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.

If she inherited a lot of money she may have paid inheritance tax. Stamp duty on the house. Unless her income is tiny she will have to pay some income tax. She won't qualify for means texted benefits should she ever need social care. She won't be taking up a job, leaving a vacancy for somebody else to fill. It does seem a bit unfair perhaps when people come by money, but that's just life - there is no presumption in the welfare state that people age to retrospectively pay back benefits, I'm sure even if you wanted to there is no mechanism by which to do it. Try and be happy that you are looking after yourself, and don't worry about other people's circumstances.

You can have any opinion you like but don't be a hypocrite. Say it to your friends face so they can make their own mind up about the moral dilemma, and you.

I haven't RTFT, but I am pretty sure others will have pointed out that if she's invested money to provide an income for herself, she will be paying tax. Tax that would not otherwise have been paid so she's now paying back into the pot. Just like people who had been claiming JSA but who now aren't. That's how the system works.

Your friend sounds incredibly sensible for setting things up so that she will now be contributing to the pot rather than drawing on it. It all balances out in the end.

Would you be sniping at her if she got a reasonable paying job that, by the time she retires, would have paid her more or less the sum she's just inherited? I doubt it, but it amounts to the same thing.

Can you just ring up HMRC and ask to give them money? Does it work that way?

The whole point of the benefit system is that it is there when you need it and to be paid into when you don't. It's not an overdraft and the recipients owe nothing, other than an awareness that if everyone takes out all the time then the thing is scuppered as a philosophy.

I know one woman who has had an inheritance from THREE different relatives in 7 years. Mother (left her a house worth £200K,) her brother (never married, left her £55K,) and her gran (left her £33K.

^^
Can't get over this being considered a lucky break :/

God I've read it all now! Sod off! What a crappy view. Mind your own business.

I was on benefits for years. I still get some. I work but don't earn enough to pay tax and likely never will. I will never pay back the benefits I got and it would never occur to me that I should. They aren't a loan ffs!

Pay it back? To who? Presumably she was entitled to it for living costs at the time😏. DHSS isn’t a thing by the way!

Exactly what has it got to do with you. All above board. What’s the problem. Presumably paid tax previously. Why exactly is it playing the system?

Really, your issue should be with the government and its laws/policies rather than your friend...

In answer to your title, no.

You come across as jealous and spiteful. Not a good look.

It seems like some people just get one lucky break after another in life. I know one woman who has had an inheritance from THREE different relatives in 7 years. Mother (left her a house worth £200K,) her brother (never married, left her £55K,) and her gran (left her £33K.) We have never been left a plastic fucking vase by any fucker.

I can't believe I just read that. I'd much rather still have my DM than my share of her estate. What a fucking vile way to think.

And I think that’s fucking wrong.

Well no, your thinking is fucking wrong. Try googling about income tax and educate your fucking thinking.

@FlashTheSloth Damn right. You needed/need those benefits. Work if you can, sure, everyone should, but benefits are there to catch us when we fall. I'm glad my taxes make sure other people are covered when they need it, and I'm glad they might be there for me, too.

So if you claim insurance because your house burned down or someone stole your car you expect to have to be at it back ?

Is that right. National Insurance is the same thing, you get paid for being out of work or on the sick it’s just Insurance. If you can pay some back that’s great. The MPs can use that money for going on holiday or something. Grow up people please grow up

I presume she had to pay inheritance tax and stamp duty, so she’ll have given a lot of money back through those.

I imagine she also paid tax before she claimed benefits.

Good bloody luck to her!

You're don't sound like a v nice friend OP, you seem v jealous and bitter. She's done nothing wrong at all. Just try and be happy for her.

What a thoroughly unpleasant person the OP is. The friend's benefits resulted in part from NI, income tax and superannuation she paid whilst she was in work, so she has earned the right to the benefits she has received. That's how the system works. The OP is jealous, petty, mean-minded and interfering.

You are obviously jealous and seem to know nothing about about tax or how the benefit system so wind your neck in.

You sound like a very 'nice' friend. She's done nothing illegal. Be happy for her like a real friend should.

Imo it shouldn't be possible to work part time and claim benefits, and end up better off than if you worked ful time. In some cases people end up trapped because they're better off not working at all. Not blaming the claimants at all - the system is the problem, and presumably employers not paying people adequately.

Some horrible thoughts here

Petbear- I can't believe you actually wrote those words down.

Everytime she goes shopping or pays for a service, she is probably paying VAT which is a tax. The income she gets from investments is likely above the personal allowance hence she will pay income tax. This is how her cookie of a life has crumbled, I would just get on with your own life and wish her luck with hers.

Well you can just fucking well believe I DID write those words down.

The woman I know got THREE inheritances within 7 years, worth over a quarter million! YEAH due to 3 bereavements.

Cry me a fucking river.

I got 4 bereavements. 2 grandparents, both parents. ALL within 5 years. (2008-2013!)

And guess what........ NO FUCKING INHERITANCE. Not even a plastic fucking egg cup, coz my family were poor poor poor.

So shove your 'what a vile way to think' bollocks where the sun don't bastard shine.

The woman I know DID catch a lucky break with over a quarter million inheritance. She lost 3 relatives, but got a fucking massive inheritance. I got fuck all from FOUR relatives.

And yeah so I am bitter. So fucking what?!

Now just bore off with your patronising condescending fucking comments.

Well you can just fucking well believe I DID write those words down.

The woman I know got THREE inheritances within 7 years, worth over a quarter million! YEAH due to 3 bereavements.

Cry me a fucking river.

I got 4 bereavements. 2 grandparents, both parents. ALL within 5 years. (2008-2013!)

And guess what........ NO FUCKING INHERITANCE. Not even a plastic fucking egg cup, coz my family were poor poor poor.

So shove your 'what a vile way to think' bollocks where the sun don't bastard shine.

The woman I know DID catch a lucky break with over a quarter million inheritance. She lost 3 relatives, but got a fucking massive inheritance. I got fuck all from FOUR relatives.

And yeah so I am bitter. So fucking what?!

Now just bore off with your patronising condescending fucking comments.