Budget 2009 and JSB

With cuts predictable in the Budget next month and from listening to murmurings here and there saying that the Job Seekers Benefit could be axed completely as in, you either qualify for Job Seekers Allowance if you are made unemployed, or not.

Is this possible?

Anything is possible. Not sure if you have this in the right forum btw.

It could be viewed as being extremely fair as there are those claiming JB that have other household means that aren't being assessed. They might not need the payment but are claiming it because they are entitled to it. A fairer way to assess the needs would be to abolish the benefit altogether and to look at everyone on an even playing field.

It also means that there would be an end to double JB payments into households where there are 2 claimants. According to an analyst on Newstalk yesterday approx 2,000 claimants per week fall out of the dole net because their benefit entitlements run out and they do not qualify for an allowance. It would definitely save the government money.