If you could decide how much people get in benefits

[OneLemonOrca]

There are benefit bashing threads being posted often, with complaints that certain people on benefits can afford a better lifestyle than them when they work, and that it is being made into a life style choice?
So if you could decide, I am just wondering how much you think benefit claimants should receive in certain circumstances or what their money should or shouldn’t be able to pay for, to get a general idea of what mumsnet thinks is “right”.

I think there is truth in this unfortunately

It's not 'outlandishly entitled' to need to be able to live while you're working 40 hours a week in a service that society needs or wants, it's the least you should be able to expect.

The problem is people like you thinking that other people should provide services that society wants and needs and then be grateful to you they're so poorly paid that they need to be supplemented by benefits. Those people are also paying tax, they're also paying a proportion of their earnings towards the services everyone uses.

You're coming across as bitter and resentful that you have to pay (and let's face it, the vast majority don't have a choice in paying our taxes) towards the services that everyone wants and needs. Remove in work benefits and one of two things happens, people in these jobs find themselves living under a bridge somewhere unavailable for these jobs, or 2 the price of these services increases to attract people into those jobs - you're going to pay for it one way or the other or it's not going to be available.

I'd say it's more entitled to want these services, use these services and then resent the people providing them because you have to pay for them, be that increased source price or lower source prices but taxes going towards benefits for the people working in them.

The person I know through tax credits has essentially had an income of £10-11k for the last decade. It didn’t inspire her to work, it gave her enough not to work.

Another fan of UBI. First start with housing though. Massive council house building programme to break the extortionate private landlord model.

ThisOldThang Do you not understand that many people in receipt of benefits, especially PIP, are also taxpayers? Paying tax doesn't make you better than someone who doesn't.

I've been disabled all my life, a taxpayer all my working life, more recently also a PIP recipient, but still a taxpayer. I hope to work to the end and die as a taxpayer. I have had several times when I've been in financial difficulties and life has been a real struggle.

I also pay taxes to fund public services, and one of the services I contribute towards is to ensure those around me are able to live survivable lives whatever their circumstances, and I can look all of them in the eye and say Morning, and not step over them struggling to survive, on my way to work or wherever.

I'm thankful to say throughout, including when times have been hard, I've never ever wanted anyone to anyone to feel grateful to me for whatever benefits they were or are in receipt of, or any service they receive as a result of my contribution to the communal pot. Neither, thank God, do I see myself as 'putting food on their tables or a roof over their heads.' Awful way to view life.

I no longer work, but I used to pay tax on my wages... and despite being on UC, I still pay tax on all my purchases and I also pay council tax.

And being told to "be grateful".... My money comes from the DWP, not the PP on this thread. They make it sound like I march them to the cashpoint and ask them to withdrawal money for me each month.
I am glad there is a safety net for people like myself. It is essential we look after the vulnerable in society. But I will not self flagellate in public, and bow down to people in praise. It is like when people get shitty at NHS staff and say "I pay your wages". Just fucking don't do that.

I kind of understand the sentiment here but I think it’s directed into the wrong place. If teens can’t feed themselves how can they work? It would have to fall onto the parents and I don’t see that working, lots of young adults I’ve worked with have flourished when they’ve managed to find a job and/or fend for themselves with support if needed.

society can’t flourish when people are cold & hungry. We should look after everyone and fix the bigger issues around culture. Like refusing childhood trauma, funding education and social care and redistributing wealth