"Benefits are a lifestyle choice for so many these days"

[Bellerina2]

I'm on the bus and two women behind me are having a long conversation about perceived benefit cheats and one of them just said the above phrase. WIBU to hit her over the head with a rolled up copy of the Guardian??

But seriously, it's so depressing that people think this. Well done to the government and likes of the Sun and Daily Mail for convincing people that those on benefits are leading some sort of charmed life

I get 55 a week PIP, my partner gets a war disability pension of 140 a month hence esa not being full amount.

Armchair if you want my free money, please have it along with my constant pain, hospital appointments and the next surgery I'm due to have, having pins and a metal cage put into my spine in an attempt to stop it crumbling even more. Please have my frustration at having to get someone else to put my socks and shoes on for me and my lack of independence. You can also have my cocktail of drugs and their side effects. You might also want the stress and worry of having to feed and clothe two kids when your income is severely limited.

I worked over 20 years full time, my partner worked 40 years including nearly giving up his life for his country and yet you still resent what we get and think it's too much.

Shame on your attitude. I hope you never need to live like this.

butterfly that sounds tough for all of you

Thank you to the posters who have been honest about what they get, it is good to know that sometimes, the benefits system works as it should do to support people who have disabilities.

If it's a lot of money, then that's fine by me. Disability benefits should replace a working wage for those too disabled to work, and should provide a life for people, not just a basic existence.

I don't think disabled people get too much, and I believe carers allowance is so low it's shameful, but it is good to know that not all disabled people are struggling on the breadline because of the evil Tories like so many lefties would have us believe.

Nice pro-Tory spin there, Needle. I'm grudgingly impressed.

whether you are a 'leftie' or a 'rightie' is not really the point is it? We live in a civilised society where people should not be left to 'fall through the cracks' as someone so blithely put it.

Thanks Only

I can give you some more if you like. I started claiming widowed parents allowance under this current government, I have found it to be incredibly easy to claim, and very generous as it's based on the NI contributions my late husband made. (And oddly enough, I don't feel that every thread that complains about certain benefit claimants or the system is referring to me and my circumstances).

Not everything about the benefits system is fucked up, just some of it. And I really can't see the harm in pointing that out and hoping for it to be fixed.

Many people with disabilities aren't on the breadline because (last time I looked) benefits like DLA are not means tested and many people in receipt of disability benefits have jobs.

However, you can't look at what somebody receives and judge that they have a good standard of living without taking into account the increased cost of having a disability. DLA is not awarded as some kind of consolation prize. Having a disability is expensive.

fine by me too.
um a HRT. I'd rather my taxes supported the disabled and their children to the tune of 2k per month than any other cause.

I'm fortunate that I've had economic and the resultant educational advantages that have secured my position. I'm wholly cognisant of my fortune by mere accident if birth and I neither resent nor denigrate benefits claimants.

shame on the indignant, blinkered right wing rhetoric of some pps. I'd rather be a claimant than a cunt.

anyfuckingday

"I'd rather be a claimant than a cunt."

soundbite of the week I think

I'm happy that you feel supported by the state and that it more or less meets your needs, Needle.

But on a more general point, I DON'T think the system is 'fucked up'. I think people are disproportionately worked up about a tiny minority of people who take the piss and abuse it.

And the snide remarks regarding what other people are posting about –no need for those, really, is there?

'I'd rather be a claimant than a cunt.'

That's a Simon and Garfunkel song, isn't it?

oh I don't think so only?

Although admittedly a bit before my time

lalalalalalaa if I could I surely woooouuullllddddd

Dawn - what dont you understand when people have said this thread has nothing to be do with the genuinley disabled. Its to do with the benefits net having got wider and wider and including all sorts of situations that werent there before.

The minimum wagers will bleat they are better off on benefits having had two kids. Why is that? Maybe they ned to look at why they are only able to command a minimum wage? Why did they have children when clearly they werent in a position to afford them - perhaps it was because the benefits allowed them to be picked up, supported and allowed to do it time and time again.

