To think in the real world it's become openly acceptable to vilify and abuse benefit claimants?

[Pantone363]

Years ago people might of gossiped about people on benefits, or moaned to their partners etc. but there wasn't this acceptable open hostility towards them.

In the space of a week I've heard people openly call them "breeders" (ie single mothers), it seems ok to expect any benefit claimant to explain themselves to anyone who feels they are funding their lifestyle (taxpayers).

It really seems the tide is turning towards an open contempt for anyone claiming benefits whilst not working.

I can't think of any other group of people it's ok to shame and gossip about in public!

So AIBU?

I think it is a government propaganda machine with the aim of divide and conquer. This government seem to be doing it with all kinds of issues i.e. SAHM vs working mum etc..

I also think that those who are benefit "scroungers" are more visible to the general public than those who are quietly working away trying to get a job and looking after their families. The perception of people on benefits is skewed by those who are milking the system and showing themselves off on Jeremy Kyle.

Just wondered if anybody actually knew how much of their tax went to fund the people they despise so much? 1p, 2p.
Do they also begrudge their tax being spent on other things they don't agree with.
Sometimes I put the news on and see more civilians especially children murdered by our Armed Services, I'm glad I'm not responsible for that. So how much does that cost you? 1p 2p 5p.

yanbu it's true, it makes me seethe, it took me years of unemployment before I got a job... there just weren't any bloody jobs. not to mention people forced to give up work through illness etc, it is a cruel attitude cultivated by govt and media. in my experience people are desperate for work but many have given up hope as things have been crap here since 2008.

The perception of people on benefits is skewed by those who are milking the system and showing themselves off on Jeremy Kyle.

This.

Yes, there are people who take the piss. However, it is wrong to tar everyone who is on benefits with that brush. I was always told to look beyond the stereo type, or if you want to put it in Biblical terms:
^1 Judge not, that ye be not judged.
2 For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again. Mk. 4.24^

Or the classic 'Let he who is without sin cast the first stone'.

We are all too quick to judge these days, and too quick to throw stones. Many of us are also one month's pay away from being benefit claimants.

Sorry, posted last post on wrong thread.

2 benefit threads going, what a surprise

morethan, you mention about 'the rich' losing their CB and tax credits. We are in that category. We don't feel very rich on a single income of 50k with 3 dc. It is in fact the same as two people earning 25k, only the single earner family pays more tax. We can't afford to buy our own home and rent privately. As someone said further up thread, you can get vilified for being a renter. I was talking to someone the other day, who was adament that because she paid a mortgage, she paid more than her fair share to the government plus all taxes she paid . I'm sure there are a few people where we live who look down on us for renting . I would say owning more than one property even if you are low income makes you considerably wealthier than a family on a single income of 50k stuck paying high rent to a landlord.

Ihategeorge

sorry IhateGeorge

I hadn't looked at it like that 50k seems such a lot of money to us. Even with the small income from our other property we are looking at less than half of that.
I think there are so many variables in peoples income, expenditure, geographical location, past experiences etc, its easy to say well its ok for them etc.

With any system there will be people who genuinely need the help to get back on their feet but there are also the JK style piss takers. Of course it is right that the system is there and any one could find themselves in need of it - I don't think anyone is disputing that. But the people who sit on their arses and churn out kids are going to be vilified - sadly they risk giving genuine people a bad name.

And childcare isn't free for anyone except those whose partners financially support the family. Someone has to pay for the children to be fed and clothed - all too often it's the taxpayer.

With any system there will be people who genuinely need the help to get back on their feet but there are also the JK style piss takers. Of course it is right that the system is there and any one could find themselves in need of it - I don't think anyone is disputing that. But the people who sit on their arses and churn out kids are going to be vilified - sadly they risk giving genuine people a bad name.

This.

"Breeders" was the terminology used by the gay community to describe heterosexuals. It started before it became possible/accepted/allowed for gay and lesbian people to become parents.

I get benefits as a disabled person and a carer but I'm very careful about who knows about it because I'm worried about the backlash or that I might be questioned about it - I know many people through groups where we have shared interests but don't necessarily know each other's occupations/home situation. I've known of families with disabled children who have been reported out of spite and a misunderstanding of disabilities like ASD/ADHD, so I figure it's the easiest way to avoid an investigation - nobody will gossip about us or report us maliciously if they don't even know we're claiming in the first place.

