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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To ask for a view on this ? If someone gets benefits and are not a carer / single parent etc .. then they should contribute to society in order to receive benefits ?

386 replies

Ooola · 11/11/2019 21:23

I think in society we should all support orhers.
The taxpayers contribute by paying taxes .
Vulnerable people such as disabled , carers etc should be supported by others .
Those who can’t find work and get benefits .. should be required to give something back for the money they get ...not be forced to work for a big co operation but to contribute . Things like park maintenance , listening services , support to the struggling public services . There could be matching service so that they could chose to gain experience or use the skills they have to benefit others .
Any police checks , as are required in other jobs , would be funded . Does this sound fair ? If we all give what we can then it may be of benefit to all , including the claimant who could use this to build c v , etc . Surely it’s win win in principle ? If someone gets benefits say at a level of 10 k , 13 k , 20 k
.. it feels fair that they give something for that especially as it is comparable to someone working and getting minimum wage ?
Clearly time would need to be given off for job interviews etc .

OP posts:
Emeraldshamrock · 13/11/2019 14:15

ill educated and uninformed. Also hugely prejudiced against “poor people”
Yes okay. I am a fucking poor person a working one, paying most of our earnings on rent.

Emeraldshamrock · 13/11/2019 14:17

@Graphista to add the titles excludes the disabled and single DM's.

WhentheRabbitsWentWild · 13/11/2019 14:23

Kin Hell

You Iain Duncan Smith or Esther McVey or someone OP .

YABU

Graphista · 13/11/2019 14:29

Then given your own circumstances why can't you consider that other people in your area including those unemployed and on benefits might be dealing with similar difficulties to yourself?

I don't understand how as someone in difficult circumstances of their own can be so prejudicial against others with similar finances.

You were the one that wrote posts basically saying "poor people" were stupid, addicted and lazy! You othered us when by sounds of things you're one of us, very strange thing to do.

What position would you be in if dh left? Or became incapacitated or died?

I wonder if your opinions would change if/when you become reliant on benefits for yourself and your dc.

Graphista · 13/11/2019 14:35

And yes the op/title excludes certain sections of benefits recipients but that's essentially dividing claimants along deserving/undeserving lines which is frankly complete bollocks!

Being disadvantaged due to a poorly run economy, high unemployment, high housing costs and lack of education/training provision is no more the fault of the unemployed but fit/healthy and with no caring responsibilities than it is the fault of those of us with disabilities or caring responsibilities finding it difficult/impossible to work.

Those are all things that beyond how they vote they have no power or influence over!

Yet the people who DO have that power and influence are merely lining their pockets and screwing the rest of us over!

Your attitude rather makes me think of this cartoon

To ask for a view on this ? If someone gets benefits and are not a carer / single parent etc .. then they should contribute to society in order to receive benefits ?
Emeraldshamrock · 13/11/2019 14:40

I don't understand how as someone in difficult circumstances of their own can be so prejudicial against others with similar finances
Because I believe able body people who could work should work.
We grew up at times with holes in our shoes, bored, with parent's around us knowing every trick in the book to maximise payments. my dad did work at times cash in hand we didn't see it
I think it gives the DC something to aim for.
I never want my DC to have to stay home the school tour week because we're broke.
I believe boredom worsens depression and causes so many social issues that and Facebook. Grin

Emeraldshamrock · 13/11/2019 14:45

You were the one that wrote posts basically saying "poor people" were stupid, addicted and lazy! You othered us when by sounds of things you're one of us, very strange thing to do
No it wasn't me, unless you have completed twisted my words. Hmm
I said boredom causes addiction.
I'd never call anyone stupid unlike you who called me un-educated.
Although it is true coming from my working class life.

OnlyTheTitOfTheIceberg · 13/11/2019 14:54

Reanimated I don't often agree with you but I echo pretty much everything you (and Graphista) have said on this thread.

Graphista · 13/11/2019 15:21

Yes it was you!

Re lazy;

“If benefit claimants were expected to do this work I bet they'd find the will to get a paid job.”

“there is plenty of work for those who want it”

“The ones who refuse too should be giving the right help to make changes for their DC.” Implying not good parents too!

