[joeysteele]

Originally Posted by Tom.

Benefits are a good thing especially to those who aren't able to work, whether by physical or mental disability.

Incapacity benefit is a bit of a joke and if the conservatives have done one good thing then its to make sure that this isn't taken advantage of.

For people who aren't able to find a job, after about 3 months they should be given supermarket vouchers instead of money to go and buy the essentials they need (excluding including alcohol or cigarettes), that way it gives them a kick up the back side to go and find a decent job. And if you can't get one in 3 months you're just not trying hard enough, and perhaps its time to deflate your ego and go for a lowest rank job (ie cleaning). The alternative could be community work, and so those on job seekers benefit are effectively working for the state.

Really sorry Tom to disagree.
One of my Aunts is high up in a supermarket chain,she says supermarkets would not like the voucher system,it would be unlikely some supermarkets would want to ahve to accept them and also smaller shops claiming the funds for them would be kept waiting for the funds too.

The vouchers would be open to misuse,people could sell the vouchers cheaply and then buy cigarettes with them but why on earth should people who have paid tax and National Insurance who find themselves out of work have to be made to look like 2nd class citizens in shops and stores handing vouchers over.

Then since a lot of shops and likely stores would not agree to them anyway,(many stores have now stopped taking cheques never mind vouchers),if they could only be used at certain outlets then you further penalise the genuine unemployed/sick/disabled from getting the best prices and deals from shopping around.
Vouchers are a rediculous idea,people should not be penalised and made to become 2nd class citizens because they have due to economic climates become unemployed or are genuinely sick and disabled.

People have to travel, how do they pay the bus/train with vouchers it would cost a fortune to manage and oversee never mind the large cost in setting it up.More waste of taxpayers money it would end up being.