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

krisskross

MSE_Martin wrote: »

PLEASE STOP IT

For heavens sake people don't force me to close this thread. If you want to discuss the pros and cons of benefits that's fine.

Yet I will not have a family demonised on here.

These are people living a difficult enough life as it is. Stop and think for a second. The academic discussion people are having is upsetting the man and his wife. Is it really worth it.

The aim of publishing this article was to show people how it FEELS to be on benefits - what its like for those who don't know. It was never aimed at being a dissection of exactly what is available.

Many of you have shown you're capable of doing that in a range of scenarios (though how accurate they are to one individuals life I dont know). I refuse to ask this man to divulge more in this bear pit.

Some of you are showing your familiarity with the numbers. Yet to turn that into an interrogation is effectively using it as a stick to beat a man already stuggling. Can you not see the irony of what you're doing on the back of a piece where someone is writing about how degraded by the process he feels.

Ross was excited when I suggested he write the piece - he felt he'd had an opportunity to get his confidence back, to feel like he could do something constructive. That was one of the reasons for doing this - please don't destroy that.

On facebook and twitter the reaction was to think about the man and the impact on his life. While I understand here there's more a focus on the numbers - PLEASE SHOW SOME RESPECT OR AT LEAST EMPATHY - you may be posting with your anonymity in tact, Ross and his family aren't - there are children involved here.

Please stop this bear pit and what is becomig close to bullying.

I haven't been though every post, I'm doing this on a train and have dodgy internet connection, if there are any abusive posts please report them to [EMAIL="forumteam@moneysavingexpert.com"]forumteam@moneysavingexpert.com[/EMAIL] as usual.

Martin

It would be far better to delete the thread and pretend it never happened. The whole thing has done far more harm than good. On this site certainly where there are many people knowlegable about benefit payments and how much is available to a family unit like Ross's.

However Martin do please consider that this site IS about money, says so in the title so perhaps this site was not the best place for Ross's article.

PhiltheBear

krisskross wrote: »

It would be far better to delete the thread and pretend it never happened. The whole thing has done far more harm than good. On this site certainly where there are many people knowlegable about benefit payments.

On the contrary - this thread has shown that a lot of the 'benefit bashers' really haven't got a clue what it's like to be on benefits and, in most cases, couldn't care less. Nor do they want to listen and find out. There's the same old 'you could get a job if you really wanted to' in many different guises, almost certainly from those in work or being supported by a worker.

There's a real world out there. The number of jobless are rising, not falling - and this government is doing its level best to make life difficult for those who, often through no fault of their own, simply can't get work.

Think about it - you could be the next one in the dole queue (and before you say it's no problem, you'll take any job, remember that for even the most menial jobs applicants often out weigh the number of jobs available by a factor of at least 10).

Anon_E_Mus

Originally Posted by ses6jwg
Quote I refuse to believe that most people on disability benefit cannot perform some sort of work such as office work. Unquote

Maybe they can't sit down properly unless slouched in a chair, maybe it's agony to stand for more than five minutes.
********************
I get £67.50 per week from the ESA. I have just applied for DLA, for which, if I'm successful, I will get the lower rate of DLA which will be £19 odd per week. This is all I will get. It totals up to just under £7,790 per year, (£7,918 once my ESA goes up by £4 in two months). That is it. If I don't get DLA I will have £67.50 to live on until April, when my ESA will rise to £71 odd, that is still only just under £3,700 per year. Out of that I have my electric, gas bottles and water to pay, I have a 12 mile round trip to the Doctors every day which is essential for ongoing treatment from my operation back in May which has left me with an open wound. I have a series of further operations awaiting me and no-one knows what the set backs from these could be.

I live in a caravan because I had to sell my house because of the debt, there was nothing left after the debts were paid. Luckily I don't have to pay rent where I am now.

I don't drink, smoke, socialise, holiday, own any designer clothes or even have friends over to entertain, money doesn't allow for any of it. Even when I was working money didn't allow for it.

Those of you who may think I'm a benefits scrounger, I'm grateful for whatever benefits I do receive, but after I have paid non-stop into our Country for over 35 years, all of my working life, I would have liked to think I was worth more than £67.50 a week.

My job is still open, I no longer receive SSP, that ended after 28 weeks. I would love to return to it but physically I can't.

To those of you saying there must be some other job I could do....I can't. Physically I can't. Mentally I would love to. Aside from what resulted in extensive surgery earlier this year, I also have another long term ongoing disability, but I have struggled on regardless over the last 14 years since that occurred, to pay my way. So whilst you sit there and pull apart the people who, through no fault of their own, can't work, also take the time to hope and pray that you don't unexpectedly get a disease that will rip your life apart.

