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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To resent our benefit claiming neighbours?

140 replies

kerala · 07/08/2007 12:46

I worked really hard for 6 years for the deposit to this flat. DH is still slaving away doing 12 hour days (at least) to pay the mortgage and support us.

Our noisy neighbours have been given the flat next door to live in by the council. It is the same as ours. They spend the afternoons messing about in the garden with their DCs, drinking stella, smoking hash and destroying the peace of the neighbourhood. They keep fighting dogs because the council pays all the vets bills for them.

My DH would love to spend time at home with us. but trots off everyday to work. I used to consider myself a left wing guardian type but beginning to resent the thousands I have paid in tax so my neighbours can loll around in the sun all day. They are all able bodied and we live in London so cant believe there no jobs they could get.

OP posts:
Bubble99 · 07/08/2007 23:06

Peachy. Of course I would take carers out of the equation.

And I am well aware that carers, both adult and child, are the 'forgotten' section of our society.

And the govt needs to get it's finger out of it's butt and do something for you all.

Bubble99 · 07/08/2007 23:08

I'm talking about lazy, able-bodied feckers, without commitments, who think that their need to do feck all all day, instead of earning an (albeit minimum) wage should be paid for by the rest of us.

Peachy · 07/08/2007 23:10

You know its not me so much actually- with kids at school I could do something one day

The peple I feel for are those like my friend, her Mum died years back, her only relative (sister) ahs schizophrenia, and her dad is ill. She ahs 2 kids (one with mild but still noticeable SN0, and a dh who works away. She also works as aCm. Everytime her dad (who has a flat below) gets booked into a nearby are home for her to ahve respite her sister is able to go and book him out (she has some joint legal agreement), then just drops him on friends doorstep and leaves him. Theone time they amnaged respite sisters Boyf threatened them and they had to pack up and go for a week

beleive me, I have it easy.

me23 · 07/08/2007 23:12

mand j I do live in central london have done all my life. there are houses here and yes there are expensive to privately loan, I don' understand what the point is? they are in social housing which isd all over the ciy and in forms of houses flats etc.. so what?

shouldn't the council have houses in central london?

I live in a council flat all the residents work bar a few who are retired.

I was not looking to take offence the post WAS offensive to me.

paulaplumpbottom · 07/08/2007 23:15

I was reading some gossipy magazine in the hair salon yesterday and there was this family with loads of kids. The couple didn't work. The council gave them a million pound home to live in. Its outrageous what these people get away with

UCM · 07/08/2007 23:15

Before I read this, the OP isn't me. OK.

margoandjerry · 07/08/2007 23:22

Point is, you want a house, you probably can't live in central London. I can't. No one can. I'd be very surprised if there are any council HOUSES in central London (I mean within the original congestion charging zone). Plenty of flats but no houses I can think of. That's why people have to move out. It's not just council tenants who have to do this. Everyone has to.

If you're thinking of somewhere beyond this perimeter then there probably are some houses - Camden has a few, Southwark and Bermondsey has a few. But a few, not loads and they are in huge demand so yes, you'd have to move further out.

Peachy · 07/08/2007 23:23

paula there was a thread on that a few weeks back

certainly my feeling was OK, but what else? remove the kids? that's end up costing loads more and shaft the kids for life!

And you don't get given a house. You are allowed to use a house. having gone from owning to renting ic an assure you there's a huge security-linked difference

LadyVictoriaOfCake · 07/08/2007 23:26

i hate the term 'these people'

what people?

UCM · 07/08/2007 23:30

It's true, they are all around me. Fucking scrounging cunts who have children because they are in love with 'Dean' because he smiled at me in a nightclub or 'Stevie' because he really likes my baby and takes her to the park so I can sleep off my hangover, but we are trying for a new one soon and we will get out of this flat.

But surely you want to get out of it.

Weeks later, we are trying to better ourselves by getting a 42 inch flatscreen. Why. Just because we are on the rock & roll doesn't mean we shouldn't anything. OK, what about the fact that you are buying your babies shoes from the sports shop and they simply don't fit here anymore. Yes they do.

