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

SingleSue

olly300 wrote: »

To be fair to the first bloke knowing someone who suffers from CF and other people whose children have had life threatening conditions, he would have problems working as his child unless she is extremely lucky would have lots of hospital appointments and hospital stays. No employer especially if they have a choice between someone who is there all the time and someone with a sick child, would be happy to take that on.

And therein lies one of my problems.....my boys disabilities scare employers as they know (especially as I am seeking work in the education sector), that I will have to take time off on a pretty frequent basis.

SingleSue

MrsE wrote: »

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=1379775

Should this thread not be moved to DT & merged with this one?

Please god no! I've stopped posting on their benefit threads.....way too narrow minded.

olly300

mewbie wrote: »

I'm reading this thread getting more and more annoyed.

Do you think we should help those less fortunate than ourselves? Even if some chancers slip through the net? Can you imagine being disabled or disadvantaged in some way? So what if it's their 'fault'? So what if some nieve young girl gets pregnant and the father does a runner? !!!!!! happens sometimes and society is supposed to be there to pick up the pieces.

I hope someone will help me if and when I need it.

The point is the government is picking up the pieces in the wrong way. We are fostering a culture of dependence.

Putting someone in a large house and giving them benefits so there is actually no chance that they would be able to work to pay their way is not helpful and causes other problems i.e. mental health problems.

Helping someone by giving them decent childcare, putting them in a small house maybe a slightly too small house/flat where they could if they get a job cover their costs and giving them help with training should enable them in a few years to be mostly independent.

My mother being a single parent, having friends' and knowing other people who for some reason have ended up being single parents the happiest and proudest ones where able to say - "Even though I suffered this I was able to do provide for my kids myself"

Even the disabled people I've met and known with disabilities you can and can't see, like working whether in paid employment or otherwise.

leveller2911

mewbie wrote: »

I'm reading this thread getting more and more annoyed.

Do you think we should help those less fortunate than ourselves? Even if some chancers slip through the net? Can you imagine being disabled or disadvantaged in some way? So what if it's their 'fault'? So what if some nieve young girl gets pregnant and the father does a runner? !!!!!! happens sometimes and society is supposed to be there to pick up the pieces.

I hope someone will help me if and when I need it.

If we all had that attitude and mindset mewbie we will be "going to hell in a handcart"....................its simple.....in fact so simple no one in charge gets it......................IF YOU PAY IN

---

YOU GET SOMETHING OUT

YOU DONT PAY IN

---

YOU SINK....
In the 80,s there were a number of young girls on my estate who got pregnant purely to get a council house,FACT.......There children are now grown up, the majority of whom are on the dole,they all have children and the childrens role models are there parents...Mewbie with all due respect its like an inverted pyramid and the workers are the peek,propping up the rest and its gonna get worse.....

purch

To be fair to the first bloke knowing someone who suffers from CF and other people whose children have had life threatening conditions, he would have problems working as his child unless she is extremely lucky would have lots of hospital appointments and hospital stays. No employer especially if they have a choice between someone who is there all the time and someone with a sick child, would be happy to take that on

I agree 100%.

It's the availability of 'Motability' Cars that I was trying to highlight. If these two examples follow across the country is must cost ££ millions, and probably is all the keeps Ford UK in business.

MrsE_2

SingleSue wrote: »

Please god no! I've stopped posting on their benefit threads.....way too narrow minded.

Its just I thought one of these threads was enough

milliemonster

I don't think it is fair that all mothers should have to work full time whether they like it or not, what kind of dictatorship would that be? we should be nurturing the family and if mothers want to stay at home with their children then they should be allowed to, god we are judged if we work when we have kids and judged if we don't. However, I don't think the state should 'pay' for mothers to stay at home with their children, I have 2 children and have always worked and paid my way, I don't begrudge any mum who wants to be at home with their child if they can afford to do so.

I do think though that our benefits system is a complete farce, it fails to help the genuine needy and doesn't encourage anyone to work once they are in the benefits 'trap'

I know a single mother who lives in a house owned by her grandmother, she claims benefits including housing benefit to pay her 'rent' to her grandmother, but then her grandmother doesn't charge her any rent and the house is essentially hers in all but name. Her monthly income is more than mine and I work full time and have a good salary.

Another friend, claims WTC, she earns £15k a year, hubby owns a restaurant in a posh town that is doing very well, he has a good accountant so on paper he earns minimum wage, therefore she gets WTC, in reality they are loaded and have just had a £50k extension on their already large 4 bed detached home.

Last friend, she doesn't work, has 2 kids and is worried about when they reach 12 that she is going to have her benefits stopped, she gets all her council tax/housing paid, has just sold her mothers house and quickly spent the money on a brand new large 4x4 and a £14k caravan.

I work full time, don't claim anything as I am not entitled, drive an old car, don't go out much, it gets me mad, you can see whay so many people just decide to give up work and 'join the club'

MrsE_2

olly300 wrote: »

The point is the government is picking up the pieces in the wrong way. We are fostering a culture of dependence.

Putting someone in a large house and giving them benefits so there is actually no chance that they would be able to work to pay their way is not helpful and causes other problems i.e. mental health problems.

Helping someone by giving them decent childcare, putting them in a small house maybe a slightly too small house/flat where they could if they get a job cover their costs and giving them help with training should enable them in a few years to be mostly independent.

My mother being a single parent, having friends' and knowing other people who for some reason have ended up being single parents the happiest and proudest ones where able to say - "Even though I suffered this I was able to do provide for my kids myself"

Even the disabled people I've met and known with disabilities you can and can't see, like working whether in paid employment or otherwise.

:T :T :T :T :T :T :T :T :T :T

SingleSue

MrsE wrote: »

Its just I thought one of these threads was enough

You are certainly right there!

I started out the morning feeling relatively bright and sunny..on reading these threads I now feel completely depressed, hounded, guilty and frustrated...oh and completely worthless to society.

mewbie_2

OK guys. I wake up tomorrow with a critical and disabling illness. I have no insurance. What should happen? Is it just my hard luck, or will you support me for a while and then begrudge my Mobility car? Will you believe that I did once work and pay tax, or will you accuse me of being a scrounger? What if I am permanently disabled by this illness? Suppose it's a mental illness, so you can't actually see anything wrong with me - like a leg missing? Am I a scrounger then? Am I scum? Suppose I am female, pregnant, black and ill educated? Suppose I never got the chance to work, because of family problems, lack of education or opportunities? Is it my fault then?

Who do you select to be deserving or not? It's almost impossible to be fair. Do you let the deserving fall along with the undeserving - because you are so bitter and twisted about paying a few pence extra of tax that you cannot bear the thought of someone ripping you off?

That's how I read it.

How about just getting on with your own life - working, paying tax, being healthy, having a secure and happy home - and just be grateful that YOU don't have to rely on someone else's 'generosity'.