And start saving now, you wouldn't want to be a hypocrite now , would you?

As a footnote I don't know how so many people on here can quote all the figures they do, I have asked numerous times, and several sources, as to what I'm entitled to and each time have been told, nothing, the ESA is all there is. (And Housing Benefit if I paid rent). I only knew about the DLA because a friend told me about it.

Joyful

Anon E Mus

You are exactly the type of benefit claiment that I mentioned earlier that is hard done by. If someone lives on their own the amount of money coming in is much harder to live on. I think most of the people on here have empathy with anyone either disabled or out of work. The few that said you can always work when disabled need to take individual health concerns into account as we all know that this is not true.

On a daily basis I hear of people with such horrific health problems that no one in their right minds should expect them to work.

The only people I would class as a Benefit scrounger ( not something usually in my vocabulary) would be those who play the system and have no health issues but get benefits without ever trying to get a job.

I know from personal experience in my family what it makes people feel like to be on benefits especially the way they can be treated by the Government offices so I agree this needs to change but I also remember the things they did help with such as housing. I used to have to add in this benefit on my calculations at work and every day people would say" but I don't get that money. It's not fair it gets taken into account". You have stated up front that you do not pay for housing and the amount you have to live on. That's all that people were trying to clarify with Ross.

I agree with what you have to live on is not enough especially when all the travel is involved so I hope the operations are a success and you can get your life back again.

krisskross

Anon_E_Mus wrote: »

Originally Posted by ses6jwg
Quote I refuse to believe that most people on disability benefit cannot perform some sort of work such as office work. Unquote

Maybe they can't sit down properly unless slouched in a chair, maybe it's agony to stand for more than five minutes.
********************
I get £67.50 per week from the ESA. I have just applied for DLA, for which, if I'm successful, I will get the lower rate of DLA which will be £19 odd per week. This is all I will get. It totals up to just under £7,790 per year, (£7,918 once my ESA goes up by £4 in two months). That is it. If I don't get DLA I will have £67.50 to live on until April, when my ESA will rise to £71 odd, that is still only just under £3,700 per year. Out of that I have my electric, gas bottles and water to pay, I have a 12 mile round trip to the Doctors every day which is essential for ongoing treatment from my operation back in May which has left me with an open wound. I have a series of further operations awaiting me and no-one knows what the set backs from these could be.

I live in a caravan because I had to sell my house because of the debt, there was nothing left after the debts were paid. Luckily I don't have to pay rent where I am now.

I don't drink, smoke, socialise, holiday, own any designer clothes or even have friends over to entertain, money doesn't allow for any of it. Even when I was working money didn't allow for it.

Those of you who may think I'm a benefits scrounger, I'm grateful for whatever benefits I do receive, but after I have paid non-stop into our Country for over 35 years, all of my working life, I would have liked to think I was worth more than £67.50 a week.

My job is still open, I no longer receive SSP, that ended after 28 weeks. I would love to return to it but physically I can't.

To those of you saying there must be some other job I could do....I can't. Physically I can't. Mentally I would love to. Aside from what resulted in extensive surgery earlier this year, I also have another long term ongoing disability, but I have struggled on regardless over the last 14 years since that occurred, to pay my way. So whilst you sit there and pull apart the people who, through no fault of their own, can't work, also take the time to hope and pray that you don't unexpectedly get a disease that will rip your life apart.

And start saving now, you wouldn't want to be a hypocrite now , would you?

As a footnote I don't know how so many people on here can quote all the figures they do, I have asked numerous times, and several sources, as to what I'm entitled to and each time have been told, nothing, the ESA is all there is. (And Housing Benefit if I paid rent). I only knew about the DLA because a friend told me about it.

Have you tried your local authority for housing? Someone in your position could be housed quickly because you live in a caravan and because of medical issues.

No deposit needed and housing benefit would pay your rent and council tax. Give them a ring and get the application forms.

I do feel for you, the single people with no children will always be at a disadvantage where benefits are concerned.

gaily

Derivative wrote: »

Why do people persist in posting such utter tripe?
The cap itself is enough of an issue without trying to pretend that £11000 is a tiny sum of money.

£7000 pays for a single person's rent and bills/CT in most places in the UK. £1000 pays for food.

You have £3000 per year or almost £10 a day to do whatever TF you like.

£10 a day would get me a hell of a lot.