“Because I believe able body people who could work should work.” Being able bodied doesn’t magically make more jobs appear or eradicate other reasons a person may not be able to work full time eg you’re able bodied but you have disabled children to care for.

Addicted:

“there is in cue in the off licence, the coke and weed dealers are hanging about.”

“Society keeps going in the same circle. Poverty, addiction, crime, it is mostly boredom people need something to do.” I’ve never so much as smoked a cigarette, the vast majority of people I know on benefits don’t have addiction issues, I know a few who aren’t on benefits and who are in well paid jobs who do though! People don’t get addicted or commit crime because they’re bored!! Do you even know ANYTHING about addiction? I have a family rammed full of addicts of all kinds not just substances, imo AND from my training (ex nurse) addiction is far more complex than that. An awful lot of addicts are self medicating mh issues which are woefully underfunded and unavailable (I am as I said mentally ill myself. I’m currently housebound and very ill yet have been waiting over 6 months for ANY support), there’s also genetic components and learned behaviour elements.

Stupid:

“by giving them access to budgetting classes, community involvement, gardening etc.” I’m perfectly capable of budgeting, running a home, being involved in my community I don’t need taught these things and I don’t know many on benefits who do. A few may need help with budgeting due to the illogical benefits system but that’s beyond basic budgeting imo.

All directly quoted from your posts.

“I believe boredom worsens depression” I don’t even know where to begin with that! Do you have ANY real knowledge about mental illness?! It’s way way more complex than that.

As for

“I'd never call anyone stupid unlike you who called me un-educated.
Although it is true coming from my working class life.”

Uneducated is NOT the same as stupid, I too come from a very working class background and was the first in my family to go to 6th form let alone uni! Although I didn’t go to uni until I was in my 20’s first time.

I said you were coming across as uneducated because you were posting without having even rtft let alone from sounds of things having read any research or information as to WHY high numbers of people are unemployed in this country at the moment WHY there are problems with the benefits system or even how it works generally with your strange comment about ‘thursday pay days’

My parents both left school at 14 and willingly admit they are uneducated but are by no means stupid! They are at times out of touch with how things are BUT are willing to listen and learn when they realise this. He is retired army and hasn’t had to job hunt since the 60’s! At which point it was literally a case of leaving school on the Friday afternoon, asking at nearest shipyard if there were jobs going and being told “yes when can you start”! Even joining the army at that time wasn’t particularly involved! So he didn’t understand. Mum is much more aware of things having been a training spouse and having to find whatever work was possible around a husband who not only worked full time including shifts and 24 hour duties but who could be deployed for up to a year at a time. She has done all sorts from cleaning to retail security management and a load of roles in between!

This thread is full of very articulate, well informed and experienced posters explaining very good reasons why the ops idea was not only impractical but morally deeply dubious!

Yet you’ve plopped on arrogantly thinking you know better by enough that you don’t even need to read them!

Emeraldshamrock · 13/11/2019 15:41

This thread is full of very articulate, well informed and experienced posters explaining very good reasons why the ops idea was not only impractical but morally deeply dubious!

Yet you’ve plopped on arrogantly thinking you know better by enough that you don’t even need to read them!
Good for them. I wonder how many of those live in an area if high crime, poverty, drug addiction, child neglect, violence, idle hands and all that.
Many of their articulated views won't change or help break the cycle.
Funding in educational services, encouraging change might, show the DC a brighter future.
I believe boredom worsens depression” I don’t even know where to begin with that! Do you have ANY real knowledge about mental illness?! It’s way way more complex than that
More than most.

eveoha · 13/11/2019 15:41

Compulsory volunteering/unpaid work worked for A4e and job centre for years -Veolia waste was staffed by those poor people for years 😐

dontalltalkatonce · 13/11/2019 15:43

EmeraldShamrock you’re really looking quite foolish nrtft and therefore not understanding it’s not as simple as “there’s plenty jobs round here”

And in another country where things are totally different, including the benefits system Hmm.

dontalltalkatonce · 13/11/2019 15:46

Yep, you know it all, Emerald, we're all just living in chocolate box houses in the Lakes with no clue at all, never mind being British or that Hmm. Honestly you make yourself look even worse with every post - 'idle hands and all that' right up there with something you'd find over a workhouse.

