Benefits for gamblers

[Deleted User]

Hi
I hope this doesnt sound too stupied but do people with severe gambling problems entitled to benefits? I mean if some1 is so bad that they can not stop gambling, do it as soon as they get money, etc etc

Its just that alcholics and peoplpe on drugs get money and ive alwayas wondered about gambling junkies. As i know this can be areally bad thing and some people cant stop even when they go see about help

[Deleted User]

Yeah but we all know they spend the money on the drink and also the drugs, i know plenty junkies and alcholics and they even admit thats what they spend the money on.

Yeah thats probably right what you said, they will be down as having probs a medical condition or something. But saying that being agambling junkie is a very serious thing. When people say just dont do it its easier said than done.

singlehouseholder

The welfare state does not provide money for drink or drugs, and as a tax payer , I'd be very very upset if gambling addicts funded their addiction via additional payments. As far as I know, they do not get any extra payments, rightly so- what they may have access to , is some sort of rehabilitation course / centre/ counselling sessions. Isn't there somesort of "gamblers anon" self help group, of course that only helps if you want help.
Please correct me if I'm wrong- and please show me the way to the pile of public cash, could do with a few extra quid for poker night on Saturday, i'm crap at playing!!!
Incidentally, when addicts have a big win, do they contribute a percentage of their winnings back to the taxpayer?hmm, thought not.

scatz

Al_Mac wrote:

They don't get money because they do drugs or drink. They get the money despite it;)

They will be getting benefits as they fit the relevant criteria. Might be right, might be wrong:cool:

Don't quote me as I may be wrong, but I recall seeing somewhere that drug users and/ alcoholics may be entitled to Incapacity Benefit ontop of whatever other benefit they get!

Is this not paying them for 'being' a drug user or an alcoholic?

:mad:

[Deleted User]

The thing is singlehouseholder, mostly all alcholics and i will say ALL junkies takeing drugs get benefits and they do spend it on their drugs and drink, so in a way the governement is feeding their habit. Like i mentioned all the 1s i know admit thats what they do with their money from their benefits. Correct me if am wrong but if their addicts and they dont spend their benefits on their habit where do they get the cash to do it then?

And yes their is a gamblers annoymous just like their is groups for drug addicts and also alcholics and it doesnt help every1.

I only asked this question cos i was having a conversation with some1 on msn and she said mayb the governemnt would help with people with serious gambling addictions. I even said surely they wouldnt but thought id ask as i hav to be honest thought myself and so have others.

singlehouseholder

Of course no-one can police what people choose to spend their benefit on for gods sake, this isn't a police state, yet!! To suggest the govt provide benefit to "alcoholics" & "drug abusers" to purchase their drug of choice is nothing short of ludicrous, the money is provided as the govt states that is the amount you need to live on!!
A drug abuser would be getting presumably IB or IS because they aren't well enough to work- not to feed their habit!!eg, they go to Drs get a sick note- alcoholic-drug abuser, and use that to claim sickness benefits.
As it is ludicrous to assume all drug abusers & alcoholics are in receipt of benefits!! It must be awful to have a gambling addiction, the same as any other addictions, but does it make you vomit-nauseaous-turn you violent-give you mood swings....... Both drug and alcohol abuse have "physical" side affects, they can't be compared to gambling addiction.
I have a very very close friend who has beaten the demon drink and has now been sober for over 3mnths- the top and bottom of it is, the support groups do work, but only if you want them to work and put the effort in.
You want me to correct you? No problem, I hate to make sweeping generalisations but look at the crime rates and then compare them in areas that have high drug addiction and little or no rehab - you get the picture?? Drug related crime,its the modern day plague, need I say more???