Should I ask my DS and his girlfriend for money

Yes but if you stop their UC you save tax payers money. Maybe that saving could be directed to claimants who are willing to give back?

It's not benefits then though - it's paid work, for which they should be earning the national minimum wage.

Although I'm guessing you're probably against that too...

They're boyfriend and girlfriend but she is/was also in a relationship with someone else who was abusing her and she suddenly needed a place to live because the old situation became unsafe? If so, I'd let her and the cats stay but I'd have another conversation and make it clear that this is temporary and an emergency exception. Your son is one thing; at least you know he is actively getting help for his MH issues and is willing to be open about it with you, but you're not going to know anything about what's going on with the girlfriend. I understand she needs physical shelter and a safe place short-term but if they're both struggling, living together with you is probably not the best way for either of them to move forward. Also, I'd be somewhat concerned about the abusive (ex?) partner showing up and causing trouble for your son and you.

Your son pushing back on you saying they shouldn't pay for additional expenses you incur because you have a new phone jumps out as really questionable; if he wants to stay with you and bring friends, he can take your word for it that you understand your own finances - but also, even if you were rich, that doesn't automatically entitle him to anything. Don't let yourself be bullied out of holding your boundaries and insisting that your home be a comfortable and safe place for you, whatever it is to anyone else.

If you lose your job and then your home it is an awful predicament. Over 50 there must have been some equity. This is why I said a higher amount for 6 months so people have a chance to get back on their feet and not lose their home.

Somewhat different from someone who never works or contributes to their local community yet takes UC indefinitely.

Yes. There. Is.

Productivity won't be improved by forcing people to do menial jobs for next to no money.

Savings and investments? I have always tried to save where I can but I'm single and in times where I was working full time 25 years ago I wasn't earning fantastic wages even working full time. I've always paid into a pension and paid into savings plans that mature after ten or fifteen years - but that's about it. I'm certainly not rich

If you can only claim benefits for 6 months in any five year period. You lose your housing element and your home. And the taxpayer has to pay much more money putting people in temporary accommodation

I am glad to hear you have had a relatively long working life. You must have accumulated savings and investments during that time thus excusing you from the litter picking.

Volunteering counts as contributing. Not all claimants volunteer. Why can't they follow your example?

I just said in the post that you quoted that I volunteered when I worked full time

And I suppose you have the right to decide who is very physically disabled too? You must be an absolute paragon of knowledge and expertise. I'm overwhelmed with admiration for your incredible skills.

I've already said that I'm on disability benefits for mental and physical health issues. Your litter picking comment is pretty offensive but most of your posts have been to be fair

Looking after a severely disabled veteran husband and working a demanding full time job around it. Whats your amazing contribution to society other than being so firmly on your high horse that you think no one who is disgusted by your attitude can possibly be a decent member of society. How unpleasant you are.

To be fair, plenty don’t, and plenty who work also volunteer.

If pot holes aren't your thing, please try litter picking?

I have said carers contribute, obviously if you are sectioned you can't nor can the very physically disabled. This still leaves a large number of claimants. They have the time? If they don't and or get a regular job.

Another approach would be to make UC higher but only claimable for 6 months in any given 5 year period.

I worked from the age of 23 till 51. Are you trying to suggest that I've contributed nothing to society? I also was self employed for 9 years. I've also volunteered - on lots of occasions including when I was in full time work.

It's quite telling that you see people on benefits as contributing zero to society. Plenty of people on benefits volunteer

Tell you what, why don't you swap with my husband who is severely disabled after serving his country? I'll show you real misery then. Be thankful you have the cognitive function (he doesn't) and therefore luxury of jumping on here and spouting nonsense about workhouses and how personally disadvantaged you are by the cost of welfare. Or perhaps I could find him a nice Hitler-style concentration camp like those geniuses came up with to 'solve' disabilities in the 1930s....? 🤔 And before you come back with anything about not meaning 'people like him' remember that everytime you cross a line where workhouses and slave labour style 'genius schemes' become part of your rhetoric, you mean exactly people like him when you come out with this generalised crap.

You would not be allowed to rock up to a street where I live and start filling in pot holes

I claim UC. Should I be looking out my nearest pot hole filling course when my local council has a budget to fill in said pot holes and isn't doing it?

Basically your view is that people on UC should be forced to do jobs that a council won't do? Or that no one else wants to do. Why is that?

I note the people up in arms about workhouses are those who are contributing nothing to society. If I have got that wrong, please can someone let me know what their contribution is.

There are wonderful hard working youngsters. This thread is not about them. I will ask again why can't NEET gamers give something back.

I do not know how to repair a pothole but then I don't claim UC. If I did, I would soon learn.

Workhouses? Don't be ridiculous. Why would you make such a comment?

That's unworkable as has been said earlier. Not sure what you mean by NEET gamer. Are you assuming everyone under 25 sits at home all day and games?

How do you repair a pot hole? Have you ever done it?

Repair pot holes, pick up litter, cut grass etc. Of course, if they don't want to do this they can do so and thereby relinquish all rights to benefits.

You haven't answered the NEET gamer question?

They are entitled to benefits whether they have anxiety or not. They are both unemployed. I claimed benefits when I had anxiety. I didn't get them because I had anxiety. I got them because I was poor and was entitled to them.

Having anxiety isn't bullshit. It's quite concerning how many people on this thread think having mental health issues is nothing - just because they claim benefits

Anxiety?? Fk that for a game of soldiers. So are they planning not to work for the next 45 years until they can draw the pension? Absolutely pathetic. I would kick the pair of them out on their arses today.

Am sick and bloody tired of the piss-taking of the younger generation with the ‘anxiety’ bs. The sooner the govt stop allowing anxiety as an excuse to claim benefits, the better. Makes my blood boil.

They shoukd both be working, but yes, charge them. They're adults.