Boom-time on benefits: The 140,000 families who claim £20,000 a year in handouts

Lifeisbutadream

churchrat wrote: »

Having to get to grips with the benfits system is really, REALLY difficult. It seems to have no rhyme or reason and even if you work in the system it can be a challenge. I don't think anyone could defend the current system, it does the job, mostly, but it certainly could be a lot better.

As Lifeisbutadream says, she thought that she would be better looked after than she is, and is finding it hard to accept that. I certainly did as well, and complained loud and long but nobody listened. The point I finally accepted was that if we lost the house it wasn't the end of the world, our local council would have to re-house us and I would still be looking after my daughter, in hospital or wherever we called home.

I think that the thing I learnt from that time was that THINGS don't matter, people do. If your health is so bad that to carry on working means that you will become ill--then stop and live with the consequences of that. If you choose to carry on working then live with the consequences of that decision as well.

There is a lot of help and support out there, you just have to accept that you are not in control of it and get on with your life. If you choose not to have the help (as we did, because we decided to keep our house) then live with that decision as well.

If you hate the system, try and change it, don't attack the people who are using it--most of them would far rather not be in that situation.

Good post.

Just to point out I wasnt attacking the people using the system, I was pointing out my frustrations. What happens though is people using the system become all defensive and feel as though people are attacking them.

I feel very let down.

Lifeisbutadream

Broken_hearted wrote: »

Its the way it works.
Two adults work getting two wages
Two adults one work one doesn't you live on the one wage
Two adults not working one set of benefits

The logic you are using is two sets of tax should mean two sets of benefits. It doesn't work like that.

If I give up work our business collapses, it isnt as straightforward as me not working OH working. The business is run as a team - he cannot run it alone and neither can I.

Broken_hearted

Lifeisbutadream wrote: »

If I give up work our business collapses, it isnt as straightforward as me not working OH working. The business is run as a team - he cannot run it alone and neither can I.

Then like a lot of businesses it is no longer viable. There are no easy answers. If you push your health to breaking point you are going to fail either now or later.

churchrat

Lifeisbutadream wrote: »

Good post.

Just to point out I wasnt attacking the people using the system, I was pointing out my frustrations. What happens though is people using the system become all defensive and feel as though people are attacking them.

I feel very let down.

I can really sympathise with that, and so will a lot of other people. We were entilted to very little of anything and to be ill and facing financail ruin is harsh. I became loud and offensive, usually to the people who worked in the benefits agency, but on the whole they were very understanding--they just didn't give us any money!!!!!!

I found that I did get some help (not money) from the variuos charities that we contacted about my dd. I don't know what your health issues are, but are they likely to be covered by a charity? They can often point you in directions you hadn't considered before.

Also, people do become defensive when they feel they are being attacked. It becomes a lot worse if you already feel that you should really be out working and providing for your family yourself. For some of us, there is already a bit of guilt, not because you are recieving benefits, but because to take them is a public admission that you cannot cope. (there is no shame--I just felt it anyway.)

I wish you well, Lifeisbutadream, please remember that help can come from some very unexpected places--maybe even this board!!!!!!!!!!!!

macaque_2

mardatha wrote: »

So many people in here are absolutely clueless. Let's hope they all stay well and in work eh? It is SO easy for some to feel smug and superior and talk down to others.
Like we wanted to be ill.
Like we wanted to lose jobs we liked.
Like we wanted to spend the rest of our days on a couch stuck indoors .
Like we enjoy form filling and grovelling like hell for handouts from a government who have the morals of woodlice.
It's not only horses who wear blinkers is it ?

I fear you are tarred by the actions of fellow travellers. Too many people claim benefits under false pretences. Can this dishonesty and opportunism be a suprise however? Society has become incredibly divided in recent years. People see government ministers claiming relative's flats as their main residence to maximise their expense claims. MPs vote themselves big pay rises. Banks use tax payers money to give their employees bonuses. Local council employees pay themselves £200k a year. NHS employees are given 'personal coaches'. People in quangos pay themselves £1/2 million a year. It has just become one big sleaze fest. Can you really blame someone with almost nothing saying to themselves 'stuff it, I am going to fiddle the system'.

