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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To wish we were still "benefits scroungers"

91 replies

iliketosleep · 12/10/2010 10:44

Well not really but we would be alot better off than we are now!

DH was laid off from his last job around 2 years ago, so we were forced to claim JSA as there just weren't any jobs. He finally finds one and started 6 weeks ago. We are absolutly no better off money wise infact we are 100% worse off.

From the day he was signed off it was our responsibility to pay full rent and full council tax. We just didn't have nearly £600 lying around so had to borrow it. Now by the time that is paid back it will be time to pay it again so we are going to be constantly living in debt. I phoned my local jobcenter and explained the situation and asked if there is ANY help available and he said "No!" So my reply (getting a little bit pissed off now) was "So you just throw people in at the deep end then" and he said "pretty much yes!". The went on to tell me about someone who hadn't worked for 6 months, was not entitled to any benefits because he left his job and was borderline homeless, He sounded quite smug about it too

At the least they should give you one extra month of HB and CTB so you can get your feet on the ground before you see your bank account balance turn to £-600 in the blink of an eye.

It's beginning to really get my back up when people call those on benefits scroungers/dole dossers etc. If there was more incentive to start work and there is a chance you would have a better life maybe people would do it!!

Not everyone can go and jump into a £44k a year job and most have to work their way up, living in poverty all the way.

I've seen about 4 facebook statuses today along the lines of "Go and get a fucking job you fucking scroungers" and its really beginning to piss me off.

Felt the need to vent, sorry

OP posts:

SanctiMoanyArse · 12/10/2010 15:50

DD do you not think people's chances of getting mroe money etc are enlivened by internet access? Dh's business is entirely internet focussed; take that away and we'd be stuffed.

(Please don;t say ' but teh local library... theya re closing ours; sure it's not the only one in these times!)

MaMoTTaT · 12/10/2010 15:52

Sancti - library internet access wouldn't be much good if you're running a business that is internet based anyhow

SanctiMoanyArse · 12/10/2010 15:54

Well no, it's good for things like job websites I guess.

And home access is good for OU / Ebay / the way teh state is going with all its apper based systems at the moment if it gets its way.

SparkleRat · 12/10/2010 16:00

In my opinion, DC is trying to bring back "The Shame" of claiming Benefits, portraying outrageous examples as the norm in the media. Divide and rule! For a lot of people, claiming benefits isn't a lifestyle choice, it's a much needed support during difficult times or a means of help for people on wages so low they can't afford to support themselves. Yes, those who abuse the system should be weeded out but I find the widespread denouncement of Benefits and mindless recital of stories printed (often inaccurately) in the tabloids really quite disturbing. Anybody could lose their employment, particularly at a time like this.

bigfootbeliever · 12/10/2010 16:23

Surely a persons own sense of pride is more than enough incentive to start work iliketosleep?

I'd rather be out working to bring home £300 per week than sat on my arse in front of the TV and be given £300.

SanctiMoanyArse · 12/10/2010 16:24

Absolutely SR.

In some ways i think its a self protection; it cn't be me, I am not like them (you see that a lot with SN as well)

And I don;t get why people don;t relaise that the DM and the like wouldn;t bother to run articles on Mrs kensington-House and her 37 kids by different fathers if it was a normal occurence; they are digging and publicising the extremes. They don't runa rticles after all on Mrs Smyth who is off work with breast cancer and claiming ESA, or Mr T who works as a cleaner in the local hospital and gets a bit of top up help.

It's all agenda led.

Original poster

iliketosleep · 12/10/2010 17:10

Yes bigfootbeliever pride should play a big part in it but its not really an incentive when faced with months of debt/stress/worry.

OP posts:

Original poster

iliketosleep · 12/10/2010 17:13

For example, Mr.X signs off and starts his job at minimum wage, walks out of his first day of work thinking "I've done good but how the hell am I going to pay my rent? I'll have to get a loan" and so the downwards spiral begins. IYSWIM??

I'm struggling to put whats in my head onto here. If any of you do actually get my point please let me know so I don't feel like a complete fool lol

OP posts:

MaMoTTaT · 12/10/2010 17:37

I get you iliketosleep.

Having to worry about how to pay your bills, and getting into debt in your first month of working (and if on a low wage probably staying in debt for the foreesable future) is a pretty big disincentive to go to work, even with the knowledge that you'll get pride in going to work.

