Benefits Street

[Puff Scotty]

It would be foolhardy to believe these people don't exist. The point is that they are the the 0.5% and less and should be dealt with, not used as some kind of standard by which to make policy.

The article again as I left it off the last post.
http://www.theguardian.com/politics/...in-facts-myths

Not trying to burst anyone's bubble but what makes information & statistics gathered by a charity any more reliable than the so-called facts you can read anywhere..
The Joseph Rowntree Trust, which hosted the survey, was slated in 2008 for investments in BAE whilst funding organisations who are attempting to stop the recruitment of child soldiers...
I would have thought none of us on this forum would quote from media numbers....

[Joncon]

Benefits Street

What numbers would you suggest?

[Puff Scotty]

What numbers would you suggest.

Just pointing out that statistics are used by both sides of the fence & unless I'd researched all sides I wouldn't trust the paper their written on to give me an accurate representation of what's spent on what ....

[PeeJay]

Just pointing out that statistics are used by both sides of the fence & unless I'd researched all sides I wouldn't trust the paper their written on to give me an accurate representation of what's spent on what ....

There are lies, damned lies and statistics..

[PeeJay]

I am sure your time in policing has, like many of my friends working in the met, given you an an opinion based on some of the worst members of this society. But I would suggest as does most studies of crime that it is committed by the minority so we should not paint the majority by there standard.

Not talking about crime Jon, just verifying that welfare dependence can run through several generations with no will to break the cycle.

[PeeJay]

Some more DM reaction to the show, lap it up....

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2546445/Benefits-Streets-1-700-complaints-Calls-letters-emails-accuse-glamorising-crime-promoting-drug-use-celebrating-welfare-dependency.html

[Joncon]

Not talking about crime Jon, just verifying that welfare dependence can run through several generations with no will to break the cycle.

Nor am I mealy suggesting your view might have been different if you had not had to deal with the criminal element of society and had a chance to meet the majority of claimants.

Just pointing out that statistics are used by both sides of the fence & unless I'd researched all sides I wouldn't trust the paper their written on to give me an accurate representation of what's spent on what ....

If you can find some numbers that suggest the stereo types are the norm then the findings would need to be questioned.

Just to clarify the study was hosted by the foundation I believe the charitable trust is used to award grants to projects.

[PeeJay]

Sadly Jon I did get to meet the majority of claimants because they are most often the victims of the minority.

[Puff Scotty]

A wee story for you...
As I have a terminal illness I was advised by my Macmillan support team to apply for a benefit which would automatically give me free prescriptions for the raft of medicines I'd be taking (not that many as it turns out, but that's another story!)
The nice man at the DWP told me to apply for PIP (personal independence payment) which has been recently introduced..
OK so far..
To qualify for this payment I had to prove I'd had the illness for 3 months & will die within 6 months...
Still OK so far, the oncologist says I'm well fucked & have been for some time, so no problem there..
I was slightly bemused at being granted this benefit that I've been informed I won't have to apply again until Dec 2016..2 1/2 years after I'm dead...that would be clever!!!
DWP

[PeeJay]

I'm very sorry to hear that Scotty but my late friend Paul collected that payment for over three years, hope you get it even longer.

[ValeTudoGuy]

Jeez, kinda puts things into perspective!

[Joncon]

hope you get it even longer.

+1

[Puff Scotty]

Thanks for the good wishes guys..it would be nice to put in for an extension in 2016, but then somebody somewhere would say the benefits system doesn't have idiotic criteria...

[sheppsea]

I am very sorry to hear that Puffy and I hope you enjoy all the time you have left

[Maxsi]

Hope we do get the chance to say the benefits system doesn't have idiotic criteria.