How does the welfare system work

[car10002]

Hi

Just intrested to know how the welfare system works because you hear of people doing it tough on it, one lady from adelaide is on it and was on today tonight and she said she could only afford one fast food meal from hungry jacks per day.

People should get enough to pay bills and know they will have enough each week and have no worries.

Should people be able to get ahead on it?

Why is it only meant to barely cover bills?

Why is it only meant for bare essentials?

Why do people do it tough and have no spare money left wether it's to save or get gopher fixed or car?

Why does the dole pay less than the dsp or old age?

Why do they want to do a cashless card for the dole and what restrictions is there?

Why is there a rule for single parents that when youngest turns 8 they're down to the dole when some study full time or work part time already? And why do some have baby after baby to stay on it

Just intrested to know how it works because you hear of people on current affair shows doing it tough and saying they can't afford this and can afford that?

[Simple6]

Because we don't have an infinite amount of money to just give people to satisfy their 'wants'.

The welfare system allows people to survive and that's it. For the dole and study allowances it's supposed to be a stop gap for people getting back on their feet and into normal working life or to keep them afloat whilst studying.

Disability pension - well that's different, but we still don't have money to just give away.

Cashless card? I work in an industry where I get to see people on the dole spending our tax money getting drunk. Seeing it getting wasted on booze when it could be used to buy clothes for job interviews or anything productive is frustrating, especially when there are children involved and they forgo a meal so dad can knock some beers down at the pub.

Our money - our rules.

[DOC]

buddy way to many questions, so here is one more to add to the list, why are people happy to stay on welfare if it is so darn bad for them, as per your questions.

[Trump]

Originally Posted by DOC

buddy way to many questions, so here is one more to add to the list, why are people happy to stay on welfare if it is so darn bad for them, as per your questions.

Because they don't have to do anything to get it. Whole generations of cradle to the grave welfare families are the result of such a mentality.

[Yellow_Festiva]

Originally Posted by car10002

Hi

Just intrested to know how the welfare system works because you hear of people doing it tough on it, one lady from adelaide is on it and was on today tonight and she said she could only afford one fast food meal from hungry jacks per day.

However - the same price of 1 fast food meal would allow her to buy enough ingredients for 3 simple square meals as well.

It is her choice where she spends her money and her choice if she chooses to do so in a foolish manner.

People should get enough to pay bills and know they will have enough each week and have no worries.

Yes, but you are already behind the 8 ball if you are renting. Having said that, what you pay in rent - or where you live for that matter is your choice.

Should people be able to get ahead on it?

Welfare? In my opinion, no. But what you do with the money is your business and if you make do with it and have a little left great for you.

Why is it only meant to barely cover bills?

Caus if something is assumed to be free people take advantage of it. Like the workers that don't to that extra overtime or the 5th day as it may effect their entitlements.

Why is it only meant for bare essentials?

Because if you have worked all your life and have nothing to show for it any more will be wasted like the rest of the income you had access to.

Why do people do it tough and have no spare money left wether it's to save or get gopher fixed or car?

Define doing it tough? Sophie Delezio had it tough, Turia Pitt did it tough. If you have 2 arms and 2 legs and an ability to earn an income you are not doing it tough.

Why does the dole pay less than the dsp or old age?

Don't know.

Why do they want to do a cashless card for the dole and what restrictions is there?

So they know where and how our money is being spent.

Why is there a rule for single parents that when youngest turns 8 they're down to the dole when some study full time or work part time already? And why do some have baby after baby to stay on it

Probably get a ton of money in funding (baby bonus??) - I don't know as I'm not a prolific breeder.

Just intrested to know how it works because you hear of people on current affair shows doing it tough and saying they can't afford this and can afford that?

Yes. I heard a lady on the radio say that she can't afford to live in Brighton (Sydney) any more as the rents are too high.

I heard a guy say that he has worked full time for 50 years but is not happy to wait for the public system to fix he teeth as he doesn't have the $5k needed to do it privately.

These people need to both complain to the person looking at them in a mirror.

Don't know - never applied for any type of hand outs or funding. Was brought up believing that hard work and sacrifice was the way to get ahead.

I was shocked to hear of elderly married couples getting legally divorced to claim benefits as 2 singles as opposed to a couple because it means an extra $100 or so per fortnight. Really???

