AIBU to be incensed at the inequalities in the benefit system? (long sorry)

[Libran70]

I read MN every day and think how awful it is that so many people are struggling to cope on inadequate benefits and of the nit picking interviews they have to go through to get anything extra. And then there's ASOS causing so much upset and forcing disabled people to justify their existence.

I know there is a very small minority who play the system but they seem to be the only ones we ever hear about. So many people are struggling, no one should have to go to a food bank to feed their children.

However, there are cases where the money could be shuffled around and aimed at those really struggling.

My cousin is autistic and she lives in a wonderful complex within the community. She has a flat (bedroom, kitchen, living room, bathroom) and there is a care worker on call 24/7. SWs call daily to help her prepare meals, do her washing, take her shopping and so on. She also has an active social life, organised by SS and a local charity. She also has a supported job washing up in an old people's home close by. She sees her remaining parent every weekend and they go on holiday together. She pays for her own holidays and some of the care from her allowances.

This really is an example of excellent care. She was recently reassessed and she is entitled to every penny she gets in allowances and benefits.

However, she has a five figure amount of money in savings. All of this is saved from her benefits and allowances. I hope she has a long life ahead of her but when she dies this money and a lot more, I guess, will go to her family.

AIBU in thinking that this would not be fair? And AIBU in thinking she is getting far too much (at the moment) and there are people out there who need it more?

Meh, does she feel she isn't worthy of it?

She could always give some of it to charity, if she wanted to.

It's good to have savings, many people die penniless and their funeral expenses are a 6K+ burden to their families.

YANBU, I know of a woman who is only 'disabled' because she is fat, she gets DLA, doesn't even need it I doubt, not short of money.

People like David Cameron claiming benefits for his son was completely out of order.

TBH, I think when DLA is handed out it should also be means tested IFYSWIM, I also know of an scummy couple who use their kids ADHD disability money to fund their millions of tattoos and exotic pets!

The whole point of the Welfare State & NHS is to share the risks that come with normal life. I didn't plan to get MS, others have unplanned triplets, others get made redundant aged 50. We all benefit from the next generation being brought up properly and we recognise that in child benefit. It unifies our society and values. I don't want to live in a country where every penny must be justified and tested; the Welfare State isn't a safety net, it's a valuable resource for a coherent community

Income Tax is means tested - use that to recoup excess income

People like David Cameron claiming benefits for his son was completely out of order.

Why, though?

If he's entitled to it then why shouldn't he have it?

"When she dies, this money and a lot more will go to her family"
Not if she is alive when universal credit is introduced. Her benefit situation will be affected by her savings and if she has substantial savings she will not qualify for Universal Credit and will have to support herself until her capital diminishes.

I wondered why £6000 was the maximum in savings you could have before means tested benefits were affected now I guess from a previous posters remarks it is that you will need this for funeral costs.

We have a severely disabled child (profoundly autistic with severe learning difficulties). He will never be independent. He will never have the life choices that most people take for granted. He gets DLA and I receive carers. We could 'manage' fairly comfortably without it but it makes his life a little better. I grew up in a family on benefits - 4 sharing a bedroom, heating in only one room in the house, no holidays or trips, second hand clothes and shoes etc. If I could give him my childhood in return for taking away his disabilities then I would

Libran
You need to read wetaugust's post. If you are a joint signatory on her savings account, you could be in serious trouble if her savings are over the limit. She will not have this money to leave to her family, or anyone else, if she's over the limit then the law states that her benefits will be reduced until she is within the limits.
As joint signatory, you may be liable for not letting the DWP know.

The more I think about this thread the more mean-spirited the OP seems to me.

Everyone who qualifies for benefits can, after they have paid their living expenses, do whatever they want with the excess, be that save, feed it into a fruit machine, give it to charity, smoke, drink, pay for Sky - whatever.

You have no right to question what they do with their excess.

The fact that there is what you perceive to be an unnecessary excess is a Govt issue.

