Would you be better of on benefits?

LKRDN_Morgan

I can honestly say I have never looked at someone on benefits, or watched one of these tv programmes and though god I'd love to have what they have.
Never.

But that's because benefits could never equal what I earn. I don't say that to be smug but do people think well paid jobs fall on your lap? You have to work your way up. And if you're stuck in a job that doesn't have much progression then do something about it. The only excuse for what you perceive as poor wages is a poor attitude. If you are happy on a low wage then great. If you are not happy quit !!!!!ing about it and fix it

Newly_retired

I am sure you will be happy to know that in future there will be a limit of two children per family eligible for benefits.

Peter333

FBaby wrote: »

OP, very bad idea to start this thread here. The reality is that a large proportion of the population agree with you, at least those who know enough of the system, despite not relying on it, to be aware that many people do indeed end up as comfortably financially not working, or working minimum hours than those working full-time.

However, maybe because most of these people are much too busy trying to fit everything in life to come and relax on this forum, you won't get many responses from them. You are more likely to get negative responses from those who rely on people like you to contribute to the system and worried that if more people decide not be 'suckers' any longer, they might be more demand than supply very soon

Ouch. Bit of an unpleasant dig at people on this forum. With a more than a tiny smattering of irony. :eek:

Person_one wrote: »

Wow, that's some ugly bitterness right there.

Maybe you should leave your job and sign on, just for a bit, then report back on how cushy and easy it was. Its making you unhappy and you seem to think you'd be fine without it.

This. ^^^ :T

PasturesNew wrote: »

Years ago the difference between working/not was bigger. It made working worthwhile.

In the last 20 years a lot of wages have remained static, while a lot of benefits have increased and new ones added, plus systems/rules that mean you have opportunities to "work the system" + forums like this to demonstrate/explain how the system's worked.

Overall, for a lot of people, if you're not in a great area, or don't have the right qualifications, nor the time/access/cash to get them .... it does seem that benefits would pay better - and you don't have to get dressed up/commute and leave the house at OMG o'clock only to be emotionally drained and psychologically abused by bosses.

This is true sadly......... Many years ago (pre mid 80s I would say,) work really paid, the hourly rate was much higher, benefits were very low, there were no tax credits, and it DIDN'T pay to stay on benefits.

I'm not saying it's a great idea to stay on benefits (by choice,) but when you're barely 15 pence a week better off working, whilst having to put up with all the office politics, horrible bosses, nasty colleagues, targets, goals, spending most of your waking hours with someone you wouldn't even normally give the time of day to, waking at dawn to get to a job that you hate (that you won't return from til tea time!) JUST so you can pay your bills; you can't blame people for doing their best to stay at home!

Until the NMW is £15 an hour, some people will prefer to stay on benefits - or work part time... (whilst claiming tax credits and housing benefit...)

sulphate

My husband and I both work and we have a 19 month old son, we don't earn huge salaries and so don't pay huge amounts of tax. It might be possible for us to be "better off" financially if we didn't work, rented a council house surviving off JSA and tax credits.

However, we don't want our son seeing us sitting on our bum all day and not contributing to society, it's important for children to understand work ethic so that they are prepared for working life when they are older because who knows if the benefits system/state pension will be worth anything when my son hits 18. We both pay into workplace pensions. By the time we are of retirement age we will own our own property mortgage free and won't have to worry about how to pay the mortgage/rent.

One of the main differences is that someone in work will always have better prospects than someone out of work even if they earn very little - there is always the possibility that they will progress and earn more. Whereas the likelihood of someone who is long term unemployed getting a job gets lower the longer they are in that position.

enthusiasticsaver

I tend to avoid watching programmes like Channel 4 or Channel 5 benefit cheats as I have a strong suspicion they pick on people they know will inflame the general public by giving the impression these families live the life of Riley by doing very little except signing on and collecting their benefits. For each of these people there must be thousands of ordinary people struggling to make ends meet and I am sure on the whole live a fairly mundane life without much to look forward to.

My OH and I, and our now grown up children have been lucky enough to receive good educations (state educated I hasten to add) and have always, so far been in work and OH retires next month from a very good job as electronics engineer for same company for almost 40 years and I have worked in finance and Higher Education (full time and part time) for the best part of 35 years. I am 100% positive we would not have had the same standard of living had we been on benefits rather than working and progressing up the career ladder. Benefits are not huge payments in this country and only if you have a lot of children or disabilities are they higher. Personally I don't begrudge anyone suffering disability or illness extra income and I certainly would not choose to have had more than two children. Raising kids is one of the hardest jobs out there.

So just think you have a job, if you don't like it then retrain and change it. You are in control of your own life if you are financially independent and have your own homes. One day these will be mortgage free whereas someone on benefits will never own their own home and will spend their whole lives lurching from one benefit cheque to another. Does that really sound like the sort of existence you would want?

dirty_magic

Guest101 wrote: »

Seems fairly valid when discussing a person's ability to gain employment.

That kind of mistake on your CV would cost you an interview

Poor grammar is annoying but it doesn't mean you're stupid and have no chance at getting a job! My OH doesn't always use correct grammar and he has a much better job than me, because English doesn't come into it.

I received an email yesterday from the management of a large organisation and they'd put 'please contact us if it effects you' instead of affects. My boss is on more than double my wage and he checks spelling with me!

FBaby

Ouch. Bit of an unpleasant dig at people on this forum. With a more than a tiny smattering of irony.

Yeah, sorry bad day, however, it was fueled by the not so pleasant responses that OP got, which weren't much better.

I think what I wanted to convey, rather than having a go at posters here, is that the overall stand on benefits on this forum is not a reflection of the overall views of people in real life, at least from my experience. When the conversation comes to this with friends/acquaintance, most people are asking themselves the same questions than OP.

Pollycat

Andrew_Ryan_89 wrote: »

Sorry if this is not the right forum as I was not too sure which one it will fall in.

Discussion Time.

Morglin

curty510 wrote: »

I already have private cover through my job, but still have to fund the NHS though national insurance contributions. Best healthcare system, in who's opinion, not mine by a mile.

Lol, be warned - as you get older, and as you get less less fit, private healthcare providers cannot be seen for dust. Those that do hang around whack up the premiums because of age.

Private healthcare is fine when you are young and fit - not good if you get an ongoing illness, getting old or need more than one operation.

Lin :whistle:

Morglin

Most benefit claimants nowadays don't actually get housed in social housing....simply because there is such a dire shortage.

Thirty years ago maybe, but not now.

Most now end up in low level, poorly maintained private rents, with both them and the taxpayer getting ripped off by unscrupulous landlords.

People shouldn't believe all they read in fantasy rags, such as the Daily Mail...:whistle:

Lin