AIBU to feel annoyed by fit people refusing to work?

The system really needs a complete overhaul, IMO. Much worse now with mental health conditions of which the narrative needs to change to include 'occupational therapy' - ie, working.

This one was reported recently and annoyed me more:

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cn4vmw27x13o

Same here. As the bulk of my current caseload is tribunals I know too just how "easy" it is, and get so frustrated at some of the misconceptions around it.

If she couldn't manage the care of her own children to the point they were removed from her care then it's pretty likely she would struggle to hold down a job too. There must be some thing going on for her to get to that point, mental health/learning difficulties/addiction.

YANBU I’ve just spoken to someone who I’ve not seen in a while and asked if they had a nice bank holiday weekend.
He had no idea it was a bank holiday as he doesn’t work.

He’s spent the entire weekend getting drunk and now he’s waiting to get another tattoo.

What’s frustrating is how many people claim MH for their reason not to work but it’s not working that causes MH issues.

You can’t have no routine or purpose in your life and wonder why your MH is in shatters.

I know a couple of fit and healthy people who work under 16 (?) hours per week in order to retain benefits. They see their children at weekends, so could work longer hours mid week As a tax payer, I think this isn't great. Would be better if they worked longer hours and supported themselves financially

But I blame the system, not them

Its easy to judge people in these situations from the outside looking in. Its easy to see this woman making a string of reckless decisions and to judge her as lazy and playing the system. Perhaps she is, but a normal person wouldn't, and the people who do this are not of sound mind - she wouldnt of lost custody of 3 children if she was. Just because its been a year and she says shes fit to work and be a parent doesn't mean that she is - clearly, she is not.

There are a lot of people that take the piss out of the benefits system and claim them because it's free money and they don't see why not. Those are the people that bother me, that I agree, should be made to work (disregarding the horrendous job market) and should not receive benefits if they refuse.

However there are soooo many people that are not in work because they are genuinely unable to. You can make these judgements while having absolutely no idea on the reality of their situation. I think its dangerous to propagate the idea that people who are on sick leave / unemployed and claiming benefits are all perfectly able to work but too lazy to do so; because it is vastly untrue. It makes the ones who really arent fit to work get bunched together with the others, and thus wrongly viewed as lazy and idle.

It's about time this wasn't an option.

What benefits could she be claiming if fit and healthy with no dependants?
Isn’t unemployment benefit about £80 a week?

Basically you must know this person pretty well so I would say your a friend or maybe a sibling !
I don't think your a very good person or friend .
You are judging her ! And being self righteous because you think she has to be working like you are ! If u don't like her stay away from her and let her live her life without your judgement!!!

I have never met a fit person without caring responsibilities who 'refuses' to work. I think caring responsibilities for a young child or older ill or disabled person are perfectly good reasons not to seek employment and should be supported by benefits because they are work and have value to society.

had a baby the day after the second started primary how precise

Wow. Anyone who has had children taken away from them has a hard life and many complicated, layered challenges no matter how "fit" they tell you they are. You see lazy (juding by your username). Go back to your own lane, and if you want to get involved see if you can support a charity that is trying to help people with complex challenges / getting off the street / getting back into work / managing children with complex needs / suffering from chronic illnesses / suffering from mental health. I assure you, that once you get much closer to any of these issues you will begin to see that they are not as straightforward as "lazy."

It might be better to contact the woman directly to tell her you're annoyed.

She'd easily identify herself from these very niche things you've posted about her personal life.

if she’s had three children taken off her I doubt she is fit for work.

A person doesnt have to be roaming around town with their arm hanging off to be unfit for work

Lots of illnesses are invisible. And this woman does not sound at all well. Yabu.

Unless you have detailed knowledge of this woman's medical history, YABU. Many people can appear fine on a superficial level, but have health conditions that are not immediately apparent.

I have a sibling who has severe bipolar disorder. The only way that their MH team seem to be able to manage their MH is by 4-weekly depot injections of a strong anti-psychotic medication that has significant side effects. They are only well enough to lead anything like a normal life approx 50% of the time: in the first 7-10 days after their shot, they become estremeley reclusive and are like a zombie, drowsy, slurred speech, impaired awareness of what's going on around them, are unable to maintain their personal care etc. They then have a week or two of relative normality before they start to become more and more manic, having delusional thoughts, engaging in risky behaviours, barely sleeping, unable to control their impulsivity etc. This is the most dangerous phase, because their decision making ability is significantly impaired.

If someone met them in the middle phase of that cycle, they might well think "They're ok, why don't they go and get a bloody job?". But anyone who had any idea of their history in particular and mental health problems generally would realise that they have no chance of sustaining employment and would be a hazard in most working environments. This is why my sibling is in the support group for ESA and hasn't worked since their third manic episode approx 25 years ago.

People with ADHD can be an utter hazard in the workplace, people with autism often have great difficulty keeping a job because they can be dogmatic and outspoken. None of these things would be immediately apparent to the casual observer, but they have a huge impact.

By people, you mean this one particular person, who clearly has issues going on that you aren't privvy to?

It depends what the reason is. The woman in your example sounds like she has many issues and doesn’t sound particularly “fit to work” to me. If she can’t keep custody of her children then I imagine it would also be difficult for her to keep a job. I don’t work myself because I have two children under 3 and no family support, so with the cost of childcare it wouldn’t make financial sense for me to go back to work. But I’m not on benefits as my husband earns enough to provide for us both.

Until you walk in someone's else's shoes you shouldn't judge them.

She sounds like a very troubled person. So "fit for work" she may well not be.

Couldn't you find a better example?

And a name change too.

I think all these people who "know someone" must know the same few people.

I've only met one person in my life who might possibly fit that description.

I have to award OP a few points for a slightly innovative take on the usual benefits bashing, but .... wait. No, I don't.