To think there is little incentive to work hard in the UK

[BeachTree]

Context. 30's, no kids, single, work full time.

Just a bit disheartened. I have never claimed benefits, or any type of support, I work hard to make sure I can support myself (Not disputing those who genuinely require benefits/support) I have always paid all my taxes, and national insurance. I expect by the time I reach retirement age, the 'state pension' may look very different to what it does now and may not be available despite having paid in my whole life.

I feel sometimes that I pay so much into the 'system' and get very little return and don't 'take' from it, whereas there are many people claiming every benefit possible, and constantly 'taking' from the system they don't pay into. There are so many ways to extract money from the system but only for those who don't work full time. I know someone who worked for about 1 or 2 year in late teens in the UK, then worked abroad for a number of years, during this time did not keep up with national insurance payments and obviously not paying UK tax as no in the country, also didn't pay tax in the country they resided in. Returned to England to have a baby on the NHS, now residing back in England, claiming benefits as a single parent for 2+ years, gets assistance with rent council tax etc despite having paid next to nothing in to the system. I cannot compute how this is fair.

For example the cost of living payment, people who claim benefits will get £650, where as those who work and do not claim benefits will get £400. The cost of living crisis affects all of us - perhaps more so the people who work their socks off and aren't 'entitled' to 'support' The system is backwards and not in favour of people who work full time to support our ridiculous benefit system. So many examples - ie. people get help with rent, council tax, working tax credits etc etc etc - however those who work get zero, zilch.

AIBU?

Quit your job and claim benefits if it’s that unfair then.

Why do you think diagnosis of Autism /ADHD are so high? Or Fibromyalgia, CFS, long covid, anxiety or whatever the latest fad made-up long-term illness is.

I have severe ME - sometimes called CFS - shame on you for calling CFS a made up illness. It’s ruined my life depriving me of a career, relationship and family. My quality of life is appalling and I have spent the last ten years bedridden. Believe me a life on benefits does not make up for the huge losses. It’s a recognised multi system organic illness recognised by the WHO, US CDC and NHS with NICE just recently releasing new guidelines. It’s beyond ignorant to suggest it’s some fad condition. Now a new tranche of people many in their prime of lives are utterly shocked to have lost their health and livelihood to a form of long covid v similar to ME. Much more research is needed for post infectious chronic illness so treatments can be developed.

The other conditions you refer to I do not have personal experience of but I know they are not fad. I am utterly disgusted by your post.

People generally misunderstand this topic, just because you aren’t claiming direct benefits doesn’t mean you aren’t benefiting. To be a net contributor to tax in this country you have to be earning in the top 40%.

We receive a small amount of universal credit to help with nursery fees. My husband is a soldier working 60 hour weeks every single week. I currently work part time whilst our daughter is little. Nursery is £70 a day. Once she’s at school I’ll go back to my well paid job taking us back into net contributors. The majority of benefit claimants work.

Yup.

Rich and work the system, exploit people to make more money, avoid tax (through loopholes made by more of the same people) and you're someone to be aspired to, and you're no way responsible for the issues faced squeezed middle or in fact anyone else.

Be poor and do the same and you're the work of the devil and the entire reason that the middle is so squeezed.

Do people really think that if benefit fraud and all these lay abouts who never work and get everything handed to them on a plate, were stamped out completely tomorrow, that suddenly we'd all have a better life and more money? They're not actually responsible for spending that much of our tax money, it'll just give the government even more to line their cronies pockets with dodgy deals and contracts that don't deliver and we'll be in exactly the same situation as we are now, only with no benefit scammers to blame. Pays to keep them around to blame for everything, no?

Once again, you're focusing your anger at entirely the wrong group of people.

"The benefits system is set up to reward people who choose to have produce children can’t afford to support, then give up work and claim every benefit & entitlement they can think of. Even better if they are able to convince the DWP that they or their child has some form of ‘disability’. Why do you think diagnosis of Autism /ADHD are so high? Or Fibromyalgia, CFS, long covid, anxiety or whatever the latest fad made-up long-term illness is."