But 'Dean' likes to smoke cannabis, sadly 'the baby' ends up in care. No problem, Dean goes on to claim incapacity benefit and I am so depressed so we can keep the 2 bedroom flat. What about Steve, sorry he has knocked up my best friend.

You think I am joking.

paulaplumpbottom · 07/08/2007 23:30

These people = People who abuse the system, take benefits instead of getting a job when they are perfectly able to work

UCM · 07/08/2007 23:31

her

I am far to fond of writing here.

Peachy · 07/08/2007 23:33

But should you judge them all because of some- thats the thing? ( and I wouldnt call anyone a cunt, but then the day UCM and I agree then hell freezes over LOL)

YES there are some idiots out there

we all know that surely

doesn't make everyone an idiot- if we assume revery benefit claimant is a prat without learning the whole story then you might be missing a key point

Oh and depression? sometimes it kills

LadyVictoriaOfCake · 07/08/2007 23:36

paula, how do you know they are perfectly capable of working.

we didnt stick a sticker on dh saying 'serious heart condition at risk of sudden death' and it was horrible at times getting judged pickign up benefits at the PO. was glad when it got paid into the bank tbh.

Bubble99 · 07/08/2007 23:39

And sometimes it doesn't kill, Peachy, and that is the problem.

We must have a more robust system to deal with 'incapacity' benefit. Because, until we do, people like the one I know will spend their days drifting and socialising around West London, while the rest of us work.

Peachy · 07/08/2007 23:39

Ah they know

ewhy is it all these examples seem to use depression? I KNOW some people fake depression, but when Dh ahd it he tried to kill himself

Is that not genuine?

and still he worked

until one day they sacked him because he was a danger to himself and everyone around him as he barely knew his name

funnily enough a few months off and 4 years later he is still well

but depression can be awful and streal poeples lives

Peachy · 07/08/2007 23:40

'And sometimes it doesn't kill, Peachy, and that is the problem. '

do only corpses have the right to cal depression an illness then? Or is the problem that they're not dead....

Lorayn · 07/08/2007 23:51

when I split with ym dc's father , I was on benefits for around three months, I later got a job, although onyl 16hrs per week, at the local bakery, and although I walked around two hours a day to and from schools/nurseries/work I loved every minute of knowing I was doing it for myself. The people who need benefits, I feel for, I have been there, but the pisstakers who just can't be bothered??? Means testing needs to be more harsh.

UCM · 07/08/2007 23:57

Only 16 hours Lorayn, Ahhh they would have stopped your benefits if you had worked more.

And before you say a word, I read your comments on the Posties strike thread.

UCM · 08/08/2007 00:01

I am going to take a break from Mumsnet and hope & pray that my children are ok and happy and not like some of the dross that hear from on here. I don't have the money to send them to private school but I wish I did.

Lorayn · 08/08/2007 00:01

Well tbh, it was 16.5 hours which they classed as 17, so I received tax credits rather than benefits, but with not driving it and having two children to drop at school/nursery it was the best job to take, at least I was working , eh?

UCM · 08/08/2007 00:01

that I hear on here

Bubble99 · 08/08/2007 00:07

By Peachy.

'I KNOW sometimes people fake depression.....'

That is what I'm referring to.

I am NOT referring to anyone who genuinely does suffer from depression.

I thought I'd made that clear.

eleusis · 08/08/2007 08:39

I think the benefits system for able bodied adults should be effort tested and not means tested. I would much rather give a house and free childcare to someone who is out working 40 hours per week than give a house and no childcare to someone who simply can't be arsed to go to work. It would actually cost more to support that person/family in the short term. But, at least the parents could set a good example for the children by working for a living. And, in the case of depression, it would give them something to work towards and that often helps depressed people.

And as for people with bad backs, they can find something to do. It might not be what they used to do. But, hey, many of us find the need to change careers. Why not them?

me23 · 08/08/2007 10:05

jus to clarify I doesn't mater whther it was a house or flat it was the ''just seems odd that people are given flats in central london''

why is that odd?

she was saying 'people' she was meaning council tenants obviously.

and she didn't mention about whether they were working or not.

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