I think in a way my story highlights why they've had to put this cap on, or you get big families on big handouts. As popping out kids is like an 18 year investment in your back pocket, which is wrong. You can't tell me that it isn't the case because I know full well it is.
I wish I could start my own Vlog on life, there's so much I've seen and experienced which is so wrong. In my younger days I wanted to save the world, what happens there is you get taken advantage of.
There's those that say, benefits should be split into sections, so you get an automatic gas/electric top up by voucher, same for water rates, a food/household goods voucher indexed to your household (you appeal if there's dietary stuff that pushes costs up) then a bit left over in cash. Maybe twice a year you submit measurements or sizes and you get a uniform and shoes that won't cause deformities. Similar for casual clothes, but not stock in that case a voucher to go a place where people donate clothes too. No price put on clothes, a jumper is a jumper kind of thing.
I'm not saying I agree, some cases scream out that some help is needed, as budgeting is hard for some. I work with the school on various things, there's children who have shoes that cripple them with pain and let water in. The Mum can't afford to buy new, but it's CHILD tax credit. I feel for them all sorts gets handed to these kids, they get over the moon at trainers that aren't new, but fit and look swish to them. A bag to carry school stuff in, a big fuss is made of these kids, so they have the basics every child should.
Another family I can think of live off benefits and live like royalty. So I think this is a case of knowing how the system works and using that knowledge. The kids get £500 for birthdays and Christmas the front room is, well I'm sure you've seen with the, 'look at what Santa's bought!' photos. They redecorate yearly, the top Sky package, we struggle to justify the cost for the basic with kids stuff & entertainment package. Let alone sports and movies. The best post I saw was the family moaning the provision for uniform vouchers was changing, someone was like dude what you spend on Sky alone can clothe your kids. They got all defensive and said that's our entertainment. We only go out once a week. They'll get vouchers for the food bank too periodically as it stocks up the basics.
You can't tell me either case should be celebrated. Where there is genuine need there's no issue. The sad thing is it's the geuine ones who don't know how it works, they really genuinely struggle. The thought of a food voucher mortified them. They don't claim what they're entitled to as they're embarrassed.