Should unemployed young people work for their benefits?

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David Cameron has said that if the Conservatives win the election, young people aged 18-21 who are out of work, education or training for six months will have to do unpaid community work which would be mandatory, from the first day of claiming benefits.

They would be required to do at least 30 hours a week of community work like making meals for old people or working for charities, alongside 10 hours of job hunting. Mr Cameron said this would ensure the youngsters “don’t get sucked into a life on welfare”.

Labour has responded by saying these will not be real jobs and are of no use. David Miliband has said that Labour would instead offer a compulsory jobs guarantee for anyone who is young and unemployed and it would be paid for by a new tax on banker’s bonuses.

What are your views?  Could this be an effective way to incentivise young people to seek work and earn their benefits at the same time? Where will a Labour government find all these paid jobs? If you were in power what solution would you offer?

Should unemployed young people work for their benefits?

1331 people have already voted, what's your opinion? Yes No

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nagonthenet
2nd Mar 2015
1
Thanks for voting!
Ronnieboy has read my mind! stop these credits now and let's start getting employers to foot the wage bill.
On this subject young people should work for their benefits but not for 30 hours per week. They need time to look for "proper" work. It is very time consuming applying for work. They run the risk of being stuck in a low paid job and wasting their talents.
ronnieboy
26th Feb 2015
4
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with the greatest respect to certain people on this site saying, people should work for benefits, please be informed that there are millions of working, and claiming benefits, ie working tax credits, and the reason these benefits are paid is because the wages are so low, the government, are subsidising the employers,so is the soloution,give the employers workers , and pay them nothing. ???
jugsy
25th Feb 2015
3
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I would have been truly amazed to have been given any kind of benifit after leaving school. I can just imagine some young people being handed the money and thinking great I have got this for doing nothing so why look for work.
When I was young anyone who didn't work was looked down on.
People on benifit are now the middle class in society as a lot of them claim more than people in work.
We need to stop giving money to people who have not paid into the system. This would stop a lot of immigration.
If I couldn't find a job I would have to do charity work just for my own self esteem.
We have enough litter and fly tipping which needs cleaning up.
Wilf
28th Feb 2015
4
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I agree and 50 years ago if you didn't work you didn't eat. My folks had no money so you had to get up and look around for work no matter what it was. I used to work on a farm for £1 a day in 1974 mending fences etc
jugsy
28th Feb 2015
3
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You have just reminded me Wilf of the work we all did in the school holidays. Potatoe picking and Pea pulling. We loved it!
It seems now they bring people into the Country from abroad to do this and give them a home and a load of benefits.
What on earth has gone wrong with society today?
Wilf
28th Feb 2015
1
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Part of globalisation jugsy. I also spent 6 months picking grapes in France in 1975...really hard work-14 Francs a day (just over £1) and a bottle of red wine for lunch! We thought it was a fantastic job!
jugsy
28th Feb 2015
1
Thanks for voting!
If you went to France now grape picking would they give you a house and top up your low pay with benefits?
I think globalisation should be the same everywhere in the E.U or have I got this wrong?
I think we have the same work ethic but the world has gone barmy.
Globalisation is an ideology that will never work.
SovereignInventory
24th Feb 2015
2
Thanks for voting!
I don't believe anyone under 25 can claim benefits can they? I may be wrong, please feel free to correct me. I believe that there appears to be a generalisation on this topic that ALL young people do not want work, are bone idle, etc... I live in an area of the country (north east) where there is little opportunities for young people to get on the employment ladder. My granddaughter is 15 and I have told her that she would be better off moving away if she wants to pursue a career. If the young people have to work for their benefits, where are all these vacancies to come from. If there is work for them to do, then why isn't there a proper full-time vacancy. Who is going to oversee all of these jobs, what about health & safety, employers insurance, etc....? Its going to need to be joined-up and organised, something that the Coalition are extremely poor at - just look at education, immigration,bankers etc...
Tec
22nd Feb 2015
