To start a benefits "myth busting" thread so that I can link the thickos of Facebook to it

[MarmaladeTwatkins]

When they start moaning about how people on benefits can afford diamond shoes and other such items.

I'll start.

1. Housing benefit is mostly paid out to WORKING people. So all of this talk of going out and getting a job and buying their own home if they don't like the bedroom tax is a flawed argument.

Oh! And that reminds me of a good one.

Britain is not the most tolerant country in the world. We don't put up with amazing liberties other countries would never dream of, because they are harsher to immigrants. In fact, our own PM has been criticized by the EU for his xenophobic comments.

We don't give people benefits they'd never dream of elsewhere. We're not amazingly lenient. In fact, we're on the edge of violating human rights law because of how racist and anti-immigration our government are.

If there were, lets say, 4 rabbits and 2500 people. Each person is encouraged to own a rabbit and having a rabbit is generally a good thing. But there are only 4 rabbits available. So 2496 people out of the 2500 won't own a rabbit. Rabbits are jobs. If there aren't full time or even part time jobs available...however much you encourage people or force people, there won't be more jobs and that means there won't be more people in work. You can't just get a job.

You cant just get a job while the abomination that is workfare exists. It was leaked out last week that a branch of Homebase has 21 people on workfare (how coincidental that they should take advantage of this "scheme" in the run up to Easter one of the biggest DIY weekends of the year. And a pizza company had 100 people on workfare IN ONE BRANCH. ShoeZone used workfare the Xmas just gone instead of taking on paid workers. Its disgusting. And its a reason why Xmas temp jobs are like gold dust.

I think I'll just link people to this thread going forward!

I have a friend who has AS. She can't use public transport because of this, as crowds, too much noise, too close personal contact disturb her (as she puts it). She has mobility issues and walks slowly, with a stick. She cannot sit at a desk for more than 20 minutes without severe pain. She cannot work from a screen for more than 40 minutes or so without needing a break (visual problems), and cannot work outdoors (problems with lifting, gripping, walking unaided).

ATOS have decided that she is breathing and walking and therefore capable of work and not in need of (an adapted) motability vehicle. I honestly don't know what will happen to her.

Sorry for thread hijack

Well said, Darkeyes.

As soon as you qualify for one benefit, eg child tax credit, you get a 'raft' of other benefits handed to you on a plate...

It is a myth that someone earning £16K and receiving child tax credits then receives free school meals, housing benefit, council tax benefit, free prescriptions, a goat, etc.

There are certain people on MN who would have you believe that earning £16K is actually the equivalent of earning around £40K because you get given all this extra FREE stuff! whereas they have to work 18 hours a day 7 days a week to have even half the lifestyle you enjoy on minimum wage!

The criteria for Incapacity Benefit/ESA have been made much narrower. But the JSA criteria to be available 35+ hours a week (or is it 40?) haven't changed.

So there are now people who are too well to get ESA. And too sick to get JSA or earn their living.

They are screwed.

most social housing stock is 3 bed roomed - there is not a plethora of available 1 and 2 bed homes - down sizing is not a simple solution

there are not enough jobs on the job centre database for the number of people seeking work

Can I just chip in here please. I dont particularly like the title of this thread. What if I started one that said 'Its a myth that benefit claimaints need the money, just get out and do a job, just like the rest of us'.

This thread is also very one sided and aggressive.

The fact is that we DO need to reform the benefit system, under Labour there was a huge increase in the number of people claiming. Why was that?

And now there are many many families who arent working, who pick their partners unwisely.

This isnt ONE person's idea (IDS) that NO ONE agrees with. There was some being interviewed on the BBC yesterday who had two spare rooms. He said it was unfair he would be expected to move but we never found out why he had two spare bedrooms.

My DB lives in a ex council flat in Central London. The block is full of people (mainly older generation) who have been there for years. His next door neighbour (early 60's) has never worked. Has said she didnt see the need after a while. Her children are long gone but she claims as they visit she needs the extra rooms just on the off chance.

I live near Slough, which is run down and has its own issues. I was in Costa a number of months ago. Two young girls with buggies were trying to decide how to get a bigger place and agreeing who they could sleep with to get that extra baby.

I am sorry, what is wrong about sharing rooms, I had to with my sister whilst I was growing up and she sleepwalked! It seems we are becoming more and more reliant on the state with an view that anything deemed different or unusual makes us immune from the changes.

I am looking for some building work to be done (probably about £3k-£4k) I have called two companies, one hasnt bothered to call back and the other one said he would come last Tuesday... It has almost always been like that around here.

So, there are some jobs, its just that not everyone wants to do them!

This thread is also very one sided and aggressive.
Aggressive?

Maisie, those young girls in Costa are misinformed if they think having another baby will guarantee them a bigger place. In my area they will tell them to use the living room for the adults and give the bedroom(s) to the children. They have been doing that for a long time here...for at least the last three years that I know about.

"The fact is that we DO need to reform the benefit system, under Labour there was a huge increase in the number of people claiming. Why was that? "

Because the so-called baby boomer generation started to reach retirement age. The majority of benefit payments go to pensioners, who are currently not effected by the cuts.

"I live near Slough, which is run down and has its own issues. I was in Costa a number of months ago. Two young girls with buggies were trying to decide how to get a bigger place and agreeing who they could sleep with to get that extra baby."

I would have counted your opinion as valid until I read this crock of shit.

Are you IDS, maisie?

In my area two bedroom places are at a premium and you have to have medical need etc. to achieve a high enough points to qualify for the grading needed.

Myth 3 all people on Benfits are looking for work

"I live near Slough, which is run down and has its own issues. I was in Costa a number of months ago. Two young girls with buggies were trying to decide how to get a bigger place and agreeing who they could sleep with to get that extra baby."

This is the problem with this fucking country, benefit claiming girls going to Costa. They should be round building your extension for you.

Just because I dont agree with you doesnt make me wrong! In fact changes have just been introduced that says I am not the only one. This government was voted in by someone. Just because you dont agree with a change doesnt mean its wrong.

I actually would have gone further and looked at moving older people out of accomendation tbh. If I lost my job I would have to move, if I had five children they would be sharing rooms. Why is it so different on benefits. benefits are there for the very needy. They arent they to stay on forever

I don't see how this thread is aggressive in any way. It's merely pointing out common myths surrounding the benefit system. Who is it targetting exactly?!

Fancy, the fact is I am annoyed I am having to chase people to come and quote for some work. I thought there werent any jobs... How difficult is it to take a message from an answerphone and call someone back.

And there is no need to be rude and start swearing.

"Two young girls with buggies were trying to decide how to get a bigger place and agreeing who they could sleep with to get that extra baby."

So rather than assume they were stupid for thinking that would work, you assumed they were right and it would?

This is why it is agressive and is full of swear words:

'I would have counted your opinion as valid until I read this crock of shit.

Are you IDS, maisie? '

'This is the problem with this fucking country, benefit claiming girls going to Costa. They should be round building your extension for you. '

maisie joe i bet you wouldnt walk into a womens refuge and say to them "tut tut you shouldnt have picked your partner so unwisely"
Many abusive partners dont reveal their true colours on the first date.
A lot of them become abusive once the woman becomes pregnant because she is more vulnerable and in the abusers eyes less likely to leave him while pregnant. Your post reeks of mysogyny as well as the usual bash the poor rhetoric.

Ive said this on another thread today and i will say it here.
With the hatred and lack of compassion ive seen on these boards and in some cases in RL i really do think that if Golden Dawn tried to gain a foothold over here they would actually be successful and that terrifies me.