Sorry if my views come across as elitist or judgemental. Sorry if I have offended anyone that has had it tough. Just my opinion and I know that some peoples circumstances are honestly out of their control.

[car10002]

You hear of it on current affair shows a lot and you wonder sometimes

And when it's enough for people to live on there should be enough to allow room incase people happen to use a bit more power or water than that thought so they can pay it

How do genuine people survive on the dole if it's less than disabled or age that can't find work or studying

Why do they want to do cashless card for them and from what can be understood it's for dole and whatever else may only be for people that started getting it last 12-18 months and ones on it like age an disabled and have been for years are under old system

And people should get enough to allow for going a bit over utilities than first thought and old age and dsp that can't work should get close to quality of living than workers if not exact seen stories of old ladys that can't afford to run heater or aircon

[car10002]

And people doing right thing shouldn't have to suffer because of a few

[Trevor 57]

Another question:

why do we need to bring people in from overseas to fill jobs that an unemployed Australian can do (but choose not to)

[car10002]

Probably lazy ones? And you wonder wether they really do it tough a single lady on highway patrol with 6 kids got stopped by police and van was unroadworthy an she said to police it's hard on pension to do anything

[superyob]

Originally Posted by car10002

And people doing right thing shouldn't have to suffer because of a few

It's more than a few, much, much more than a few...

Strip welfare and the attitudes of entitlement that it fosters and there would all of a sudden be a lot more people working in those jobs that previously went unfilled...

[b0son]

Originally Posted by car10002

People should get enough to pay bills and know they will have enough each week and have no worries.

Depends which bills. NBN? Foxtel? The latest iphone? No.

Should people be able to get ahead on it?

No. They should just scrape by.

Why is it only meant to barely cover bills?

Because (1) we should discourage people seeing it as a viable long-term means of support, and (2) noone has a right to expect taxpayers to fund a lifestyle.

Why is it only meant for bare essentials?

See above.

Why do people do it tough and have no spare money left wether it's to save or get gopher fixed or car?

See above.

Why does the dole pay less than the dsp or old age?

DSP recipients typically have higher costs. Old age are a big slice of the voting public.

Why is there a rule for single parents that when youngest turns 8 they're down to the dole when some study full time or work part time already? And why do some have baby after baby to stay on it

When your child is of school age, there's no sensible reason for you to be a stay at home parent.

Just intrested to know how it works because you hear of people on current affair shows doing it tough and saying they can't afford this and can afford that?

Australia by and large is in love with the word 'entitled' ... it isnt just the unemployed, its the middle class wanting childcare subsidies and family tax benefit, its the old age trying to guilt trip the younger workers to pay more tax so they can live more comfortably in their retirement, its the workers that want jobs to get easier and easier but pay to only ever go higher and higher.... fundamentally, we all want to feather our nests. Its human nature.

[car10002]

As for bills it means have some extra to allow if you used more power and water than you thought or normally use or if you need to go to doctor or dentist not foxtel or latest phone

And people that do right thing shouldn't have to suffer for ones that don't

And most means old people or disabled that can't work or worked a lot of years and can no longer work and how do people survive on dole if it's less

[xisled]

Getting centrlink and the way you live is the same as if you were working and getting a wage. It's all about your way of life and living within your means.

Single person no kids gets around $500 a fortnight give or take.

A single parent with 6 kids, as the example you have said gets over $2000 a fortnight. So is she really doing it tough or just wasting money, no idea. But as I said it's all about your life style and living within your means.

Then there is the issues with large family's getting more money by being on Centrelink than if they were working. If they worked they would be earning less.

IMO Centrelink is a good thing and if used correctly can assist you with many many things.

The problem is to many people see it as a life style choice not a helping hand to get more out of life. This then becomes a problem when you have 2 or more generations of the same family think being on Centrelink is the way it should be. It's just a continues circle.

[car10002]

And how do people that can't work survive and have same living as workers if they're not able to work or are too old

[car10002]

And why do people try go on disability just to survive and pretend they're disabled you hear a lot of that on news

[xisled]

Originally Posted by car10002

And how do people that can't work survive and have same living as workers if they're not able to work or are too old

Well people who don't work have concession cards and also access to services that working people don't. Example ministry of housing. The rent is based on a percentage of your income. The rent is a lot lower than private rentals.

