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?

Are working people inherently entitled to a holiday?

According to some people on this thread, people on benefits are not entitled to holidays even if someone else has paid for them.

Pensioners are thought to traditionally vote Tory - hence their protection under the Tories. Labour didn’t hesitate to make them first on the list for cuts.

Except they didn't really. They took the Winter Fuel Payment from the better off and left the extremely generous triple-lock in place. It's not really comparable to taking £4k a year off disabled people.

PIP is not an out-of-work benefit. If someone entitled to PIP can afford a holiday, that is their business.

Seems a bit of a sad life stalking disability threads to spout the same boring bile over and over again.

Exactly. Some people on PIP work, and some live with a partner or spouse who works. Are they never allowed to go away because of the benefits they get?
I think some people would like to see disabled people just trapped at home with the very basics and no joy whatsoever.

They didn’t just remove it from the “better off” they took it from every pensioner in receipt of a full state pension which is marginally more a week then the cut off for pension credit which I don’t believe makes them better off. Also, if you’re elderly you don’t have the ability either to go out and earn more.

The holidays seem to be a big thing. I can only think it's jealousy. We're going away this year, despite being entitled to UC due to being a single-income family.

We're using money from H's estate.

I'll happily swap with anyone willing. You can have the dead partner and best friend and the holiday. I can have a life without bereavement and teenagers with PTSD and mental illness.

"According to some people on this thread, people on benefits are not entitled to holidays even if someone else has paid for."

Yes it is apparently ok to pay for your adult child's holiday if they work and are not claiming anything but not ok if your adult child is too disabled to work.

They directly used the PIP money for the holiday.

Surely all money goes into the bank and then things are paid from said money? This attitude reminds me of when my ex decided he didn't need to pay CM any more as I'd spent it on a night out. The fact that my night out was paid for from the bank account that my wages, working and child tax credits, child benefit and maintenance went into was irrelevant to him. No idea how anyone would know exactly what money funded what!

Unless the PIP/DLA is paid into a separate account. Which is also allowed as people with disabilities are allowed holidays!

Hate this attitude on here. Why can’t someone start a conversation of their choice? I hate the ‘not this again!’ crowd who spend their life on MN. Some people are new, some people want to have the conversation for themselves, and with nearly 1000 replies it’s clearly a topic people want to engage with!

It's the same shit every single time and it gets tiresome. By the way, you are also on Mumsnet giving your opinion.

Of course there are lots of replies. It's yet another benefit bashing thread. Just because something gets lots of replies doesn't mean it's a worthy thread.

People that need to be the OP and get all the attention could at least think of an interesting thread to start other than get another benefit bashing thread

The OP isn't new and as well aware of the many other benefit bashing threads.

I hated that people pop in once a week just to have a whinge 🤷🏻‍♀️

This. The concept of PIP paying for disability related expenses and thereby freeing up a bit of savings for holiday seems to be a difficult concept for some here. I’ve no doubt parents do the same thing with child benefit but somehow that’s OK.

And you know this how ?

Don’t talk shit. Of course they removed the winter fuel payment from those who needed it and not just the better off. The aligned it with pension credit paid to those pensioners on the bones of their arse - the laziest and cheapest way to means test it and leaving many just a couple of quid over the appallingly low threshold. A couple of hundred quid might not be much to you but for some it’s the difference between turning the heating on for an hour or two a day or freezing in winter.

PIP isn’t an out of work benefit.

What? When we’re talking about severely disabled people you can’t just shove them into the first job that comes along. Honestly, the more you post, the more you demonstrate how little you know about disability and the reason these benefits are in payment.

This person had a back payment for the PIP and directly told me that they'll be using this back payment money to go on a trip to California.

Defeatist ? I worked as a disability outreach worker for many years and l’ve encountered people with disabilities, the severity and far reaching effects of which would floor most people. You have no understanding, no compassion and no clue.

Large back payments are not unusual because a lot of people have to fight to get PIP, so it gets drawn out over a long time.

I hope they have a great time on their holiday.

And why do you have any problem with that ? PlP is not an out of work benefit. The clue to what it’s for is in the word independence. As in making life better and putting the disabled on an equal footing with able bodied people as far as opportunity in life goes by footing the extra cost attached to disability. Why do you think a holiday can’t be part of that ? How do you feel about child benefit. Because l know plenty of parents who save it to put towards family holidays. Where is the difference ? Or do you think all disabled people should stay indoors, out of sight and wait quietly to die ?

I think wildflowers mentioned they’re autistic, which is a neurodevelopment disorder. Sometimes autistic people can only understand things from their own perspective which is the case here.
I have an autistic dad who would insist that I just like the guitar because he does. Or that I want to go to a particular place because he does. He is incapable of understanding anything from anyone else’s perspective.
wildflowers has issues and has managed to work, so that’s her perspective. So she isn’t capable of understanding how someone else cant work

This was my thought too, but it’s still infuriating to see such a dispassionate, intransigent and hugely over simplified attitude to disability.