BENEFIT FRAUD ISSUE (POLICY CHANGES NEEDED)

The labour Party has set up over the year a brilliant benefit scheme, probably the best in the world. However setting up something so large and brilliant has come at a cost....

BENEFIT FRAUD

This issue to many (I have done some homework) has become to great to the countries majority of hard working tax paying public. A huge proportion of our council tax goes to Council housing. This wouldn't be a problem I would be fine paying towards council housing however there is a huge number of cases shown across the web news and even through our own eyes of benefit fraud and taking advantage of the welfare state.

JOB SEEKERS ALLOWANCE + UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS

The fist case I would like to look into is the Job Seekers allowance Unemployment Benefits. The schemes have really flourished under labour however there is a huge case of benefit fraud that is not looked at vigorously enough in this area Those seeking for jobs and are in the job centre or are continuously searching deserve the opportunity of claiming for job seekers allowance, however on the other hand those who claim that they are searching for a job, but much prefer to just stay on a cosy £300+ (including other benefits a week option should be revoked and if in council housing should be forced to pay rent. It is harsh however in this currant economic climate the tax payer doesn't want to see their hard earned cash invested into a packet of smokes and case of lager and Sky Sports.

To evaluate on my first point I belive that these measures should be taken in a still Labour Style method that will improve the welfare state and save money that can be pumped back in the countries debt problem or NHS etc.

-Those on Job Seekers allowance must find a job within 2 months other wise their Seekers Allowance will be deducted by half and then by the 3th month all Seekers benefits will be revoked. (Unless there is a valid reason that no job has been found or there is proof that the seeker has applied and is seeking work)

-The money given via Job seekers allowance £60+ pp should only be spent on life essentials and this should be proven (TAX PAYER money shouldnt be being spent on Sky, nights out etc)

- The above also applies to the Unemployment Benefits of £61 pp

-The money saved could go back into Job Seeking those who are less fortuate and dont receive the allowance and therefore fortify the welfare state.

SOCIAL HOUSING + HOUSING BENEFITS

Once again there is an issue in this area Tax payers money is being wasted in the tens of thousands in hosing those who only wish to be in the welfare state to reap the awards, but not place anything back in.

The majority of those living on council estates are law abiding citizens and there is just a minority (a large minority at that) that put a bad name on the council estates in the UK. Putting it in a nice way there are those who take advantage of the idea of not having to pay for maintenance for their home and take the advantage of trying to get a larger free home at well.

Without trying to offend people there is an issue where family's leave their council home in a absolute state because of the fact that theres no need to worry because the council will fix it, or even when they are living in the property they will just call the council when the state of the house/flat is unsuitable for them live in. The best part is that there is no call out fee and no maintenance fee.

Also there's the issue of gang build up & anti social behaviour/noise. There has been the last few years a huge gang build up in council estates and with gang build up comes the issue of antisocial behaviour this issue must be stomped on as it is becoming a issue towards those in council housing (who rightfully deserve the housing) and privately owned housing.

Another issue is claiming for the social housing from young single mothers, I am not going into huge detail as this is a deep issues (Accident, rape etc. you get the picture), but the social housing in several cases is being abused by the idea if you have a baby you can get a nice little house from the council. Labours Idea of creating communes that these young mothers can stay and learn how to look after their child is a far better way to handle the situation, just like how Gordon put the idea across at the Labour Conference. Its a great idea.

To evalute on this section

-Those who repeatedly damage their home and haven't got a valid excuse should be forced to pay call outt charge and the damage sustained to the property etc. If this fails to stop the damage the owners will be forced to pay rent, then if this fails they will be evicted and banned from using Social Hosuing

-If possible further police patrols, but as with the police manpower issue the neighbourhood watch set could report who is causing the antisocial behaviour and they will be fined and even taken to court. If issue still persistes they may well be forced to pay constant rent on council housing or face eviction.

-With young mothers the idea of labours commune set ups is a great idea and should be invested in that way mothers have a temporary accommodation and learn how to look after their loved new born.

-Overall the housing issue needs to be looked over and changed

BENEFIT CLAIMS ON ILL HEALTH + DISABILITY BENEFITS

There is a huge amount of people who need benefits for their health especially when they can not work. Once again another policy really built up upon by Labour which I feel is a key role to our welfare state.

However once again Benefit fraud takes sadly place here. The claim for Ill Health and Disability benefits because you have a bad back or because your over weight or you cough shouldn't be a good enough excuse to claim on these good natured cause from the Government or in other words the Tax Payer.

There are many issues in this sector, but I believe that the solution for this benefit fraud is quite simple as I show below.

-Those who are known to have minor disabilities claim will have their cased reviewed especially if it is know that they have been doing activities that their disability wouldn't allow. (There are many case studies to show this)

-If the disability benefit claim is short term when the term is up the claimer must be reviewed by a GP/doctor to see if they are fit to go back to work or carry on receiving ill health/Disability benefits

-There is no need to go as far as the conservatives policy where by almost all Disability benefit claimers will be reviewed to see if they deserve the benefits as most cases are genuine. Also by the fact this process would cost alot of money that would be wasted by the fact that most claimers are genuine where as the idea is to save money.

IDENTITY THEFT FOR CLAIMING BENEFITS

This is another serious issue within the Benefit Issue that needs to be reviewed and changed as it seems that claims for Benefits using others identity's is on the rise. This issue bacame even more disgusting and evil when a dead baby's identity was used by a man called David Pinell. This obviously proves even though he was caught that there is a series of holes in the whole benefits scheme that allows Identity theft.

In evaluation

-A computer based system should flag up when benefits are being reclaimed from a differant location or from a dead person

-Tighter laws as in the David Pinall case he only received a 2 year sentence for claiming altogether £65,000 by claiming through a dead baby's identity and at the same time claimed on benefits as he lived by himself however he was living with a partner. (This is a very good case study to prove Benefit Fraud and there are many other CS's)

-A more visual way through claiming benefits so that identity theft for claiming benefits is alot harder to succeeded in.

ALL TOGETHER THE CHANGES WILL COST MONEY HOWEVER IN A SHORT AMOUNT OF TIME THE MONEY WILL BE RECOVERED AND MONEY WILL BE MADE THAT CAN BE PUT BACK INTO THE SYSTEM

Originally Posted by Citizen Smith

Damn! That would have been 2 in a week!

Hey, you're worth it, mate.