Universal Basic Income - a good idea?

Interestingly Jen, what we need to live on has been where (roughly) the level of the personal tax allowance has been since the Libs encouraged the Tories to raise it. That is fine if you have over that amount but not if you are paying no taxes. By giving everyone (eventually) that sort of amount and taking away the personal tax allowance your make it more of a level playing field for those not paying taxes but also those just over the benefit levels.

My DD is self employed on a sessional basis, but having been ill for the last 2 months has had no income whatsoever - a steady £150 a week would have helped enormously.

DH has been awarded the higher rate of Attendance Allowance, (£82.30 per week) starting mid December, which will be 6 months from the date of his formal diagnosis. He has been ill for 3+ years but the medics have struggled to decide which sort of Dementia he has, hence the long delay in being able to apply for AA, though his need for assistance has not changed drastically over this time.

DH is totally bamboozled as to why he is suddenly entitled to this benefit which is non taxable and awarded irrespective of other income or savings, but still having to complete a tax return and pay tax - he says they are giving with one hand and taking back with the other.

We are currently grappling with the vagaries of the care system eg. we already had a MECS alarm installed at a cost of £2.65 a week, which post diagnosis will now be free; he has been referred for Day Care which will be free if the first vacancy comes up at the Alzheimers Society run facility or £68 per day if in the Local Authority run one; Respite Care which IS means tested, is around £350 for 3 days via the LA or £850 if using a private care home - and so it goes on.

I still have most of my marbles, but find all this difficult to understand. How someone with Dementia without a spouse or DC is supposed to find their way through the system is quite beyond me. Another example of the benefit of UBI not to mention the savings in administrative costs incurred by the Tax, Benefits and Social Work staff who have to deal with the current piecemeal system.

I was listening to the radio earlier today and they were talking about the problems with fruit picking (why farmers are taking fruit abroad, etc.) the biggest reason seemed to be the very low unemployment but the man talking said that people do not want to do it as once they are on an even keel with benefits, however much they want to do the work they dare not because of getting back on to benefits and then waiting to be paid is just not something you can't inflict on a family. UBU would mean they had that choice - and the state would get some tax back.

I know what you mean about the 'system'. I often asked what would happen if mum didn't have a 'me'.

basicincome.org/news/2017/10/overview-of-current-basic-income-related-experiments-october-2017/

citizensincome.org/opinion

Lots of information here from a debate last month organised by the LSE.