2
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It gives the 'experience' all employers insist you have, even though no one will give you a job! It benefits mental health and well-being BUT in NO WAY should it be abused as slave labour along the same lines as the Zero contracts therefore community work hours should be reflected in money being paid and expenses incurred. This seems rather wieldy to operate and would mean more interaction and co-operation between agencies at a more local level.
cookingtom136
22nd Feb 2015
2
Thanks for voting!
Life is hard enough.working instills team spirit. Young people without work,fosters bad habits and allows an insular mentality to become the norm.what needs to be guarded against is slave labour mentality by less reputable companies
wade508
21st Feb 2015
3
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So often young people unable to find paid work end up not wanting to work. At least if they are found some kind of "decent" work they will feel they have more of a purpose in life.
willis
21st Feb 2015
4
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Yes and no
1 ensure if doing volunteer work that volunteer are in included within equality act and working time legislation to prevent abuse
2 that hours worked should be equal to money substitution Inc travelling etc
3 when doing community work that they are protected In all aspects
4 that dc should Def do his maths where is a young person possibly suffering learning diffs or mh going to be able to manage a 30 hour work and 10 STUDY. For work without a lot of work protection support advice actually everything you could get before swinging cuts took away much of this help
This in theory for those who were brought up to work seems correct but let's face it we could get jobs then I can see exploiting and abuse and some rich paymasters and don't forget the invisible parent who will also have to cope
goldenbee
21st Feb 2015
3
Thanks for voting!
Sorry but if they work it's a job and should be paid the going rate not used as cheap labour, that would be soul destroying. If the government have things they want done they have to pay a wage. It is not the fault of the young people leaving school etc that there are no jobs, we have too many people in the country and hardly any industry left. We can't keep supporting every stray who comes our way.
Debbie 1962
21st Feb 2015
2
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If they make them work doing this time of work it stop the people who want to do this time of work because they care so they will not put their hearts into the job
Mad Nanna
21st Feb 2015
4
Thanks for voting!
Yes they should work for there benefits It may give them some insight as to how much better it is to work for what you get. My parents instilled in me that you work for a living and that's what I did only taking time off to have a family then back to work. The government make it to easy for people to sit at home if they have no intention to work offer 3 jobs and if they turn them down the payments stop, I'm sure there is plenty of organisations who could do with another pair of hands.
tel-boy
21st Feb 2015
3
Thanks for voting!
Yes, young people should work for their benefits, so should older people within the benefit range. I served a 5 year apprenticeship and was paid by my company. In those days before the Conservative government closed the Mines, the ship building and steel works there was plenty of work in the NE of England for everyone. Nowadays there is no real industry for youngsters to be apprenticed to. The small businesses can't afford to pay massive sums of money over 5 years. Now, its only a year, or two years apprenticeship and That Is "IT."
I have never been on the dole in my life, never received any type of benefits from any government in the past 72 years.
Disabled people like myself will shortly have to pay for disabled parking places at hospitals, this money will definitely help those who are not genuinely out of work because of disabilities, but the scroungers will also benefit. Is this right.????
jenniealpha
21st Feb 2015
4
Thanks for voting!
I think everyone who gets money from the government should be forced to do some work for that money. I would also like to see those on benefits like women who keep producing babies made to work also.if they live with a man then they should both be made to work having their hours adjusted so that while one does community work then the other should look after those children. The only ones who should not work would be pensioners
lavishlox
21st Feb 2015
3
Thanks for voting!
I think everyone on benefits should do 12-16 hours work a week. Having been out of work and claiming benefits myself in the past, i found it soul destroying, i could not sit at home all day every day ever again.
Wilf
21st Feb 2015
2
Thanks for voting!
I am the same..I was unemployed when I was a youngster. Time went sloooowly! and it was very depressing...have never forgotten it!!
lavishlox
21st Feb 2015
4
