to think that 20 grand on benefits a year is loads

[MrsBucketxx]

considering they dont pay any income tax.

just watching we pay your benefits program and worked out that this is over 30 grand if it was a normal tax paying salary.

why was this not mentioned.

I disagree that most are by benefits bashers, most are by people saying look what the nasty government is doing now, showing no understanding of what it is like to work but live a damp cramp hole and not eat much for the last week every month so you can pay the council tax.

Sparkly you claim TC as well I would hope and CB

£20K is nowt after rent, bills, council tax etc is factored in - I never understand these threads - I mean if it's so fucking wonderful on benefits why not do it yourself OP

I think it's because we all know the reality is very different

Too many people still think they are in the 70s, when you could leave school without any qualifications and get a job. A lot of parents seem to have this attitude, saying their are no jobs for their children, when what they mean is their children are unemployable.

Filee777 the way this government is cutting jobs it wont be an attractive options - it will be the ONLY option - we lots 55% of our staff last year (public sector LA dept) and we have another round of cuts next year - that's a lots of staff suddenly unemployed!

No because as long as people continue to discount the opinion of anyone who does not share their politics, these threads will continue. I am absolutely of serious threads being belittled by people who pend all day jest looking or an excuse o take the piss out of anyone who doesn't have far left politics. It is so patronising and ignorant.

YY Tabitha I also think loads of graduates think they are 'above' certain roles. I had a great job until about 3 years ago. Recession hit & I'm now earning about half what I used to. It sometimes irks me working for people with less qualifications than me but it would never cross my mind to sit on my arse at home doing nothing.

Scrap tax credits

If we really want to save money we should limit and then end all tax credits.
Stop paying any tax credits for children. Pay vouchers for childcare provision to parents (for their first two children) to allow them to work.

Make working tax credits only available to couples if both parents work

Couples should then only receive them if their combined 30+hr salary is less than £25k

Single parents should only qualify for working tax credits if they work 24+ hrs and are paid less than £15k

Madamecastafiore, I think you were replying to me, not Craving.

Capping for qualifications wouldn't work, I have sod all qualifications. But I worked full-time before I had my child, and lost my job because of cutbacks shortly before finding out I was pregnant.

£60 ish. I'm pretty sure it was a tad less, but rounded up. Internet is a requirement in today's world, a lot of job hunting is online, and having shopping delivered is cheaper than the bus to and cab home from the supermarket. Plus no Internet means no MN! As for the tv, it's not a necessity, but a package was only slightly more expensive. You can't exactly begrudge me the small luxury, it's the only one I had!

I would love to be working. Jobcentres are horrible, and it's not pleasant being treated like scum because you're on benefits. They act as if I'm a total moron.

I'm not saying I have it harder than anyone else. I'm just pointing out the view from the other side. It's not exactly a bed of roses.

I think whoever said we keep discuwsing it because it is an important issue has it right

Ronald that would put me on the dole - I am a lone parent working 22.2 hours (with no option to increase hours) - 3 children (all born in wedlock when we didn't claim anything) - I earn more that £15k

I couldn't afford childcare and holiday childcare without TC - so that's a great plan

Ronald - how are you going to create all the jobs that people will need so that they can earn enough to eat food?

There should be a culture of at least one skilled worker in each family, rather than the current trend of there being none and expecting to get a living wage from top ups.

Benefits should be scrapped after two children for everyone

Neglect laws should be changed to cover financial neglect from both residential and absent parents.

some people do live in cloud cuckooland (filee)

TheJoyful, these threads must be hard to read for you :(

I don't spend any of the day looking to take the piss out of right-wing people.

I just find it sickmaking that they talk about people on benefits like they are some subspecies.

And come out with silly idealistic ideas which involve everyone on benefits just skipping out and getting a job in 5 minutes.

MrsDeVere

University is only expensive once your earning money, night courses are free if you are on benefits/top ups.

Of course the joy in a change of culture is that people will start actually thinking about this stuff before starting a family rather than relying on support

Or stopping people's money so their children starve.

Yes..everyone should just go to university then they will magically get high paying jobs.

it isn't like there are loads of graduates already who can't get jobs is it

hahahaha yes because when you are at university you don't need to pay rent or eat food or buy books or anything

Well then that something that needs to change, people should be encouraged to study, not for degrees in 'media' or 'art' but things that are actually going to get you work.

I see lots of people getting degrees in pointless things but very few who actually look at the market and upskill accordingly.

Children won't 'starve' we pay out 70 a week to children on benefits, that's plenty enough to feed the whole family let alone each.