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.

We have a large amount of supermarkets around here (IMHO far too many!).

However they dont get a large amount of applicants for roles so what they have done is offer child friendly, term time working hours which has attracted SAHM's looking for work. Of course its not brilliantly paid but it is a role and that 20% discount off food shopping is very attractive to some.

I used to work in a shop when I was at school, it is a role you dont take home with you and perhaps something I might go back to in the future.

so Sock , how would you afford an Iphone on £53 per week?

Public sector pensions - goldplated, unbelievably generous vs private sector. The tax payer is funding these when we can't put anywhere close to enough in our own private sector pensions.
Why would you want to drag public sector pensions DOWN to a level that you think is inadequate? Why aspire to race to the bottom?
You do realise that many public sector workers earn very low salaries and will have nothing like a 'gold-plated' pension?

BECAUSE THE UK MONEY POT IS EMPTY AND WE CAN'T AFFORD THEM. They were designed when people died within a few years of retirement, if not in their last years at work. It is a myth that salaries are lower in the public sector, obviously there are low-high paid jobs, but on average salaries are not lower any more.

No, it's my fault. I can't be arsed posting anything remotely sensible in response to someone who has decided that large scale unemployment is a myth because 2 working people didn't need extra work.

Shame, it started off as a really great thread.

In British law there isnt even any such thing as an illegal immigrant.
There are illegal entrants (ie on lorrys) and people with failed leave to remain

I was staying away from this, but: People on benefits cannot get a mortgage unless it is Disability Living Allowance, and the childs DLA will not count, only the adults.
Sorry Cleo

Without outing myself I do know something about public sector pensions (and No- I dont work for the government!). Two is right, they are not well paid in the grand scheme of things.

My retirement age has moved from 60 to 65. My state pension age has moved to 67 and going upwards. I have lost Child Benefit. I have a private pension, I would be daft not to. Have I ever had a time when I couldnt put food on the table - no. I know my personality and I wouldnt let that happen which might be why I have never been unemployed. I cannot be that lucky and walze my job to job!

On a lighter note - I was thinking of training to be a builder!! Only joking!

Fresh - agree with you I know many people how are committing fraud but its a way of life where I'm from almost normal. My dad claims benefits , he has mental health problems due to alcoholism but had never paid into the system himself. I feel sorry for him and do help because what he gets is not enough to live on . On another note my mil always insists she knows a family who had a wedding to attend so went to the social and they gave them money to buy wedding outfits fromarks and Spencer's ! Never fails to make me laugh - utter crap .

Quite. A huge number of public sector works earn very poor wages indeed. Far less than somebody on benefit. All this hand wring about benefit cuts. I'd like to see a few examples rather than everyone is going to starve because of these reforms.

That wanting a welfare reform means you want to send everyone up chimneys and to the workhouse.

That no one on benefits ever chooses it as a lifestyle choice.

That some women don't have babies to get a flat.

That some people have no intention of ever getting a job.*

That some on benefits are actually considerably better off than some in full time employment.*

That all the poor are decent, salt of the earth types looking out for each other and a the rich are all heartless bastards.

• Not a myth

Just a few to be getting on with

Loving the '2 girls in Costa' story.

Costa is so modern.

That crap used to be '2 girls in McDonalds' or '2 girls on the bus'

My how times change

I know my personality and I wouldnt let that happen

Does your personality include the ability to see into the future?

Dinosaur - I have been flamed on this thread and feeling somewhat burnt and you are saying that where you are benefit fraud is the norm.

I sort of see what you are saying tbh- when the riots happened in Croydon etc the items stolen from shops werent food and essential clothing - they were IPhone's, designer trainers etc. The reason I know - I was caught up on that terrible day!

I love the idea that 'you wouldn't let that haven't as if my sheer force of will and jedi mind powers you could just make something out of nothing. By saying that what you are actually saying is that poor people let themselves be poor, and thus deserve it. Be honest, you're poor-ist.

People have asked why I have been so lucky.

Well, something has happened to enable me to remain in employment. I just stated a reason for it! Now, maybe its something else but I have 12 years to go until retirement and do have a future mapped out so yes, perhaps I can see into the future.....

Well something has made me 'luckier' then others!

The fact is I have been in employment my whole working life. I have been made redudant once and had a role the day I left but I am going to admit that those were the days when it was easier to do.

Its not easy now...I recognise that.

Can I quietly add that no one on out of work benefits (unless severely disabled) is "earning" more than the equivalent of a full time wage.

That really is the biggest pile of DM peddled crap I've ever seen. Sadly it's also the most common.

Why do public sector workers consider themselves low paid? In some areas they are the highest paid workforce. Yes, some are in low-paid jobs but so are the majority of private sector workers except the low paid private workers don't get all the fringe benefits - full sick pay, maternity pay, etc any more than the statutory minimum of anything if they're lucky. As for an occupational pension why do you think the govt had to bring legislation in for this for low paid private sector workers.

Skinnywatch spot on tbh i just dont want to pay for these people any more i have my owan family to feed and i dont want to support others who simply cant get down the sexual health and get a coil fitted

There are plenty who are simply feckless dont want to work and have no intention to there are people who have children to incress there welfare payments thank good that will no longer be the case

I dont really give a fig about getting flamed people who have no job shoud place ther energy into getting a job instead of being a moaning mini on mumsnet

To all those who think that i should support you family because you cant be arsed to work have a it will be the last one you will have on me

Skinny - you have said it much better than me. I have resorted to saying that I am training to be a builder!

Float is right I believe. Around London and the SE yes- public sector workers are not particualrly well paid. In the middle of Wales they are doing well pay wise and keep hold of their role until retirement.

Which is one of the methods I am using (but I am NOT public sector!)

Thing is many people never expect to need benefits.....me for a start. And for every feckless "I don't want to work" type, there will be people like me who HAVE worked and intend to again...we suffer alongside the "I don't want to work" people.

What I don't understand is this. How can it be in any way fair that somebody can collect £2,000 plus a month in benefits and yet another person earning £12,000 a year is paying tax.

Disabled people get free taxis

No they don't. Some disabled people get a free bus pass, only valid at certain times for a bus that isn't wheelchair accessible.