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?

So you know when they say ‘I’d be worse off working’ and ‘it’s not worth it’ ?? Have you seen the maths they are referring to? Their rationale for saying this? Because for many it’s simply not worth it financially to work. It would not be financially viable to work. It might be an irritating notion but it is the truth. For example a woman with three children would have to be on an extremely good wage to make it worthwhile to go out to work, she’d have to pay for childcare etc. To many it’s not a desirable way to live- on benefits for life , or a good thing to aspire to, but it’s maths. My sister in law- unemployed has four children. She’s never worked. She has her rent paid for her. My other half pointed out to me- what job could she possibly get whereby she could pay rent and feed all those children. She’d have to be earning 50k a year to compete with what she gets now and even then she’d need to pay child care. What would be the point? However don’t be deluded to think everyone getting paid benefits is onto a good deal. A fit and healthy single person out of work only receives £366 per month! Imagine trying to live on that? It’s neither wonder crime rates are through the roof. People are forced to say they have a disability in order to live. Of course there are some who take advantage of the system but in reality having the health to work actually a privellage. Hate the politicians and those at the top, not those who are struggling .

You will mostly get deniers answering you. When the welfare state was set up they were worried about what they called ‘scroungers’ and it was emphasised that the welfare state was meant to provide a safety net, not a lifestyle choice.The problem is that some people work out what they can earn, deduct from that what they get in benefits, which for some include rent, and decide it’s not worth working for the balance. But they are not working for the balance..they are working for the wage they are paid. I think the Labour party have recently been trying to get that message across. If you can’t work, that’s fine but if you can work, you should work.

Anyone on UC is better off working.

It doesn't need a long waffle.

For every 1pound earned over the weekly threshold, then the worker keeps a percentage of that pound on top of UC.

I can't be arsed linking for all the lazy ignoramus' go Google something factual.

You don’t understand how UC works do you 🙄

It's funny how the "deniers" have peer-reviewed evidence such as the Rowntree report, to back up their claims, but the ones who know the truth only have the word of Sally down the road, who said her dog's hairdresser's second cousin has 7 kids to 9 dads and gets £20k a month in single parent benefits.

It's less time and effort than going to work though. People are sanctioned for not meeting what they are asked to do ie attend a imeeting no more than once a week or less and seek work unless too ill or a carer . Not unreasonable surely.

This could be because some of us who see it every day have to be careful of what we say online.

I think this thinking is wrong. Not everyone wants the stress or can manage a ‘career’. Any full time job should be paying enough for a person to live on without having to “top-up” with benefits. If everyone had a career who would be doing the jobs that support society? carers, teaching assistants, retail staff are all important jobs essential to a working society.

Generally as people move up and better their job, the young people would take the entry level roles. Too many people refuse to study or train to better their chances of decent employment. Young people even refuse to do free courses to get maths or English grades bettered.

Of course there are people who abuse it (hence a fraud team!) But that's in the minority not the majority.
The cost of childcare is prohibitive to a lot of parents (mostly women) although UC pays back up to 85% the person has to have that in the first place (and somewhere that will accept it) If you don't have family support for childcare then it becomes a bit of a loop.

Our nursery fees are due to drop soon but it's been double our mortgage for 1 child 4 days a week for 2.5years. We are both in professional jobs but it takes nearly a full salary.

Personally the way to help more people back into work is with the right support in place many just hit barriers however.

Urgh, another thread started to pile on poor people ffs

If that is the case, why are there so many free courses?

If people were not taking up places, the government would not be paying the provider, and it would not be worth their time employing tutors or marketing the courses.

it took all of 6 lines before the disability claimant bashing started!

On an anonymous forum that allows name changes, yeh, ok 😅

You are not better off on benefits - unless maybe if childcare is taking a lot of it and in that sense I get why someone would choose to stay home with their child rather than work - but with UC they take 55p per £1 after a certain amount so you always get more if you have wages .

I think what people mean when they say this is that around half of what they earn is reduced in their UC so they don’t get their full wage on top of their UC - I think it’s a mindset .

I think it does depend a lot on your lifestyle too and upbringing. Some people grew up in families that never worked but were ‘ok’ with money and have carried on .

I love spending time with my children in the holidays and as I work term time I used to always feel sad about going back to work because I missed them and I would wish that I didn’t have to work so I could do the school runs etc. Until I was between jobs for a few months and yes I loved those extra bits of time but wow was I bored ! I couldn’t do it now . Helps that I absolutely love my job , lots don’t have that.

Not everyone is career minded and having 4 dc meant it was hard for my best friend to train alongside being a TA. She has SEN training but is never going to earn amazingly.

In work top ups have existed for decades, family income supplement was introduced in the 1970s by a tory government and my mum got something called family credit after my parents divorced in the late 80s.

If you take away UC and tax credit top ups do you think employers are suddenly going to develop a social conscious and pay them more or will the likes of Tesco still offer zero hours contracts or only advertise jobs for a few hours a week?

Not anymore you can’t. You need to show evidence of what you’ve applied for.

Oh Christ… Another ignorant poster
wheres your statistics to back up your opinion… Hearsay doesn’t count

I’m a disability benefits recipient which will never change.

Have you got precisely zero social filter or do you just fancy a bit of light goady entertainment @BritishQueue

This is what I mean about planning in advance, I would say your friend shouldn't have had four kids if she planned on being a TA, it is pretty irresponsible.

I just don’t get it because I don’t think it’s possible. Or am I naive? Because you have to do a lot of proving you are looking - 30 hrs a week I believe - evidence of interviews, sending cvs, applications etc. how do people keep that up and not actually get something?
surely it’s not actually possible.

Me too. Surely it pays to work for most people if they're able to.

I know 3 people who live well on benefits, not a life that's luxurious by any means, but certainly well.

One who genuinely went to clubs and sought out one night stands to conceive a 4th child as the youngest was nearing school age and they didn't want to have to work. She's managed 15 years this way so far. I think this is a rare occurrence.

2 who do work close to full time, but with half their pay cash in hand to avoid losing benefits. One of them fears sanctions and worries for her future, as she privately rents using housing benefits. The other has a council house and is fine with their situation.

It's very sad that so many jobs don't pay a living wage, but it's not true that you can't game the system.