Also pensioner card in Victoria offer 17.5% discount on electrify usage, also can apply for a grant to pay off electrify and has account on e every 2 years.

Also in Victoria confession card holders get discounted registration on their vehicle.

And the list goes on.

[xisled]

Originally Posted by car10002

And why do people try go on disability just to survive and pretend they're disabled you hear a lot of that on news

You get more on disability and also they don't force you to look for work.

[whitelion65]

Isn't "A current Affair" just another example of welfare, looking after deadbeats and keeping them off the street?

[JC]

OP - We spend around $200 billion per year on welfare - why is that not enough?

http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/new...2b8e7ed4ae8312

[Dash_XR]

It was originally used as a safety net but now most use it to supplement their income or because they don't want to work. It's something like a third of all our revenue goes to welfare which is essentially dead money, unlike schools, hospitals and infrastructure etc that improve society the more you invest in them.

The welfare voting block is massive though so any government that wants to drastically reduce welfare will never get voted in. People love free stuff.

[car10002]

just was intrested to know how it works because alot are happy with what they get but a few arent and always want something or nothing

what age groups worst for lazy and welfare

and why might that lady on highway patrol on a songle pension have had 6 kids for

[Dash_XR]

I guess it's like wealthy people, some can live off a million a year and some can't.

[Giant Cranium]

Originally Posted by Trevor 57

Another question:

why do we need to bring people in from overseas to fill jobs that an unemployed Australian can do (but choose not to)

I used to work for doh as a carpenter looking after a dodgy Sydney suburb with 835 houses. I would average 30 small jobs a week and all I would show up without notice. Each week I'd leave 4 'calling cards' for no one home and out of that 4 only 1 would be out because they have a job.

It made my job easy but really annoyed me that I'm working and people that could work are just way to lazy and won't replace a $15 door handle that was kicked off.

They should all be out doing jobs that we struggle to fill

Rant over (picked your post because I agree)

[car10002]

Would've thought that bills are higher with more kids, how come when youngest turns 7 they have another baby or they do it for money and the adelaide lady from hungry jacks on today tonight apparently lives at ashford which isn't cheapest suburb to live in and apparently has been seen in bingo and pokie haunts but $30 week you can buy better than that

[Giant Cranium]

Originally Posted by car10002

Would've thought that bills are higher with more kids, how come when youngest turns 7 they have another baby or they do it for money and the adelaide lady from hungry jacks on today tonight apparently lives at ashford which isn't cheapest suburb to live in and apparently has been seen in bingo and pokie haunts but $30 week you can buy better than that

They send the oldest out working or they get them on support. 'Kick' them out of home so they get a bonus and keep living on the doh place. The rent is ment to be a percentage of the household income but they just put down a random house for a few family members. There are so many ways around it.

[car10002]

And what about old and disabled and ones that can't find work it's not their fault they can't work so they should have similar quality

Why would people complain about not getting enough while others are happy with what they get

[CoupeKing]

Originally Posted by car10002

one lady from adelaide is on it and was on today tonight and she said she could only afford one fast food meal from hungry jacks per day.

I don't watch that show, but did it mention how much her meal costs?

Some people must be from another planet. Surely they've heard of bread, rice, pasta, vegetables, fruit, potatoes, cheap meat, specials. If they don't like any of them or can't eat them then that could be a reason why they are on benefits in the first place.

[Giant Cranium]

Originally Posted by car10002

And what about old and disabled and ones that can't find work it's not their fault they can't work so they should have similar quality

Why would people complain about not getting enough while others are happy with what they get

I agree it sucks for the oldies and truely disadvantaged. They get screwed by the ones taking advantage of the system. Any changes always hurt the ones who need it most. The scum just find another loop hole. My grandparents get a pension which they say covers all their needs but if they didn't own their own home that they would be tight and not living half as well.

[car10002]

And why do people under report income is it because if the report properly they may get a reduction depending on income and by time you make up difference your not much better off than just welfare and people want to get ahead not scrape by would that sound right

[Giant Cranium]

Why are you asking it as a question when you know the answer.