Food parcels for the poor in Britain...

[David Johnson]

"I heard that some people who were self employed can't get benefits and need food parcels. Is that the case??????"

Yes and no. Whether the self employed can get benefits tends to depend on the type of insurance contributions they have been making and in addition if they have savings over a particular value.

Most sole traders who have only made basic national insurance type contributions would not be able to get the non-means tested benefits such as job seekers allowance which is only available for 6 months or so. If they have savings above a certain level they would not be able to get income support after six months.

THe benefit system in this country is aimed at two types of people

1. Those who have never worked.
2 Those who have worked but never saved any money.

If you fall outside these parameters and saved money, you are wasting your time going down the Job Centre.

Cheers
D

[Jonone]

Those that have never earned enough to save as well David. Some people are on subsistence wages. I dare say the motivation would be there but there's just not enough of a surplus to save.

[David Johnson]

"Those that have never earned enough to save as well David. Some people are on subsistence wages. I dare say the motivation would be there but there's just not enough of a surplus to save."

You are 100% right. In many cases, people on a minimum wage, once travel, rent, tax etc is taken out will be worse off than those getting the pittance of the jobseekers allowance.

CHeers
D

[Sam Slater]

[quote]i completley agree with ya, my little boys school is trying to get everyone to make up hampers for immigrant families,needless to say i am not donating a thing,[/quote]

You don't think that teaching your son to empathise and help people more disadvantaged than he is a good thing?