I think something has to change, as a benefits dependency culture is undesirable for both the claimant and society. I have to admit, a friend of mine recently tried to get back into work after being on income support for years, and found out she would be £5 a week better off, with all the hassle that entails such as getting up at 6am to get kids sorted for
Childminder before school, having to do housework in the evenings and tired kids upset at the disruption. She persevered in the hope it was going to lead to better things, but not everyone has the internal resources she has.
The government want to be seen to e doing something about benefit dependency, hey presto Workfare! So open to abuse by corporations it's a joke!
The reproducing children while on benefits is something that the people claiming have made a conscious decision to do. Will a top-down policy of removing the financial incentive work? Possibly, but then again children could end up suffering through it. But from my experience a lot of children from these large families are already suffering financially and emotionally.
If a contingency measure is introduced that will be another loophole to exploit. Social services are already stretched to the limit, they cannot pick up the pieces.
Perhaps early intervention and raising children's aspirations is the best route, but as Shirley says, there are no jobs anyway.
On reflection, there's no real satisfactory solution, I just hope the government take more time considering any reforms than they did the NHS reforms!