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Original poster

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

645 replies

DonaldBiden · 25/09/2025 20:03

Was reading another thread where many were saying if someone has never worked they shouldn't get any benefits but couldn't comment because it had reached 1000 comments.

I know this might be an unpopular opinion but I don't agree because that would include young mums who can't work because they have a baby to look after. Most of them will get a job when their child is a little older. Why are they any different from older mums who've fallen on hard times and need help?

And I know people will say it's because they've never worked and haven't proven themselves unlazy etc and could be on the dole forever but why should they have their lives ruined just because of something people think MIGHT happen.

OP posts:
Gingernessy · 25/09/2025 22:01

Plastictreees · 25/09/2025 21:57

The idea of forcing people into picking up litter in high vis vests is ridiculous. Not everyone can work, shock horror.

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But not everyone who doesn't work can't
Anyone on benefits should be constantly looking for ways to be self sufficient.
Some will never find a way because of their disabilities and employer prejudice but doesn't mean they shouldn't try

Vaxtable · 25/09/2025 22:00

Thee are lots of people currently on benefits for whom it’s a lifestyle choice

those mothers who work often do so because their income is needed to slow them to live. Should they stop working and claim benefits instead?

I know of people in my village who deliberately got pregnant as soon as their child reached the age at which it was expected they start to look for work and come off benefits. One did it 5 times and we are paying for those kids

NotMyNigelFarage · 25/09/2025 22:00

TheSpiritofDarkandLonelyWater · 25/09/2025 21:58

People doing community pay back after committing crime already do that.
Why do people on benefits need to be identified and shamed in public?

If there is a job that needs doing then offer them a proper job instead. Why the free labour?

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Why the free labour?

To pay for the free money.

Shadowfacs · 25/09/2025 22:00

Plastictreees · 25/09/2025 21:52

How have you reached a place in your life where you desire to shame people?

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It's a fair comment.

There are jobs that can be done from home eg 'stuffing' envelopes for marketing companies.
Phone sales for charities.
Customer service rep - remote

You don't have to be able-bodied for these jobs - just have use of a 'phone

Papyrophile · 25/09/2025 22:00

Everyone can work. Work gives dignity. It means you can say truthfully: I am not here on charity.

padso · 25/09/2025 22:00

@DonaldBiden ok, are they still a thing?

NotMyNigelFarage · 25/09/2025 21:59

Plastictreees · 25/09/2025 21:57

The idea of forcing people into picking up litter in high vis vests is ridiculous. Not everyone can work, shock horror.

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Hence why I said 'if there's no good reason why they can't work'.

Original poster
DonaldBiden · 25/09/2025 21:59

padso · 25/09/2025 21:58

@DonaldBiden when was that?

2017-2019

OP posts:
TheSpiritofDarkandLonelyWater · 25/09/2025 21:58

NotMyNigelFarage · 25/09/2025 21:48

If there's no good reason why a person can't work they should be out there in a high vis picking up litter to earn their benefits.

People doing community pay back after committing crime already do that.
Why do people on benefits need to be identified and shamed in public?

If there is a job that needs doing then offer them a proper job instead. Why the free labour?

padso · 25/09/2025 21:58

@DonaldBiden when was that?

Papyrophile · 25/09/2025 21:58

This reply has been deleted

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

padso · 25/09/2025 21:58

One of my uni friends got pregnant. She would have loved to keep the child but had no choice. She was an immigrant & her parents would have demanded she had to go back. Attending university in this country was her opportunity to escape poverty.

Plastictreees · 25/09/2025 21:57

NotMyNigelFarage · 25/09/2025 21:54

Why shouldn't they though? It's work.

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The idea of forcing people into picking up litter in high vis vests is ridiculous. Not everyone can work, shock horror.

Original poster
DonaldBiden · 25/09/2025 21:57

padso · 25/09/2025 21:53

@DonaldBiden so where did you go at 16?

A shared house for homeless young mums till I was 18

OP posts:
TheSpiritofDarkandLonelyWater · 25/09/2025 21:56

JorisBohnsonn · 25/09/2025 21:23

What do they do everyday?

