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Christmas bonus may be back

Kermit.de.frog

Should people be on the dole be getting a "bonus" for another year of unemployment at Christmas?

The red side of the government wants to bring it back.

What yeh reckon?

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Son Of A Vidic

I was starting to get some serious cold turkey there. A two day wait for the latest provoking dole thread, is much too long imo.

Czarcasm

To me this simply looks like Government trying to inspire confidence in the economy to get consumers out spending again -

http://www.thejournal.ie/christmas-bonus-budget-joan-burton-1678096-Sep2014/

As much as I can empathise with the plight of social welfare recipients, this is merely nothing more than an ineffective and petty gesture when people are struggling to budget all year round, not just at Christmas.

I personally think Government should actually hold on to the €260m so that they're not left robbing Peter to pay Paul in another ten years time. We teach children not to let money burn a hole in their pocket, and this looks like the current Government is determined to continue the tradition of previous Governments by pissing token gesture money down the drain, and then wondering where it all went.

Honestly, where do they come up with this stuff? Last year Revenue found €3bn surplus from an accounting error, we were still told the Government is at the pin of their collar. This year they claim a surplus of €260m and can't wait to give it away only to get most of it back in VAT anyway and people start wetting their knickers like this is great news!

Some people are easily bought, and it's usually the most vulnerable people in society are the first to get their hopes up. Perhaps if the money were invested in education and teaching people basic economics and budgeting, there'd be no need for a 'Christmas bonus' (guilt relief for being shafted sans lube the rest of the year!), and the Government couldn't so easily get funky with basic arithmetic to try and pull the wool over the electorates' eyes.

Timberrrrrrrr

Barely There wrote: »

Thousands eh?

Let's be generous and say two thousand.

So every working day for nearly 7 years he applied for an average of 6 jobs per day?
And didn't get 1?

He did in my bollix.

???

7 years, lets say 365 days - weekends 104 days x 7 = 1827 days or just over 1 application a day

cajonlardo

I don't think there ever was christmas bonus payment, was it not only for single mothers or something like that? Way this thread is going you'd think someone unlucky enough to be unemployed and collecting their insurance was good to go shopping for a new wardrobe, paint the town red and buy a new car.

gerrybbadd

Is there any other country in the entire world that gives an "X-Mas Bonus" to Social Welfare recipients? (Genuine question)

jank

The Irish Labour party, the party of unions and welfare. Is anyone surprised? While FG are talking about giving people who are out being productive and earning a living a break from income tax, Labour with nothing to show gives the least productive in society a 250 million windfall. Then people wonder why Ireland can't manage its economy.

0byme75341jo28

Kermit.de.frog wrote: »

I never mention any of that group in the op so no I don't mean them. I do mean the people who have no intention of working.

They're all on Jobseeker's Allowance though, if it goes to one it goes to all.

ireland.man

Kermit.de.frog wrote: »

I never mention any of that group in the op so no I don't mean them. I do mean the people who have no intention of working.

You mean the 1.4 percent of people who've been long term unemployed during the height of the Celtic Tiger? Or the long term unemployed who've been without work for a year or more during one of our worst global economic downturns in decades?

Carawaystick

David Thundering Tongue wrote: »

Not sure if you're joking, but I agree with cutting the 3 euro. It probably only gets spent on a coffee or something after going to the post office to collect their money by most people. Don't think many would miss it tbh, and it would save the gubberment a good bit of bob.

Yeah cos someone on the dole would spend it on one coffee instead of using it to buy a weeks (or more) supply of instant coffee....

I'd definitely re-instate it for pensioners and carers, and those on disability benefit.

Kermit.de.frog

wretcheddomain wrote: »

So, the fact there's a small minority of scroungers determines your decision to begrudge the following groups for a little extra at Christmas:
Graduates

Those laid off unfairly who make honest attempts at finding work

Disabled people

Carers

I never mention any of that group in the op so no I don't mean them. I do mean the people who have no intention of working.

SEPT 23 1989

They could earn their bonus by clearing snow and ice from footpaths during the festive season

ireland.man

Funkfield wrote: »

If it comes back I think it should be mirrored with a comparable "Christmas tax break" for the employed.

How about a tax break for all those on minimum wage? Any economy in which those working full time can't feed and house themselves and their families without stress is a badly managed economy.

I just wish people wouldn't draw this massive line between employed workers struggling to look after themselves and their families, and those workers doing the same when they've lost their jobs.

Funkfield

If it comes back I think it should be mirrored with a comparable "Christmas tax break" for the employed.

Peist2007

I hope the government also gives a bonus to those forced to turn up to a job during the nice weather. Or the unemployed's christmas as i like to think of it.

ebbsy

I think that the bonus is being spent on drugs and hookers and drugs to keep the hookers in line.

Party on.

dark crystal

If the extra few bob eases the worry for some and keeps the moneylenders from making a killing, I wouldn't have any issues with it at all.