It's hard to find your pride when you're already worrying about how the landlord will react if the rent is late, or how you're going to pay the gas bill.

Original poster

iliketosleep · 12/10/2010 18:06

Exactly MA Thankyou :)

OP posts:

bigfootbeliever · 12/10/2010 18:12

Sorry - didnt mean to be so preachy. I'm lucky not to be in this position and as you said - it could happen to any one of us.

My own brother has lolled around on the dole now for years and it really pisses me off he gets his house paid for yet manages to go on several holidays a year and spend half his time living in Scotland at his GF's house somehow.

MaMoTTaT · 12/10/2010 18:29

bigfoot - if he's going on several holidays a year he's probably be up to his eye balls in debt (or working cash in hand, or freeloading off his mates )- £65 a week doesn't stretch to holidays - I'm a pretty good budgeter - but hell I'd struggle to go on a couple of holidays a year with £65 to pay the rest of my bills, and feed myself

bigfootbeliever · 12/10/2010 18:39

MaMoTTat - I think there might be a bit of cash in hand stuff going on. I want to shop him but it would actually break my mother's heart. Sadly she thinks the sun shines out of his rear end and she's old and not very well ....

MaMoTTaT · 12/10/2010 18:45

bigfoot - could you not report anonymously if you really want to to do it (well that's rhetorical as of course you can do it anon).

If someone else shops him, or he gets caught out he's going to get into even bigger trouble the longer it goes on - would that be any better for your mother if someone shopped him/he was caught out in 2 years time rather than now?

bigfootbeliever · 12/10/2010 18:55

I haven't got any proof - I just don't know how he can be getting Job Seekers Allowance when he spends 13 days in Scotland, drives South to sign on, then goes back to Scotland for 13 days. How is that "looking for work?"

And he gets housing benefit - for a house that is empty for 48 weeks a year. That's what pisses me off the most, when you hear of families crying out for better social housing.

I think I am going to report him. NOW!

Thanks!

expatinscotland · 12/10/2010 19:01

'Surely a persons own sense of pride is more than enough incentive to start work iliketosleep?'

I'd rather be out working to bring home £300 per week than sat on my arse in front of the TV and be given £300.

Oh, please! Pride is worthless. It doesn't pay bills or feed you.

We're working poor, but if DH could be given it, why not?

I don't blame people for not going out to work.

When you're working poor, it mostly sucks. And all that bullshit about getting promoted. Oh, right.

MaMoTTaT · 12/10/2010 19:02

I would do - I know you're worried about your mum but if he's claiming when he shouldn't be and it catches up with him - well it's going to affect your mum then as well.

Lets face it - if they suspend his benefits while they investigate - he can always go and stay with his GF again

Obviously all benefit fraud is wrong, but I'd be less inclined to report a single parent (for example) who was earning £30 a week on the side or so and not declaring than I would someone like your brother.

iykwim.

bigfootbeliever · 12/10/2010 19:02

expat - I really disagree with you!

MY pride is NOT worthless.

Original poster

iliketosleep · 12/10/2010 19:03

Does his GF work? He could be living off her! Still not on though, we struggled our arses off to manage 4 nights away in June. We had to save for 6 months before hand!

OP posts:

MaMoTTaT · 12/10/2010 19:05

but it doesn't pay your bills or feed you does it?

So in that sense it is worthless. You could work 60hrs a week caring the vulnerable in our soceity - but if you can't afford to pay your rent, or feed yourself, or put the heating on well - all the pride in the world isn't going to solve that is it?

MaMoTTaT · 12/10/2010 19:06

iliketosleep - you mean he could be a cock lodger

Original poster

iliketosleep · 12/10/2010 19:06

Lmfao

OP posts:

bigfootbeliever · 12/10/2010 19:07

ilike... yes his GF works, and apparently he has applied to the council for an exchange to move to Scotland to be with her - but he's living in her house most of the time and claiming housing benefit for his own house - which is mostly empty. Grrrrrr.

bigfootbeliever · 12/10/2010 19:07

Cocklodger that is FABULOUS!

MaMoTTaT · 12/10/2010 19:09

yup - sounds just like a cock lodger, but not just a cock lodger, more than likely a benefit cheating cock lodger

(ps sorry bigfootbeliever for talking about your family in such disparaging terms )

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