Posted Monday 22nd December 2008 15:45 GMT
Because they phrase it like a kind, benevolent exercise to find out who needs benefits, but doesn't have them, when really it's more an exercise to remove benefits from as many people as possible,
Posted Monday 22nd December 2008 16:57 GMT
A database, say of all the pensioners and what benefits they receive, this could then be extended to all those approaching pension age so they can make sure they get the right advice. After a while this could include all those who are working. Eventually they could include everyone in the country on the database so that everyone could get the right benefits.
I think they could create a system in under 20 years for a little less than £50 billion or so. Anyone else think they should do this?
Posted Monday 22nd December 2008 17:17 GMT
True, true...
Local authorites also see "asset gathering" from our old people as a viable funding stream.
It's amazing how many people on £1k, £2k or £3k+ per week are required to direct £50 - £100 per week to suitable dependent.
Posted Monday 22nd December 2008 17:17 GMT
"Now, if all of those pensioners had some sort of national ID card, then we could know what services they needed..."
Posted Monday 22nd December 2008 17:17 GMT
"outreach through trusted service providers and local voluntary groups" is the giveaway: they're just going to grab (sorry, I meant share) the information from your bank, doctor, loyalty card, credit card, landlord / building society / land registry &c &c. So much cheaper than ID cards.
Posted Monday 22nd December 2008 21:00 GMT
...so they can say "No, you can't have any money. Even though you fought/lived through the war, you can die without any heating or sufficient food or any dignity while we throw 50 billion into a large hole in the ground/fund a new database project."
They probably want to find out who they are so they can investigate them for benefits fraud, even though they're not currently gettting any benefits, it won't stop them; the benefit thieves are EVERYWHERE!!!
They also probably want to know who they are so they can say no and thus count it effectively as a saving of benefits.
People called the government they go the house.
Posted Monday 22nd December 2008 21:00 GMT
The article's headline threw me for a loop for a moment. I live in Los Angeles, and out here, DWP means "Department of Water and Power."
Posted Tuesday 23rd December 2008 00:29 GMT
If they are "outside the benefit system" then surely they don't want benefits? How many people don't know about benefits? How many poor old people, presumably with nothing else to do think "I won't bother calling the benefits people"
Posted Tuesday 23rd December 2008 20:42 GMT
Having suffered the local DWP minions, I'd say your definition is more accurate than ours.
Work? Not much help finding anything useful.
Pensions? They recently told my grandmother she has to pay for her Meals-on-Wheels because she has a private pension. If she hadn't saved all her working life and just relied on the pitiful State Pension, she could have had them for free. Of course, then she'd have to go without practically everything else, but at least she'd get one meal a day for free...
Still, the Department bit is accurate.
Some of them (not all - some of them are actually decent human beings!) seem to think they should be able to walk on water and have all the power...
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