UC, food stamps, workfare - it's all good, why should I have to pay for spongers

[BlackMaryJanes]

That's my DH's POV whenever I raise my disgust at the above schemes. [sigh]

AIBU to think he's being an utter selfish git? Or does he have a point? He pulls out the "so much of our income goes on tax - that's food out of our children's mouths" card quite frequently. I usually respond by saying that I don't want to live in an individualist society where we only look out for ourselves and fuck everyone else.

One assumes that your DC's are privately educated and have never used the NHS for anything then?

Lordy, not more of this. Give him a

Goady much?

Does he realize that those food stamps will be replacing the emergency financial aid that used to be given AND has to be paid back out of their benefits and that sometimes, people applying for those crises loans needs the money for transport, means of communication, sanitary protection and other basics that are not food?

Oh well, if poor-bashing makes him feel better about himself then hey ho.

Not too sure why you're asking us - you have your view and have told him so, that's all that matters.

But point out to him that there for the grace of God etc - for redundancy, sickness, accident, many scenarios can and do happen to everyday people every day of every week

You are not being unreasonable. He sounds like a stereotypical Clarkson/Littlejohn type git.

Taxes are the subscription fees we pay to live in a civilised society. He should remember that next time he drives on a public road, goes to a public hospital, calls out the public fire brigade or drinks from the public water system

You could try pointing out to him that a significant amount of benefits go to people who are in work but are not paid enough to cover the cost of living. Working for shit wages is hardly sponging.

I couldn't live with anyone who held those views.

he will never be unemployed or disabled. Guaranteed.

I find it depressing, frustrating and short-sighted. I need better comebacks people!

These things are a safety net for all of us when we're at our most vulnerable.

I suppose one of the reasons all these changes scare me is because I know how close all of us are to loosing jobs, house fire, being disabled and NEEDING that help ourselves. It won't seem so reasonable when it's happening to you, even though you've worked all your life/got a sensible plan/just need a bit of help for a month or two while you get things sorted.

I would remind him how shortsighted he is being.

Outside of that, everyone is entitled to their own opinion, but I would struggle to be married to someone who cared so little for other people.

Your DH is definitely BU as you say... he's lucky to be in good health and able to work hard to pay taxes.

Sadly i can only work part-time & have to get DLA & WTC due to deteriorating mental health (including psychotic episodes) over the last 4 years.

I tried really hard to keep working full-time - at one point i worked up to 60 hours a week & paid £100s in tax; but stress contributed to the psychosis sadly & now the Psychiatrist won't let me work full-time yet.

I never ever thought i would end up in this situation - believe me, many people never think they will have to claim benefits but serious illness can happen to ANYONE.

You could try pointing out to him that a significant amount of benefits go to people who are in work but are not paid enough to cover the cost of living. Working for shit wages is hardly sponging.

Oh I do say that :( He says, "well then, let's triple the minimum wage - oh shit, you can't do that cause then there will be more unemployed" [insert snarky face here]

So can redundancy.

I have a neighbour who held similar views to your DH - until he got made redundant last summer. THen he had to experience the JobCentre & benefits system.

Luckily he now has another well-paid job. But he doesn't look down on benefit claimants anymore!

Is he independently wealthy?

Or a super-human who could withstand a car-crash which would leave anyone else brain-damaged and quadriplegic?

So someone is made redundant through no fault of their own, and suddenly they are a 'sponger'? Just one example.

The thing is, life has a funny way of teaching us lessons. I expect at some point your DH will need the welfare state to pick him up in some way - most of us do.

tell him he'll never win the mn goady thread of the day if he doesnt include illegal asylum seekers. tsk.

I don't know, OP, your posts make me feel as though this is a view that you perhaps hold (to whatever degree) and you would not like to be flamed so you pass the views off on a person who isn't posting here... goady and cowardly? I think the cowardly element is worse actually.

IF what you say is true, I'd keep quiet about being partnered with somebody who thinks this way because it would reflect on me. I certainly wouldn't be broadcasting it.

A really good point made on a comment thread on another forum which is useful to make in such circumstances: 99% of the people claiming benefits have PAID IN to the system via National Insurance.

If we had a system where you could opt out of NI and instead take out private unemployment insurance say with Aviva Insurance, then people would be horrified if Aviva then refused to pay out, cut the benefits offered, gave foodstamps instead of cash, etc etc.

As it is, we are obliged to pay 10% of our wages into the government system ourselves, and for our employers to pay another 13% for INSURANCE against times like this when there are no jobs.

Although the mail et at like to play on the 'never had a job' thing, it is a trivial percentage of claimants.

Latara "I tried really hard to keep working full-time - at one point i worked up to 60 hours a week & paid £100s in tax;
I never ever thought i would end up in this situation - believe me, many people never think they will have to claim benefits but serious illness can happen to ANYONE."

You're a really good example - it outrages me that people in your situation are made to feel bad. If you paid house insurance for years, and then your house got burnt down and you have to claim, then people would feel sorry for you, not moan. Why not the same for people who pay national insurance for years then get sick and have to claim?

Does he earn more than £26k a year - more to the point do you both earn an average of at least £26k a year each?

That's the break even figure (or so I've read on here). You only actually start contributing once you go over this.

Sorry, that was garbled but hopefully you get my point?

Take a ops husband.
One day your husband may end up in a situation where he relies on benefits himself and who will be there to support him?

I don't know, OP, your posts make me feel as though this is a view that you perhaps hold (to whatever degree) and you would not like to be flamed so you pass the views off on a person who isn't posting here... goady and cowardly? I think the cowardly element is worse actually.

Erm... no

There are many people unemployed or underemployed now HillBilly76 that were happily in work before this government came along. You try getting a job now that everything has been cut