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[Field Marshal Dr. Opti]

The Great British Benefits Handout.........yesterday on  Channel 5 at 9PM.


Three long-term unemployed families living on benefits are given a cash lump sum of £26000 in return for signing off, to see if they have what it takes to improve their lives and escape the benefits trap.

An interesting experiment.........or complete waste of time and taxpayers money?

[Mr Gav]

Bullets are cheaper 

[STEMO]

Recorded it as wifey wanted to watch (un)happy valley.

I never realised there were so many nutters in Halifax.

[Field Marshal Dr. Opti]

Recorded it as wifey wanted to watch (un)happy valley.

I never realised there were so many nutters in Halifax.

I feel sure there are plenty of people on benefits who would rise to the challenge and 'make a go of it'

Unfortunately though, I get the feeling that  Channel 5 have picked some of the less able in society because it makes for better television.

[Bigron]

Was that £26,000 each, or split three ways?
Either way, it's just throwing good money after bad - what jobs will they be fit for and how much tax will they be able to pay to get us our money back?

Ron.

[Field Marshal Dr. Opti]

Was that £26,000 each, or split three ways?
Either way, it's just throwing good money after bad - what jobs will they be fit for and how much tax will they be able to pay to get us our money back?

Ron.

£26000 for each of the three families, Ron.

[aaronjb]

Did they blow it all on coke & crack and then succumb to an overdose?

[Bigron]

FH!
When will governments and councils realise that it isn't THEIR money that they are giving away/wasting, but OURS? Just like the fact that the roads don't belong to them, but us; they simply manage them (badly) on our behalf.....

Ron.

[STEMO]

£26000 equals the benefits cap, so it was a years money in advance. When it's gone, they will simply claim again.

[Varche]

I try not to watch programmes like that or Police camera inaction. Just makes your blood boil. Probably the reason they made it.

I have got to say that Britain is getting to be a terrible place what with all the murders in Shetland, Midsomer, Halifax and wherever Silent Witness is filmed.

[STEMO]

I'm watching it now. I'm sat on my fat arse with ginsters pasty and a large bottle of full fat Coke, waiting to see what the fat, lazy bastards get up to.

[STEMO]

I'm watching it now. I'm sat on my fat arse with ginsters pasty and a large bottle of full fat Coke, waiting to see what the fat, lazy bastards get up to.

Cancel the pasty....just had a glimpse of someone's shit-encrusted bog. Apparently it's damp in there so that must stop them from cleaning it.

[aaronjb]

I'm watching it now. I'm sat on my fat arse with ginsters pasty and a large bottle of full fat Coke, waiting to see what the fat, lazy bastards get up to.

Cancel the pasty....just had a glimpse of someone's shit-encrusted bog. Apparently it's damp in there so that must stop them from cleaning it.

 

[STEMO]

Can someone tell me........does every family that receives benefits live in a filthy hole, groom themselves with chip fat and have a distinct lack of teeth. Or is it just the ones channel 5 choose to show?

[Field Marshal Dr. Opti]

I do think  some of the 'guinea pigs' were missing the point of the exercise.

One  spent £300 treating the whole family to a meal. Another bought his son a£400 playstation.

How much is £26000 free of tax and national insurance really worth?

[STEMO]

I do think  some of the 'guinea pigs' were missing the point of the exercise.

One  spent £300 treating the whole family to a meal. Another bought his son a£400 playstation.

How much is £26000 free of tax and national insurance really worth?

I think they were missing more than that.

[Field Marshal Dr. Opti]

Can someone tell me........does every family that receives benefits live in a filthy hole, groom themselves with chip fat and have a distinct lack of teeth. Or is it just the ones channel 5 choose to show?

This is the answer.

If Channel 5 were to show the majority of people on benefits behaving well, then people would have nothing to throw at the television.

[Field Marshal Dr. Opti]

£26000 equals the benefits cap, so it was a years money in advance. When it's gone, they will simply claim again.

What happens if all the money is gone in 3 months?

[STEMO]

£26000 equals the benefits cap, so it was a years money in advance. When it's gone, they will simply claim again.

What happens if all the money is gone in 3 months?

Back to the dole, I suppose. What else?

[Field Marshal Dr. Opti]

£26000 equals the benefits cap, so it was a years money in advance. When it's gone, they will simply claim again.

What happens if all the money is gone in 3 months?

Back to the dole, I suppose. What else?

That'll upset a few on here.

[STEMO]

£26000 equals the benefits cap, so it was a years money in advance. When it's gone, they will simply claim again.

What happens if all the money is gone in 3 months?

