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?

12% of total spending on non-pension benefits is massive. We have the equivalent of the entire population of Scotland (including children - EVERYONE!) on disability benefits. If this was any other area of spending, nobody would have an issue in saying how out of hand it is, but because its benefits, you’re a ‘eugenicist’ if you mention it (or a few other nonsensical and laughable names).

Quote where I said that please.

That is anecdotal evidence. It isn't real evidenced. You can't know enough people to make a statement like that.
I can just as easily say too many people are vegetarians just because most of the people I know are vegetarian!

The question of getting a job is yet another area where tbh there will always be some excuse as to why people can’t possibly do it.

I remember a previous poster saying she has no hope of getting a job because she would fail the McDonalds psychometric tests. It didn’t seem to occur to her that there are employers outside of enormous chains.

You’re making the same mistake.

Some of those people are working. But wages don't cover the cost of living, never mind the added costs of disability. Or PIP wouldn't exist. The government subsidises employers to placate shareholders and CEOs at the expense of economic growth and stability. Can you not see a problem with that?

The psychometric tests fail ND people. ND people find it hard to get a job.
And they find it hard to get a job because they are seen as something no one wants.

🤦‍♀️

The vast majority of jobs do not have psychometric tests.

Yes they do. Have you tried to apply for a job lately?

But they do have screening algorithms tailored to cherry pick the candidates likely to be the best fit. Do you live under a rock? Even well qualified, experienced and versatile people in more than NMW sectors are struggling to get work. There are threads about it.

100% of jobs I have applied to recently have tests before you even get to the interview stage, admittedly, not always psychometric, many are apptiude or technical tests, either way, if you don't test well because you are ND, you're in for a rough ride in today's job market.

I have a "pre-interview" on Thursday. If I pass that, I can take the technical test, if I pass that, I might get an interview with the hiring team.

There are not enough jobs, which means it is an employer's market. There are people with master's degrees and decades of experience going in for helpdesk roles.

I know someone who failed an AI job interview. She was being interviewed by a bot. It was for a pub job.
Even the most menial jobs are being filtered by AI now.

I don’t think ‘too many’ people are happy to live off benefits forever as the OP suggests but there is a subsection of people who are. I was on benefits temporarily after I became a single parent and if you look at the UC groups on Facebook it’s surprising how many people are willing to share their UC statement on there.

There are some families who claim DLA for several children with ADHD, therefore bypassing the benefit cap, often one parent has depression and anxiety and the other has a bad back and both are carers for each other. None of these conditions can be ‘proved’ yet depending on family size they can claim £4k or £5k a month. They know every trick in the book to claim. Just join the Facebook groups and you will see for yourself.

Yes. I applied for one last week and it was a CV/personal statement thing.

This is the type of family I mean. It’s absolutely appalling. I know so many in basically this exact scenario. It takes the absolute piss out of hard working people, it really does.

It’s the same here in Australia - an entire industry spouted up once we had our National Disability Insueance Scheme. The costs are completely beyond sustainable and people who really need it are missing out while the system is rorted by fake companies and malingerers.

I've always said that nothing will change until men start to be impregnable and carry a baby to birth and care for their offspring from birth too.

We've got a step closer to that today with the announcement of the UK's first womb transplant born baby....

Meanwhile, the women giving hate to other women for their differing 'life choices' as if women have always had the means and opportunities universally available that some have today.

MN sounds today like that 80s Harry Enfield character LoadsaMoney - "coz I've got Loads More Money Than YOuu!! - and nearly 40 years later not much has changed in the feeling superior competition..

Yes, you send off your CV and cover letter, then a "talent acquisition advisor" might email you to arrange a pre-interview, assuming AI doesn't toss your application into the shredder because you have Network+ instead of CCNA or CCNP Security instead of Security+ or 1 week less experience than stated in the job description.

If you manage to get past the talent acquisition advisor, you can take the technical/aptitude test.

If you get through all of that, then you go up against the other 50 or so people who also made it through to meet the hiring team for a stage one (of 3 or 4 usually) interview...

Wow what a reach given I was told by return email the next step would be an in person interview.

@MistressoftheDarkSide Nah, I've just blown 6 quid on a bottle of Blossom Hill

I don't know where you live but you've been robbed ! 😃

I don't mind x It's my local convenience store which is literally less than a minute from my flat and they carry the only food my cats will eat x as it's just me and my cats, and they're lovely chaps, I'm happy to subsidise a little if it keeps them open 😊

After I failed the online test for ASDA, for a part-time, night shift shelf stacking job I really understood what I was up against. My best 'fail' was scoring just 14% in the Civil Service 'Personality' Test which was just a load of complete bollocks about office 'politics' and nothing at all to do with the Criminal Justice job I was applying for.

I'm 62 - not an inexperienced idiot that hasn't done a full range of jobs to an high standard - just had to take a few years out of the conventional workplace to care for my disabled son.

Put me on the bonfire now, watch me burn and enjoy it....things have not moved on much at all for most women, just a few, and that's not good enough.

Wow. You got an email by return? That's incredibly rare.

I'm all for supporting local stores ! 🙂

I always fail the personality test for Greggs. I've applied a few times because they have early and late shifts I could fit in around another job, and never managed to get past that test.

I have over 15 years of experience in the food service industry.