A publicly transparent benefits system, would it work?

[Colbaker]

I have been thinking, everyone must agree that the uk's current benefit cost needs to be cut without taking the money from those that actually need it. I would welcome a completely transparent system, what I mean by this is that anyone can check what benefits another person/household gets, this then gives the public the opportunity to put into question those receiving benefits who are not entitled to them, almost get society rooting out the bad eggs.

The reason I have been thinking this is that I have a neighbour who I am sure is doing something dodgy but no idea what benefits she gets and therefore have no idea what benefits she is cheating on, if I could put her name and address into a search engine and find for instance she gets JSA but I see her daily being dropped off from a cleaning job then I can report that, the same goes for if I had a disabled neighbour who is struggling every month and then I can find out what benefits she gets and more importantly I can then see what benefits she should be getting I could help there as well.

Do we not have a right to know where the money is going, after all it is our money.

 

[Burnsy2023]

Do we not have a right to know where the money is going, after all it is our money.

No it's the government's money. They're not the same.

 

[Raumarik]

No, people who are on or not on benefits have a right to privacy around their finances regardless of who supplies the money. If you have concerns then report the person, the appropriate staff can check to see if it's correct and if not take action.

 

[Colbaker]

No, people who are on or not on benefits have a right to privacy around their finances regardless of who supplies the money. If you have concerns then report the person, the appropriate staff can check to see if it's correct and if not take action.

Do they though? Maybe it is a very right wing sentiment but if public money is being used then I believe the public should be Able to check it is being used correctly.

 

[Burnsy2023]

Do they though? Maybe it is a very right wing sentiment but if public money is being used then I believe the public should be Able to check it is being used correctly.

As a civil servant, are you entitled to see exactly what I'm paid?

 

[arknor]

yea and if I earn more than you do each week then I want the right to see your pay-packet especially if you receive child tax credits as it is my duty to ensure every single pence from my taxes only gets spent on own brand/happy shop food.

if I see a a flatscreen TV I will kick your ass!

 

[Schlong&Stable]

As a civil servant, are you entitled to see exactly what I'm paid?

We should be able to see what a civil servant is paid, although not what they spend it on, yes.

 

[Hatter The Mad]

I think we should adopt the Swedish model; everyone's abbreviated tax returns (and benefit receipts) - i.e. what they earn, deduct and receive in benefits is public information.

As a civil servant, are you entitled to see exactly what I'm paid?

Yes

 

[arknor]

We should be able to see what a civil servant is paid, although not what they spend it on, yes.

you know what he is paid from the average civil servant wage and an educated guess now move on whatever he does with his personal income is non of your business, just the same as whatever smackhead mcgreggor does with his weekly giro is non of your concern.

What we all really need is a police state where the nosey ******** spy on their neighbours and report them for scratching there arse and after not washing their hands.
I heard it worked so well during queen victorias reign, just a pitty loads of innocent people died

 

[estebanrey]

No it's the government's money. They're not the same.

Yes they are. All a government is is a panel elected from the people to represent them, the government is the people and the people are the government.

Hence why reporters say WE own RBS and not, David Cameron and his mates own RBS.

 

[gregorius]

I rather think that any system that is based on a naive idea of transparency would very soon collapse in acrimony. However, as you rightly point out, our current system is beset with many problems - not least its complexity and administrative cost.

One of the ideas that might be considered is that of the "Citizen's Income". It does at least have the benefit of simplicity and a certain sort of transparency...

 

[Madamoiselle]

How very DM. Eurgh.

You people keep voting these godawful people into office to serve you. Part of that is trusting that they'll do the right thing with your tax. So trust them, after all you wanted them in power.

 

[:(Rhodri:)]

This would lead to a witch-hunt and demonisation of people who are on benefits, leading to a massive 'us vs them' mentality. The relevant departments already know what benefits/pay people are on, and the public voted for them to govern these matters. That's where our involvement rightly ends.

 

[arknor]

Yes they are. All a government is is a panel elected from the people to represent them, the government is the people and the people are the government.

Hence why reporters say WE own RBS and not, David Cameron and his mates own RBS.

so it's your taxes? go collect them and show me.
thats just BS to make naive people feel like they have some power or we are all in this together.
you wouldn't see your taxes even if unemployment and disability were wiped out over night the government would just spent them elsewhere anyway

We OWN RBS? Do I get some money back when it's finally sold on for a loss then?


btw I'm pretty sure tax credits dwarfs JSA / DLA / ESA / CA


But people with minimum wage think they are some net income result for the goverment and above dole claimers makes me laugh every time

 

[estebanrey]

One of the ideas that might be considered is that of the "Citizen's Income". It does at least have the benefit of simplicity and a certain sort of transparency...

Can't see how that would work as ultimately it would have to be paid for via taxes, so taxes would have to go up for working people, who would then strangely just get it back via the 'citizen's income'. It would be like 'working tax credits', taxing people only to give it back to them via a benefit.

 

[Castiel]

I would welcome a completely transparent system, what I mean by this is that anyone can check what benefits another person/household gets.

Absolutely not, this is a gross invasion on a person's privacy. If you have concerns then contact the relevant agency so they can investigate. How open to abuse would a system be that listed everyone in receipt of any form of benefit...it would a system that listed virtually every family in the country at some point and their financial position for everyone to see and use. It would also mean that people who desperately needed help would potentially not get it due to the stigma that would inevitably be attached to such a system and everyone knowing their situation...madness!

 

[Hatter The Mad]

Absolutely not, this is a gross invasion on a person's privacy. If you have concerns then contact the relevant agency so they can investigate. How open to abuse would a system be that listed everyone in receipt of any form of benefit...it would a system that listed virtually every family in the country at some point and their financial position for everyone to see and use. It would also mean that people who desperately needed help would potentially not get it due to the stigma that would inevitably be attached to such a system and everyone knowing their situation...madness!

Sunlight is the best disinfectant. I think everyone's abbreviated tax returns (which should include social security payments) should be all be public. Nothing bad can happen of it, and you never know, at best it might make society more cohesive.

Your stigma argument is an invalid one; that's the individual's choice (and if we look to Sweden, they don't have that much of an issue in that regard).

it would a system that listed virtually every family in the country at some point and their financial position for everyone to see and use.

And what exactly is wrong with that if everyone and everything is on the same level playing field?

 

[robgmun]

I think we should adopt the Swedish model

If she's great in bed then sure!

 

[Castiel]

Sunlight is the best disinfectant. I think everyone's abbreviated tax returns (which should include social security payments) should be all be public. Nothing bad can happen of it, and you never know, at best it might make society more cohesive.

Your stigma argument is an invalid one; that's the individual's choice (and if we look to Sweden, they don't have that much of an issue in that regard).

My finances are no ones business but my own, the general public have no right to see or know what I earn, what taxes I pay or what, if any benefits I receive..it really is as simple as that.

Nothing bad?...really?. you think that the information could not be used against someone? either by Criminals or Companies? You are very naive, if you think that.

It certainly wouldnt make society more cohesive, quite the opposite.

And Sweden? An individuals tax and social security reciepts are not a matter for public scrutiny. It is only an employers contributions for social security that are available, it doesn't name or give any information of the person in receipt of such.

And what exactly is wrong with that if everyone and everything is on the same level playing field?

They will not be on the same playing field however....they would be segregated by their circumstances.

 

[arknor]

My finances are no ones business but my own, the general public have no right to see or know what I earn, what taxes I pay or what, if any benefits I receive..it really is as simple as that.

yea lol good info for criminals if it were to ever happen