To think too many people are happy to live off benefits forever?

[BritishQueue]

Okay, I know this is a touchy subject here on MN, but I need to ask, AIBU to think that too many people are just choosing to stay on universal credit rather than work?

Obviously, I’m not talking about people who genuinely can’t work - disabilities, carers, etc (even though a lot of those who claim to be unfit for work are perfectly capable, and I’ve seen “carers” for people who don’t actually need any care…). But I know multiple people who are completely able-bodied and yet have no intention of ever getting a job. They say things like “it’s not worth it” or “I’d be worse off working,” and honestly, I don’t get it. I work full-time, pay tax, and yet I see people getting rent paid, extra handouts, and still managing holidays and luxuries I can’t afford. Not to mention that a lot of women think the government should subsidise their SAHM lifestyle.

I just don’t understand how it’s fair? Surely benefits should be a safety net, not a lifestyle choice? AIBU?

‘Entitled to UC’

People are just too entitled today. Expect other people to fund a lifestyle for them to which they believe they are entitled.

Her family unit doesn’t need the money, but the system allows her to claim it. So she does. If lots of people do that, we end up where we are today. The current system might make the claim legitimate, but (in my opinion) it doesn’t make it right.

Benefits should be there to support those in need.

Again, if your partner works away for a certain amount of time, then you are entitled to claim UC. If you can claim UC then it is because you are not working, or are unable to work.

Please, for the love of god, stop blaming the people that claim UC for the financial downfall of the UK.

I don’t think that’s true.

I wanted to do that try before I buy in terms of relocating the entire family abroad for a role that may or may not have worked out and was told in no uncertain terms that that would not be allowable. Under the far generous tax credit schemes.

Regarding the person on UC and then having holidays paid for by someone else. It doesnt matter who is paying but in this case I believe its the Mum.

IMHO its totally wrong. UC is for people to help with day to day costs. If 'someone' is also funding all the fun things that is cheating.

I am heartily sick of people gaming the system, working cash in hand jobs, moving in a boyfriend but still claiming they are single. Most of all though I am sick of people trying to excuse it. If that was YOUR money. If you were actulaly taking less home personally so that someone could carry on like this would this still be acceptable?

All those young people not in education or working because of mental health etc is shocking. The amount of people who claim they have ADHD, ADHD I (whatever that is - a relative touted her child around the doctors until she got the label she wanted) to stop themselves having to do anything very much has really got to stop.

@MichaelandKirk

Totally agree . We can’t afford this level of welfare . If we weren’t paying for millions to sit at home think how much extra catch would be available for public services for everyone . And for all those handwringing look what’s coming down the track , a whole generation who won’t be working to pay taxes for those wanting benefits . What are you going to do then . They won’t be working to fund NI contributions for state pensions . Unless people get back to work or AI suddenly does away with jobs there will be no money for anything . No point spouting the old trope of tax the rich tax the tech , they won’t be here . People don’t flourish in a dead and dying economy .

The very rich wont stay. And the simple minds who say tax Amazon, Bill Gates, Starbucks etc (yeah right). Amazon would just add on to their current prices, Bill Gates is an Amercian and Starbucks is not doing that well anyway

I do not blame people on UC for the current financial crisis the country is facing.

I blame Margaret Thatcher (and the conservative government of the day) for introducing the right to buy scheme which has had a catastrophic impact on todays UK housing market.

I blame Gordon Brown (and the labour government of the day) with the introduction of the far too generous benefits / in work support scheme we have today, which facilitates too many people claiming ‘what they are entitled too’ whether they need the money or not and has led to a significant rise in the ‘entitlement’ of what people believe the government should subsidise.

Serious unintended consequences of Government policies some 30/40 years later.

I have no issue with people choosing to be a SAHP or working part time, working only 15 hours so they can spend more time with their children - I just don’t think other tax payers should have to work to fund their lifestyle choice. They should plan accordingly before they have children if they want that choice.

The current labour plan of reforming benefits will not impact the current generation of claimants like it will the the new claimants and for some truly in need of future lifetime benefits this must be heartbreaking. But the harsh reality is that the current level of benefits is unsustainable and so changes have to be made if we are to have a functioning society in 10/20 years time.

Regarding the person on UC and then having holidays paid for by someone else. It doesnt matter who is paying but in this case I believe its the Mum.
IMHO its totally wrong. UC is for people to help with day to day costs. If 'someone' is also funding all the fun things that is cheating

How is it cheating? Other people can fund things for you. Or are you saying that people on UC are not allowed fun things? My partner (who does not live with me) funds a lot of my fun things. it is his money and he can spend it how he chooses.

I hope you don’t have children @BlessedBeTheGroot

Lots of selfish people like you mean a pretty dire future for them in the UK.

Why is it cheating? Is there a limit on how much something costs before it's classed as cheating? For example, can my mum buy me a birthday present? Is it OK if that's a £10 voucher? What about if she chooses to spend £500 on me (I wish). Can she buy me a holiday as a present?