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omg are you actually asking that?
Do you have any clue about how severe autism can present?

R0ckandHardPlace · 25/09/2025 21:55

Shadowfacs · 25/09/2025 21:42

No,
Just that some of us are fed up to the back teeth with paying for other peoples' stupid choices.

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Yes, I made a stupid choice. I let a boy have sex with me because he told me that he loved me. I was 16 years old and nobody had ever loved me in my life, ever. He was the first person who was ever nice to me, who made me feel like I was special and not useless or a nuisance. So I slept with him, not because I wanted to but because I was grateful.

And I got pregnant. I didn’t have a family to support me, or give me advice about contraception or a termination or what it meant to bring up a child.

I was a kid. Kids make stupid choices, especially in the absence of adult guidance.

user1476613140 · 25/09/2025 21:54

Twodogsisbetterthanone · 25/09/2025 21:42

I’m also a carer to a child with disabilities, went back to fulltime work after having my first at age 18(I’m now 47), AND have studied with the OU to further my career.

None of those reasons justify setting such a terrible example to your children.

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I have chronic health conditions that span most of my adult life so I don't think our situations are comparable.

Wow lots of judge jury and executioner nonsense on here tonight 🙄

padso · 25/09/2025 21:54

@Plastictreees why is it shameful to collect litter?

Gingernessy · 25/09/2025 21:54

DonaldBiden · 25/09/2025 21:49

Exactly I had a baby at 16 and my parents wanted me out the house when they found out I was pregnant, nothing could of convinced me to have an abortion or give him up for adoption and thank god people with this mindset aren't in control to force anyone to.
Anyway most parents of babies on benefits get a job as soon as their child gets a little older. The idea that young parents have a baby and then have ten more babies so they never have to work is just a myth

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They don't anymore because UC tells them when to get a job and how many hours to work.
Tax credits were a different story no conditions and paid for every child in the family. Everyone knew a large family where no one worked.

NotMyNigelFarage · 25/09/2025 21:54

Plastictreees · 25/09/2025 21:52

How have you reached a place in your life where you desire to shame people?

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Why shouldn't they though? It's work.

AnneLovesGilbert · 25/09/2025 21:54

grrrlatrix · 25/09/2025 21:45

The moral ins and outs are basically irrelevant. We are a civilised country and we don’t let people starve. We know what happens in places where there isn’t a safety net, so although some might despise those who claim benefits we don’t deny them help because we recognise that ultimately it benefits the whole of society.

Even the Lib Dems want changes to PIP. The cuddly Lib Dems. Ed Davey thinks there’s too much fraud and it needs to be looked at differently. The government folded like a deck chair over the previous attempt at cuts when their back benches kicked off but they’re coming along again since the change of the DWP Secretary.

padso · 25/09/2025 21:53

@DonaldBiden so where did you go at 16?

Plastictreees · 25/09/2025 21:52

NotMyNigelFarage · 25/09/2025 21:48

If there's no good reason why a person can't work they should be out there in a high vis picking up litter to earn their benefits.

How have you reached a place in your life where you desire to shame people?

whatcanthematterbe81 · 25/09/2025 21:51

DonaldBiden · 25/09/2025 21:49

Exactly I had a baby at 16 and my parents wanted me out the house when they found out I was pregnant, nothing could of convinced me to have an abortion or give him up for adoption and thank god people with this mindset aren't in control to force anyone to.
Anyway most parents of babies on benefits get a job as soon as their child gets a little older. The idea that young parents have a baby and then have ten more babies so they never have to work is just a myth

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Sorry, hadn’t read this before i posted. I know my sister isn’t the norm by the way

Millionsofmonkeys · 25/09/2025 21:51

DrPrunesqualer · 25/09/2025 21:47

Why do people always come on these threads talking of the severely disabled when you all must have read the thread title and know it’s all irrelevant

It’s like people demonstrating in wheelchairs outside Parliament when PIP changes were being voted on. Irrelevant !! Again

Whataboutery won’t work in shaming a people

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That's not what the thread title or OP post says. It says that some people say those who have never worked should not be able to claim benefits. Nothing about "except disabled people".

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