Didn't even bother to read the fucking thread by your own admission but plenty good at inserting all sorts of assumptions about the people who've been posting on it.

Crack on, though, you're doing fine, hen.

TheQueef · 13/11/2019 15:49

Now Now Eve it wasn't All bad.
Emma did get Thornbridge Hall for her and her chums to live in. Hmm

Emeraldshamrock · 13/11/2019 15:51

And in another country where things are totally different, including the benefits system
I'm catching up on the thread, okay I did jump in to quick, there are lots of good points.
But
It is not that different here we have lots of work shy people too.
Benefit system is very similar afterall the Irish government copy all UK changes, so far the child benefit is not capped.
You must work after child is 5 now.
No more staying at home until they are 18, disability excluded.
My neighbour is pregnant on her 7th Awh.
Isn't it nice we love in such a kind society.

dontalltalkatonce · 13/11/2019 15:53

But
It is not that different here we have lots of work shy people too.

You're just being a goady fucker now. We've got Universal Credit here. It's a different fucking country that you don't live in.

TheQueef · 13/11/2019 15:53

It sounds like Emerald has hoovered up the hype and read too much Facebook.
At least she's saying it out loud to be corrected.
It's the other hundreds that voted YANBU we should be concerned with.
It's their festering resentment that puts a cross in the Tory box.
They can't bear it but they don't say it.

Emeraldshamrock · 13/11/2019 16:02

You're just being a goady fucker now. We've got Universal Credit here. It's a different fucking country that you don't live in
I am genuinely not. Some families are 3rd generation on unemployment benefit since it was introduced.
I live in an area with lots of employment not being goady the rent kills us but all our family links are here.
Yet there are lots of people around who never worked.
I know there are similar families in the UK as I lived there.
PS not on FB.
This is what I see around. Lots of antisocial behaviour as to much time on their hands.

dontalltalkatonce · 13/11/2019 16:07

You don't live here now. You live there. I once lived in another country. I haven't live there now in about 20 years. I therefore am no longer in touch enough to make sweeping generalisations about that place That would make me look like a dickhead. Why not work on reforming the system where you live if it's such a shithole and you have such bright ideas about why people behave how they do?

spanglydangly · 13/11/2019 16:13

What a totally flawed way of thinking!

Emeraldshamrock · 13/11/2019 16:14

Why not work on reforming the system where you live if it's such a shithole and you have such bright ideas about why people behave how they do?
If only I could. If the government can't do it, what chance have I got.

TheQueef · 13/11/2019 16:27

Emerald be honest now, how many of these three generation non workers do you know?
Now think about how many unemployable people, whether through caring duties (like you) or being disabled or just not employable ex sex offender or violent criminal, alcohol or substance addictions?
The fact is everyone is being punished to try and catch these (rare) workshy families Who are likely unemployable anyway there just aren't enough decently paid jobs anymore.
Universal Basic Income is a solution but I doubt we will ever see it.

Emeraldshamrock · 13/11/2019 16:40

Now think about how many unemployable people, whether through caring duties (like you) or being disabled or just not employable ex sex offender or violent criminal, alcohol or substance addictions?
Honestly not many would be employable, unfortunately their DC might follow.
I'd honestly like to force them out to change things for their DC.

The fact is everyone is being punished to try and catch these (rare) workshy families Who are likely unemployable anyway there just aren't enough decently paid jobs anymore
I get this now Thanks.
When I said those who can work should, it meant those with access to employment.
I am sorry I wasn't thinking of the 1000's affected by lack of available employment in the area.
I think those areas should be heavily invested in.

Stinkycatbreath · 13/11/2019 16:58

Having a laugh you are Grin

lyralalala · 13/11/2019 19:28

Some families are 3rd generation on unemployment benefit since it was introduced.

You should let the Rowntree Foundation know where these families are as when they did extensive research they couldn’t find a single family where three generations have never worked

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