Is it time to increase the dole?

I would maybe throw an extra few quid a week at heroin addicts who had managed to stay clean for say, a year? Each year, extra few quid.

Anyone committing a serious crime (anything involving a weapon certainly) would lose the same amount.

Anyone living at home (with a threshold for parental earning), I'd take a few quid off them. I'd give that money back for qualifications earned in search of a job.

Basically a series of measures to target those who need it, and take it away from those who don't.

PutDownArtist wrote: »

I thought you were dead, Mrs. Thatcher?

You certainly would give a **** if you were laid off.

Too many stayed unemployed through the boom years. If people lost their jobs and were genuinely looking for work I think there should something in place to help them. A flat increase would only put more money into pockets of those who have no intention of ever working.

ps..I'd probably penalise smokers. Gonna cost the HSE a lot of money?

Dead on, we'll dock it from your dole.

PutDownArtist wrote: »

You can't have restoration of public service pay without doing the same to the dole.

It's unfair and illogical.

This is one of the poorer attempts at trolling I've seen. Playing the old 'invisible hierarchy' card. Social welfare claimants at the bottom. Public service workers barely above them. At the top, you know it, the mighty private sector workers. The movers the shakers, the mother fcking decision makers. They keep the show on the road.

I wouldn't be opposed to a slight increase for under 25s, but the 188 rate is enough to be getting on with imo

I have worked in a joe job

Worked in the public sector
Worked in the private sector
Been on the dole
Worked abroad

Hell, I'm the only person on the boards worth listening to.

PutDownArtist wrote: »

But the dole used to be 204 euros and now it's 188.

I think most would be in favour of at least restoring it to that level.

Yes, once it's coupled with a rule that it decreases say 4% a year. This means that if you have no interest in working your dole comes down until it's not worth being on it..

I'd go further and say if you've worked for say 10 years and lose your job you should get 100% pay for 6 months, 80% next 6 months etc, this softens the financial hit from losing your job..

I know to many people who are on the dole 10-15-20 years, these are the ones should be targeted.

antongavrikov wrote: »

just out of interest how many of you commenting have been jobless? do you have a clue how hard is it to get back to work? i'm sure some of ye do but not the most!

How would you handle someone who is 20 years on the dole......?

twowheelsonly wrote: »

What about non-smokers that cost the HSE a lot of money??

What about drinkers, people that eat to much, people that eat fatty foods, sports people that keep getting injured, damn drivers that crash more than once ?

It's a proven statistic that 100% of non smokers die.

Smokers probably die sooner but in their time they'll contribute more to the Tax coffers due to one of the highest tobacco taxes in the world.

How did this get mixed up in a dole thread!!

Nah, just smokers. Fck em.