Dispatches- Britain’s Benefit scandal

[Sunnywalker]

Anybody watched this? It’s made me so angry. Some highlights include a company that can’t recruit an apprentice on 26k because sickness benefits would amount to 24k so it wouldn’t be worth it. 500,000, 25-34 years old on long term sick, a woman who has never had a FT job and claims 35k in benefits, this lady would like to work but says will never achieve the same income if she worked.

This country is bankrupt, public services crumbling! What is going on? Why isn’t there an overhaul!

@Nightmarewithdelirium I just wanted to say you sound like an amazing person.

Just as well no one was ever forced to share a one bedroom flat with famously single mother Xenia, otherwise I fear she would no longer be with us.

If someone has "lost confidence" then being at home every day certainly isn't going to help with that!

"Oh, look over there," say all the greedy tax dodging millionaires.

There are legitimate claimants. It isn't a way of life that would appeal much to me, rather there but for the grace of god...

Blame the system. Thats what needs fixing. In DP's home country, if you can't find a job after 6 months, they cut you off (excluding disability).

I think this is a bit of a red herring really. I'm on benefits due to being a single parent with an illness and disability and a disabled child and the only people I know personally who are on benefits are other single mums, who also work, and their wage isn't enough. I don't think there's as many people per 100 enjoying a life of benefits, as the media make out. Everyone I know who is on benefits would love to be off benefits, including myself. We can't save more than 6k a month (even if working full time!) and this includes the monthly income, so it's more like £4k savings depending on how much your rent element is. The 6k hasn't gone up with the COL either. İf we were allowed to save, we could eventually have a deposit and that would save the government loads of money in rent payments, free up social housing (especially if we could pass our homes to our children). Or we could save to re-train and get better jobs, or for a year of support at home with our children whilst we improved our careers. Everyone else I know is couples with decent jobs and homes. Maybe some areas will have a higher concentration of people in benefits due to being an area where less social housing has been sold off, but in day to day life, how many people do you know on benefits compared to those who aren't?

If there is work that needs doing then just pay people a normal wage to do it.

Where are you getting £32k from?

True but there needs to be actual support for the ill and long term unemployed to get back in to work. There is bugger all right now.

Because they need it for their disability if they're on PIP, and PIP is difficult to get.

Sorry, I’ve not read the whole thread so someone else might have already posted. Job Centre Plus needs a complete overhaul. It’s not fit for purpose. I don’t feel they push or support enough in finding a job. There needs to be some sort of proper pathway. Benefits should be a short term solution, not a lifelong income stream. Obviously, I’m not including people who can’t work through disability or illness etc.

I'm watching something now where a family gets £132 million a year in benefits and they have an income that they do not pay tax on on top of this.

One hundred and thirty-two million pounds of public money.

Just interested. So, are you a higher rate tax payer?

Benefits are insane in the UK. Nobody should get more than the minimum wage on benefits. End of.

"The country is broke"

Are you broke and you're projecting? Because the UK is a rich country.

Really? What are you watching?

But there’s lots of jobs that can’t be filled/bringing people into the country to fill them. People can apply to do these jobs. Otherwise they do socially beneficial work for their benefits -their choice.

It really isn't easy to claim. Why would so many go to tribunal and win if it was that easy?

Compared to where?
I'm not convinced any single person gets more than they would on minimum wage. A family maybe.

https://www.channel4.com/programmes/the-king-the-prince-their-secret-millions/on-demand/77374-001

I receive a top up because my minimum wage job doesn’t pay enough. I work full time and have to put 2 children in ASC. I am currently on an apprenticeship hence the minimum wage. I am aiming to qualify this summer unless my tutors aren’t back to work (they’ve been off for over a month and one has quit) and then my wages will go up in line with my qualifications.

I’ve been on benefits for 4 months after a relationship breakdown, and I am 2/3rds through my qualification. I’m too far in to quit and look for better paid work at the moment. This will pay off in the long run. I’ve worked since I was 14.

I think there’s some merit to what you all are saying but for some of us this isn’t a lifestyle choice, it’s a means to an end. I hate claiming but the cost of living crisis is out of control. I think stagnated wages are part of the problem here.

@Emerald95 you are wrong.

And plus even people earning 35k don't have all that to spend they also have to pay rent/mortgage/food/council tax etc etc.

Benefits are not docked 80p from every £1 when you are working either!

You can earn up to a certain amount (£400 a month) before your payments start getting reduced! And after that it's 55p that you lose.

So a person if they wanted to could go out and do something part time and be £400 better off before their payments are affected.

85% of childcare is paid too if this is required.

The problem with this is that it's kind of slavery... forcing people to do work of your choice so they have a roof over their heads and food. Yet they didnt choose these jobs, and aren't actually contracted employees with any benefits, and aren't actually receiving pay directly. To me that's just morally disgusting. That's up there with the workhouse
You say it will help people but working 40hrs a week in poundland just to be able to eat is not likely to help anyone. Finding out what their skills and ambitions really are, and supporting that with training and advice.. slowly getting them into a real job that they will stay in.. thats going to benefit everyone.

Ah, with you now! 😉

Royal family I'm guessing.

Do you know what chronic fatigue is? It's not something you can 'work through '.