Should Jobseekers Benefit and Allowance be reformed?

I must have missed that. I thought they were arguing why is so hard to get if you have a good work history, and a history of very few if any claims?

No, rock3r was advancing the case for implementing a Danish model. In the event of unemployment you may claim benefit that is the same as your previous wage for a fixed period of time.
 
No, rock3r was advancing the case for implementing a Danish model. In the event of unemployment you may claim benefit that is the same as your previous wage for a fixed period of time.

Ah now I'm with it. Seems like a great idea to me, but I can see how as you're suggesting it would be open to abuse.
 
I didn't read anything on google about Denmark giving all workers a percentage of their actual employment income, meaning an ex-CEO on the dole would get six figures. I read it as saying it pays a percentage of the average or median wage, for a short period of time, and presumably several other caveats to prevent abuse. Did you see that?
 

Emmmmmm ... I had assumed you were the expert on the superiority and intricacies of the Danish social welfare system.

This, apparently, is the "Danish model" as regards unemployment benefits, which I have already talked about on this thread:

"Unemployment Benefits:
90% of average earnings of the previous 12 weeks, up to 3,205 kroner a week."

The reason I think it's vastly superior is that there's no more than 8% of the population living in relative poverty in Denmark.

Only 7% of the Irish population is at risk of social deprivation according to ESRI so calling the Danish system "vastly superior" is a bit of a stretch. Relative poverty in Denmark in 2004 (latest I could find statistics for) was 13.2%. Better than Ireland at 22.5% but only around the EU average. So why pick Denmark as your model - why not the Czech Republic or Romania?
 
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The at-risk-of-poverty rates are as follows, 2005 data:

Ireland = 20% of population
Denmark = 12% of population

See here:

[broken link removed]
 
The CSO data for our at-risk-of-poverty rate is 18.5% of the population according to their EU-SILC report, see here:

[broken link removed]

The "consistent poverty" rate in Ireland is 7% in the same year, 2005.
 
Very interesting statistics Protocol, thank you. I couldn't seem to get the Eurostat data to display in my browser but could view the link provided.

Did some checking and "equivalised" income means income which has been adjusted to take account that people in a household have disproportionate income needs. The income from the earners in a household is then split in a weighted fashion among all members in a household. The weightings are 1 for the first adult over 13 and 0.5 for subsequent adults and 0.3 for children.

It would appear that in 2005 the 60% threshold of the median wage was €192 per week, so below that would put someone in the "at risk of poverty" category. So a family of two adults and three teenage children would be "at risk of poverty" for a combined annual income of less than €29,952.

The "consistent poverty" category is based on not being able to afford two or more items from the following list.

1. Two pairs of strong shoes
2. A warm waterproof overcoat
3. Buy new not second-hand clothes
4. Eat meals with meat, chicken, fish (or vegetarian equivalent) every second day
5. Have a roast joint or its equivalent once a week
6. Had to go without heating during the last year through lack of money
7. Keep the home adequately warm
8. Buy presents for family or friends at least once a year
9. Replace any worn out furniture
10. Have family or friends for a drink or meal once a month
11. Have a morning, afternoon or evening out in the last fortnight, for entertainment

http://www.socialinclusion.ie/
 
Yes, and Denmark scores over 50% better than Ireland on those criteria you listed. Thus, they're 50% superior.
 
Yes, and Denmark scores over 50% better than Ireland on those criteria you listed. Thus, they're 50% superior.

Yes but for the "at-risk-of-poverty" or relative poverty categories. Even the social inclusion website has doubts about the veracity and suitability of comparisons with other countries. Ireland has a quite high rate of home ownership for example, compared to Denmark but the measure does not take this into account.


It also begs the question - why the comparison with Denmark? Plenty of other countries have similar or better relative poverty scores, yet they do not all have similar social welfare schemes.
 
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