Back to the dole, I suppose. What else?

That'll upset a few on here.

Well...they could always swap lives if it's that cushty on benefits.

[Andy B]

.........

How much is £26000 free of tax and national insurance really worth?

Put the other way ...... if you'd received £26000 net in benefits,  what would you have had to earn gross? Probably getting on for £40k. Not a bad wage .....

[STEMO]

26000-10600 personal tax allowance=15400 on which you would pay 20% income tax. So £3080.

National insurance starts at 12% after £155 per week. So, 155x52= 8060. 26000-8060=17940x12%=2150 approx.

So...26000+3080+2150=£31,230 is the annual salary needed to pick up £26000.

[Field Marshal Dr. Opti]

26000-10600 personal tax allowance=15400 on which you would pay 20% income tax. So £3080.

National insurance starts at 12% after £155 per week. So, 155x52= 8060. 26000-8060=17940x12%=2150 approx.

So...26000+3080+2150=£31,230 is the annual salary needed to pick up £26000.

You may be correct.......but nobody likes a smartarse.

[STEMO]

26000-10600 personal tax allowance=15400 on which you would pay 20% income tax. So £3080.

National insurance starts at 12% after £155 per week. So, 155x52= 8060. 26000-8060=17940x12%=2150 approx.

So...26000+3080+2150=£31,230 is the annual salary needed to pick up £26000.

You may be correct.......but nobody likes a smartarse.

You're right. So, just to prove I'm not one, I think I might have ballsed that up. 

It's probably more like £33,000, but I can't be arsed working backwards from there.

[Viral_Jim]

£33,700 assuming you're not: registered blind, exempt from NI, excessively old or paying into a pension

http://www.listentotaxman.com/33700?

Buuuttttt.... AFAIK that doesn't include certain ancilliary benefits which you receive if not working - such as free glasses, dental treatment etc etc. I think that's only "direct" cash benefit. So if you had a family - which you would if you were getting the full £26k I suspect you'd have to be earning upwards of £40k before it paid you more - ridiculous.

[Migv6 le Frog Fan]

Ridiculous indeed. I have always believed that benefits should provide a basic home, food, a reasonable amount of electricity / heating, and basic clothing, by way of vouchers.
Anything more than that should come from gainful employment.
I don't say this from the viewpoint of a comfortable, affluent lifestyle. I have been on benefits for a time myself in the last 10 years.
No wonder the pervading narrative is "we need the immigrants to do the jobs British people wont do".

[EMD]

I'm watching it now. I'm sat on my fat arse with ginsters pasty and a large bottle of full fat Coke, waiting to see what the fat, lazy bastards get up to.

[plym ian]

£33,700 assuming you're not: registered blind, exempt from NI, excessively old or paying into a pension

http://www.listentotaxman.com/33700?

Buuuttttt.... AFAIK that doesn't include certain ancilliary benefits which you receive if not working - such as free glasses, dental treatment etc etc. I think that's only "direct" cash benefit. So if you had a family - which you would if you were getting the full £26k I suspect you'd have to be earning upwards of £40k before it paid you more - ridiculous.

Did you not read the earlier posts

No need for dental treatment

[RobG]

£26000 equals the benefits cap, so it was a years money in advance. When it's gone, they will simply claim again.

One couple who had plans to start a secondhand goods business admitted that they received £6000 pa in benefits. Assume the rent was £100pw (paid direct) which equals £5200 - £400 for the "4 free rent weeks" = £4800, council tax was say £30pw which equals £1500pa.
So their gross annual take would be £6000 + £4800 + £1500. When I went to school that didn`t equate to £26000

[STEMO]

£26000 equals the benefits cap, so it was a years money in advance. When it's gone, they will simply claim again.

One couple who had plans to start a secondhand goods business admitted that they received £6000 pa in benefits. Assume the rent was £100pw (paid direct) which equals £5200 - £400 for the "4 free rent weeks" = £4800, council tax was say £30pw which equals £1500pa.
So their gross annual take would be £6000 + £4800 + £1500. When I went to school that didn`t equate to £26000

Lots of angry faces when we talk about benefits 

If it's so lucrative, perhaps we should all try it. Personally, I couldn't survive on £500 a week.

[Migv6 le Frog Fan]

Personally, Its a long time since I took home £500 per week. Having said that , I will probably manage it this month, due to overtime.
I really should have listened more turned up at school. 

[minifreek]

Im on benefits and have been for the past 7 years due to me basically 'retiring' and looking after my wife and managing her illness...

I dont claim 'dole' I do claim Income Support...