I know someone who's dad gives her £600 every month to help with her bills as UC isn't enough. Personally I think that is a piss take, that's a regular income. But it's allowed.

This is why resolving the financial mess we are in as a country is so difficult.

People will always be able to excuse what they are doing, and in lots of cases, if they are not breaking the law they will not see anything wrong with it. Legally not wrong, but I would argue morally questionable.

I would just like there to be a UK worth living in for my children and future grandchildren and as it stands today, I’m not sure it will be unless someone inherits well or is able to ‘play the system’ to gain extra government benefits to supplement their chosen lifestyle. I agree that it is not right that a full time job that whilst important to society (think nurse, paramedic etc) does not feed a family and keep the roof over their heads.

It is impossible to please everyone going forward.

I just hope the government focuses on the long term economic stability of the country and really analyses the future possible unintended consequences of their decisions ….
Taxing the rich maybe one solution but will lead to high earners leaving the UK for good, and therefore see tax revenues fall further.
Reducing benefits may make an already challenging life for some disabled people who are unable to work unbearable

Maybe we all have to dig in and make a contribution ……

Nail on the head.

How am I selfish? Please explain, because your logic here makes no sense. If you are going to accuse me of something, at least have the decency to explain how.
I know I am doing nothing wrong. I have had my UC review by the way, so I know everything is fine.

It isn't cheating. I am interest to know why the previous posters thinks it is. My mum bought me some plants today. She also bought me some home exercise equipment for my birthday (was about £250). Is that cheating?

Apologies maybe selfish is the wrong word.

Taking off the government today to improve your life today because the system allows it, when perhaps if that financial safety net wasn’t there you might have to make other decisions and find different solutions to improving your financial situation.

We have all got to think about the next generation - public services need investment and reform ….. thinks education, health etc … there is currently so much being spent on welfare payments that other areas miss out … areas which will benefit the next generation of tax payers.

If I didn't have UC I would be homeless and starving.
What is wrong with my partner buying me things? How is that taking from the government? It is his money.

The government says you can't have more than £6k in savings to get UC so that should also be the cut off for gifts and holidays.
My friend has easily taken more than that off her mum whilst also getting UC and the one of winter payment.
It is as I said a piss take, legal or not.

Ok, we get it, people on benefits aren't allowed nice things ever. They should be excluded, judged and looked down upon until they can force someone to give them a job that covers their bills on a regular basis. They should carry the shame of being poor regardless of circumstance because a person's worth should be calculated solely in terms of their wealth or lack of it. Not only should society stigmatised them, but better off relatives should make sure they never give them any hint of care or compassion because they'll get a taste for scraping by week by week with fewer and fewer prospects because the world economy is fucked and billionaires must be worshipped.

Message received and understood.

Life without some treats/luxuries would be pretty miserable, so I think budgeting them into what you can afford is nothing to be ashamed of, or criticised for.

I’m still not quite understanding why people choose benefits over working more hours because it works out to the same amount?

I would think benefits are for emergencies not an option instead of working?

Some views here may seem punitive. But when you’re in the daily grind everyday getting up at 6 in the winter, upskilling at weekends, out of the house 12 hours, working for years earning £100 a week because of childcare costs and you KNOW first hand people are playing the system, it’s so frustrating.

Mostly due to insecurity. If you have a fixed number of hours and a fixed UC payment you can budget. If you work extra hours, and it's variable, you have to put it all in your UC journal and hope the resulting calculations give you the right amount of money at the right time for bill payments coming out etc. Sometimes it depends on the assessment period, and sometimes errors are made. It's difficult to have a cushion in case of cock ups, and funnily enough landlords and utility suppliers aren't terribly sympathetic when direct debits bounce.

People often end up in debt from having a couple of months go sideways, that's even if they can get loans or credit cards. If you are supporting a family, and managing on a small fixed income, rocking that boat can be disastrous.

Bear in mind NMW jobs are often zero hours or part-time, as it helps employers minimise tax and NI obligations.

Also jobs at this end of the economic spectrum have less and less security these days.

Incorrect.
The cut off for UC is £16k, and that is £16k capital. Items and holidays do not count.
At £6k, the amount of UC someone receives tapers off. So you are basically saying that someone should get less UC because someone paid for a holiday for them.
Thankfully, the system does not work like that. I hope your friend enjoyed her holidays. You don't sound like much a friend by the way you are talking about her here.

Ridiculous, isn't it.

"Sorry Nan, I love the jumper you knitted me and it will help in the winter because I am too broke to put the heating on. But I can't accept it as my benefits might get stopped. By the way, can you print me a receipt so I can show the Job Centre"

There's a big difference between knitting a jumper and buying holidays. Many people that work full time and do not claim benefits cannot afford to go on holiday, so why should benefits people? Surely the money used to buy the holiday could go to buying food, heating, rent and other things that benefits pay for?