Single person yes - this is a family of 4.....

tkroyston

Does this £11000 include Council tax, child benefits, rent / help with mortgage shopping vouchers ???? It seems an extraordinary amount of money to me. My gas and electricity is half this families and I am unemployed having worked all my life thanks to NHS changes. I can understand this man's frustration with what life is offering him and his family but it is absolute tosh that 90% have negative thoughts about people's dilema. I feel that this is an angry and unforgiving article. £11000 paying no taxes.... what a dream. So that is like working for £15000 and paying no rent, no council tax, and spending ludricrous amounts on gas and electricity. I would never call this situation scrounging at all but I would call them bitter and unforgiving of the average person on the street. There are thousands of benefit scroungers and I personally know a few who spend all their benefits down the pub then beg off 'friends' to buy them more. Apparrently they go down the pub to keep warm. If you choose to be labelled as a scrounger then that is your own personal choice. I am trying daily to get work. If any one made out I was a scrounger I would KNOW they were not worth anything at all. ESPECAILLY their opinion. For goodness sake man.... who cares what these juvenile low IQ people think. Get a grip.

Anon_E_Mus

KrissKross, Thank you I'm on the council waiting list but I'm not holding my breath! They consider me as making myself homeless because I sold my house so I'm in the lowest band. My Doctor has written to them to ask for me to be placed higher and I'm waiting for the reply.

I'm afraid to go into Private rent as if and when I am able to go back to work, I'm only on minimum wage and won't be able to afford the rent. Getting evicted due to non-rent payment is also classed as making oneself homeless so I can't win.

Joyful, I know the type you mean!! :mad: I know several who are milking the system for all it's worth and I'm sad to say have even reported them but it never seems to get followed through. It's the ones who know how to play the system that get everything. The really needy don't get told anything.

oldermum

I can't believe some of the narrow minded comments written on here, I really hope that these people up on their soapboxes never find themselves in the situation where they might ahve to claim some money from the state, they might actually realise it is there to help people.
Yes of course there are people that milk the system and it is those who need to be cracked down on but not everyone who claims benefits is raking it in, believe me !!
I started reading this post with admiration that this guy was open about how he had been failed and now I am shocked at some of the comments.
Maybe if some people got down off their high horse for a while they might see that not all claimants are scroungers, we are people who have worked for many years and paid lots of taxes suddenly find themselves in situations where they are ashamed to admit they claim some benefits for fear of being chastised.

I'll shut up now

bongoali

Firstly, and most importantly, I really do hope the family concerned are holding up emotionally and have a good support network. (Someone gave me some advise when I was struggling emotionally - "remember for any particular experience, "I'm doing the best I can at this moment in time" ")
I would guess that reading some of the crap on here probably knocked them back a bit causing difficult emotions on top of existing !!!!!! emotions. Not great.
It will pass and any intensity wont always be how you're feeling. I hope you are ok.

Secondly, regarding if the article changed my outlook - yes it did.

I am a benefit basher (probably influenced by programmes like Saints and scroungers and similar undercover stuff on TV as my parents didn't raise me that way). I don't actively hunt claimers!! but I probably add fuel to fire by talking to friends, colleagues etc. Yes I get wound up when, like in the article, people say it's a struggle to be on benefits, because I'm like "what do you expect , it not to be a struggle?". Or I can't afford a holiday etc.
I tended to think some claimers could paint playgrounds, schools etc in return for benefits.
When I drive go into town, I park on the outskirts where it's free and walk in. I don't park right in town where is costs money. So its on that sort of basis I get wound up.
I am also one of those who when they see a picture like the guy's wrist say "oh, you're ok to claim then mate".

I'm hoping going forwards I won't be so black and white. That I can slowly change my automatic thought when I hear the words benefit claimer.

I don't think the guy is looking for sympathy either, like people have suggested, maybe a little empathy.
I think the guy has done something productive so good on him for that.
I hope they're ok.

Also, people are expecting these guys to be perfect - not just about his numbers but in their replies. If he got his numbers wrong, so what. They're not perfect and going through a stressful time right now so any article/ responses will be impacted by that.

It is so true that victim of circumstances could happen to anyone and your plight could change. I feel lucky to have my health, job, security, good network around me, at the moment.

I would love to live in a society where you could leave your bike unlocked, you could leave your sat nav in the windscreen on show instead of having to take time and effort to pack it away when you got in to a servce station for a sandwich, where some of self employed tax dodgers paid what they owe, that benefit cheats didnt claim so taxes could go down and genuine claimers got enough to survive without worry/mental pressures.

Would be an amazing way to live.