I definitely feel that the general atmosphere in the media is worse than when I claimed benefits as a single parent ten years ago. There is definitely an agenda and use of negative terms in the press that didn't exist a few years ago.

I have never seen or heard of anyone in real life being openly vilified or abused because they claim benefits, so I don't believe it has become acceptable to the general public for that to happen.

Therefore, YABU.

There is hostility, because it's so very unfair.

I have to get DLA & WTC as due to chronic illness I can't work full time.

People at work have asked how I cope financially and those I've admitted to that i'm on benefits have been supportive and understanding.

I'm actually pleasantly surprised by their nice attitude because I had been feeling ashamed of needing to be on benefits.

I agree with those saying that it isn't a new or more vicious attitude that has suddenly appeared, just that with social media and the press, the more extreme examples of abuses are very widely disseminated and so become part of the mythology growing around benefits claimants.
Unpleasant, petty and driven by very human emotions of resentment.

I'll give you one example. A friend of mine is currently trying for her 7th child. All by 5 dads. Don't get me wrong she is a brilliant parent but what kind of example is she setting to her daughters?

I believe that recently rules were tightened so you have to have a child under five to be able to claim benefits without having to look for work. I wonder if at some point the next step will be taken, and the child will have to be under six months. This would put out-of-work people on benefits on a par with working people. It would raise costs in the short term because government will have to fund childcare, but it would also kill the idea of children as a passport to a different life, so in the longer term it could save money due to children not born.

Rules like the one that allows people to not bother looking for work as long as they have a child under five are what creates bad feeling. Five years is a very long time to be allowed free living from the state, especially when it can be so easily increased by having more children, which many people would do anyway.

If people felt the rules were fair, they would be much more accepting.

it has always been this way

but we now have a benefit culture that many will argue that we do not and it makes many people angry that so many are working hard and are really struggling with little or no more money than those on benefits yet they are still choosing to work

we need to understand why so many people have chosen to rely on benefits rather than work or work full time

I don't think 'breeders' and single mothers are the same thing, 'breeders' are more the type who have kids in order to dodge working because of the more generous welfare payments that come with kids. This can apply to single mothers, or couples who keep popping out kids.

Not all single mothers would be classified as 'breeders' also, as many do work to support themselves, or would like to work but have been left in a position that leaves them unable to through no real fault of their own.

Lots of things have caused people to change their opinions of benefit claimers. TV does them no favours and many people watch a lot of TV.

For those that go out to work everyday yet see others never having worked a day in their lives have numerous children and nice things it does sway how they vote and think. Its no longer a welfare state for those truly in need but a way of life.

I think whats changed most is the "entitled" attitude from the claimants. Very few are grateful for the assistance whilst the majority just talk about their entitlements and play the system in order to gain the most. How many people cut their hours to the bare minimum when WTC came in or ensure their SE is kept within the threshold to claim? Then you get those who claim it is their right to be a SAHP and claim tax credits as their household income cannot afford that choice.

People ask the question "can i afford a child/another child" and the majority will answer saying babies cost nothing, you'll get tax credits etc. self responsibility and financial planning seem to have gone out of the window sadly for many. Children are costly, childcare, food, clothes, school trips etc. Whilst benefits are seen to facilitate lifestyle choices, there will always be great opposition to them.

In the country where I am living, if you have child and need to claim Job seekers allowance, your child/children must be attending a full time creche/child minder. Otherwise, you are deemed to be unavailable for work and not entitled to any form of job seekers allowance.

I don't know about the UK, I've never lived there - but I dont think it's the same? Are there seperate claims for job seekers and the unemployed?

I think whats changed most is the "entitled" attitude from the claimants. Very few are grateful for the assistance whilst the majority just talk about their entitlements and play the system in order to gain the most.

I think you would find that's the other way around, HappyMummy. It's the minority that are featured in the media and give everyone else a bad name.

www.ons.gov.uk/ons/rel/lms/labour-market-statistics/may-2013/sty-employment.html

that's the official figure
5 unemployed for every vacancy
some vacancies are zero hours contracts
some are part time/temporary

"Those at the top hate everyone, yet noone turns on them".

^^
This