To ask what's the beef with benefits?

My point is that if you dont want a zero hours contract make sure you have other options, don't rely on anyone to provide for you and that includes your partner and the state.

When your profession is dominated by zero hours contracts, what do you suggest?

ghost she would be too proud /embarrassed to claim dla even if she qualified.

Nobody disagrees with that hand but even the government's own figures demonstrate that it is a clear minority.
What is grossly unfair is that the government, supported by you and Daisyfuckingchain, et al put lefty and others in a position whereby we have to come on these threads and defend ourselves and our families. I get paid sixty five quid a week to work an eighteen hour day, seven days a week, no holidays, with three people with disabilities, four during university holidays. How much does the fact that I haven't put anyone into care save you, the taxpayer?

It's funny, when someone mentions that their relative or neighbour doesn't work and claims more than someone in a low paid job they are almost called liars.

I know my neighbours fairly well and know one does work from home but the reality is that welfare has been expanded and expanded to include lots of additional areas. It is open to be a lifestyle choice for some, it won't be a luxury life but it beats working for some...

Cheers all. I'm not amazing I'm just a parent who has found themselves in this situation.

Both me and DH worked when the kids were small. It was great to get out and not be 'mum' and 'dad'.

Unfortunately the days of needing constant supervision, intimate care etc that you expect from a baby/toddler didn't stop. They weren't able to get out of the buggy and walk much. Their communication skills didn't develop as they should. They regressed in a lot of things.

As a working family of young children we had many things - self respect and good mental health - that we don't have now. Attitudes like those shown on here about 'lifestyle choices' and 'my milkman's auntie's gerbil's xyz' do not help. Spitting out untrue statements about fraud (0.7% in case anyone is wondering) and taunting people that the support they depend upon for survival doesn't help either. I know people are losing their support. I know people are dying due to benefit reforms and it scares me rigid. But as long as posters like will are happy because they've managed something that may be impossible to others then that's o then.

Some people do not have a choice. Please try to remember that.

Me too lefty, got dh ready, bathed dd, am hoping we don't end up in a&e as we did in New Year's Eve because ds1 needs sleep as he is changing shifts tomorrow. But dd needed nebulising, which in turn distressed her twin,and so it goes. Six fifteen start? My curtains may be shut, the lights at the front may not be on, doesn't mean I'm tucked up abed dreaming.

homealone its theses people that others forget about. i have learning difficulties as well its not enough to get dla for. but it does have a big effect on getting a job and the types of jobs that i can do. i work in a school kitchen. there was a maths/english test i know 100% that i failed them tests. sod knows how i got the job. i just hope im there for a long time because i recon i would find it real hard to find another. compard to people with a standard education.

o and my ds1 best friends mum is on benefits but he is top in all subjects.

wheretheres

Either you had to much self respect to claim the mobility part of DLA or didn't know the system.

OR

Your fiesta was a motibility car which one is it

lefty i go to work for a break from my kids. sorry that your in that difficult situation. why people should not judge they dont know the situation.

I've been there Lefty. You are fucking amazing.

My beef with benefits is that it is far to low for a single person. A family member left school at 16 with no qualifications. (possible very mild learning difficulties.) Got a job in a factory and worked hard for 30 years. Lost her job when company brought out by another company buying the name. In the interim has worked intermittently but not easy when most factory jobs are shift work and you have no transport. Life on £71 per week is bloody tough. Even worse now they closed the local job centre so she has to pay £5 every two weeks to get there and £10 per week council tax.
As she is of a certain age her retirement age has been bumped yet again.

Lefty And you dont get to leave it all behind you at 6pm.

or work from home. or just generally different hours... my neighbour leaves before me and is home after me. that dont mean im not working..

Oh good. Enjoy work, won't you?

Whereas I know damn well I'm going to have a broken night, youngest will be up several times from 2.30am then middle one from 4 and that'll be it for the day. Plus it's an inset day so no chance of catching up on sleep. Just like every day since school broke up.

I fully expect to have several wash downs and clothes changes due to continence issues. Lots of screaming and violence.

But yeah, got it cushy.

Waaaah waaah waaah Ive been mugged so my neighbour should be mugged too

i got to work to.... but im staying up because sleep is for lazy people :P

Wherstheresawill how do you know what your neighbours are on or what their working hours are.

I dont know a lot about my neighbours Where are these places that everyone knows about everyone elses business and the ins and outs of all their finances.

How do you know your neighbours arent working nights

Lefty

The very best experience I had of the easy life on benefits was when I was trying to sell my house post Sept 11 and unsurprisingly, nobody was buying.

On income support with a climby 1 year old and the boiler broke in January during minus temps. No money to fix it. DWP person declined my application for a loan saying that I should go to bed and leave my DD in front of an open oven in her cot.

Oh it's all fun and japes...

Currently BMWs on the Motability site start with a deposit of 899 going up to three grand. Although what the relevance of the z4 is beyond me, DLA is not an out of work benefit,

Leftloony I have sent you a pm.

Haha jealous of you lot??? I'd never stoop that low. But I really have to go to bed now. Speak tomorrow :)

loony i think thats what it comes down to jealousy... she/he has we/i dont thats not fair...

Would love to chat all night but you know ... got work in the morning. Changes are coming

Really? Thought they were estate-agent mobiles.