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Original poster

If you rely on state support , you should have a great quality of life, not the breadline

261 replies

confidenceboost · 07/03/2025 09:50

Aibu? Can we have a healthy chat on this one:

I will set my position out so nobody can say I've drip fed. I would say I have quite socialist mindset to be honest although I have grown up very privileged due to my parents hard work
I am from the uk but moved around as a child coming back to England age 18 for uni

I have been always lucky enough not to need help from the government. I think some people probably do claim help and don't need it but mostly I would say the cases are very genuine

Here's where I don't know if I am different

I think you should be given a high , highest quality of life by the govt if you genuinely for whatever reason need it.
Why should you live on the breadline?
Why should you turn down your heating?
Why should you not get treatment or help that would improve your life ?

Is it degrading to give state benefit as a breadline type lifestyle? I say yes

I think I am not being unreasonable saying that benefits and state support should be increased as it is unfair to resign people to a poor quality of life due to them needing help?

Thank you

OP posts:
Ph3 · 07/03/2025 11:07

@confidenceboost in theory I agree with you. I think that people that have a disability, or have children with disabilities or genuinely can’t work should have a good quality of life. Not pinching and just enough for bills. However I don’t think it’s sustainable.
I also think we got into the habit of having children we cannot afford and just collect benefits.
And I think the tax system is unfair and people who work and pay tax end up resenting those who claim benefits.

Horserider5678 · 07/03/2025 11:07

confidenceboost · 07/03/2025 10:55

Genuine reasons guys

I cannot believe the amount of responses here

I have become disabled again in the last 3 months

I am agog

I genuinely pray nobody else has the boot on the other foot

So you want to take away dignity and leave sick people on a bread line ans you're ok if this happened to you too?

Let’s have your proposal of how it’s going to be paid for? The only way to pay for it is to increase taxation which in turn affects the life of someone just above the benefits threshold. This in turn will push more people into poverty and further increasing the benefits bill! There are plenty of people who work bloody hard and earn just over the threshold for UC! So why should someone who has never doing anything with their life except have multiple children with different partners have a better quality of life than those who work hard! There’s a saying “you made your bed”

angelspike · 07/03/2025 11:06

Rkree · 07/03/2025 11:04

Why can't some disabled people just get a WFH job?

Hospital and doctors appointments, multiple operations etc all take up time
How flexible is a job going to be when you ring in sick 4 times a month?
Disability isn't predicable a lot of the time
I work but I can be fine one minute and in so much pain the next that I have to stop working

Original poster
confidenceboost · 07/03/2025 11:06

I would start with stopping off shore tax from corps

I don't know the rest but it's a thought pattern

Of course disabled people can go on holiday why not ? Why no savings? A disgrace

My family qlways pick up the bill, not the state

i like how my stuff from another thread is pulled on

genuinely what hapoens if houswife disabled or single

disgusting ableism from a lot of you

genuinely need and so no dignity

lush

as i also rdplwined on my other thread at least 100k in tax

use all private helalth care and i note that you also still think i would deserve to be humiliated and cold

lf you want a living wage thread start it and ill join as i am lonely and bed wridden

comments on intelligence dire ladies

grow up

OP posts:
ExpressCheckout · 07/03/2025 11:05

confidenceboost · 07/03/2025 11:01

This was a for healthy conversation guys

Genuinely I can't be bothered to respond

The bunch of you are obviously slaving at work unable to use mumsnet on a friday morning?

Off you pop, then. I am sure there are some Jeremy Corbyn videos you could watch whilst ruminating on your compassion for the poor.

Rosybud88 · 07/03/2025 11:05

Well do you feel that working tax payers should be afforded the same?

Otherwise you would have workers on the bread line paying tax for people who do not work (for whatever reason) to have a better quality of life.

Rkree · 07/03/2025 11:04

Why can't some disabled people just get a WFH job?

MrsSkylerWhite · 07/03/2025 11:04

A car? You’re seriously suggesting that the state (tax payers) provide you with a car?!
Huge numbers of working people can’t afford driving lessons, let alone a car, tax and insurance.
A mobility scooter on loan, possibly.

Whats wrong with second hand clothes? I’ve bought them all of my adult life. There’s far too much waste.

Gruttenberg · 07/03/2025 11:03

@HoppingPavlova - you said 'Having been paid below min wage and I have a huge bee in my bonnet about this'

Was it a UK employer who paid you below minimum wage? If UK is there a reason you didn't take this up with ACAS or HMRC? You can still regain the money you should have been paid.

https://www.gov.uk/national-minimum-wage/worker-disputes-over-minimum-wage

The National Minimum Wage and Living Wage

Who's entitled to the minimum wage, what's included when working out the minimum wage, and what happens if there's a dispute.

https://www.gov.uk/national-minimum-wage/worker-disputes-over-minimum-wage

ExpressCheckout · 07/03/2025 11:03

Rkree · 07/03/2025 10:59

They should have an average quality of life. Enough to heat their home, feed their family but that's it. If TV, just the BBC, no sky, no Xbox and playstation unless they work for it and pay for it themselves.

