To be claiming some benefits.....

[CardyMow]

When DP works FT? DP earns £16K before tax. We get : £140 a week Child tax credits. £76 a week Working tax credit. £46 a week child benefit. £ 122 a week Housing benefit. We have 3 dc. I am a SAHM because no-one will emloy me due to my epilepsy, but I no longer get any disability benefits in respect of this. What I can't work out from all the hoo-ha on MN lately about benefits 'scroungers' is whether DP and I are unreasonable to claim what's available?

Soooo. Are we benefits scroungers because we get £384 a week in benefits. Or are we not benefits scroungers because DP works FT and pays tax? Where does the collective wisdom of MN stand on that?

[onlyjoking9329]

YNBU
A higher minimum wage would help and often cheaper childcare, if you can get childcare.
I'm on benefits and have been for years ( back injury)
I also have 3 children who have autism and my husbands died over two years ago, my mortgage was paid off when he died so I don't get any housing benefit but I do get DLA times 3 plus a high rate of CTC and my pension and DHs pension and my in capacity benefit, I can't see this ever changing to be honest as for me to get childcare for my three it's £24 per hour, I worked it out the other day, if I were able to work full time and with travelling time I would need to earn over 60k just to cover the childcare
It's the system that is wrong.

[40deniertights]

Agree with everyone else. YANBU. Your DP works and you would like to but it is difficult enough with young children without also having a condition that can be debilitating. I hope the new legislation helps you when you are ready (not having to declare conditions). You are also clearly not thoughtless about the issue either which is great.

[Rachyandmeg]

I think the benefit topic is a very touchy subject. Everybody has different views so it will always lead to disagreements.
I think the reason many people get annoyed when the B word is mentioned is because of what they read in the papers. There are probably far less cases of real scroungers and people who make a living from claiming / fraud etc than what is said in the paper and news. People home in on the stories eg women with ten kids in paper other week who makes a living out of having more and more kids on benefits and both parents perfectly well and sit at home all day. People tend to lump anyone on benefits into same category which isn't right. With the economic climate and people losing jobs I think people get angrier. What I think is funny is how many people claim child benefits in this country and that is a benefit but they don't say there claiming benefits . These are working people who claim them too.however I don't think anyone should rely on a forever plan and expect our government to pay for them though 4 life as people should take responsibility for their own lives. Obviously there are people in genuine need of assistance from the government and forever in some cases but in many cases I don't think people should be entitled to money and forever being propped up.

The sense of entitlement in many cases is wrong . I think some working people who earn a living and work v hard don't get any help from government so why is it fair tht many who can just as easily work get money that working people pay for
. What is a working persons reward?

[redflag]

I don't have an issue with anyone who is entitled to them claiming. I do have issue with the current government vilifying everyone who does! Especially as they basically do too

[Rachyandmeg]

Hi do u think they vilify evryone or is it more like the papers or news? I heard cameron say in his speech they want to help the disabled and sick etc and want to give them the benefits assistance tht they need.

[redflag]

That's disabled and sick, not the poor. This government i feel have completely waged a war on the poor. They have also spurred on a culture of " they have this and that....Why should i not have it...."

I think the papers are hand and hand with the government, but it seems like a slur campaign to me.

There are people on this very site saying they are basically jealous of people on benifits. Because they have nice homes and rent the best properties, Not realising the amount of land lords willing to take dss is minuscule.

The poor are being blamed for everything.

Just my opinion though

[amothersplaceisinthewrong]

YANBU. £16K is a very low wage, so you are entitled to the benefits.

[pastyeater]

People who are jealous of those on benefits need to stop reading the The Daily Mail and find out what really goes on.I only got my place because I had a guarantor.The vast majority of landlords won't take HB without one.Some that will are slum landlords.If the tenant complains about damp or disrepair they get two months leave.It's a landlords right to give you two months notice to quit with no reason.Why isn't this a national scandal? Because it does't suit the political agenda of the newspapers.Thats why.
If Cameron really cares about the sick and disabled why are they moving so many onto Jobseekers allowance.Then cutting their HB after 12 months if they fail to find work.In theory some of these people can work but face extra barriers to employment on top of scace jobs.Just look at the website of the citizens advice bureau if you want to know more.They are concerned the fit for work assesments are unfair.
The recurrent themes of the posters on benefit are lack of affordable housing,no living wage,lack of affordable childcare,disabilities and general lack of jobs.All this lifestyle choice spiel is just a crock of shit.

