AIBU to think some people's sense of entitlement is unbelieveable!

[Starbuck999]

Was at a friends' house for coffee arlier today. One of her friends was also there who I have met before but only on a few occasions.

Normal gossip; home, partners, kids, work etc. Friends' friend (let's call her X) says she can't believe income support is changing so that those with kids aged 7+ will no longer be excluded from having to look for work. (I know it's been lowered to the age of 10, but she's heard it's going down to the age of 7). She has a son who is 8 at the moment and she was genuinely disgusted at the thought of having to now look for work. She was saying how difficult it is to raise a child alone, clean, cook and work(she is a single parent) and how there aren't many well paid jobs at the moment, not many that fit in perfectly with school hours etc.

It annoyed me. I too am a single parent with a 6 yr old dd. I work full time and have done so since dd was 2. It IS hard work, I AM shattered, I have HAD to arrange childcare, JUGGLE my working hours and homelife etc - but I feel glad that I am working to provide for my daughter. I explained to her that it isn't easy but it is very much possible for almost everyone, exceptional circumstances omitted of course. I told her she wouldn't have to work full time, would get tax credits and help with childcare costs etc if she works just 16 hrs a week. "Well then what's the point" X then said "I'd be no better off" I didn't have the patience or the time to explain to her that the point is she would be working and not relying on benefits to pay for her and her child. That working shouldn't be an option, benefits should be there as a last resort, not an easy one.

This isn't a bash at those on benefits (been there before) or single parents (I am one) more a little whinge about the rubbish attitude of some people.

So, AIBU to think that she (with one school age child) has no reason not to work?

Apart from all those people who do get jobs and back on the ladder after being ill / caring / redujndant etc of course then barmy

or do you not know anyone who ever lost a job, then claimed until they get another?

Anyway, I presume you are employed by your tone; you could get (am assuming a lot about residency / immigration status and if off target then I spologise) paid for being unemployed yet you choose not to be....

So on balance not the most depth to your argument?

Would be intersted in what you'd prose to do wrt to benefits / ensuring children's wellbeing then?

Just glanced at the thread here. Correct me if i'm wrong, but, isn't whole point of benefits to help people out until they get a job, which is why it is understandable that a lot of folk are angry with people who are fit and able to work AND have been offered a job, but choose not to take the job on because they can't be bothered.
From what I've gathered, some MNers are reading more into the OPs story than is necessary and assuming that the OP is grouping all or most benefit claimants as scroungers. This is simply a post about one persons attitude about having to change to JSA and having to look for work.

There are pleny of parents who are working for less than what they would get if they were claiming full whack of benefits, BUT, these are parents who, more often than not, are simply trying to set an example to their kid(s).

i had same thing with a friend who said she wasnt going to "inconvenience" herself working for an extra 20 per week. I snapped and said "well ok i will continue to work my ass off so that you are not inconvenienced"I was bringing up 3 and working on my own in realy difficult vile shifts job and she had one child and loads of money in the bank form concealed house sale. friendship ended soon after.

You are not unreasonable at all starbuck.
I am sick to death of people that see the tax payers as a cash cow and think benefits are a life style choice.

If you can not afford to raise a child don't have one simple