^ This, exactly. I don't have Sky, etc., just basic TV. No fancy mobile phone. Careful with my energy use. What's the problem with this?

Yes, there are people who live in abject poverty through no fault of their own. But there are also people who need to take a good look at how they are spending their money.

Sportacus17 · 07/03/2025 11:03

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

BlondiePortz · 07/03/2025 11:02

flapjackfairy · 07/03/2025 10:09

and if you can't work?

Show quote history

Yes if you are disabled or totally mentally incapacitated, but there are people who come up with excuses why they cant

Sportacus17 · 07/03/2025 11:02

My husband and I work our socks off and can’t afford to have the heating on as much as we would like or live the “highest” quality of life.

i do think benefits should be given to those in need and that they should have a decent quality of life …. But not the “highest” ?!

Original poster
confidenceboost · 07/03/2025 11:01

This was a for healthy conversation guys

Genuinely I can't be bothered to respond

The bunch of you are obviously slaving at work unable to use mumsnet on a friday morning?

OP posts:
Gundogday · 07/03/2025 11:01

honeylulu · 07/03/2025 10:12

I hate to break it to you but the majority of working people don't have the "highest quality of life".

And secondly, what would the incentive to work be if you could just have the highest quality of life without working, commuting, student debt, childcare fees?

And thirdly, how would it be paid for?

This!

Vroomfondleswaistcoat · 07/03/2025 11:01

But one of the problems is who determines what 'highest quality' means? For some people being able to buy new clothes in Primark would be acceptable. For others, they are going to insist that 'highest quality' means that they AREN'T forced to buy clothes in Primark and have the choice of the whole High Street to shop in.

ExpressCheckout · 07/03/2025 11:00

car ... clothes etc not just hand me downs

Cars are not essential, let's make that one clear, unless you live in the countryside or have a disability, perhaps.

There is absolutely nothing wrong with hand-me-downs. Sorry but you really do sound quite out of touch.

Rkree · 07/03/2025 10:59

They should have an average quality of life. Enough to heat their home, feed their family but that's it. If TV, just the BBC, no sky, no Xbox and playstation unless they work for it and pay for it themselves.

Nodddy · 07/03/2025 10:58

It would be great if everyone could have this. Robots could do all the work and humans life happy carefree lives full of sport, family, friends and museum trips.

In the absence of such a utopia, or a revolution, we probably can't afford it just yet. Maybe next year, if not, definitely the year after.

Maurepas · 07/03/2025 10:57

What what what??
How old are you?
Do you never listen to the News or read a newspaper?
You seem to have miraculously failed to notice the constant information that this country pays out billions in welfare and benefits which it can no longer afford , taxes are very high and recently gone up even more.
Someone in this country has to go to work to pay for other people's ''welfare'' . To repeat -''there isn't a magic money tree''.

ExpressCheckout · 07/03/2025 10:57

I would say I have quite socialist mindset to be honest although I have grown up very privileged due to my parents hard work

People's wealth often dictates their values. Socialism is a great idea until the people who are paying for it run out of money.

Original poster
confidenceboost · 07/03/2025 10:57

To clarify highest quality means

Warm , properly nourished, housed, car or access to appointments , clothes etc not just hand me downs

And yes I agree that the whole system needs a fucking huge overhaul

Having been paid below min wage and I have a huge bee in my bonnet about this

So why should you suffer if you're in genuine need??

Lots of people on benefits who are lazy but most not and genuine I would say

And yes wages need overhaul

OP posts:
Whatsitreallylike · 07/03/2025 10:56

The state is there to help people survive through tough circumstances. If people wish to thrive then they need to take steps to improve their financial position.

I do not think it’s right that people not be able adequately heat their own homes (whether they work or not) or eat a nutritious diet. I don’t think the state system currently is adequate for the essentials, nor do I think it should fund anything beyond the basics.

ParrotParty · 07/03/2025 10:56

BravebutBroken · 07/03/2025 10:04

I would be inclined to agree. I say that as someone who has lost my whole livelihood due to a disability which has left me completely unable to work, thus affecting my children's lives too. I also personally know several people who are absolutely able to work yet choose to live on benefits and, in my view, defraud the system. That's where the problem lies. The system needs to be able to differentiate. Those who are able to work, should have an incentive to do so and therefore have a better quality of life.

Yet you are judging that other people can work whilst not working yourself?
You are able to post a coherent sentence on here and able to presumably care for your children to an extent, why are you unable to do any form of work?

InterestQ · 07/03/2025 10:55

You’re on PIP which is good and you claim child benefit. I’m sorry you’re ill and you have huge outgoings but no “state support” is going to cover £6k a month in outgoings.