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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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AIBU to think that at least one of the parents should work

293 replies

Adizzylass2014 · 08/04/2015 23:04

My 16 yr old son is friends with a family who have just moved into the close next to ours and we were invited round for coffee. My partner left as he was fuming and I stayed for the sake of my son but I was seething. They are a family of 8 and the mum is pregnant again, they were so brazen and gloated that their 4 bedroom house is paid for by housing benefit (we have the same in the next close and the rent is £800 pcm)
He has never worked and hasn't long been released from prison. The children had all the gadgets from ipad to ps4. She said she has never worked either as she loves to be pregnant and plans on having more. Now you will have seen from previous threads I don't benefit bash but this is disgusting how can this be allowed. My son has been invited by them to go fishing on their boat, i don't want him anywhere near them. my partner works damn hard to pay the rent and our band f council tax and these people not only get everything given to them but they openly gloat about it. This is what is wrong with this bloody world Angry Angry

OP posts:
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ChipDip · 08/04/2015 23:05

Keep away from them. They sound Confused.

formerbabe · 08/04/2015 23:06

I agree with you op....but I think you are going to get flamed on here.

Salmotrutta · 08/04/2015 23:07

Okaaaay...

This won't end well.

Are you sure they said "boat" and not goat by the way?

Salene · 08/04/2015 23:08

Bunch of scrounges , I'd streer clear personally. Totally agree with you.

Peacocklady · 08/04/2015 23:11

I think that when you get that type of feeling you have to just think 'would I really want that?' 8 kids in a 4 bed house? No job? I don't envy that and they are not taking from me.
There will always be people who take the piss but I am grateful to be living in a society that supports the poor (well kind of does).
But If you think they are fraudulently claiming then report them.

LL0015 · 08/04/2015 23:12

I have some feelings aligned with yours.
I unthinkingly used the word scroungers in front of my smart 7yr old DD earlier today and had to explain what I meant.

Your post would have done the job.

Adizzylass2014 · 08/04/2015 23:12

My son was saying that his friend will be going to college to do carpentry with him so at least he has ambition!

OP posts:
NickiFury · 08/04/2015 23:13

This ONE family is "what's wrong with the world"? Confused

Lilylonglegs · 08/04/2015 23:14

I think that you are BU to storm out, or was it your partner? Nevertheless I can understand you not wanting your son to hang around there as they are promoting scrounging. He is however 16 and probably has his own views on these things by now so it may not be as harmful as you think.

StillStayingClassySanDiego · 08/04/2015 23:15
Adizzylass2014 · 08/04/2015 23:16

well she had the new iPhone and they are not cheap, may get my son to do some digging because I do not believe that they can afford everything they have in that house solely on benefits, and a boat!

OP posts:
WorraLiberty · 08/04/2015 23:16

Are you sure they said "boat" and not goat by the way?

Grin Grin Grin

Gardav · 08/04/2015 23:17

As a supporter of the welfare state as safety net, it’s hard to listen to stories like that. I won’t vote Tory but the benefit cap seemed reasonable to me. I’d hate to think of those kids growing up in abject poverty but it’s very difficult when you obviously have a pair who play the system to that extent. Can’t believe that they own every gadget under the sun while living on benefit so I reckon there must be another income source somewhere which would limit their ability to claim benefit.

As for your little one then I wouldn’t worry about it. My sister when she was younger was absolutely welded at the hip to the roughest family in the village and seemed to come out ok.

crymeariverwoo · 08/04/2015 23:17

I couldn't agree more with you, op. why should she get a flaming? some people are so damn lazy. why should everyone else pay taxes to pay for others who are quite capable of working?

Salmotrutta · 08/04/2015 23:17

I always take the view that there's is probably far more to a story than meets the eye OP.

Perhaps the dad is struggling to find work after being in prison, perhaps the mum has no skills or qualifications to find work and who are you to judge how many children they have?

Do you work OP?
Because I'm sure if I tried hard enough I could find a reason to judge your choice either way...

ilovesooty · 08/04/2015 23:18

may get my son to do some digging

Charming.

Andrewofgg · 08/04/2015 23:18

When you say how can this be allowed I answer how can this be prohibited - and there's the rub. What do you want? Compulsory sterilisation? The workhouse? Sell them into slavery?

Failing something of the sort, those of us who don't live like that have to live with those who do.

WorraLiberty · 08/04/2015 23:19

well she had the new iPhone and they are not cheap, may get my son to do some digging because I do not believe that they can afford everything they have in that house solely on benefits, and a boat!

You're going to get your son to do 'some digging'?

Did I read that right? Seriously?

If what you say is true about this family, then YANBU to fee annoyed.

But if you don't want your son to feel uncomfortable and think you're a bit weird, please don't get him to do 'some digging'....

PourquoiTuGachesTaVie · 08/04/2015 23:19

And they were really telling you all of this after having only just met you? Are you sure they weren't hazing you?

Salmotrutta · 08/04/2015 23:20

Gardav - OPs "little one" appears to be 16 I think.

Joshuajosephspork · 08/04/2015 23:21

Benefits cap. Either one of them is working, or somebody is getting disability benefits or they are living on £26 grand a year, including HB (for a family of 10) or, just possibly, you have some of your facts wrong

Adizzylass2014 · 08/04/2015 23:21

I believe that people who need it should be supported by the state but I do not think that having 6 children and another on the way whilst both parents are unemployed is morally right and as hard as it would be I don't think that they should be supported by the state, or any huge families like that!

OP posts:
Salmotrutta · 08/04/2015 23:21

Please don't get your son to go digging OP.

That is not cool.

irishamy89 · 08/04/2015 23:23

YANBU, they sound like the height of lazyness.
I would not want my dc hanging around such dole trolls.
At least your sons friend is trying to better himself.

Kampeki · 08/04/2015 23:23

Good lord, do they get free boats now as well as goats?! Shock