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AIBU?

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Original poster

To ask what's the beef with benefits?

631 replies

mytartanscarf · 04/01/2015 14:33

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?

OP posts:
EatShitDerek · 04/01/2015 20:03

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

whitesandstorm · 04/01/2015 20:03

Witchesglove....taking a job at any place with zero hour contracts could literally have you homeless within months. The country is well and truly fucked.

MrsItsNoworNotatAll · 04/01/2015 20:03

What good is a zero hour contract if you have a family to support?

No hours to do, no pay given.

Therefore no money to pay for bills, food etc.

Yes, ok if you're living at home but a waste of time otherwise.

TaliZorahVasNormandy · 04/01/2015 20:06

I refuse to even entertain 0 hour, for one you cant sign off JSA and two, you dont have guaranteed income. I have a home and child to support, I want at least 16 hours. I also have limited childcare so that makes it harder.

EatShitDerek · 04/01/2015 20:07

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

ghostspirit · 04/01/2015 20:07

i was told it will all be on line soon as well... i wonder how many job centre workers will loose their jobs....

ilovesooty · 04/01/2015 20:07

Witches I can assure you that appointments are still very much with us. They also make them at random times and random days.

WitchesGlove · 04/01/2015 20:08

EatShit-

I have heard people such as my cousins wife (SAHM with kids in school, lots of family help with childcare anyway), speak with disgust about cleaners, those in KFC, bar staff, bar managers, checkout staff, dinner ladies and she would be appalled if someone suggested she do that. She'd rather just claim TCs and CB.

Hypothetically, if she became single, she'd be expected to look for work and I know she'd be the same and think it was beneath her.

EatShitDerek · 04/01/2015 20:09

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

ghostspirit · 04/01/2015 20:11

theres not jobs for everyone. everyones situations are different. people cant just take any job.

TaliZorahVasNormandy · 04/01/2015 20:14

I can tell you there are not jobs everywhere in my area. I apply for anything, even if theres no hope of me getting it, I apply for it.

I have an employment advisor at a contracted company, who is a very nice man and helps wherever he can. Some days, I struggle to apply for 4 jobs a week, some weeks I can apply for loads of them, if not its CV's to any company in the area, no matter who they are. But if there aint the jobs, people cant do much about that.

BackOnlyBriefly · 04/01/2015 20:14

DaisyFlowerChain Do you remember typing this? if they knew there would be no state assistance for simply having a child then fewer would be born.

lavendersgreen · 04/01/2015 20:14

I believe there will be many people lurking who agree with Daisy and Hand - and they'll agree with them not because they're "hard of thinking" but because D&H actually make some very good points.

They probably won't post in support because they have no wish to be called a twat...

WitchesGlove · 04/01/2015 20:15

EatShit-

I am not saying everyone is like that. But that attitude is very common.

Anyway, why should someone who COULD work be allowed to claim tax credits instead? It's just lazy.

BackOnlyBriefly · 04/01/2015 20:16

You also said Not mentioned a number of children either, that should be limited naturally by the amount a person can financially and emotionally support in changing circumstances.

So only have children if you have enough money now to afford them even if you end up without a job right? Presumably until they are 18?

WitchesGlove · 04/01/2015 20:17

Ghost spirit-

But why should someone be allowed to turn down a job as a cleaner? Just because they are a snob?

ghostspirit · 04/01/2015 20:19

a lot of people who work claim tax credit.. is that lazy ?

ghostspirit · 04/01/2015 20:20

no... not for being a snob. but if its going to leave them im a worse situation then yes.

Dawndonnaagain · 04/01/2015 20:22

Which points, lavenders?

ghostyslovesheep · 04/01/2015 20:24

witches are you completely ignoring the point about zero hours contacts deliberately?

no one is being snobby but you can't feed your kids on zero pay Hmm

WitchesGlove · 04/01/2015 20:28

Not lazy, but if they don't actually need it then it's greedy.

Or if it's because they have a partner who is determined to be a SAHM forever, then yes.

My supervisor at work is on about 26 K a year. His wife used to be a self employed hairdresser but hasn't worked since their DD was born 3 years ago. He reckons she can't work because they can't afford childcare.

Now, how the hell does a self employed hairdresser with years of experience earn less than a childminders fees?

And he can mind the dd on Saturdays as he doesn't work weekends.

BTW, they also have no rent to pay as they live with her very wealthy mother while saving for a deposit.

This kind of scenario is very common and it boils down to people being lazy, fussy and just not wanting to work.

handcream · 04/01/2015 20:30

Lavender- don't let anyone chase you off the thread because you don't agree with what they saying, some threads pride themselves on patting themselves on the back by having everyone agree with them and get uppity when some one comes in who doesn't.

ghostspirit · 04/01/2015 20:33

childcare is alot of money. whats point of her working just to hand it over to childminder... it also depends where you live childcare round here is average of 7.00 an hour

LeftyLoony · 04/01/2015 20:34

Too right. Neoliberal must be heard, won't you think of the children that poor people mustn't have ???

WitchesGlove · 04/01/2015 20:34

I thought you weren't allowed to turn down a job just because it was a zero hours contract?

although, it makes no difference really anyway, you can be sacked for any imagined thing at all/ petty reason until you've had your job 2 years you have absolutely no rights.

Besides self employed people never know if they'll get enough work to cover their expenses. Yet they don't just say, oh well, better claim benefits instead, just in case I don't get enough.....

How do you think childminders etc manage?????