I an never in my life going to vote Tory and will turn in my paupers grave if any of my descendents do.

[ccpccp]

Is anyone on this thread NOT on benefits? Goes to show that workshy turkeys dont vote for Christmas

Benefits are too high and are rightly being trimmed back to affordable levels. And not because the DM says so FFS.

Just to set the record straight - it is our 'fuking business' pastyeater, as its our tax money you are being given. There is a transaction going on, leaving you beholden to the taxpayer.

OP - YANBU, so long as you are constantly striving to better your financial position and have a plan to get OFF benefits. The only people who should be on benefits for life are the disabled.

[foreverastudent]

loudlass you make a good point that people are happy for women to be SAHMs if they have a man in the house, bringing in a wage, but spit vitriol if the same woman becomes a single Mum/her hubby is made redundant/gets sick.

I am surprised you get so much HB though. We are in simialr circs but have a mortgage so no help with housing costs, maybe we should sell and rent

[Mumcentreplus]

...nice of you to assume everyone on benefits are work-shy

[pastyeater]

Oh my goodness! And I didn't know the taxpayer funded benefits!ccpccp.Bad luck is what I paid my tax for.When I get back on my feet I will not begrudge anyone else the same.Trying to discern deserving and undeserving poor is too complex.I would much rather taxes go to a few 'scroungers' if it ensures all the needy get help.If someone makes a valid claim then it is nobodys fucking business to label them.The OP wanted to know if she was classed a scrounger.I don't think she needs to give people her medical history and justify to anyone but the DWP why she can't work.It's not your fucking business just because you pay tax.

[umf]

ccpccp we don't get any benefits. No tax credits, no nuffin'. (If I were in prison, DH would get some childcare tax credits. But since I'm a fulltime student, he doesn't.)

But I certainly want to live in a society where people in OP's position are supported. I don't want to live in one where only the highest earners can afford to have children. I'd rather that wage inequality and the excessive cost of housing were addressed, so that everyone could earn a living wage,
rather than the state subsidizing working parents through benefits. But New Labour did nothing to improve this situation and the Coalition certainly won't be helping.

[ENormaSnob]

Yanbu

I am seriously shocked at the amount you get though.

[DioneTheDiabolist]

For 17years I didn't receive benefits. I contributed and didn't begrudge one penny. Having lived abroad, I was proud and pleased at what I got for my tax contribution (and for that matter the BBC License Fee).

Then the shit hit the fan. My life was ruined and I am now on benefits. I do not feel guilty for this. In two years time I hope to be off all benefits and contributing at a higher rate.

CCPCCP, I kind of get where you are coming from but you are at best naive and ignorant, at worst, just stirring.

[Rachyandmeg]

Times are difficult to try and seek work but the recession has only been recent. What happened b4 then? Also their are jobs just not maybe jobs people want to do! Maybe people could consider taking a lesser role if fit and healthy. True those who have been hit on hard times like dione could be helped but it should be temporary. Not taken to such an extreme. The sick and disabled fair enough but many disabled people can and do want to work and get great satisfaction from it.x

[midlandsmumof4]

Thing is....Most of these benefits weren't available when my 4 were growing up. Only got child beneifit. If OH didn't earn a enough--TOUGH. We cut our cloth as the saying goes. I'm sorry....but familys these days have a really easy ride. Wish I was 30years younger.

[midlandsmumof4]

But......fair play if you're entitled. It's the system thats at fault.......

