AIBU to think parents on benefits shouldn’t be allowed to have more children until they’re financially independent?

[Tellitasitisss]

I can’t help but wonder why people who are already on benefits are still choosing to have more children. Surely if you can’t afford to support the children you already have, it’s unfair (on the kids and taxpayers) to keep adding more into the mix?

I’m not talking about people who’ve fallen on hard times unexpectedly, or someone who loses their job. That can happen to anyone. I mean those who have never worked a day in their life, keep having baby after baby, and then expect everyone else to fund everything from housing to school meals.

Meanwhile, working households who are just scraping by get absolutely nothing, yet are footing the bill for those who keep expanding their families with no thought for the consequences.

AIBU to think there should be a cap — no more kids funded by benefits after the first two, unless you can afford them yourself? Or is that “punishing children” like people always say?

But Op is talking about people who have never worked a day in their life! That isn’t the same

Ok but it feels like at times a lot of people look down on people claiming benefit regardless of circumstances.

I think most people would know the difference between the work shy and genuine person falling on hard times.

Thanks but doesn't always feel like it.

Holy shit. Unreal.

I can’t speak for others but I would never look down on someone who genuinely needs the benefits, if they’ve worked and need them as a stop gap or working full time and needing a top up… I wouldn’t judge that! I would however judge someone that has never even tried to work because they are lazy and they know they will get everything given

Until they are walking in your shoes, it is none of their business, the system is there for good reason.
The long life claimer is in the minority.
The benefits are pittance without add ons, UC CB. Most people would prefer to earn a better amount than benefits offer. 🥰

It's pretty falling and heartbreaking seeing people use rhetoric that makes people with disabilities feel they have to justify themselves. That's what you do with your 'genuine' patter - make people justify themselves to YOU when it's none of your business.

You’d think so, but the way some MNers carry on, I’m really not sure. 😔

This.

I have never met anyone who is workshy and managing to live a decent life on benefits. If you are able to work, the system is set up to punish you if you don't try hard enough. Sadly, the rhetoric out there right now is that anyone on benefits for mental health reasons must be workshy. The new "bad back".
I do know people who have been on benefits for decades, and they are totally unemployable.
The job market is dire right now... someone seeking an entry level job with no work history, and is in their 40s/50s etc is going to have a tough time.

I have never met anyone who is workshy and managing to live a decent life on benefits
Me too, it's a life counting pennies and watching the electric meter, hoping the winter is not too bad.
Life on basic benefits is tough and life limiting.

I think you're a bit late to suggest implementing a two child limit OP. Working in the VCSE sector I deal with child poverty every day and we, alongside a number of other organisations, are campaigning for the two child cap to be removed. Current research shows that 109 children in the UK EVERY DAY are put into poverty due to the cap. Whatever you may think of the actions of the parents (and it's rarely as simple as feckless parents refusing to work and having multiple children), it's never the child's fault and they shouldn't be the ones suffering.

How would you enforce your ban on women becoming pregnant?

Do you know that not every woman is in control of that, for different reasons?

You're in dark territory, OP. Do some reading and have a stern word with yourself.

Then why do I keep hearing on the news that the birth rate is too low, primary schools are closing, and there won’t be enough working population to support our ever ageing demographic? (All with implications for public services, the workforce and the economy)?

Do you think it will be removed soon?

Well, obviously that's not OK and there are always going to be outliers, but your example doesn't prove any kind of point about benefit claimants in general. A lot of people at the moment seem hellbent on punishing the many for the sins of the few.

I'm telling you that some people can't do that, yes. Unless you know all the ins and outs of someone's life, you actually don't know if they're 'just to lazy' [sic] to work, and without knowing their health inside out you don't know - actually know, as opposed to just assuming - whether they are 'able' to work. And you'd have to know someone a lifetime to know for sure that they'd never had a job.

Of course it's not right for anyone to have more children than they can afford and I'm not defending it, but I also think you might be choosing to buy into a 'workshy layabouts' narrative because it suits your own agenda.

Oh look OP has pissed off and not come back.

And that's a bad thing because...?

The world is over-populated. So having fewer children is a good thing.

Folk can have as many children as they want. But don't expect other folk to subsidise them.

I’m guessing you missed the part where I said physically able?

No I didn't. You can't always judge physical capacity from outward appearances.

You’re missing the point!! There are people out there who don’t work yet are able to but choose not to because they don’t have to because they get things paid for them anyway. Not every case obviously not! But surely you are not naive enough to believe no one comments benefit fraud?

The figure is 35%.

I specifically said upthread, to another pp, that of course there are always going to be some and that's not OK. But you seem to be focusing on the actions of the few and insisting this goes on to a significant extent, presumably, otherwise you wouldn't have bothered posting about it. Why are you getting so het up about the idea that some people might be unable to work for reasons that aren't apparent to the outside world?