I'm sick.. No better off working :(

BurnleyBob

According to Channel 4's Dispatches programme that aired yesterday evening UK real wages have declined 12% in the past five years.

Average earnings rose 0.7% in the year to August 2013 while the lower CPI inflation rate was 2.7% so the pattern continues.

Those who opine the making work pay mantra always omit to add the word 'less' which is the reality.

The same political interests and their compliant media rattle on about so-called hardworking families to purposefully cause division. The propaganda has borne fruit with a great many tractable people (see the Xbox remark in this thread as an example) who are being screwed directing ire for their ills downwards rather than above because it's Britain's richest 10% who are becoming wealthier and not those at the bottom who are scrambling for zero hour contracts, other part-time and contract work and self-employment to then rely on the various Tax Credits to supplement their meagre income.

itch_for_a_glitch

Podge52 wrote: »

I work part time for a low wage, don't earn enough to pay tax so don't contribute as some would put it.

Do I feel better about myself for coming off benefits and working.

No, I feel used.

When I was working I always felt "used" thats work for you.
Working for someone else, is exploitation, get used to it, and increase your skills.

skintandscared_2

Podge52 wrote: »

I work part time for a low wage, don't earn enough to pay tax so don't contribute as some would put it.

Do I feel better about myself for coming off benefits and working.

No, I feel used.

Used by who?

superwoman4

Podge52 wrote: »

Do I feel better about myself for coming off benefits and working.

No, I feel used.

The definition of the verb to employ is to use!

mejaa

bit of conflict on here
under no circumstances will my husband be quitting his job even though we aren't seeing any change to income- I do believe in setting a good example to my kids which is why I have carried on working when to be frank we would be both better on benefits :mad:
thanks bluelagoon for defending me

Morlock

mejaa wrote: »

I do believe in setting a good example to my kids which is why I have carried on working when to be frank we would be both better on benefits :mad:

But you are on benefits, even though you and your husband both work nearly full-time. Some may suggest that you should have educated yourself to a higher standard, strived more and worked harder. Because hard working families get on in life and don't sponge orf the state.

The problem is wages are falling rapidly and the cost of living is rising even faster as social security is smashed up. Imagine having no benefits to top-up your wages, because by criticising 'other' benefits claimants, you are effectively s******g on your own doorstep.

FBaby

I don't agree at all. It is not OP's fault ic wages are what they are. They are working full-time and that's all they can do. If everyone educated themselves and expected top wages so they could support their family who would do the other jobs? I don't have any issues with tax credits to support people working full time on low wage. That's what they should be for rather than to boost the income of those on benefits.

osdset

NYM wrote: »

Don't you consider a person in work and earning their own income an asset to society ?

Yes I do, but I wasn't criticising the OP was I. My problem is with self righteous people with superior attitudes disguising derision as praise.

NYM

osdset wrote: »

Yes I do, but I wasn't criticising the OP was I. My problem is with self righteous people with superior attitudes disguising derision as praise.

On this board, I'm happy to read the message as written rather than look for a hidden agenda.

...but maybe, that's just me.

mejaa

by benefits I mean the dole....
technically speaking the benefits we do get -£65 child tax- £50 of which is a disability element for our son so the remaining £15 is what we actually get, and iirc people who were supposedly educated to a high standard therefore earning high (above the £54000 mark) (assuming you mean higher education higher wage )were also able to claim the "basic" allowance of tax credits up until recently !!!
also educate myself to a higher level?? I really would be in the s**t then with a mound full of debt by going to uni plus childcare fees and to be honest im quite happy with the fact that I have a nvq level 4, possibly starting level 5 AND have 3 kids to look after !!!

Morlock wrote: »

But you are on benefits, even though you and your husband both work nearly full-time. Some may suggest that you should have educated yourself to a higher standard, strived more and worked harder. Because hard working families get on in life and don't sponge orf the state.

The problem is wages are falling rapidly and the cost of living is rising even faster as social security is smashed up. Imagine having no benefits to top-up your wages, because by criticising 'other' benefits claimants, you are effectively s******g on your own doorstep.