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?

Carer's allowance is a disgrace. It's women who do the majority of care as well, they save the government a few billion.

How do they save the government billions?

You can only claim carers allowance if someone in the house is on DLA/PIP, you care for them for at least 35 hours per week, and you are not allowed to earn much on top of that. That is if you have the time and energy to hold down a job.
You can't claim PIP and DLA at the same time for the same person.
Carers allowance is deducted from UC as it is classed as income.
If a household has several people on DLA/PIP then there is a lot of disability in that family and they should absolutely be supported.

They do it for free.

🤦‍♀️

If family can't care for the disabled person, then carers have to come in instead. They are paid at least NMW.
Or without the care from family, the disabled person could end up needing residential care. Which costs a lot.
In both instances, the family carer being paid £80 a week is a bargain where the tax payer is concerned.

Why would the family not care for their own relatives?

What are you on about?

The level of unemployment in the UK is low. Only 4.4% of working-age people are unemployed. That's only 1.6 million people. And for those 1.6 million people there are only 800,000 jobs available so I'd love to know where all the jobs for these feckless wasters are coming from.

Yes always women. My mum was a carer for her mum in law. It is always down to the women.

I know many households where the parent claims UC, PIP for themselves, DLA for 1/2/3 kids, PIP for their partner, carers, then somebody claims carers for them.. sorry but I wasn’t born yesterday

Of course they care for their own relatives. But being a full time carer for family means you can't also hold down a job. They get paid a meagre £80 a week as compensation for that. No one can live on that.
It is an absolute disgrace.

When the ill and disabled are bumped off benefits and being made to look for work, those figures will be even worse.

Who lives off £80 a week without claiming other benefits? I’m guessing nobody so this is a straw man.

I bet they all wish they were not disabled.

Because in this day and age of dual income to survive households, some relatives (most often women) can't afford to give up work and step into that role without significant financial detriment to other household members. Not to mention the additional stress of dealing with significant sickness or disability, or conditions like dementia which require 24 hour support.

But you know that don't you, and just thoroughly enjoy being contrarian and judgemental.

FFS not another one

So disabled they can care for somebody else while also needing a carer for themselves? None so blind as those who will not see..

You seem to be on all these threads. Perhaps you are too hard of understanding to maybe reason out that some disabilities are inherited.

I don’t think these figures are right - latest figures say 2.8 million people not working and on sickness benefits

They might get housing element. Depends on their situation.
To get CA, someone will be on DLA/PIP. CA is deducted from UC.

Remember, despite all this, someone in the family is disabled. Why are you begrudging them some financial support for that?

The 1.6 figure is people who are looking for work. That is people who are fit to work.

No I just think ‘living off £80 a week’ doesn’t happen.

There’s a traditional view of disability - a person with Down syndrome, or muscular dystrophy, who needs significant support and this is how everyone imagines people disabled enough to warrant benefits.

But the reality is entire families with nebulous conditions who are claiming an absolute fortune by ensuring everyone ticks the right boxes. Ok they may have a condition, but they probably could work - but they’re very good at writing themselves off and knowing how to meet the criteria for maximum money.

Happy to point you to real life cases if needed

This particular poster doesn't believe in sickness, disability, or that social security for the vulnerable should exist apparently. Too much lack of resilience in their opinion.

Because I don’t really agree with what counts as a disability now.

Im technically disabled, but I see myself more as ‘having a condition’ as with a bit of planning I can work and do normal things.

Like I said disability no longer means a person with Downs or DMD - it’s all neurodiversity, fibromyalgia etc.

Can you please quote where I have said any of that?