The real solution lies in fostering a fairer, more honest and less selfish society but I am not holding my breath.

churchrat

macaque wrote: »

I fear you are tarred by the actions of fellow travellers. Too many people claim benefits under false pretences. Can this dishonesty and opportunism be a suprise however? Society has become incredibly divided in recent years. People see government ministers claiming relative's flats as their main residence to maximise their expense claims. MPs vote themselves big pay rises. Banks use tax payers money to give their employees bonuses. Local council employees pay themselves £200k a year. NHS employees are given 'personal coaches'. People in quangos pay themselves £1/2 million a year. It has just become one big sleaze fest. Can you really blame someone with almost nothing saying to themselves 'stuff it, I am going to fiddle the system'.

The real solution lies in fostering a fairer, more honest and less selfish society but I am not holding my breath.

you are so right. If everyone was honest the system would work ok--not perfect but ok.

leveller2911

Broken_hearted wrote: »

Yes you are you are managing to work, it might not be easy but you are managing. Be proud of that rather than down on everyone else.

I totally agree with "lifeisbutadream" your wrong broken hearted, when your self employed you have to carry on, you can't take "sickies"you don't get paid leave, No one and I mean no one has said on any post on this thread that there are't genuine cases , BUT and its a big but there are a lot of people who are playing the system and if they weren't there may be a bit more in the "pot" to help out genuine people.It is a FACT that if you add up all the benefits a lot of people get it will add up to £20k a year, its easy to just let the taxpayer (MUG) to keep on paying out.

I actually think everyone should be self employed, if you don't work you don't get paid, that would concentrate peoples minds a little more on what is important.People will always need a form of "welfare" at some point in there lives, we should all be entitled to say 5yrs of "welfare" during your working life ,after you have used your "quota" your on your own, its down to you as an individual to plan your life.
Too many people on here have a view that the benefit cheats are a minute minority of the benefit recipients, I think it is far more widespread than that, I know a lot of people who claim various benefits they aren't entitiled to, I have informed the benefit fraud people and in 18 months Nothing has been done at all.When you have a system where people in small towns and villages no longer have to "sign on" in person locally and sign on through the post no one knows who is claiming, fraud is common place .WE ALL HAVE A RIGHT TO HAVE A GO AT INJUSTICE !!

mardatha

But isn't it sad that these boards are full of spite and vitriol against us, the people at the bottom of the pile - and not much is said against those at the top who fiddle --oops-"use the system" to gain so much more ?
"Divide and rule" always works so well against a sheep-like nation. Shove a few articles in the Sun about benefit fraud, then stand back & watch . meanwhile the higher ups quietly line their pockets and sneak away sniggering.
Thank god I'm OLD !

leveller2911

mardatha wrote: »

But isn't it sad that these boards are full of spite and vitriol against us, the people at the bottom of the pile - and not much is said against those at the top who fiddle --oops-"use the system" to gain so much more ?
"Divide and rule" always works so well against a sheep-like nation. Shove a few articles in the Sun about benefit fraud, then stand back & watch . meanwhile the higher ups quietly line their pockets and sneak away sniggering.
Thank god I'm OLD !

I don't think it is "full of spite and vitriol" where is the bottom of the pile ???? thats the question, we all (unless your very lucky) have /had problems/issues ,if you look at a lot of the posters on various threads I think in general they do "have a go "at the scroungers at the top and bottom of society, I would ask you not to take offence , you will always get a "troll" or two who are easily seen and ignored.In general we have a real problem at both ends of the social spectrum.Ive lived in social housing all my life and the vast majority of my posts are from 1st hand experience of my area.

Broken_hearted

Speaking of injustice social housing is a bugbear of mine. Anyone in social housing is getting the BENEFIT of reduced rent whether they work or not. So your five years are more than over time to hand in the keys and pay full market rate rent or mortgage. You can't have it both ways.