Friends sponging off benefits, so disappointed

pipkin71

Chrysalis wrote:

This attitude from taxpayers where they hold benefit claimants on par with a bank robber as criminals is fueled by their anger having to pay tax and seeing someone get more out of the system them theirselves.

I'm not a taxpayer, and claim benfits, but at the end of the day, theft is theft is theft no matter how it's done.

june1970_2

i would report them

Eupho

Im a working single mum with three children. I have a friend of 8yrs who is 42.. and has two children.. one 18 (and moved out) and one of 13.
What reeeeeally bugs me.. is how she LAUGHS that shes *Never had a real job* EVER. All she has done all her adult life is claim.

She claims for everything she can. Then on top of that a few times a week she cleans someone house at £20 a time.. and then when there is work available (often) she works a few days a week cash in hand for someone painting and decorating. (£50 per day)

The rest of the time.. She up half the night online on her 10mb broadband.. and while im out at work.. She lays in bed watching tv till lunchtime then wanders off to her art or pottery or yoga classes. Hard life eh?

We get on great as friends.. as long as we dont start talking about money.. then I end up very quiet.. because it reeeeally winds me up.. I think its very sad to get midway through your life and actually think its FUNNY to have never had a job.. and never not claimed. While the rest of us are paying for her *holidays* coffee and breakfasts in the cafe each morning and yoga classes.

What I DONT understand is why she has never been hassled to get a job.
I thought people not working got called in every now and again and where asked about what they are doing to find work etc.. ive never known that happen to her.. infact it doesnt. :mad:

Edited to add: and no.. I havent thought of dobbing her in.. and nor do I intend too.. I'd just like her to wake up and make a blimmin effort. (and stop taking the p**s)

sheryldoc

Jo_R wrote:

I had a think about this... Envious I would say - of course it would be great to have that sort of money instead of having to budget, worry about spending an extra pound and not have to buy the budget brands, to be able to buy things outright instead of paying for them for a few years. But at the end of the day, if I reported them because I felt jealous, it wouldn't get me any extra money would it? I'd still be living off the same amount of wages and tax credits.

As for what I'm going to do? I shall speak with them first. There's been a lot of informative and interesting opinions and facts posted on here that have gotten me thinking, and honestly I couldn't just go and shop them without standing up and saying my piece (even if I have been a terrible friend and said it here first. )

If you speak with them first.. then well done.. that wouldnt be being a terrible friendand if you speak to them and they continue.. well you have tried to make them see reason and if u then decide to report them.. fair enough.

sheryldoc

**purplemoon** wrote:

I think this is your best course of action rather than just "reporting them" and possibly creating more problems for them.

And before everyone jumps on me for saying this, please hear me out.

A young couple I know were recently in a very similar situation, i.e new baby, about to move into a flat together, mum not currently working and dad earning a low wage (£11k pa) and they were actually considering going down the route of her claiming benefits as a single mum just to make ends meet. Apparently a "friend" had advised them to do this! :rolleyes:

Anyway, I showed them the http://entitledto.com website and helped them to work out exactly what benefits they might be entitled to living together as a couple and it actually worked out that they'd be better off living as a couple, legally, than claiming benefits as a single parent!

They are entitled to WTC/CTC (which they didn't previously know about) plus a small amount of HB/CT and this worked out to be more beneficial financially than mum claiming IS/HB/CT as a single parent, also taking into account the amount he would "lose" to CSA payments, of which she would only receive £10.

Sometimes people just need to be shown the right way to deal with things

:T :T THATS the way it should be done..x

stamford

report 'em