To think it's a bit harsh to say people who've never worked shouldn't get benefits?

I think we should have a ‘universal income’ and benefits be something separate.
Child benefit for example should be part of a universal income.
its ridiculous to see these as ‘benefits’ in the sense that we do - people ‘sponging’ - because these are functions beneficial for our society and a completely normal part of people’s lives. Someone coming out of prison who is on unemployment benefits, and someone receiving child benefit, for example; are not the same thing!

I think it would be helpful to have some kind of universal income which covers things like like child benefit, tax credits. And then benefits which act as a genuine safety net for unemployed, homelessness etc.

I think we need more support in place to help people back into work who have been out of work for a long time or who have never worked. The bigger the gaps in your CV the harder it is to get employment and often the lower your self esteem is.

I was out of work because of DS needs for 8 years. A head teacher took the chance on me and gave me a welfare job for an hour a day. Not much but it was a foot in. 4 years down the line I am working full time at that school and completing a relevant qualification. That wouldn’t have happened if that initial risk hadn’t been taken.

For those who can work but don’t (no caring needs, no disability etc) then instead of them just being told “get a job” we should have some sort of compulsory volunteering to go alongside their benefits to help build that self esteem and get them into the habit of being up and out and working.

saying “just get a job” isn’t the answer but we do need to work to get people who can work into work.

That’s what friends and relatives are for, not the state. It’s thinking the way you do that has sent the benefits bill soaring. Why should baby = cash handout?

That would be great if it was within an individual's power to just work, or more accurately, get a job. A big sticking point is needing an employer to take you on.

There are so many adults with conditions and disabilities that are essentially unemployable (like my autistic DS), but who do not qualify for enhanced disability benefits.

DS has only had 1 temporary dwp funded job in 6 years of job applications.

He has a degree and he does 'work' writing articles, he even has a 'boss', but he is not paid, no one on the publication is.

When friends ask about DS, they always have an example of 'X's child' who is just the same, or a siblings that has never worked...

DS is currently in counselling/coaching to hopefully turn things around.

I actually think a universal basic income could empower more people into work.

You are speaking from a privileged position to say that only people who have worked (been employed) should get benefits. It is quite hateful really.

How many choices do you really think are open to a pregnant 16 year old with no family support? It’s not easy to relinquish a baby to adoption, for good reason. It’s also costly option for the state and has a life long impact for the mother and the child, which also ends up costing the state. Better to support mum in her parenting of her child.

Ffs! It’s also the choice of a 16 year old to get pregnant! I’m a middle earners and royally pissed off with the benefits culture we have in the UK! Something needs to change we already pay for 30 hrs a week childcare, children are a choice and if you can’t support your family you don’t keep having g children by multiple fathers. Perhaps the time has come for those on benefits to earn their benefits, this way they are getting skills that may make them employable!

Genuine question op. Can you explain why you think other people should pay for your choices?

Ditto!

But those older women will probably have had jobs and paid taxes etc.

I went to school with a girl who got pregnant at 17. She's now 40 and has never had a job. She's got 4 kids but 3 dad's and constantly moans on Facebook that her council house isn't big enough. Meanwhile I have worked since I was 16, earn a good wage but made the decision to only have 1 child - as he has additional needs and we have factored in the cost of private school and potential additional cost of 1 to 1 school support - we cannot afford to have a second.

Meanwhile the girl I went to school with just expects the taxpayer to pay for her kids and lifestyle. She has never had any motivation to get a job because life is too easy on benefits.

Yes it is harsh. I was a teen mum, and for 3yrs I got benefits whilst I raised my son and went to college. I then got a student grant and loan, and have been working and paying tax for 25yrs now. Now a higher rate tax payer.

I would rather live in a society that helps people than not so I don’t think benefits should require contributions.

i still don’t think the current system is ideal. Especially in the case of a young woman with a baby. No matter how generous the benefits, having no career history makes her and the baby vulnerable.

the benefits should be there, but there should also be programs to quickly transition people who are capable onto education, training, and work. A young woman with a baby shouldn’t spend multiple years at home. I’m not even convinced she should have a full year of uninterrupted maternity leave. Her education needs to be a priority.