[Rachyandmeg]

Hi midland, yeh I agree with you if they say you are entitled then that's what you can get I guess
. its the government that needs to sort this out. In your day there were nt benefits I guess it was very tough . I don't have much hope for any political party but why would anyone on here ever choose labour again when they have created this benefit culture and not encouraged people to sort their own lives out . Not a good example at all. Like have ten kids and u get more and more each child. Eventually they get so much money that they can't get out of the rut as getting a job would not then pay the lifestyle they now have on benefits. Thus a life on benefits and future generations . That's what labour has done they don't encourage work which they should from poor all the way upto the wealthy! It is a complex situation to sort out because everybody has their own individual circumstances. For the country it is going to get tougher but it needs sorting. But will the conservatives be the one to do it?hmmmm not optimistic but we shall see.
X

[foreverastudent]

secondcoming - you should be getting more tax credits than that. Are they assessing you on current year income? the only way it should be that low is if you are repaying an overpayment. If that is the reason you can ask them to suspend repayments as it is causing you hardship. It's not that hard to do this.

[EvilEyeButterPie]

Those of you who think that you might not be getting what you should, have a look at www.entitledto.co.uk, where you will find a calculator.

Loads of people don't claim what they should, and struggle on in life, I personally think that it is one of the greatest things about this country that we look after our disadvantaged, and I think that it is actually a good investment to give people a bit of support with rent etc- it would be a lot more expensive to keep them in prison or hospital, which is what will happen if you are asking both parents of three children to work 48 hour weeks with no childcare or rent help on minimum wage.

I don't get what people think people on benefits would do without them- quietly starve in a corner? Suddenly develop a better background and history and become cured of all illnesses? Live in one room with their family?

Or do we only give outside relief to the deserving poor now?

If any of you have read about the poor laws and the history of the welfare state, have a look at what this government are saying. The scariest sentence I have ever heard:

"We will reward people who make the right choices in life"

Not "we will make sure every person has a decent (as in the opposite of indecent) standard living". Not "we will help those who find themselves in need of help". Definitely not "to each according to his need"

They want to reward people who have the good taste to be born rich, and if they aren't, then they must work every single hour for employers who can get away with anything (we ARE all aware that the unions are going to get wrecked, aren't we?) and they will be grateful for every penny we deign to give them. Any independant media will be attacked, art and knowledge for the masses will be curtailed. Women need to get themselves a good husband and shut up. The disabled better had have a lovely picturesque disability and be satisfied with basket weaving.

How are people not rioting in the fucking streets?

[babylann]

I personally feel like the people who are quick to judge about the cushy lifestyle of anyone who dares to get benefits to increase the quality of life of their family are people who've never been in the position of needing to claim, or who have, like someone whos given up smoking, decided they're "above that" and can now go around judging others.

We were in a very unfortunate position to have both been made unemployed through no fault of our own when I first became pregnant, and having to go through all the JSA bullshit (like going to for an interview as to 'why I can't get a job' when I was 26 weeks pregnant) and having to try and find a house where the landlord would accept DSS. Luckily my partner got a job before it ever mattered and everything came together at just the right time.

People who say things like "there are jobs, maybe not jobs people want, but anyone can find work" I find this very naive and very offensive. Me and my partner applied for every job going which wouldn't have involved moving to a different city, we are both hard workers and knew that, although we could survive on benefits, we didn't want to.

I don't judge anyone for living on benefits, despite the fact that our household pays a lot more tax than we can really afford to. I'm not going to sit on some high horse and say, "But those are my wages the poor and vulnerable are spending!"

[ccpccp]

So many straw man arguments. Where to start?

Look - its very simple. Benefits have never been so generous as they are now, thanks to a dire labour govenment buying votes hand over fist for the last 10 years.

For some people life on benefits is hard, but for others it is easy. The government cant target the latter without also hitting the former, and so all people on benefits are being asked to cut back a little.

At the same time, the government are also limiting some of the disgraceful inbalances that Labour allowed to creep in. People on longterm benefits living in nice areas while those working have to move out because they cant afford the rent. Single parents with a clutch of kids being paid more than than a family in full time work.

They were spending money we didnt have, and nurturing a sense of entitlement that manifests now in threads like these.

There really is no argument. Benefits need to be cut and thankfully they are being cut.