Disabled people asked to help to design a social security system of dignity, respect and trust.
31 May 2019
Disabled people and others with personal experience of claiming benefits are leading a ground-breaking project to devise a new social security system, in which claimants would be treated with dignity, trust and respect.
As for the finances side , try my Social Wage … from 11 years ago … devised during my CarerWatch days
in advance of the ( Then ) last Green Paper … and as a prototype for a revised benefits system before UC
was presented to all :
( FIGURES JUST BEEN UPDATED TO REFLECT LATEST 2019 LEVELS … ROUNDED UP / DOWN TO NEAREST £ )
__
Firstly , anyone not agree that the current benefit system needs replacing to reflect our changed needs ?
Good , let me introduce the concept of the Social Wage.
Who for ?
The elderly , the disabled ( higher rate DLA & AA ) and their carers.
What would it replace ? State Pension \ DLA \ AA \ Carers Allowance \ Income support \ Carers Premium & any others directly related.
Level of Social Wage ? A percentage of the average wage , rising with average earnings. The politics involved will be the actual percentage applied. Try 50% as a starter , an additional 20% if any claimant fell under more than one category , per category , Dugsie for instance ?
Assume AW is £ 481 per week , and % is set at 30% … that give’s all recipients £ 144 per week … additional 10% … additional £ 48 per week … for example , elderly and a Carer = £ 192.
Play around with the % to your heart’s content > … > if implemented , the % level is the ONLY political decision.
Carer or elderly or disabled … £ 144
Carer and elderly or disabled … £ 192
Carer and elderly and disabled … £ 240
Swap carer / elderly / disabled around … same figures … no smoke and mirrors !
Simples ?
Benefit ?
A long last , a simple system which , is not only fair , but instantly removes the stigma of claiming benefits in the first place , and ensures that monies go to the claimant rather than dangled in front of them ( eg. current take up of benefits ).
How funded ?
Variety of ways open , I leave that to the economists amongst posters BUT don’t shoot down the concept because , on initial calculations , too costly. Try NI contributions towards a Social Wage … the initial concept of NI is , perhaps , 40 years past it’s sell by date ?
Initial soundings across ‘Carer’ \ disability forums have been favourable , how about the politicos and others on this Forum.
You never know , it could be a real vote winner !
As the inventor and proprietor ( through CarerWatch … purely to avoid tax you understand ? ) , I am now in the Den facing 6 dragons , 3 from CarerLand , 3 from the Voice.
You are one of the dragons looking for something like the above.
Would you " Ye or neigh " , bearing in mind I do not have a rather thick brown envelope in my back pocket ?
Split 3-3 , and we have the casting vote … that old double headed coin came in useful ?
After all , haven’t we been playing against a stacked deck for two decades or more ?
There is a flaw , care to spot it ?
What’s missing ?
Did you answer any of the survey?
Little bit difficult if I was to be honest.
My caring days ended close to 11 years ago.
In any event , UC will be with us for a very long time.
Tinkering it at best !
My Social Wage deals with economics … to protect all those who CANNOT work … not the politics involved.
I have registered to attend their event to be held in Newcastle.
if anyone else interested
x
Thank you I hope more people get involved.
I know it’s a long and winding road.
We must all try as the government will keep making policies that suit them.
Disabled people asked to help to design a social security system of dignity, respect and trust.
Mmm … no mention of us ???
Flawed even before kick off ?
I hope they prove more productive from those of a decade ago ?
Full sp on one event posted in the main CARERS STRATEGY thread.
https://www.carersuk.org/forum/news-and-campaigns/latest-caring-news/carers-strategy-2019-all-the-build-up-to-the-non-event-of-this-decade-a-white-flag-raised-even-before-it-s-announced-28906?hilit=carers%20strategy&start=10
As for our CarerWatch agent , she is still taking the pills !
ANY SAFETY NET … THE BENEFIT SYSTEM … MUST PROTECT THOSE UNABLE TO WORK FROM THE RAVISHES OF THE FREE MARKET ECONOMY.
TO DO THAT SUCCESSFULLY , GOODS AND SERVICES DEMNED ESSENTIAL TO SURVIVAL IN TODAY’S SAD NEW WORLD MUST BE
EITHER RETURNED TO PUBLIC OWNERSHIP OR BE HEAVILY REGULATED BY THE GOVERNMENT.
IT IS NO GOOD TACKLING ONE ISSUE WITHOUT TACKLING THE OTHER !!!
THE B52 BOMBER IN THE OINTMENT ?
HOUSING !!!
( Nothing new … from … 2008 ? )