0byme75341jo28

Gowlasauras Rex wrote: »

What dafuq is up with this attitude that anyone who is unemployed is a junkie Is lazy or what have you.

It's disgusting. If anyone ever said that in front of me I would think less of the person or a complete and utter wankbag.

My tax this my tax is paying for you, your tax would be taken off you regardless, it's a stupid complaint.

Some people are gowls, and I for one will fight this gowls through the medium of shifting them.

They've probably never been unemployed, or have got into work very soon after being made unemployed. I can't imagine they'd have this attitude if they were stuck on the dole for a year.

I'm sure if they were laid off in the morning they'd be down to the post office in a few weeks to collect their dole. Unless they're the type of idiot who wouldn't claim it "as a matter of principle"..

Banjo String

I'm on the dole, God bless my soul. (I'm doing the double as well

)

RoboRat

I don't have a massive issue with it, would be nice if they carried it over to the taxpayers too, perhaps give them a discounted tax month as most people, employed and unemployed find Christmas tough financially.

c_man

ireland.man wrote: »

Anyway, people struggling on low paying jobs not being able to make ends meet is a huge issue and totally unacceptable.

Agreed.

Helping one group of vulnerable people isn't going to worsen their situation though.

It'd lead to more division and a sense of unfairness (not at all unjustified imo) between the two.

0byme75341jo28

RayM wrote: »

I think the dole should be reduced from €188 to a nice, round €185 per week, with the Christmas bonus reinstated. The €3 per week wouldn't really be missed by many, but the Christmas bonus would be positive, not only for those unfortunate enough to be unemployed, but also for the retail business at Christmas.

Not sure if you're joking, but I agree with cutting the 3 euro. It probably only gets spent on a coffee or something after going to the post office to collect their money by most people. Don't think many would miss it tbh, and it would save the gubberment a good bit of bob.

The Moldy Gowl

What dafuq is up with this attitude that anyone who is unemployed is a junkie Is lazy or what have you.

It's disgusting. If anyone ever said that in front of me I would think less of the person or a complete and utter wankbag.

My tax this my tax is paying for you, your tax would be taken off you regardless, it's a stupid complaint.

Some people are gowls, and I for one will fight this gowls through the medium of shifting them.

ireland.man

c_man wrote: »

Oh come off it. There's plenty of people on low paying jobs who get no Christmas bonus. I can well imagine them being pissed off at this proposal. And people bringing up carers... how many carers are there in the state versus people on the dole whom are out of work? Ye're being wilfully obtuse lads.

FYIW I'm in favour of Christmas bonuses, but there's plenty of good reasons to question it. Not everyone against can be painted as some Tory fan-boy.

But I think the OP from his previous posts and threads attacking all sorts of social protection schemes appears to be one of those Tory fan boys.

Those opposing the bonuses in this thread aren't going to be using in-depth and rational economic justifications, it'll mostly be about anecdotes of Vicky Ollard type people they know, etc. (If the hundreds of previous threads on dole topics are anything to go by).

Anyway, people struggling on low paying jobs not being able to make ends meet is a huge issue and totally unacceptable. Helping one group of vulnerable people isn't going to worsen their situation though.

jimgoose

Czarcasm wrote: »

Never gets old, *grabs a handful*...

Don't mind if I do

Hooch over on the bench there, Czarky! Come on the winner!!

Moyglish

Anyone got a link to where there's talk of the Christmas "bonus" being reinstated? Would be interested to read up on this, thanks!

c_man

ireland.man wrote: »

As a college student availing of heavily subsidised education in Ireland/ a farmer's son who's family receives 'free money' through CAP and State help/ a worker in a company receiving State support to remain competitive in the global market/ etc/ I'm shocked and appalled that other people are receiving more visible help than the help I'm receiving from the State.

Oh come off it. There's plenty of people on low paying jobs who get no Christmas bonus. I can well imagine them being pissed off at this proposal. And people bringing up carers... how many carers are there in the state versus people on the dole whom are out of work? Ye're being wilfully obtuse lads.

FYIW I'm in favour of Christmas bonuses, but there's plenty of good reasons to question it. Not everyone against can be painted as some Tory fan-boy.

Barely There

Labour are worried that the Shinners have been hoovering up the 'feckless-layabout-welfare-junkie' vote for a while now and are making noises about reclaiming them.

shruikan2553

Why would they need a bonus? Can't they just do what everyone else does and live within their means?

ireland.man

As a college student availing of heavily subsidised education in Ireland/ a farmer's son who's family receives 'free money' through CAP and State help/ a worker in a company receiving State support to remain competitive in the global market/ etc/ I'm shocked and appalled that other people are receiving more visible help than the help I'm receiving from the State.

c_man

Kermit.de.frog wrote: »

The red side of the government wants to bring it back.

They want to buy votes you mean.