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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

See all MNHQ comments on this thread

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:
Dawndonnaagain · 04/01/2015 22:33

Wheretheres.
No free cars. It's taken off the DLA.
Other than that what is the breakdown you have provided, sorry I don't understand it.

LeftyLoony · 04/01/2015 22:35

Oh and Where - the system failed you therefore it's too easy? There's some magic formula?

Nope. MH is known to be one of the hardest areas to get help. It's wrong but don't think others shouldn't get something you've been wrongly denied.

Too many genuine cases get denied.

Wheretheresawill1 · 04/01/2015 22:36

Actually my fiesta was also on notability. Sometimes the truth is unpalatable. The z4 was my wake up call.,I'm telling the truth - I realise there are plenty who will not like this

handcream · 04/01/2015 22:36

Sorry, I thought I had made it clear, I didn't come from a well off household at all, Mum worked but we didn't have much money because my father paid the minimum he could get away with, it was the time when men were the head of the household and filled in the tax returns on behalf of their wives. Shocking now to think this was the norm!

I didn't want any of this for myself, I think that we are losing sight of personal responsibility tbh. I drum it in to both my DS's - if you make that decision just think through the ins and outs. Take the consequences good or bad and learn from it and move on.

Wheretheresawill1 · 04/01/2015 22:37

Left loony it wasn't I was denied. It was more that I wanted the self respect of working. I think I'm right to question it when I see people blatantly ripping off the system aka sitting on their arse. I may as well hand my tax over each month

AshesOfRoses · 04/01/2015 22:37

LeftyLooney the 1-bed flat I moved into with my toddler DD had bare tiles all over the floor, no white goods, the remains of the torn-out bathroom / woodwork / nails thrown into the front (only) garden for which I got threatening letters from the council.

The flat was painted in gloss in dark bottle green and shit brown all over. It took years to get into order but then it was years before DD and I were able to move. She had to have her "starting school" interview with her future HT sitting on the lower bunk of her bed which was in the sitting room.

I had been a colleague of this lady a few years before. It was a bit humiliating.

LeftyLoony · 04/01/2015 22:39

So you'd know that the lease on that was the same as the lease on your fiesta, then?

The down payment would be far bigger but as DLA isn't means tested then that shouldn't be an issue. You'd not get the grant for a z4,there's very specific qualifying criteria.

So what exactly is the problem?

lavendersgreen · 04/01/2015 22:40

Donna, I still don't understand why you asked which specific points (of D&H) I agree with...let's say all of them for ease if that helps.

Wheretheresawill1 · 04/01/2015 22:40

Left looney. All I can say is I'm glad it's changing. And it will continue to change. When my neighbour(the arthritic one who wanted cash in hand for cleaning my house) moaned about bedroom tax I felt ZERO sympathy. Bring on the changes.

LeftyLoony · 04/01/2015 22:40

Completely agree, Ashes. Communal Garden of ours had broken glass in too so was unusable.

I had the 'covering shit brown' issue too. Takes some doing!

Wheretheresawill1 · 04/01/2015 22:41

Oh and left looney I bet you can fit 2 wheelchairs in a z4

SoonToBeSix · 04/01/2015 22:42

Wherethere it's not a FREE CAR!!!!

LeftyLoony · 04/01/2015 22:42

Still no plans to means test DLA or PIP, though.
Obviously you forget those who claim DLA/PIP and work.

Jealousy is a very ugly thing.

LeftyLoony · 04/01/2015 22:43

Really? Thought they were estate-agent mobiles.

Wheretheresawill1 · 04/01/2015 22:44

Would love to chat all night but you know ... got work in the morning. Changes are coming

ghostspirit · 04/01/2015 22:44

loony i think thats what it comes down to jealousy... she/he has we/i dont thats not fair...

Wheretheresawill1 · 04/01/2015 22:47

Haha jealous of you lot??? I'd never stoop that low. But I really have to go to bed now. Speak tomorrow :)

SoonToBeSix · 04/01/2015 22:47

Leftloony I have sent you a pm.

Dawndonnaagain · 04/01/2015 22:48

Currently BMWs on the Motability site start with a deposit of 899 going up to three grand. Although what the relevance of the z4 is beyond me, DLA is not an out of work benefit,

AshesOfRoses · 04/01/2015 22:48

Lefty Flowers

The very best experience I had of the easy life on benefits was when I was trying to sell my house post Sept 11 and unsurprisingly, nobody was buying.

On income support with a climby 1 year old and the boiler broke in January during minus temps. No money to fix it. DWP person declined my application for a loan saying that I should go to bed and leave my DD in front of an open oven in her cot.

Oh it's all fun and japes...

HelenaDove · 04/01/2015 22:49

Wherstheresawill how do you know what your neighbours are on or what their working hours are.

I dont know a lot about my neighbours Where are these places that everyone knows about everyone elses business and the ins and outs of all their finances.

How do you know your neighbours arent working nights

ghostspirit · 04/01/2015 22:50

i got to work to.... but im staying up because sleep is for lazy people :P

HelenaDove · 04/01/2015 22:50

Waaaah waaah waaah Ive been mugged so my neighbour should be mugged too Hmm

LeftyLoony · 04/01/2015 22:52

Oh good. Enjoy work, won't you?

Whereas I know damn well I'm going to have a broken night, youngest will be up several times from 2.30am then middle one from 4 and that'll be it for the day. Plus it's an inset day so no chance of catching up on sleep. Just like every day since school broke up.

I fully expect to have several wash downs and clothes changes due to continence issues. Lots of screaming and violence.

But yeah, got it cushy.

ghostspirit · 04/01/2015 22:53

or work from home. or just generally different hours... my neighbour leaves before me and is home after me. that dont mean im not working..