To think that people living on welfare shouldn't be running off every five minutes for a new tattoo or piercing?

[allfurcoatandnoknickers1]

I'm probably going to get shot down for this, but I just had a little disagreement with a woman I know. She posted a photo on Facebook of a rather large tattoo on her forearm that she'd just had done. Last month she had skin divers put in her chest and hand. The month before she had another shit tattoo.
This individual is single and has two children. She hasn't worked a day in the last decade, but is living off the state. Am I being a bitch by thinking she should spend the money she receives on feeding the children and keeping a roof over their heads? I noted that she feeds her boys Pot Noodle for dinner but makes sure she's got her fags too. It just annoys me.

So

That

It

Peace and love

The UK has the 2nd lowest social mobility in the developed world.

Dies.

The poorest children in the UK are the ones most disproportionately affected by austerity.

Peace and love.

I haven't read the thread but thought I'd chuck this one into the mix...
Someone came into our office yesterday for a foodbank voucher which I gave him. His DLA has been stopped, his drugs worker is appealing for him. His ESA has gone to cover what he owes on heroin and loan sharks. His flat is empty.
And I came home and cried at the sadness of it all. Is it right that his benefits go into his veins or illegal money lenders? No. But he's a vulnerable, intelligent, likeable man who could look me in the eye. He desperately needs help that isn't available.

IamRonnie That's just not true. Many of us agree that there are people that fiddle benefits, in fact having been on mumsnet for years I've never come across anyone who doesn't agree that there are people that fiddle. However, some of us are more rational than others and rather than believe the Mail/Express/Sun hype, we choose to believe the reality. That being that there is a minority, not even a significant minority, just a minority that do. However, people come on and tar us all with the same brush. On this thread alone, women have been told to justify their positions with regard to their purchases, their relationships. That's the what people object too, that and coming on here armed with nothing but anecdata. Had the op objected to bad parenting without calling the person named, accusing her of using her benefits (it may have been paid for by someone else), etc. then this thread may have gone differently. There are those of us who are on benefits through no fault of our own, we spend our money carefully and yes, we occasionally buy books, or treat our children to lunch out. We're told however that we should only have vouchers and the bare minimum on which to function because a few abuse the system. In what way is that fair?

Can

I

According to MN no one is well off on benefits and no one fiddles them

That's not true.

I suspect we all know people who dodge taxes or fiddles benefits.
The system does exist, though, and it is none of our business how people use the benefits they receive.

IF they neglect their children is another matter, and should be dealt with appropriately. This regardless of whether they are on benefits or not.

And the existence of people who use benefits to things we don't approve of, or that fiddle benefits, is no reason to be against the protections given by benefits to the vast majority of those who receive them and really need them.

250,000 more children living in poverty under austerity

Keep

No victim blaming.

This

Up

Austerity and poverty are eating away at our children's futures.

For

In future, signs at tattooists doors:

No dogs or people on benefits allowed.

Another

Domestic violence will affect 1 in 4 women in the UK.

On average 2 women are murdered each week.

No victim blaming.

Seventy

Oops