What if their bf dumped them? Theoretically child support system should pay...

Exactly this.

This would be a very minute sample of the ones who have never worked but claims all the benefits though.
If it was the case that you had to work to get to recieve benefits if you hit hard times, I think many would make very different life choices.
Those who do work and prioritise earning their lifestyle mostly make that choice over how many children they can afford. Those who never worked a day in their lives can have as many as they wish as they know the bill will be picked up by others.
It depends on the area you have been brought up in or live near whether you see what this truly looks like. I was from a council house background. My parents still live there. I see it all the time. Women having kids every couple of years to make sure the benefits gravy train don't end. Knew before adulthood they had no intention of working. Spending benefits money on weed, hair, nails that could rival the working woman's level of maintenance. The 'much needed' girls abroad holiday. Can't afford to take the kids but will spend the kids money for one self (they ain't getting the money from anywhere else) then claiming poverty that the government don't provide enough.
If you see those types day to day it can really role you up

I agree, I don’t think society wins by punishing two children - the kid who had the baby, and his/her baby.

I will say though that I was working before 16, as were most of my friends who went to uni and developed careers before having children. It’s how we funded that. I was surprised you felt 16 was too young to have been working already. The laws must be different in the UK.

I also didn’t like the ‘some ppl can’t bring themselves to have a termination’ tbh many of those ppl in this situation can bring themselves to risk condemning their child to a lifetime of poverty so I don’t think they have the moral high ground here.

My tiny niece was 3 months old when my sister found a babysitter and went back to work.
It was brutal but there were bills to pay.

I doubt the Queen consort needed benefits to survive.

So thats irrelevant

Notwithstanding arguments based on circumstances, we have a fertility crisis and should be throwing money at people to have more kids, to its an easy "YANBU" on that basis alone.

What about young people leaving care who have no parents to go to?

Quite alot of people just don't have insight into how awful some peoples lives can be from birth.
You can plainly see in statistics how employment correlates with the situation you are born into. Kids who have grown up in care, for example, have high unemployment rates..
So you get people looking at other people thinking they are lazy and feckless but they aren't thinking about what led up to that point. And it doesn't solve anything to be harder on people actually.. it just often entrenches poverty and makes it generational.
The real issues aren't being addressed.
Fund social services properly... fund the NHS properly.. fund education properly.. before you even start to think about taking benefits away from people who have never worked

IMO there is not a one size fits all solution.

I can show you a family, including cousins, where 3 generations along and up across the entire family (so that includes Uncles and Aunts as well as grandparents and children who choose to leave school early) have not held down a job or/for any extended period of time.

I know of this family as for the last 7 years, we have offered one member on-going work at a very good rate of pay.

He manages 3 days at most, has to be paid daily because he is unable to organise enough fuel for the vehicle of the day to get to work the following day, and by day 4 has been arrested or has some drama at home needing to be solved. That is if he didn't use mute on his mobile so the alarm wouldn't wake him in time.

We have even organised for people to pick him up at home to get him to work. 35 years old. Old enough to know better...

Hard to know at times if the ''drama of the day'' is actually the truth or he just wants to go and do something else instead.

I've sent him home with groceries from my pantry and freezer to keep the family of 4 going in meals for the following days, but then extended family drop in and eat what we have given! That same extended family also doesn't work for very long because ''they didn't like it there''.... (large supermarket chain packing shelves).

Both sets of grandparents also do not work but have gone from unemployment benefits to aged pensions now. One of them is in state care.

We have never been contacted by the benefit provider as to why he is in and out of employment with us.

On the flip side, I can show you a family who work full time but are struggling to keep up with the cost of living. Everything is budgeted to the final coin. They keep the same car going, there's no extras for themselves and they do not drink. They are really trying to hold things together but it's tough.

So to answer your question, I know who I would prefer to see receive additional financial help and support.