I find it quite difficult to believe that someone who has a relative who is so disabled as the OP states her's to be is even questioning the amount of support that relative receives.

Maybe she should take up drinking and smoking OP

Sabra, please try to persuade your dh to apply for DLA. It will open up a huuuuuge number of things for him. If he can't get upstairs to the bathroom, there is a grant to put one in downstairs, he could get a car/electric scooter/wheelchair through Motability, there's all sorts of things you would get help with. It would make a massive difference.

If I said what I thought I'd be rude

So will just say YABU.

And mean spirited in the extreme.

My DD probably won't have anyone to care for her when we go.

So she will need the money.

So we should either cut her money or make families who can support their adult child bear that extra financial burden?

I'm inclined to agree with OP in a way...

I unfortunately have ILs who reap the benefit system for all it is worth, having never worked and recently managing to develop very suspect 'disabilities' relating to mobility. They are continually popping out children, so I get very judgey on how limited their mobility actually is They can afford the usual things - massive TV, huge new car (Motability, of course), nice hols... which we and others like us have to save up for, for ages. Whilst paying for their nice hols/tv etc out of our taxes (rant rant rant).

So because of that experience, I am of the opinion that benefits should be vouchers that can only be used for food/certain bill types etc, rather than actual cash, as having disposable cash should surely be the privilege of those who earn it... In OP's case, her cousin does work as well, so that income is her money to save/spend as she likes, unlike my ILs, who enrage me beyond words whenever I see them with more new stuff that would count as an unaffordable luxury in my home.

I wondered how long it would be before someone came spouting crap about vouchers. Time to leave.

Oh piss off with the vouchers.

I hope you don't claim CTC/WTC or CB then Stella?

In return for handing over the mobility element of your DLA, you will receive a car. Some cars require a (non returnable) deposit.
The forms are some forty pages, and require copious notes from GP and Specialists.
Motability cars are not free

I'm always intrigued at the way women not claiming benefits 'give birth to' babies, but women claiming benefits apparently 'pop babies out'.

YABU.

Nobody who receives any type of benefit is well off, so if you can live extra frugally and manage to save for such a time when benefits are cut yet again then you should be applauded.
Yes, there may be people who are struggling and need more help, but that's what needs addressing not believing others have too much.

I am of the opinion that benefits should be vouchers that can only be used for food/certain bill types etc,
As for this, who the hell are you to dictate to me? I am in receipt of Carer's Allowance. I receive £55 pw for looking after four people with disabilities. If I want a bottle of wine once a month, or a cheap magazine or even a paperback, I'll have one, and when you work an 18 hour day, getting out only for the supermarket, and even then not always, and the school run, and do the lifting, shopping, cooking, cleaning that I do, with no prospect of a break, holiday, or even a day off, then, and only then can you tell me what to do with my money.
Now feck off!

stella

Do you have children? You too could sah and look after them rather than work. Then you too could have these lovely things your relatives have Its your choice love.

Did you join specially to get everyone in a tizzy about benefits, perchance?

Anyone who gets any sort of benefit from the tax system should bow down to all the tax payers and show eternal gratitude. So were you born in a nhs hospital or given birth in one then bow down, have you ever seen a doctor or visited a&e, ever needed the help of the police,received child benefit, received an education, walked on a pavement - these are all benefits paid for from taxation so know everyone is looking down no one can look at anyone else to judge them. I could list lots more benefits but you get the point.

So now* stupid phone I can spell honestly.

The OP was a bit disingenuous with the title of her post.

It's not really about benefits at all as she says in her first post that her cousin actually has supported work.

The support that outreach workers give her cousin is not actually 'benefits'.

If the OP was actually as involved as she claims to have been in secured support for her cousin she would know that the people who are assisting her cousin on a day-to-day basis with shoppping etc are actually support workers or personal assistants and are nit social workers as the OP claims.

This AIBU stinks to high heavens.

I dont believe you stella.

To get a motability car you need to be unable or virtually unable to walk.

So you are either stirring or making massive incorrect assumptions.