'Would you work or claim benefit?' poll discussion

Chomerly

I've got 2 dependants and i'd take the job but, i claim working tax credits and work part time because i'm better off overall.
As little as 4 years ago i was living relatively comfortably and i usually had a fair amount of money left over to cater for emergencies and also to have some indulgences. It's now, however, that all of that has changed considerably.
I had to leave a full time job at the beginning of last year because i couldn't get by each week with all the bills i had to pay. I always had to miss one bill so that by the end of the month i'd pay that over the weeks and then miss another. This cycle just kept on repeating itself until i had to do something about it and now, i'm marginally better off.
Perhaps it's just me but what has it come to when your better off claiming some or all benefits instead of working?
Something is savagely wrong with the system and it's about time it changed.

FloFlo

supermonkey wrote: »

This! I guess it's for everyone, but even just spending your day on ebay & surveys would be an improvement (and if low income wouldn't affect benefits).

If struggling, then maybe the job would be the way to go as in time salary could go up and you would no longer be struggling. Having said that, a job this badly paid is unlikely to improve (been there!). Someone mentioned how you could job search in your free time. This is fine when in an ok and done casually, but doing 8-5 in a job you hate with poor pay and then spending hours each evening job seeking is a receipe for severe depression.

However, if "comfortable" on benefits I can understand why someone would be reluctant to take a job and lose money especially if it's a job they didnt want to do anyway!
Having kids is a main factor - if I were single (or in couple with a partner working full time) I would be inclined to work. But with kids I'd want to take advantage of the extra time with them

It shouldn't be when someone feels 'inclined' to work, if you can work then thats what you should be doing. I don't see why myself and my husband should work to allow others to have extra time with their children. If you can't afford the children without being on benefits then don't have them.
The only way to get rid of the benefit for life culture is through children growing up in families where parents show them that you should work for a living.

The problem is that lots of people want to start at the top and unfortunately it isn't that easy.

I was brought up in a family where both parents worked, my mum worked hours around my school day. There was never any question that I would grow up and then weigh up whether a job or benefits would pay more.

janineo

I've been in this position.
I was made redundant during the IT downturn about 7 years ago. My partner was still a full time student, and the benefits I recieved helped pay towards rent & council tax as well as living allowance.

After 3 months of looking for a new job, I started applying to anything as I was going crazy staying at home all day with daytime tv and nothing to do other than job search.

However, most employers took one look at my qualifications (degree level) and wouldn't employ me. They knew (rightly) I'd leave as soon as I found a job I was qualified for.

The shop assistants job I finally got was only part time (20hrs) and meant I was worse off as the help with the rent all but disappeared.

But I was much happier working and still had time to job search.
I found an IT job 3 months later.

So for me, the job was better, as I was happier working than not.

UnluckyT

Im single and would take the job, preferably full time if not then part time see if i can get help, but would try to get more hours permanent eventually building to full time/money i can support myself.
if not id take the job and use my spare time to find a full time job, if not another part time job to make ends meet.
i feel at the moment im better off working on the whole, and not a lot can beat the pride you can have about the fact your working, earning and paying your way struggle or not.
i cant afford much, would love to go on holidays and all that, but feel it itd be 'silly' to try and keep up with the jonses and get into that rut. i will do hols eventually but once ive saved for what i want i appreaciate it more and make the most of it.
the benefits system should be changed for the better so if you need it itll be their but not for those who are taking advantage and commiting fraud.

mcgazz

For people who're apparently frugal with money, it's amazing how many of you would take a job that would leave you worse off. Self-respect doesn't come into it - how would anyone who is essentially paying from their own pocket to do a day's work feel any self-respect? If the job was, like most impoverishing jobs, in the private sector, you'd be cutting your own meagre income to spend your days helping other people (the company owner or shareholders) get richer.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Ragged_Trousered_Philanthropists

This is surely an argument for increasing the minimum wage such that it's impossible for there to be a job which pays less than benefits and changing the benefits and tax system so that we stop rewarding people financially for bringing more children into an already overcrowded world.

Tippytoes

mobilejo wrote: »

Why? Because you said so? Because it makes you mad that some people have figured out how to live a better life than those that work, without actually working?

The bottom line is, the money is there for the taking - call them scabs, call them scroungers, call them devoid of pride, but they are laughing at pretty much everyone earning the same as what they get each month when they get to sit at home all day for it.

We have a pretty good life - nice house, 2 nice cars, lots of nice things and we worked to acquire them but they obviously need maintaining now. I don't really care how it sounds to say this, but i'm not going to give up any of those nice things to work for less, when I can keep them by claiming benefits until the right job comes along.

Sorry, but my own sense of survival sort of eclipses what others think of me. Anyone that cares more about being called a scab than they do about getting the most for themselves is an idiot.

Couldn't agree with you more. I can assure everyone here that benefits do NOT always go to deserving people. Why would an immigrant pass through God knows how many countries THEN cross the Channel to come here? It's not for the weather. They KNOW they can live the life of Riley here and everyone who's paying tax is effectively keeping them. That's example number one. Then there are home-grown spongers who know every trick in the book to claim benefits. I'm a grafter. I come from a family that has always worked bloody hard and paid their dues - and for what? It pains me to say it, but if I had my time again I'd happily be a sponger if only to recoup some of the $$£££££s my relatives (now elderly and existing on a pittance) have paid into the system.

Bargainetta

There was a time when I would have said take the job but not now, not since the demise of the 10% tax band. The thing is that even if you were working in a minimum wage job chances are you would still need to claim housing benefit in order to survive so where is the pride there? It just isn't either/or. That is why people are SO angry with the MPs whining about having to pay ANY tax on "expenses" when some people have seen their income tax double in a year. Plus there are nearly always some expenses involved in working such as petrol/fares to get there, clothing, etc. Also, if you have extra time you can shop around and REALLY save money on food, buying clothes from charity shops, DIY.

Bev_B

well as there are no figures I checked on entitledto.com and checked on my personal situation:
couple +3 children between 1 & 5 years with no disabilities,
1 parent working 40 hours on min wage = £10250.09 net (£12064 gross) + £9588.34 tax credits + £400.70 council tax benefit + £1865.05 housing benefit
total £22104.18
On JSA (income based) we would receive £5249.40 JSA, £7259.85 tax credits, council tax and housing benefit paid in full
total £20474.92
both cases would receive child benefit, free prescriptions & school meals for children so I haven't included these.
So unless travel expenses exceed £31.33 a week a job on minimum wage would still be more than JSA and there is always the possibility of parent 2 taking a job to boost finances if there are no prospects for parent 1.

les1ey

If you are on benefits you are not allowed to earn anything extra, you can't buy and sell stuff at a profit, you can't exploit any talent you might have eg painting or knitting. If you are earning a living rather than being on benefits you can take a second job or start a small business or maybe rent out a room in your house all without any loss of earnings. That is why I would always choose work over benefits.

elfen

I'm in a couple but I'd choose work if I could.