to think that very many PEOPLE IN WORK ARE ON BENEFITS?

[ParsingFancy]

Because there seems to be some confusion about this.

I keep seeing bollocks like "people in work have to limit their children, so people on benefits should too."

Excuse me, PEOPLE IN WORK ARE ON CHILD BENEFIT.

And "working people can't afford adequate housing per child, so people on benefits shouldn't get either."

But PEOPLE IN WORK ARE ON HOUSING BENEFIT.

Also, PEOPLE IN WORK ARE ON INCOME SUPPORT.

And PEOPLE IN WORK ARE ON DISABILITY LIVING ALLOWANCE.

Oh and PEOPLE IN WORK ARE ON WORKING TAX CREDITS.
That one was hard, wasn't it?

[threesocksonathreeleggedwitch]

yanbu
DLA is not an out of work benefit

[MixedBerries]

YADNBU. It does seem to escape those who are lucky enough not to have ever needed to receive benefits in their life. We had to rely on benefits when self-employed DH was in hospital unexpectedly for 6 months when I was pregnant. We get tax credits now and guess what? We're both working!

[WorraLiberty]

Is it Caps Lock awareness day already?

[fuzzpig]

YANBU. I work FT (DH doesn't at the moment as he's been injured for 2 years but is hoping to find a job once he's recovered from surgery)

We get housing benefit, CTC and WTC, we are also on the housing register at band B which has a waiting time of over 2 years. I got very ill this year and may apply to DLA.

I am very glad the welfare system is there because we wouldn't be able to survive otherwise, since DH got hurt and now I have a chronic illness.

[CogitoErgoSometimes]

Whether solely supported by work, solely supported by benefits or working but topped up by tax credits and other benefits, it still holds true that you tailor your expenses according to your means... For someone solely dependant on earned income that means children are an extra cost. For someone that relies on top-ups, a child is an extra cost but also an extra source of income. That's the disparity.

[ParsingFancy]

And for someone who doesn't rely on top-ups, a child is an extra cost but and extra source of income.

Child Benefit having been universal since inception.

[PropertyNightmare]

Yanbu. I have many friends (no's of children varying between 2 and 4) who work and receive both CTC and also CB. All are heavily reliant on these 'benefits' to meet their day to day living costs. Pulling the rug from under these people won't help anyone. The economy will go down the pan with these individuals as barely scraping by means hardship for shops and businesses as well as the families concerned.

[KidderminsterKate]

I work and have 5 kids. My earnings are topped up by CTC and CB. It is bizarre that people think you are either a benefit claimant or a taxpayer.

Most benefit claimants are also taxpayers but that doesn't fit into the daily mail propoganda of the lazy feckless benefit scrounger.

[CogitoErgoSometimes]

But would you have a sixth DC if your topped-up income stayed the same as it is now KidderminsterKate?

[mrsscoob]

YANBU. Many people including couples are working 39 hours a week and more yet still having to rely on tax credits. Maybe instead of getting angry and labelling them scroungers people should instead look at companies making huge profits year on year yet paying their staff such a shit wage that their workers have to rely on the government to top it up.

[CogitoErgoSometimes]

Isn't it this more about social engineering than scrounging? The wealthy can have as many kids as they like. Those on average salaries (with no top-ups) have as many as they can afford. Those on low salaries can have as many kids as they like because the top-ups will always make up the shortfall. An inequity that wasn't foreseen when the top-ups were introduced - the law of unintended consequences - rather than an abuse ...???

[NellyJob]

well said mrsscoob
I would love not to have to rely on the government to top up my earnings.

[Groovee]

DLA is Disability Living Allowance. It doesn't matter if you work or not. If you are entitled you will receive it.

You are possibly getting mixed up with incapacity benefit which is now called Employment Support Allowance.

[KidderminsterKate]

well cognito i didn't have #5 because of any increase in CB or CTC that I may have got.

I really don't think money is at the heart of people having large families. anyone that does think that is rather small minded. Imagine a world when only the very rich could have children! if we took away everything state funded related to chilldren such as healthcare, maternity leave, nursery funding and education then that's what would happen. All of this limiting to 2 childen stuff is social engineering that is going to result in creating slums.

[Aspiemum2]

Totally agree OP, the very people who turn their noses up at so called scroungers are very often in receipt of benefits themselves.
Must say though that the media and politicians are doing very well at turning everyone against each other, always a good ploy when you're trying to keep the attention of the public diverted from the real problem.

[TheSmallBloodiedFingerPrint]

I work and don't get any benefits except CB which will be stopping very shortly.

Then again I also haven't made comments about people on benefit either.

[BitchyHen]

YANBU I am a lone parent, I work and receive CTC and WTC. Before I got a better paid job I also received housing benefit.

I am a tax payer and resent the press and Government portraying me as a scrounger because I am a lone parent, and greedy because I work in the public sector.

[Astr0naut]

Money's at the heart of us not having more than 2 kids.

Childcare for two of them costs one of our wages at the moment. To have another kid would leave us seriously in the shit.

[CogitoErgoSometimes]

"well cognito i didn't have #5 because of any increase in CB or CTC that I may have got."

But would you have gone on to have #3, #4 or #5 if your income had stayed where it was with #2... top-ups included?

[Aspiemum2]

Oh I agree there are always plenty of exceptions but it is the overwhelming voice of the majority that does the damage.
A very close friend of mine has extreme guilt issues connected to her DLA. She is severely depressed and this is directly linked to the way she is treated by a lot of people.

This is on top of trying to accept the fact she will most likely not see her own kids grow up let alone her grand kids. Probably makes me a little sensitive on this issue as I love her dearly and hate to see what she goes through.

Of course not everyone is like this but it is a real problem for people who really don't need it

[cuteboots]

Im a single parent and work 40 hours a week . I would never slate the genuine people on benefits but there will always be the people that take the piss and use it as a way of life. The benefits system needs a major overhaul and should be used by people who need it

[CogitoErgoSometimes]

"I really don't think money is at the heart of people having large families. anyone that does think that is rather small minded"

Money is a big part of people having small families though, surely? Money, female education and contraception are the biggest determinants for family size.

[VodkaJelly]

I am pregnant with DC4. Me and DP both work full time and the only benefit we get is CB, even when DC4 is born we wont get any benefits.

The extra £40 a month we will get in CB wasnt a factor in our decision. So yes, my income is going to stay the same and we are still having another child.