I had every chance of being a minimum wager when growing up. Brought up by single parent, didnt go to university, did temp roles (otherwise known as zero contracts I suspect these days). Didnt 'fall pregnant' like many other young girls who seem to think they have little control over their own actions and will be 'supported' should they find themselves without qualifications, partner, or money.

We really cannot keep throwing money at people who think its the states role to take responsibility for their actions.

Dawn - is there any situation whereby you would stop someone claiming benefits or would you keep chucking money and saying they need 'support and education'.

Of course you dont want to pay for it. That is for others to do

"The minimum wagers will bleat"

why have you used the verb 'bleat' here? Why be casually insulting? When I had my children I had no idea that I would not be able to support them. If anyone is a sheep it is you, bleating and repeating stuff you have been brainwashed with.

and no I am not a 'minimum wager' thank God.

Sunny, THAT'S the song!

Maybe they ned to look at why they are only able to command a minimum wage?

How dare you, Hillingdon? And what on earth do you mean by 'Of course you dont want to pay for it. That is for others to do'? Everyone pays for each other. We're a society. That's the idea.

not (although the latter is quite apt).

hell yeh gin, I am off to LIDL to buy some with my tax credits. I will drink a toast to all the 'hard working families' and HRTs represented on this thread.

Neither am I. We hear time and time again its not worth me working, I am supporting my husband and his work and dont see why child benefit is taken from me, I dont have any qualifications, I live in the middle of nowhere, I dont want to leave my family, I am looking for a part time role, preferably with all school holidays off.

I am often called in as an interviewer for new roles within the company.

We are known as a good company for women. Many come back from ML and we do offer part time positions where applicable. Not all roles but some...

The last set of interviews I ran involved me travelling to Manchester. The interviews for these roles were over two days. As expected we got over 50% of women applying.

The two applicants that stand out were women sadly. One didnt turn up, said her child was sick and she wanted to stay at home with him. Asked whether we could do it by telephone which is never ideal. Made arrangements for later and she didnt dial in. Said she had forgotten as her DS was still poorly...

The other one grilled myself and the panel with all sorts of scenarios as to what would happen if children were unwell, inset day issues (I joke not!) and whether she could be first in line for annual leave requests because she had to stick to school holidays.

We took a man in the end!

Every one pays for each other... Now you know that isnt true

hillingdon
You have been amazingly insulting.
Do you understand that sometimes min wage jobs are all there are?
It isn't a case of "only being able to command it"
Are you aware that many families 'survive' on min wage because that is all there is

Nobody sets out to earn a pitance.

Hillingdon, these things do happen you know. People do have to cancel things because they have a sick child, even a job interview. I would imagine a decent employer would re-schedule for a different date if the potential employee looked good on paper. A phone interview would never work for me if I knew I had a sick child that could walk in any minute. I just wouldn't be able to concentrate.

Armchairathlete - It's too much money- I'm for support and better rehabilitation services.Free gym memberships, more clinics with specialized qualified staff.
Higher wages for social/care workers etc etc etc.
Chucking money at people is wrong for everyone involved.
Of course if you have cancer / any type of issue whereby you are physically unable to get up because of pain etc you should be supported, but too many people have no incentive to work and too little support to get them back into it.
Give them a subsidized taxi to the bus stop so they can go to work if they find it difficult to walk. Free wheelchairs, crutches and walking aids too!. People also need more support to work from home. American Apparel for example give you the option to be a customer care advisor via webchat and email from home.
If the government put more effort into helping people adjust to their disability and more effort into preventing some of the causes we'd be in a much less resentful place with housing / benefits in general.

I see Hillingdon has hit a nerve.
I come from a lower working class background and was mortified at my peers getting pregnant from year 8 onwards.
What is she saying thats so bloody bad?
Plan a family responsibly...
We can only afford two...MAX. And thats taking into considering falling on hard times etc
She hasnt said anything wrong - i suppose her phrasing is a bit cheeky.