I was working full time (and was since leaving school) I had to make the vary hard yet easy decision to look after my wife for however long it takes...

I see people around where I live that do claim dole and have been on benefits for basically all their lives and make a living at it... and TBH it pisses me off... they know how to play the system so they dont have their benefits taken from them.. there is one lad who reckons that the benefots he is on he is entitled to... he hasnt worked a day in his oppsing life and he didnt like me telling him to gte off his arse, stop smoking the green stuff and get a job.... I ducked - he missed but I didnt..... we dont speak anymore....

Free dentists (NHS) are few and far between, glasses aren't free either, unless you are a diabetic nothing is free...

If the people on the programme have been given £26000 to live on for a year, their benefits will be stopped - indefinately as thats the rules if they sign off and live independently of the state they will not be allowed to sign back on for at least 4 years, even after the money goes dry for them... all their benefits will stop including housing benefit and council tax benefit so they will have to pay these for the next 4 years by any means that they can....

[omegod]

Apparently the family from Liverpool who bought a racoon and reptiles etc to start an animal petting party venture are doing quite well, lots of good reviews from customers so we'll see how they fare longer term. Whilst not ever having claimed benefits myself I know I have the initiative, drive and skill to set myself up for life if 26k dropped in my lap, not going to happen in the near future but will someday.     

[STEMO]

Im on benefits and have been for the past 7 years due to me basically 'retiring' and looking after my wife and managing her illness...

I dont claim 'dole' I do claim Income Support...

I was working full time (and was since leaving school) I had to make the vary hard yet easy decision to look after my wife for however long it takes...

I see people around where I live that do claim dole and have been on benefits for basically all their lives and make a living at it... and TBH it pisses me off... they know how to play the system so they dont have their benefits taken from them.. there is one lad who reckons that the benefots he is on he is entitled to... he hasnt worked a day in his oppsing life and he didnt like me telling him to gte off his arse, stop smoking the green stuff and get a job.... I ducked - he missed but I didnt..... we dont speak anymore....

Free dentists (NHS) are few and far between, glasses aren't free either, unless you are a diabetic nothing is free...

If the people on the programme have been given £26000 to live on for a year, their benefits will be stopped - indefinately as thats the rules if they sign off and live independently of the state they will not be allowed to sign back on for at least 4 years, even after the money goes dry for them... all their benefits will stop including housing benefit and council tax benefit so they will have to pay these for the next 4 years by any means that they can....

Where there's kids involved, they'll get benefits.

[moggy]

I did think about watching it,but given our present situation.Both me and the wife working for minimum wage,living week to week struggling to pay rent and all the other bills.And receiving no help from any where,i think it would make me more angry and depressed than i am already.Some times i think we would be better off on benefits, but we are workers and want to pay our own way.I know other people are in the same boat,but its a struggle and i don't think i have ever been so stressed and unhappy in my life.But we will keep plodding on in the hope things may get better.Dean.

[Field Marshal Dr. Opti]

I did think about watching it,but given our present situation.Both me and the wife working for minimum wage,living week to week struggling to pay rent and all the other bills.And receiving no help from any where,i think it would make me more angry and depressed than i am already.Some times i think we would be better off on benefits, but we are workers and want to pay our own way.I know other people are in the same boat,but its a struggle and i don't think i have ever been so stressed and unhappy in my life.But we will keep plodding on in the hope things may get better.Dean.

Are you claiming working tax credits, Mr Moggy?

If both your wife and yourself are working for minimum wage you may be entitled.

[moggy]

I did think about watching it,but given our present situation.Both me and the wife working for minimum wage,living week to week struggling to pay rent and all the other bills.And receiving no help from any where,i think it would make me more angry and depressed than i am already.Some times i think we would be better off on benefits, but we are workers and want to pay our own way.I know other people are in the same boat,but its a struggle and i don't think i have ever been so stressed and unhappy in my life.But we will keep plodding on in the hope things may get better.Dean.

Are you claiming working tax credits, Mr Moggy?

If both your wife and yourself are working for minimum wage you may be entitled.

Hi mate,i will check the web site thanks.Dean.

[biggriffin]

I do think  some of the 'guinea pigs' were missing the point of the exercise.

One  spent £300 treating the whole family to a meal. Another bought his son a£400 playstation.

How much is £26000 free of tax and national insurance really worth?

Do you think ch5 would give £26k to a family who possibly might get work and improve their lot, or a family of work-shy chav's who will pissh the lot and swear and shout. Which makes best TV.

[2boxerdogs]

Would rather stick pins in my eyes than watch this s ** t.