To ask what's the beef with benefits?

[mytartanscarf]

Do people think they are too little? That they should be more?

There's always a lot of upset on here about them - about how wrong the government are and how awful life is on benefits. I've never been on benefits so obviously can't judge. But what are the solutions?

I suppose I am asking what should the government do?

Hand cream, I'm really pissed off with what you've posted. I was with my ex for ten years before we got married and had kids. Please don't say I had bad judgement in choosing a partner. Stuff happens in life that we have no control over. Are you suggesting that no one enters a relationship without a cast iron guarantee it'll work out?

My DM was a single mother but she certainly didn't think the state should support her unwise choice in picking my father

Helena nice idea but I think their issues go way deeper than that.

Seriously, anyone bothered by hand team and Daisy don't be. Both have form. Just take the piss.

No, I am not saying that, I am saying that you shouldn't expect the state to pay for you when it doesn't work out with your choice of man.

I hear music

Form - what do you mean - do you mean I don't agree with you?

derek with all the things you have said about sanctions ect. it does not surpise me that some people may become pregnant to get back on to is... that shit is stressful. and if i had a choice out of no food/gas/electric for my child. then i can understand people leaning towards having another child. i would do the same if it meant knowing we had food...

'There seem to be a lot of women on here who have poor judgement in men when they choose to have a child and then complain it's not their fault...'

That's because it isn't. It's the fuckwit man's, too. Blaming it all on the woman is misogynistic.

I myself have been on JSA before. It didn't find the staff strict or that they really checked anything properly. Just a five minute appointment. It was only about 3 months each time though. Maybe they treat long term claimants more harshly?

TBH, if you live somewhere like london, it's quite easy to get a job. It may not be one you want/enjoy/pays much, but you've got to start somewhere. People in the South East who've been on JSA 5 years+ are taking the piss!

Many people just aren't prepared to work as cleaners/ fast food workers etc, and this attitude is lazy and wrong.

I also object to those claiming TCs when they don't really need them. My cousin and his wife do it just to pay for luxuries like holidays abroad and a decent car. I had neither growing up and it hasn't harmed me. To me, poor is kids having charity/boot sale clothes, only tesco value food, walk/cycle everywhere and only do free activities like park/library/museum.

And yes, I also disagree with state pensions/fuel allowance/bus pass- fine for those that need them, but they should be means tested.

Okay Handcream let's take the bait, we've had the hard of thinking out in force tonight so you're not really a problem.
There were quite possible more jobs available when your mother was looking for one.
Your mother perhaps had different life circumstances to others.
Have you ever considered that some of these women on benefits are there through the help of refuge - now think about the connotations of that, if you are able.
Shall I continue?

'I also object to those claiming TCs when they don't really need them. My cousin and his wife do it just to pay for luxuries like holidays abroad and a decent car. '

The cut off for them for a couple is quite low.

Oh... and I was at a welfare conference in early December. One delegate asked Esther McVey's sidekick (she didn't attend in person) about the one month payment in arrears when universal credit rolled out in his area. It was confirmed that the claimants' last payment before universal credit would be at the beginning of December and their next payment would be on 31st. She couldn't say how they were supposed to survive in the meantime.

And imagine this: there are millions and millions of people in the UK who don't live in London.

Whitesandstorm-

There ARE jobs. Ive seen loads advertised by McDonalds in all sorts of areas.

just because someone lives in london does not mean its easy to get a job...

zero contract hours... hopeless for someone with a family to support. might be ok for a student living as home. thats about it.

Witches these are zero hour contracts. Were zero hour contracts so prevalent when you were on jsa? How can you support a family when shifts and hours might not be guaranteed? Having said that if the job centre mandate you to apply for such jobs you'll be sanctioned if you don't.

I would like to say, it took me 2 years to get a temporary job and it werent for the lack of trying, anything I though I could do, I sodding applied for it. Oh I had only 6 interviews in that time too. If I could snap my fingers and walk straight into a job, I bloody would.

EatShit-

No, I didn't see your previous post. But I dont understand. If you have to go there every 2 weeks, why were they interested in 48 hours? Besides, I always applied for at least 10 jobs a day when on JSA. It takes seconds on the Mcdonalds/Wetherspoons website to apply for jobs.

I'm not saying you've been picky. Are you in an area of the country with particularly high unemployment? Or very rural with no transport?

Have you applied for fast food and cleaning jobs?

As I said the job centres must vary greatly, because the one I went to wasn't strict at all, and had a lot of bilingual staff for job seekers who couldn't speak much English.

I was also told that it was soon all going to be online and there would be no having to go to appts, just email in your evidence on the right day.