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!

It’s a rich country, probably, actually more accurate to say the government is broke thinking about it.

@Ladybyrd yeah in my country it’s after 2 years as well - and in the meantime you get called to all sorts by the job centre, like courses and such. They’re often a bit of a waste of time but it gets people out of the house, I guess.

I do think benefits here are too generous. It is a good thing though, when they’re not exploited.

Nope. If you work, you get a wage.
If you want everyone to work, then fine, a public sector job for all those currently job seeking. That would soon work out more expensive.

Because being disabled is bloody expensive?

The key is chronic fatigue.

You think the job centre doesn't call people to all sorts of rubbish in the UK? Supervision of unemployed people is very high and there are plenty of sanctions for the smallest things.

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

Yes. I once had a neighbour who didn't work in the whole 6 years I lived there because she had depression. Didn't stop her tending to her garden for hours everyday and stopping everyone who passed by, talking the hind legs off them. Conversely, I also knew of a doctor who became so agrophobic she broke her arm falling down the stairs and wouldn't go to the hospital. When her family took her there weeks later it had to be broken again and reset. But how do you prove which one is which without extreme incidents like this?

Yes, I think having to work for benefits would help with this by giving people work experience..

The sheer number claiming lcwra on uc and receive an additional £416 per month and once it's in place, they have it forever and don't ever need to seek employment. All you need are sick notes from your gp! You might not qualify for pip but can still get this!!!! Ludicrous!

That is crap. I on LCRWA and have been reassessed several times. No one is on it forever.
And it is absolutely right that it is open to people not on PIP. PIP is not an out of work benefit. Some people on PIP would not be eligible for LCWRA, and some people on LCRWA would not be eligible for PIP.

If the country is rich, the government can also be rich, can it not?

You have absolutely no understanding of mental health conditions.

Here; www.reed.co.uk/tax-calculator/32000-annually

Actually I'm slightly under. £2221 a month is more than 32k. The point still stands....

On the contrary, the only people I’ve ever heard talking about ‘milking the system’ or benefit scrounging are those who regularly work with benefit claimants, or who are claiming benefits themselves.

I didn’t want to moan and bitch about my family members - I mentioned earlier how I understand the choices they make to claim benefits full time. But they DO talk about gaming the system, and how to get signed off. This is the kind of community I grew up in - not just direct family but the people we socialised with. I understand the mindset as well somewhat coming from it. But it happens!

Some people absolutely need benefits, and I understand that. I don’t begrudge someone disabled or struggling a ‘good’ quality of life - I have a terminally ill family member I wish were entitled to more! I feel the people who need/claim genuinely feel it’s always them being ‘got at’ ~ it’s not (IMO). But to say that no one games the system is ludicrous. This IS the norm in some families/communities. It happens. People who say it doesn’t, I feel are basing things on their communities/versions of events when they claim benefits completely genuinely.

How patronising. Plenty of people on benefits have decades of work experience. They don't need to work for a pittance.

If you want to force them to work, give them jobs.

Who gets a free bus pass? I don't have one - who should I contact to get mine?

Also, could you point me in the direction of the nearest NHS dentist that is taking on patients, so I can get my free dentistry.

Thanks so much.

God yes it's so frustrating isn't it - I still cannot get over the fact that our government give benefits to people with MORE THAN ONE WIFE even though polygamy is against the law!!!! And did you know that the second (or third) wives can also claim child benefit for their children? Even if they do not live in the UK..

Honestly, it makes my blood boil. And that is why my dad stopped working for the benefits agency. If you knew what else went on, you'd go crazy.

Another thing that makes me mad is (and I know lots of people who do this), and I am so very sorry in advance for any offence caused, but the parents of a child diagnosed with ADHD (even privately) can claim Disability Living Allowance and it isn't means tested. 'But that's ok' I hear you cry - yes, except that the child is at a mainstream school, receives no additional support, and the money is for absolutely no reason. It pays for nothing, because the child needs nothing. Many children have ADHD, but I know for a fact that this is also a big scam by many parents. There are lots of parents getting privately diagnosed (easy as pie) and then filling in the forms..hey presto, £400 a month. All of the parents I know who do this are on benefits and know the scams and talk to each other and know what to put on the forms: Round here, London borough, being on benefits gets you: free breakfast club, free after school club, free school clubs, free food vouchers during the holidays, free school holiday clubs during all school holidays, free school meals. And I actually think this is good because a child shouldn't be denied things. But then to give another £400 a month for no reason? Honestly, it's those parents who show up with their nails done and their hair nice while I shop second hand.

Very sorry for the rant.

I'd like to know about this free bus pass and also desperately need a dentist.

Incidentally, I first claimed benefits 20 years ago (haven't been on them the whole time) I'm still waiting for my goat and free flat screen TV, or whatever it is that we apparently get. I'd love a goat. It could eat the weeds for me.

@catzrulz PIP is different. It's got nothing to do with how much or how little you earn and everything to with a health condition which impacts your daily life. You can be on benefits and claim PIP, or earn 30K and still be able to claim PIP.

To be fair, that is a thing but only for the disabled.

The only person I know on universal credit is getting £390 a month. I wouldn’t fancy trying to live on that.

I "claim genuinely" (whatever that means) and I don't think I'm any more deserving than someone who doesn't work or is disabled or whatever. I don't feel the need to separate myself, I'm not automatically a better person just because I've got a full time job and I also don't need anyone to say "I don't mean people like you" when slagging off claimants. It's not for me to decide who is deserving and who isn't.

Your interest is noted

I get a free bus pass because I'm not allowed to drive. But I'd be entitled to one regardless of whether I'm in work or not

Don't know about you but I don't tend to sleep upstanding 😆

Were are all these unfilled full time jobs? I help people with job searches, there's plenty of jobs upto 20 hours, but unless you have children, you couldn't live off the wages. The jobs are often 7-10 hours a week. We aren't joining up workplaces and public transport in a lot of areas. Again, often a simple skill up is needed. Jobs aren't remaining unfilled because people don't want to work. Universal credit wasn't fit for purpose. Our housing crisis is the main factor in people not working. As said earlier, no-one questions the slum landlords being supported by housing benefits. The wealthy really benefit from welfare benefits.