I have never said this before to anyone on here or in real life @PlanetNormal but you are an absolute arsehole

I feel sometimes that I pay so much into the 'system' and get very little return and don't 'take' from it, whereas there are many people claiming every benefit possible, and constantly 'taking' from the system they don't pay into. There are so many ways to extract money from the system but only for those who don't work full time

Its always the same - you look to those lower down than you and blame them, the conditioning and brain washing is strong. You don't look up to see the boot on your head...never ever do you look up as you've been told repeatedly its those below you causing the problem

@AhNowTed its constant the blaming of the wrong people and nothing will change until they wake up to this

YANBU

I'm in exactly the same position as you and it's extremely difficult to not feel any slight injustice.

It really enraged me a few weeks ago when there was a debate floating around that childless people should pay more tax 😠 where, on balance, the childless already pay more in the first place!

It would be nice to work fewer hours, have a free top up of pay and some extra bills covered but hey ho

Increased use of people working 35+ hours and still needing to claim is a symptom of larger problems that have not been tackled.

And a Tory government have no interest in improving wages, less profit for shareholders!

I think our local roads and street signs etc are paid by our council tax right? And road tax pays for the use of roads? Stamp duty - don't know what that pays for but people who earn and buy their own properties get shafted that way. And inheritance tax - fair enough that it is not the deceased that pay. However if I have worked hard my whole life and want to leave property and money for my lineage - why can I not do that?

Granted people on benefits don't have the option of multiple holidays abroad every year etc but the UK system needs to change. Some get a "free" ride the whole way though. For example in old age if you are on benefits you would get free care but if you own your house or have a certain amount of savings, you need to sell your home .....

I am fully prepared to contribute to those who cannot work due to ill health or those who work hard but are of low income . However I do feel that in UK hard work is not rewarded and also people need to be held more accountable for their actions and for the positions they find themselves in

I am fully prepared to contribute to those who cannot work due to ill health or those who work hard but are of low income

But that's what the benefits system does.

A life on benefits is awful. All the choices I have as a financally independent person are removed. I can't choose where I want to live, I'm at the mercy of being 'santioned', I can't afford to give my kids a holiday, I don't have a pension, I can't afford to drive. I don't think anyone chooses that life.

Christ, at your age with money coming in and no dependents and apparently in good health ( as you don’t feel you’re benefiting from free healthcare I’m assuming you don’t have long term medical issues ) you should be out celebrating all the freedom you have to just work, play, travel without worrying about anyone but yourself.
instead you’re on a website mainly aimed at parents,
despite being child free and single, whining about people who need to claim benefits or tax credits to supplement their income.

I did do a calculation the other day to see if I paid off the mortgage by 60 could I live off benefits for 5/6 years. The answer is probably but it’s not great. I was worried about the ageism in the work place and what I would do.

I disagree. I've been a single, childless person in a low paid job, I've been in a couple without children and I'm now a single mum with a baby. Definitely the hardest time, financially, was when I was single and childless, having to pay full price for absolutely everything bar a 25% discount discount council tax, but getting absolutely no help whatsoever.

What makes you think being single is easier than being part of a dual income couple? Single adults have to pay everything from one wage. There's a 25% single person discount on council tax, but what other allowances are there for being single and having a lower earning potential? Couples benefit from having two personal allowances and two wages from which to pay living costs. Single people have to pay the same amount in standing rates for energy, the same amount for a TV license, buildings insurance, broadband etc yet only have one wage to pay it from.

But you could choose to get a job which would give you those options, if you were physically able? I know people on benefits who still seems have everything they want, a car, the latest iPhone, days out etc...

As the OP hasn't returned, I assume they're a Tory bot. Or Daily Heil "journalist".

Oooh. Speak the devil's name

Funny how they always know people who, etc. Such intimate knowledge of others' circumstances.

Exactly, why is working part time with an option to get UC top up even an option? The people doing this could be looking to secure full time jobs?

What is shit is statutory sick pay my other half has worked since age of 16 and has had an accident and the world seems to think £90 a week is enough to live on ., I don’t understand why in 2022 that isn’t being increased we barely have enough to live on with both of us working without losing the majority of his wage .

Of course you can live abroad and come back to the UK (if you are a uk citizen) and give birth in an NHS hospital and receive NHS care.

Because sone people might need to work part time to look after children or older family members or to manage a health condition

that saves the state a lot more than it costs to give UC to top up

No, just a real life human echt, sorry