Incentive

This is not a political blog, and I comment on political issues only when they affect my judicial function.
I am still a taxpayer though, and I was both interested and alarmed when dealing with a case last week; the defendant handed up his means form, and it turned out that his income from the state, including housing benefit,came to about £1000 per month. Grossed up for tax that equates to more than £15000 per year, so it came as no surprise that he has not worked for the last five years. It's stress, you see.