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I now run my own business have done for the last 13 years, paid back every penny and more through tax that i got from benefits. Ive brought up 3 children on my own for 20 years and all 3 either went to college or work straight from school. None of them have claimed benefits
magsamum
21st Feb 2015
4
Thanks for voting!
I have noticed that a lot of people are making comments about the pay being £1.90 an hour. It is not pay. They are not earning a wage, it is simply asking them to out something back into the society that is supporting them. Being un-employed is isolating, can cause depression and lead to feelings of low self-esteem. By contributing a service to society they will learn wonderful skills that will push them forward into the world of work. Punctuality, communication, how to take instruction, finish a task and most importantly pride at a job well done. How anyone can find fault in learning these skills is beyond me. Too many of our young have not only been written of by society but have written themselves off. This can only be a good thing . My only proviso would be that no company or individual profits in monetary terms from their work. It is NOT a punishment .
ronnieboy
21st Feb 2015
-5
Thanks for voting!
having read all of the remarks on this subject on this site I am of the opinion that most of the S.S.'s here are living in there little ivory towers, living off mummy and daddy's money.
Wilf
21st Feb 2015
4
Thanks for voting!
dont think so.I came from nothing and worked like a mule
jugsy
25th Feb 2015
1
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Wrong. We have all worked hard for what we have got. We are not just silver surfers but silver savers something the younger generations have not wanted to do hence the credit situation.
rudgy
21st Feb 2015
5
Thanks for voting!
If there is no work around for these young people and they get no pay what happens then .My local M P claims for a cup of coffee and almost every else you can think of ,to me that's claiming benefits. And as for looking good on a cv what rubbish .give young people a wage for a fair days work not around £1.90 an hour .
HJR58
21st Feb 2015
3
Thanks for voting!
Definitely! There is lots of community based tasks they could do. As local councils are struggling financially why can't they collect litter, do gardening work or similar projects?
I think that there should be a proviso that no-one else looses their job because of the 'free' labour and that they do't do anything that would require a CRB check. The culture of something for nothing needs to end. Those of us who have worked and contributed all our lives should not be supporting people capable of working!
ronnieboy
21st Feb 2015
-2
Thanks for voting!
note to futch, a very sweeping generalisation, mostly innacurate, and without foundation,must be related to one of the rogue employers I mentioned in my earlier comments.
mariecher
21st Feb 2015
2
Thanks for voting!
I have joined SS to make a comment.
So Mr Miliband is saying that those that those kind of jobs, ie cleaning toilets in a hospital , it wasn't a proper job?.i am incensed.!
I worded with a young man doing just this all one summer while waiting to go to Uni... His heart was in the right place.,
No thank you I don't want your government. Mr M.
ronnieboy
21st Feb 2015
2
Thanks for voting!
no,I do notagree that people should work for there benefits, reasons as follows,rogue employers would get staff for nothing, instead of giving somebody a proper paid job, people will be used and abused, the tory employers get rich, and the free, no waged employees get shafted,the 79% who voted yes,should hold there heads in shame, If they had there way, we'd still be sending kids up chimneys and down mines.
Wilf
21st Feb 2015
3
Thanks for voting!
ronnieboy think the main issue is its not good for youngsters to have no work for their esteem and if we could get them into any type of work it could put them in the right direction. I came from a very poor family and we had to work---no work=no money-simple!
rudgy
21st Feb 2015
1
Thanks for voting!
Back years ago you could move from job to job ,not possible these days I'm afraid .There is no work because that's how this government like it , so long as they can make their millions .Most of the industry has been sold to foreign countries .You can't work if there are no real jobs ,not cleaning walls or picking up litter.They are not criminals ,remember not all want to do nothing ,also who's going to pay for their fares to get around to all the places they have to do this community work .Please don't say walk .
futch
21st Feb 2015
2
Thanks for voting!
The idea of working is knowing you have earned your benefit, after all they have possibly never paid in anything to the system before. Also learning to mix with a wide variety of people will help them make good choices in their future and give them experience.
lindahigginsuk
21st Feb 2015
2
Thanks for voting!
It would be the best thing because:
A) it would get them out of bed in the morning, giving a purpose, getting them into a work routine, improving their self esteem.
B) it would teach them you can't get something for nothing, especially when you (and possibly the parents) have not contributed to the welfare pot.

