Iain Duncan Smith, the UK's Minister of work has revealed a new solution for the unemployed and poor people in Britain. The benefits for them won't be paid in cash anymore.
The new system of pre-paid cards will replace the traditional one. This will help limit problems with addictions such as gambling and drugs as it's an often phenomenon that the benefits are spent on them instead of spending the money on the family needs.
The Minister said at the recent Conservative Party Conference: "I have long believed that where parents have fallen into a damaging spiral – drug, alcohol or gambling addiction, even problem debt, or more – we need to find ways to safeguard them – and more importantly, their families, their children, ensuring their basic needs are met. That means benefits paid should go to support the wellbeing of their families, not to feed their destructive habits. I can announce that I am testing prepaid cards, onto which we will make benefit payments, so that the money they receive is spent on the needs of the family – finally helping break the cycle of poverty for families on the margins, change we can be proud of."
There is a trial of claimants selected that will test the pre-paid cards. The general idea is to help the families control their finances as there will be introduced a limitation in what they can buy or use. The cards will be compatibile only with selected retailers, so the people using them won't be able to buy alcohol, drugs or gamble. If the trial's results turn out positive, the project will be expanded to the whole country by 2018.
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Unemployed won't gamble in the UK
Tuesday, 14 October 2022 11:55
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