Believe this payment intended to replace all other state benefits. In which case my initial thought was that only anyone without having either rent/mortgage to pay could live on £1700 per month - unless they also worked or had other income -private pension - or similar. Biggest plus would be saving of millions in cost of administration over present benefit system being a universal set payment to all. Can't see it ever happening - certainly not in UK.

Would this not be discriminatory if it only applied to residents, the same grounds which prevented us from restricting benefits to EU migrants? Might be a bit suspicious if I suddenly turn up with a Swiss passport...

Edited by johnfirewall (31 Jan 2016 10.36pm)

I kind of like this idea, where in rather than having a complex system of benefits and claims, which the state may or may not make easy or difficult to claim and employing an entire government department to calculate, adjudicate, enforce etc the state makes a simple payment to all citizens based on a realistic standard of living, agreed by all - Tax Free.

Would it make people lazier or less likely to work - I doubt it, in the long run. Most people have ambition enough to seek work and income in excess of 'basic living costs' etc.

Of course there is the question of how many government jobs this would eliminate (but at least they'd know what their entitled to and could avoid the nightmare slog that is trying to get benefits paid, on time). The red tape and beauracracy around benefit claims is pretty poor, and borders on being Kafkaesque at times.

"One Nation Under God, has turned into One Nation Under the Influence of One Drug"
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I was thinking the same, indeed a flat rate would encourage larger families etc. to work as they would get less benefits per head, or less housing if over 18.

Just the figures on the shrinkage in the Civil Service would be interesting. It would make Hoofy happy because there would be less gold plate pensions accruing.

The moral quandary would do you keep some sort of safety net at all?

"Everything is air-droppable at least once."

"When the going gets tough, the tough call for close air support."

that's what I am asking.

"Everything is air-droppable at least once."

"When the going gets tough, the tough call for close air support."

I think if you make exceptions for existing cases going into such a scheme (i.e. families already of an excessive size) and tie the scheme directly to realistic cost of living, it should cover most things.

Also in terms of encouraging people to work, there aren't the barriers that exist with the current system which actually decentivises people getting full time work and is fairly labyrinthine to navigate (you can earn so much, or work so many hours etc).

With a flat rate paid to everyone, income is income (after taxation) no need to worry about whether it will affect your base income. Why wouldn't you work on top of it, there is no incentive not to.

"One Nation Under God, has turned into One Nation Under the Influence of One Drug"
[Link]