But there is a 'work for the dole' scheme in place isn't there? The system, whilst not perfect, is making 'bludging' a whole lot harder.
Single parents pension & Disability pension, whilst government benefits, are not 'the dole'. But in saying that, they've drastically changed legislation in both, to get single mothers & those with unencumbered disabilities back into the workforce slowly.
Single parents can only be on the single parent pension until their child is 8 years of age & they remain the primary caregiver to that child. With the common custody agreements these days being 'shared' custody, rather than 'sole' custody, it means most primary caregivers get a 'part' pension & are encouraged to work a certain amount of hours per week.
this of course does not account for the 'breeders' who just continue knocking out kids to stay on the pension for as long as possible. And whilst we hear alot of press coverage of this issue, they are in the minority. Once the youngest child is 8 years of age. The single parents benefit ceases. These people are given notice 12 months before that occurs & are offered assistance to help upskill or cross skill to secure employment.
Whilst the system isn't perfect, I think its made great strides to get rid of the 'bludgers' of yesterday.
The single parent, disability & old age pension are different matters entirely. And most of the 'pension cheats' come from those brackets, not the 'dole' or those on 'newstart allowance'.
Its a social allowance to help the less fortunate in our society for a period of time. I think welfare itself is necessary & beneficial for many.
But I do remember returning from abroad with a 2yo child & people telling me to go on the single parents pension. If you have small kids & you're single, you don't qualify for the 'dole' your automatically sent to the single parents benefit. I was entitled to $502 a fortnight.
How the fuck anyone lives on that kind of money is baffling to me. I got a job quick smart after exhausting my savings & claimed no benefits.
The point is, all welfare payments are shit money. Unless you're a single mother with 7 kids under the age of 8. Then you're raking it in lol
But you have 9 people to house & clothe & feed too I guess?
I don't even know what the dole payments are anymore. But if they want to smoke weed or buy cigarettes, who cares? I do believe there is a work for the dole scheme in place. Where these people are upskilled or cross skilled & actually really helped to gain employment in any chosen field. Its next to impossible these days, for people to just sit on the dole for 15 years like many used to, a generation or two ago.
An acquaintence got done recently for earning an income whilst on the dole. It happened 7 years ago, but he went to court for it last month. They may not get you straight away, but they will find you & get you eventually lol
Lucky for him he just had to pay the money back, no conviction recorded, as it was such a small amount.
I think often times, the cycle of being on the dole is generational & they figure its money for free? But the government has made great strides forward to change that mindset & those who abuse the system.
The American model is shit. Born from the fact that they simply can't afford to look after those in need of help in their country. No old age pension, no single parent benefit, no healthcover, its a tragedy that so many people in 2012 are existing below the poverty line in a Western country...would rather live in Zambia than the U.S. lol
