4 ms·

>Jobseeker’s Allowance is one forth of the average rent in London Tricky issue. I do know that where I live (Wales), there are huge numbers of people living re

>Jobseeker’s Allowance is one forth of the average rent in London Tricky issue. I do know that where I live (Wales), there are huge numbers of people living relatively comfortably on a benefit-funded lifestyle. There's also a whole lot more to the UK safety net than Jobseeker's Allowance. >If you lose your private insurance you’d have to rely on the NHS If you don't mind me asking, are you a UK native? That's a fantastic turnaround of the typical sentiment about the NHS, which is that it's a shining example of what the wonders of socialised care can do, and how we can do without the evils of privatised healthcare. FWIW I agree with you - it's actually a stinking dump of a money pit, and an embarrassment to anyone who has experienced any other 1st world health care.

mmarq 4y ago
> There's also a whole lot more to the UK safety net than Jobseeker's Allowance. Fine, but given what I pay in income tax and NI (~80K£ last year), I’d expect a lot more than 4-500£ per month plus (maybe?) 500£ of housing benefit and access to a food bank. I would expect at least 2–3-4 times that for at least one or two years, no questions asked. I understand this money may be enough to live in Wales, but I can’t be expected to relocate there because I lost my job. > If you don't mind me asking, are you a UK native? No, I’m not. Hence I’m immune to the NHS cult. :) Unfortunately several members of my family have battle tested the Italian and the German healthcare systems. Half of them would have died horribly in the UK.
- antisinguIarity 4y ago
  >given what I pay in income tax and NI That's how socialised safety nets work - those who earn more, pay for those who don't. Otherwise, it would just be a savings account ;) Who exactly should be paying for you to get 3k a month for several years, because you lost your fancy London job? Not me, that's for sure.
  - mmarq 4y ago
    Not necessarily, in Germany you get a higher unemployment benefit if you used to earn more (because you paid more taxes and contributions). If I remember correctly, you get 60-70% of your salary capped at ~2-3K€ per month (plus some money for the kids and pension contributions), which is enough to live comfortably everywhere in the country. If I lost my job in London, I’d fall instantly into a form of poverty that doesn’t exist anywhere else in Europe, notwithstanding the exorbitant amount of taxes I pay every year. Yes, you get some pocket money, that’s why I said the safety net is almost non-existent and not totally non-existent.
    - antisinguIarity 4y ago
      Well, here we've just picked a different set of winners and losers. Can you imagine the outcry if here we changed our benefits system to something like that Germany? "I've been out of work for years, and now this schmuck gets 40k a year for free?" Again FWIW, I prefer something like that. Then again, it seems you are aware of the rules of the game you are playing.
      - mmarq 4y ago
        Whatever, but the result is that in London you don’t have a safety net. You lose your job, you get a section 21 notice the day after you miss a rent payment and you are in the streets with a child to feed.
        antisinguIarity 4y ago
        Then don't live in London if you are concerned about feeding your child.

mmarq 4y ago

> There's also a whole lot more to the UK safety net than Jobseeker's Allowance. Fine, but given what I pay in income tax and NI (~80K£ last year), I’d expect a lot more than 4-500£ per month plus (maybe?) 500£ of housing benefit and access to a food bank. I would expect at least 2–3-4 times that for at least one or two years, no questions asked. I understand this money may be enough to live in Wales, but I can’t be expected to relocate there because I lost my job. > If you don't mind me asking, are you a UK native? No, I’m not. Hence I’m immune to the NHS cult. :) Unfortunately several members of my family have battle tested the Italian and the German healthcare systems. Half of them would have died horribly in the UK.

antisinguIarity 4y ago
>given what I pay in income tax and NI That's how socialised safety nets work - those who earn more, pay for those who don't. Otherwise, it would just be a savings account ;) Who exactly should be paying for you to get 3k a month for several years, because you lost your fancy London job? Not me, that's for sure.
- mmarq 4y ago
  Not necessarily, in Germany you get a higher unemployment benefit if you used to earn more (because you paid more taxes and contributions). If I remember correctly, you get 60-70% of your salary capped at ~2-3K€ per month (plus some money for the kids and pension contributions), which is enough to live comfortably everywhere in the country. If I lost my job in London, I’d fall instantly into a form of poverty that doesn’t exist anywhere else in Europe, notwithstanding the exorbitant amount of taxes I pay every year. Yes, you get some pocket money, that’s why I said the safety net is almost non-existent and not totally non-existent.
  - antisinguIarity 4y ago
    Well, here we've just picked a different set of winners and losers. Can you imagine the outcry if here we changed our benefits system to something like that Germany? "I've been out of work for years, and now this schmuck gets 40k a year for free?" Again FWIW, I prefer something like that. Then again, it seems you are aware of the rules of the game you are playing.
    - mmarq 4y ago
      Whatever, but the result is that in London you don’t have a safety net. You lose your job, you get a section 21 notice the day after you miss a rent payment and you are in the streets with a child to feed.
      - antisinguIarity 4y ago
        Then don't live in London if you are concerned about feeding your child.