Food/Clothes Stamps?

Yitzhak Rabin

Could a case be made that elements of social welfare and child benefit could be paid in the form of food and clothes stamps.

Bear with me, as I have only really thought of this idea now.

One of the problems we have at the moment is with social welfare fraud, and also people crossing the border to shop in the north. Could the government introduce a scheme whereby as part of social welfare or child benefit be paid as a voucher redeemable within the state.

Its benefits would be two fold - It would encourage people to spend their money in the Irish economy only. It would also help in combating fraud.

Additionally, the government may be able to strike a deal with a group of the large supermarkets to provide the food cheaper through their huge bargaining power.

Is this kind of scheme feasible, or even legal?

Welease

How does it combat fraud?

bullpost

You are very bold.

BKtje

Not much use to send food stamps to *insert eastern european country here*.

I can see the point the OP is trying to get at but i'm still not convinced how widespread that problem is.

danbohan

Welease wrote: »

How does it combat fraud?

because you can only bring a small bag on ryanair ?

Leiva

Ah sure the kind Govt are giving out free Cheese . :rolleyes:

the groutch

to buy more cheese?

MagicSean

BKtje wrote: »

Not much use to send food stamps to *insert eastern european country here*.

I can see the point the OP is trying to get at but i'm still not convinced how widespread that problem is.

It's ridiculous. I've get to see what goes on in a lot of welfare houses and I deal with a lot of people on welfare. You should go to a district court and listen to the drugs and public order cases. Nearly every person charged with drink or drug related crime will claim to be on welfare.

Buford T Justice

yekahs wrote: »

One of the problems we have at the moment is with social welfare fraud, and also people crossing the border to shop in the north. Could the government introduce a scheme whereby as part of social welfare or child benefit be paid as a voucher redeemable within the state.

Its benefits would be two fold - It would encourage people to spend their money in the Irish economy only. It would also help in combating fraud.

As a downside, it would add further humiliation to the people who are unemployed in this country. Its bad enough that you have to claim the dole after losing your job and suffer the social snobbery and condescension in the dole office, but you now have to suffer going to a shop with food stamps?

Its one step closer to going back to the days that were portrayed in Angela's Ashes where the people of the country had to queue up at the churches doors begging for butter vouchers.

yekahs wrote: »

Additionally, the government may be able to strike a deal with a group of the large supermarkets to provide the food cheaper through their huge bargaining power.

Is this kind of scheme feasible, or even legal?

In response to this, I personally feel that this government would more likely strike a deal which would result in less value for the people in return for votes from the Supermarkets. They cannot be trusted to do anything remotely close to this.

Sir Oxman

BKtje wrote: »

Not much use to send food stamps to *insert eastern european country here*.

I can see the point the OP is trying to get at but i'm still not convinced how widespread that problem is.

The only way to ensure fraud is cut out/reduced is intense scrutiny of PPS number issuing and of claims ie, investigate anyone making a claim as to their circumstance not like now where people are given notice as to when the inspector will call around!
I am on JSB since being made redundant by a hugely profitable foreign company and not once signing on or collecting my entitlement have I been asked for any ID. Nor indeed have I been asked by my social welfare office if I have been looking for work!
There's a huge loophole to begin with.