things as an NHS subsidaries? As for free travel? When people cant drive and do not have capacity to self travel how the hell do you expect them to get around? You clearly have no idea. Everything has to be paid for out of the disability or mobility allowances. Everything from travel costs, carer costs, respite care, social activities and even some medication has to be paid for out of their benefits. Nobody gets a free lunch. Some respite costs are as much as £70 per night. some hotels are cheaper than that per night. Hardly a subsidy there.

 

Some disabled people - particuarly those with learning disabilities - also go out on work placement and work a full day for nothing. They dont get paid and they dont receive any employee benefits for doing 6-8 hours labour. They EARN their beneifts far more than some lazy sod sitting around claiming they cannot get a job.

 

Permanent disability -vs- a jobseeker are circumstances that can NEVER be compared. Think before you speak. I hope you never have anyone in your family who has to suffer with a permanent disability. If you did then you might actually see the hardship and difficulties they face all through life.