"Just get a better paid job"

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I'm genuinely interested in how, the people who post this on benefits threads, envision society working if everyone entitled to top-up benefits took their advice and got a better job.

That would be the majority of care workers, nurses, police, retail staff, street sweepers, refuse workers, factory workers, delivery drivers, hairdressers, childminders, etc etc etc e.g the people who keep our society running. The people who, not so long ago, everyone was applauding and hailing as heroes.

Could you even get to work without them?

Ditto the people who post things along the lines of "You should have thought about this before you had children. I don't want to pay for your kids."

Do you genuinely believe the childcare worker, TA, school nurse, etc who looks after your children while you work shouldn't be entitled to raise a family of their own?

And if they didn't, if only those who can afford to live without government top-ups had children would we have enough people being born to maintain society given that we are already short of young, able-bodied people to care for our elderly.

It is a shame we are in a country where the living standard is so high and the average salary just about allows people to scrape through.

Also some people are working very hard to climb up the career ladder and that sometimes means taking a lower paid position. I have a few friends who are on salaries that are great (for them) in the mid to late 30s but spent their 20s climbing up, building the contacts needed for a “better job” and the experience that these “better jobs” ask for.

Also it’s a shame if you decided to work in a field you rely care about (I hate it when people are miserable in their jobs and provide a rubbish service as a result - especially when public facing) - and because of the poor pay you have to settle for something else.

I agree.

It's ridiculous that jobs we have labled as "essential" do not pay a living wage. Some of these jobs are public sector too. The wages for such jobs are entirely within the government's control.

As for the agrument of not having children if you can't pay for them, I find that ridiclous too. Children need on average till their mid twenties to become fully financially independent and anything can happen to their parents' incomes during that time.

I do take issue with the argument that people are "entitled" to have children. Having children is entirely a seflish act. You have them because you want them and are responsible for offering them the best possible life you can give them. I do think that includes considering the potential risks if and when and how many you decide to have.

Well someone needs to inform my family member and various other people I know because they are all adamant if they work over 16 hours a week they will lose money.

@frogfairy you're right. I've seen people trying to study told on here that they shouldn't be allowed to "use taxpayers money", "indulge themselves with fancy courses" etc as their kids are their problem and they should have thought about that. Now go get a job, any job. (Despite it being far better in the long run for (say) a single parent to improve their qualifications and skills and be able to earn more if this is an option for them, it is not for everyone and minimum wage jobs need far more recognition for the value they have.)

@meemyselffandI

Thank goodness for people like you that actually do enjoy what you do!