MSE News: 'I'm on benefits but I'm no scrounger'

Former_MSE_Helen

This is the discussion thread for the following MSE News Story:

"Headlines about benefits claimants being scroungers are common. Here, one recipient with a rare tumour hits back ..."

Read the full story:
'I'm on benefits but I'm no scrounger'

IMPORTANT NOTE FROM MARTIN 20/2/201

There are many views on benefits. This is just one tale. It is about a man who has felt degraded and belittled by the process of claiming benefits. He was asked to write to show what that feels like.

Many people have harsh views - I would ask you to not add to the process of degradation. Remember this is a real man, with a wife and children.

If you have issue with his piece, please keep them neutral to the invidivual.

For those already engaged in the dicussion please read this

Onearmedbandit_2

I have to agree I'm sure u don't want any pity but I really feel for ur family's position, my husband is very ill and after working from leaving school and paying high taxes for years we are now in the position of living on benefits after losing our house that we'd paid a mortgage on for 9 yrs after my hubby was told he may never work again so his employers laid him off. I hate taking from the state but we have no other choice as my children simply wouldn't eat. Our rent is now double what our mortgage was but we didn't qualify for help at the time. These people who like to benefit bash need to get a grip, not every1 is a lazy scrounger who has never worked. I wish u and ur family all the best as in this day and age it seems that people just want to see the less fortunate in the gutter.

zagfles

The article says

I have two young children and a partner to support on a smidgen over £11,000 a year.

I can't see how he'd only get that:

IS/JSA for a couple: 5500
DLA 1000 (at least - probably more)
Child ben: 1752
CTC: 5655
Council tax benefit: 1000 (at least)

That's nearly £15,000, and that doesn't include housing benefit/SMI.

Onearmedbandit_2

It didn't say he got dla did it? I read ,people shouldn't judge those on dla or benefits. I know my hubby doesn't qualify for dla even though I care for him over 8 hours a day.

zagfles

Onearmedbandit wrote: »

It didn't say he got dla did it?

At the start:

I am in the unenviable position of claiming disability living allowance...

Onearmedbandit_2

I agree with that as it makes a huge difference, and I presumed that meant the person had to pay housing from that. The facts are not totally clear in some respects.

Onearmedbandit_2

Mustn't have took that in , I do apologise that makes a huge difference , the housing fact isn't made clear, they may well still have mortgage payments. Sorry.

Onearmedbandit_2

As he's on incapacity benefit I'm presuming he hasn't been through the ESA hoops so may have more hardship upon him.

zagfles

Onearmedbandit wrote: »

Mustn't have took that in , I do apologise that makes a huge difference , the housing fact isn't made clear, they may well still have mortgage payments. Sorry.

It also says he gets IB which I missed so should be even higher than the £15k I worked out above maybe £16-17k without housing costs. I didn't include HB/LHA/SMI as there are time limits and odd rules on SMI (or he might be living mortgage free).

But I can't see why he wouldn't get any of the other benefits unless he has significant savings.

VfM4meplse

This thread is a long time coming, the MSE forum has developed a culture of bashing benefit claimants.

No-one wants to subsidise fraudsters, or fully able people who refuse to help themselves through taxation, especially when times are so financially difficult. Let's just remember that the system was created to support those genuinely in need, such as the subject of this thread.

Onearmedbandit_2

I agree that there is a lot left out in the statement. If it was £11,000 to pay everything then that's hard but I felt it was more about how he was judged not just the money he was receiving. If however it was £11,000 left after rent then that's different.