Page 3 | To think the benefits system is humiliating, yet we blame people for not taking low-paid jobs?

Huckleberries · 15/04/2025 14:44

@Pickledpoppetpickle " if I could do it all again, I would put my children first, and I would sit on benefits for the duration. Might as well live it if I’m to be accused of it"

is that an option under the current system?

gattocattivo · 15/04/2025 14:56

Sleepingmole6 · 15/04/2025 13:41

I do wonder if people forget that benefits are paid for by other people getting up in the morning and going to work which isn't always a happy and supportive experience. I've had friends on benefits who had to answer questions about where their partners lived. It was stressful for them. A lot of adult life is stressful though.

I'm sorry you feel that benefits can be dehumanizing but everyone needs to be a grown up about it and accept that they are receiving support from others labour. Not all taxes are paid by James Dyson or other multi-millionares, they also come from nurses, bus drivers, teachers, cleaners - people in difficult jobs who get up in the mornings and go to work.

I'm pleased we don't have people on the streets but work needs to be encouraged.

It’s also true and worth remembering that many of those people getting up every morning and going to work, nursing, teaching, driving buses, serving customers, whatever, may well suffer with anxiety, lack of self belief, they may worry about appraisals and whether they’re up to the job (imposter syndrome is very common) A teacher friend tells
me that quite a large proportion of her colleagues are on anti depressants. It’s not the case that everyone who gets up and does the daily grind is feeling fine.

Penguinmouse · 15/04/2025 15:10

TheFastTraybake · 15/04/2025 12:35

Because it's not good for society to have a number of destitute people. The welfare state wasn't set up to be altruistic, it's pragmatic. We'd all be less safe if people couldn't claim subsistence level benefits.

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But the original post seemed to be arguing what’s the point of working at minimum wage when benefits are an equivalent. We should have a strong welfare state for those who need it, not for those who can’t be bothered to work and contribute to it.

Pickledpoppetpickle · 15/04/2025 15:29

Huckleberries · 15/04/2025 14:44

@Pickledpoppetpickle " if I could do it all again, I would put my children first, and I would sit on benefits for the duration. Might as well live it if I’m to be accused of it"

is that an option under the current system?

According to multiple posters on benefit threads, it’s perfectly possible to never work.

XenoBitch · 15/04/2025 15:34

Penguinmouse · 15/04/2025 15:10

But the original post seemed to be arguing what’s the point of working at minimum wage when benefits are an equivalent. We should have a strong welfare state for those who need it, not for those who can’t be bothered to work and contribute to it.

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Benefits are not the equivalent to NMW.
People on higher amounts of benefits are either disabled or have disabled children.
Someone who is job seeking gets about £100 per week to live on.

gattocattivo · 15/04/2025 16:11

I didn’t read the OP as saying benefits are equivalent to working. The point is that if the differential between benefits (with add ons like social tariffs for energy, broadband, free prescriptions etc) and working in a min wage job is not very much, there can be little incentive to do those min wage jobs. A lot of min or low wage jobs are absolutely essential to the running of society. They may be mundane or unpleasant too. People need the incentive that if they’re giving up the best part of the day 5 days a week to do them, they’re going to feel significantly better off than if they were free to use those 37 or so hours a week as they chose.

Penguinmouse · 15/04/2025 16:20

@gattocattivo I do agree but there should never be a choice. Benefits should be there as your safety net, not because having a minimum wage job feels crap. There are plenty of days when going to work is boring or stressful, we have to do boring and stressful things as adults. Benefits shouldn’t exist to let people opt out of those things, they should be there to protect people when they can’t get a job/have lost one/can’t work for other reasons.

ilovesooty · 15/04/2025 16:39

It doesn't matter whether people can make sense of the OP or not. It was always going to result in the predictable names and responses talking about people "leeching" and getting handouts.

Huckleberries · 15/04/2025 16:44

@ThatSassyWriter you've posted something that you feel is a problem or a dilemma for some people

What are your thoughts on how to solve it?

Being honest, I don't really agree that it's a problem. But I'm interested to know how you'd address it as you feel there is a problem there.

gattocattivo · 15/04/2025 17:16

@Penguinmouseexactly this

MesmerisingMuon · 15/04/2025 17:22

ThatSassyWriter · 15/04/2025 11:23

People say those on benefits should just ‘get a job’ but the process of claiming can be degrading and many jobs don’t even pay enough to be worth it. Isn’t this a contradiction?

"Many jobs don't even pay enough to be worth it".

THIS bit is the problem. The whole point of benefits was a helping hand to get back into work if you'd lost your job, NOT a lifestyle choice.

So those who CAN work, SHOULD work.

If you're over 21, working full time on the minimum wage is now £25,397 which is more than reasonable. That's a take home pay of over £1800. With two of you on minimum wage that's taking home £3600 a month.

APATEKPHILLIPEWATCH · 15/04/2025 17:25

MidnightMeltdown · 15/04/2025 11:32

It’s not about whether it’s “worth it”, anyone who can get a job to support themselves, should be, instead of leaching off other people. So sick of the sense of entitlement over other people’s money.

I find myself agreeing more with this kind of sentiment. Yes the benefits system isn’t exactly life affirming but when did we get to a point where grown adults are expected to never once have an adverse experience? No one can suck it up and accept that some things at “tough shit” anymore

aCatCalledFawkes · 15/04/2025 17:37

I have an ex who walked out of his job in December. He was on a lower wage and got UC, I never judged the UC as the lower pay was part of his job.
I did judge him though when he walked out and didn't seem to bothered because UC could just step in so he could take a few months off. His work wasn't stressful or difficult, he did have a bit of a fall out with the manager who did try so send him an olive branch. I don't think people should be encouraged to do this.

XenoBitch · 15/04/2025 18:01

aCatCalledFawkes · 15/04/2025 17:37

I have an ex who walked out of his job in December. He was on a lower wage and got UC, I never judged the UC as the lower pay was part of his job.
I did judge him though when he walked out and didn't seem to bothered because UC could just step in so he could take a few months off. His work wasn't stressful or difficult, he did have a bit of a fall out with the manager who did try so send him an olive branch. I don't think people should be encouraged to do this.

I don't think you can claim UC if you walk out of a job. I am free to be corrected though.

aCatCalledFawkes · 15/04/2025 18:31

XenoBitch · 15/04/2025 18:01

I don't think you can claim UC if you walk out of a job. I am free to be corrected though.

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He registered with an agency and put them down as his new employers to which he did two days work for them.