AIBU to think my friend, and people in a similar situation should pay some of their benefits back?

[SortedSue]

I’m not jealous, I’ve got a good job and money which I’ve worked for.

I’ve know someone who has been working part-time through choice and playing the system, who has inherited a lot of money.

She’s not broken the law, she’s told the DHSS and signed off. She’s bought a house outright, paid her pension contributions up to date, and made some investments to give herself an income. But she’s stopped working completely so she’ll never pay tax and put anything back.

And I think that’s fucking wrong.

You sound like a right charmer.

Glad I don't have friends like you.

In a way she has - by topping up her NI contributions, that goes into the tax pot.

Well she could blow the whole inheritance on holidays and jewellery and continue claiming benefits. So the fact she will be able to support herself from now on is a bonus.

If it is more advantageous for someone to work part time than full time because they would have less income working full time then this is the problem that needs to be addressed. Pay wages that people can live on without requiring top-ups from the state and job done. Then if someone catches a break maybe people won't be so envious.

Your friend has done only one thing wrong, OP, and that is to consider you a friend. You aren't.

The vast majority of people receive more from the state than they pay

Can this be true? Surely the whole system would collapse if that's the case. Or maybe the top 1% pay enough tax to subsidise the rest of us?

Wow some friend you are. Glad you're not one of mine. Mind your own business and stop acting like a stupid petulant and extremely jealous person

They will have paid tax on their back pay.
I totally disagree that they should have had to pay back benefits. Ludicrous argument. Live hand to mouth for fucking years because of administrative error and institutionalised misogyny, only to have the money you were entitled to taken off you retrospectively? That would have been grossly unfair. This was owed to them.

I think your out of order and you sound bitter and jealous

It's a bit like when people claim housing benefit for a house rented off relatives - apparently it ok to do this as long as the property has been rented out beforehand. So the mortgage on the house is paid for by benefits then those same people claiming the Housing benefit for years on end get to eventually inherit the house !! People argue that had they not been renting the house off their parents/ in laws/ auntie they would have still had to rent somewhere else and would still be claiming the HB, but even so it seems very wrong to me.

Doesn't matter that her parents are not in the UK. She will still be paying tax on any income that she receives in the UK.

Where did they live abroad? A lot of countries have less generous IHT than the UK.

petbear I wouldn’t call losing your mother, brother and gran in 7 years a ‘lucky break’. I’m sure the woman would rather have those relatives back.

OP how exactly has your friend been playing the system ? She’ll be paying tax on her income from her investments won’t she ?

Greatestshow - She would not be able to blow the lot and still claim benefits, that would be seen as deprivation of capital.

Bloody hell. The cleaners from Birmingham were not paid correctly or LEGALLY for years. YEARS. They were due every penny of that money and if the council hadn't been so underhand they wouldn't have had to sell the NEC. What about all those times they all had to say no to doing something because they didn't have the money? Every time they had to scrimp because they weren't getting the money they were LEGALLY OWED FOR WORK THEY WERE DOING?

As for the OP, I get that it kind of sucks but your friend has paid tax. She is paying tax. She will be paying tax in the future. She's not cheating anyone or anything. I think maybe you need some distance from her for a bit until you get over feeling whatever it is you're feeling.

The vast majority of people receive more from the state than they pay

This is actually true. I am very very sad and once did the maths (I swear I have friends) and the top 2% earners massively top up the "pool" as it were.
We all receive healthcare, pensions, schooling and public facilities for "free", that really adds up and is in excess of the average income tax, council tax etc paid in. That's not taking benefits into account.

The vast majority of people receive more from the state than they pay

Can this be true? Surely the whole system would collapse if that's the case. Or maybe the top 1% pay enough tax to subsidise the rest of us?

I don't believe this is true.

Loving the first line of your opening post, OP

Do you write any other comedies?

What is it that you think she claims from the govt?

Capital limits are 16000 for most if not all benefits so if her investments and savings are more than this (and if enough to give her a good income then they must be as interest rates are so apalling) then she should declare or risk investigation.

Only DLA/ PIP for disability is not affected by savings (and possibly contribution based ESA alhtough I think this is also lmitied by capital) but then are the awful assessments to go through, and contribution based ESA only lasts for 12 months unless you are very unwell and in the support group.

So maybe she is full-on cheating, or you don't know her financials as well as you think you do.

Even posting this makes me wonder what sort of "friend" you are.

Living on benefits is a pile of shite. No one gets a free house from the council. Everyone has to pay something. In my county, they don't just chuck free carpets at you whenever you feel like changing the decor

Can you imagine how awful it is to have no security whatsoever? To know that at any time your income could be taken away or drastically reduced and there would be nothing you can do about it?

Why don't people go after people who don't pay the tax they owe rather than people who are on benefits?

Well I'm jealous of her even if you're not. I'm fucking knackered from working and would so love to never have to work again. I'll never inherit anything though, in fact when my parents die I'll have to pay thousands in funeral costs.

No inheitance tax? When my bro died I paid 30%, or thereabouts. I'm sure she has too.

You sound like a horrible friend. Do her a favour and cut her off.