I would like to see it enforceable that" no do voluntary work=no welfare."

Since the council's are so strapped of money could we not have voluntary positions (dole paying) for parks and gardens, litter picking, recycling collection etc working alongside paid council employees.
This would enable the youngsters to see what goes on in the workplace and perhaps secure a slightly better paid job and get off the dole.
hmoconnor
21st Feb 2015
2
Thanks for voting!
I think all people who are on working benefits'should be encouraged to do something each day,but if the job's aren't around how can they work.some people abuse the system,to get every benefit so they don't have to work,these are the people we should be monitoring.The whole structure need's overhaul,before we end up a broken country.
nickymac62
21st Feb 2015
3
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Absolutely they should. Their benefits money is coming from those of us who do work hard.
Whittyb50
21st Feb 2015
3
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Good for them to have a purpose! And
Learn some life skills
wallydog25
21st Feb 2015
3
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Why should people get money for doing nothing , there's work out there paid,voluntary ,plenty to do in the community .
tripper123
20th Feb 2015
4
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I think all able bodied folk should work but not for less than minimum wage
Wilf
20th Feb 2015
4
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Totally agreed nobody should ever have to work for less than minimum wage...UK is a civilised country and this is the law
mac1955
20th Feb 2015
3
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It will help some of them acquire much needed life skills which they can put to good use in paid employment
rudgy
20th Feb 2015
4
Thanks for voting!
Not all young people do not want to work .If work can be found for them they should be paid the minimum wage ,instead of about £1.90 per hour .to me that's slave labour .Its another Tory ploy .Better the M P s. came of benifits they claim enough .They are are the grey vote ,but stop and think would you like your Granchildren doing it ,I'm know I would not .But then I'm not a Tory voter.
HJR58
21st Feb 2015
2
Thanks for voting!
What about all the young people in University? They don't get paid and are working to better themselves and will actually end up with debt. I would rather my grandchild worked, learned and contributed than doss on the sofa all day watching TV or sleeping - that is no life!
rudgy
21st Feb 2015
2
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No it's no life ,buy not all young people are watching TV or sleeping ,I agree they need to do something worth while not picking up litter or cleaning walls full of graffiti .
I have two Granddaughters at University ,but not every one is accademic.My Granddaughters will have large debts ,and may still not get jobs .I would not like them litter picking .I have always understood community work was for criminals.Not for the unemployed .
Wilf
20th Feb 2015
4
Thanks for voting!
Its a really great idea...ideal youngsters is NOT a good idea. they get bored and once out of work for a long time loose confidence. If they simply dont want to work ....tough...why should the rest of the community pay taxes to help them do nothing.
daisychain
20th Feb 2015
3
Thanks for voting!
It is a good idea for them to do this. There are a lot of young people who already do voluntary work without being asked. It will get them into work mode instead of doing nothing and will look good when they write their Cvs that they are prepared to get up and do something.
Munsterlander
20th Feb 2015
2
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They should work- it keeps them focused on employment,helps the country and is good for their CV.

However, some people are just living off the State and its makes them earn some of the free money they are getting.
Jo Kingham
20th Feb 2015
1
Thanks for voting!
Great idea and this shouldn't apply to just young people but anyone who's without work for a period of time. Too many people claim benefits and sit on their bums doing nothing
Archiebald
20th Feb 2015
3
Thanks for voting!
Unemployed young people should definitely have to work for their benefits and maybe as an incentive be given more than when they are are on the dole. I am very lucky as I have only been unemployed once when I was 21 for 3 months and went to claim the dole but it was too depressing so I spent the time trying to get work. Its not good for youngsters (or anyone) to be idle and they need training for the future. Getting all that energy working is a good think for them and the UK in general!

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