To think it's a bit harsh to say people who've never worked shouldn't get benefits?

[DonaldBiden]

Was reading another thread where many were saying if someone has never worked they shouldn't get any benefits but couldn't comment because it had reached 1000 comments.

I know this might be an unpopular opinion but I don't agree because that would include young mums who can't work because they have a baby to look after. Most of them will get a job when their child is a little older. Why are they any different from older mums who've fallen on hard times and need help?

And I know people will say it's because they've never worked and haven't proven themselves unlazy etc and could be on the dole forever but why should they have their lives ruined just because of something people think MIGHT happen.

Why am I getting up early and going to work and a large proportion of my earnings is going to pay for their free money?

In my career you wouldn’t believe the number of people who we call late morning (up to 12 noon) who answer the phone who have clearly just woken up. And I know they don’t work due to the information I have about them.

You’re gullible and they think I am for keeping them.

Not anymore, the 30 funded hours has been extended to babies from 9 months old. Nursery is still a chunk of money but less then before, and childminders are a lot cheaper.

16, pregnant and no family support, you have an abortion and make sure it doesn’t happen again.

They should make them live with the father - one can work days and one can work nights so no benefits are needed.
Hubby and I did that for years before the tax credit debacle started

Why can’t the mum in your example work op? Many of us do work with babies, there’s no reason not to. I resent going to work to support others who could legitimately work or work longer hours.

Who gets pregnant and has a child when they have never worked and have no way to support their child? And why should we support them?

Honestly, I would think they should have had an abortion and got on with growing up and learning responsibility via going to work everyday for a ywar ot two.

My mother always said if I got pregnant or took drugs she'd kick me out at 16 I didn't listen (well I did about the drugs) thankfully there was financial support from universal credit. Which is apparently fine for an older mum to claim just not a young one?
Anyway I've had a job since my child started nursery so I'm not a terminal lazy bum

There was a time when your entitlement to benefits was based on your contributions to NI over specific years prior to the year when you were claiming the benefits - if you didn’t have the required contributions, you were limited to the length of time you could claim benefits.

Under UC, anyone can claim benefits irrespective of contribution - but the amount they’ll receive is limited based on age, circumstances (whether single or a couple), whether you have any dependants and whether you rent privately/social housing or own your own property. If you have children, you can claim up to 85% of childcare costs (based on how many children are in childcare and the total monthly bill) so you can work and, so long as the claimant meets the administrative earnings threshold for their circumstances, they will be left alone by UC for increasing their earnings. Some people will never have to engage but will get a sizeable chunk each month towards their living costs; others, will have specific work search requirements they must meet or they will be penalised for not meeting minimum requirements.

Someone who has never worked, unless due to disability or for caring reasons, will not be given an easy life on benefits!!

A spectacularly poor example OP. For most people who support a benefit crackdown a very young mother who has never worked is exactly who they have in their sights.

Not paying benefits to those who have never worked ? Really ??? So how do the severely disabled live ? My good friends son is 23, non verbal , wheelchair bound from brain damage at birth .. are people suggesting his parents ‘keep him’ until they die (of exhaustion).. or should he just be put in the street ??

what a barbaric country we would of become if this were ever to come to pass..

however - in scenarios like the OP is talking about, my views are different . There are many forms of contraception that offer a high degree of efficacy. Perhaps if people took them as they are prescribed and the ‘option’ to have of continue a pregnancy did not include the state paying for unplanned pregnancy - then people would be a little more circumspect with their fertility.

One set of circumstances is optional , one not. Welfare benefits should be preserved for the genuinely in need.. not a lifestyle choice.

What about people born with disabilities that mean they'll never be able to work. Also if you are taking about benefits for single mum's then if you remove them then some women and children will be forced to stay with abusive partners.

And Mums like me went back to work after the statutory minimum of 2 weeks because I couldn’t afford maternity leave even with benefits. Imagine taking money from the government for just looking after a baby for 8 whole months!*

*That’s what a race to the bottom looks like. I don’t really think that about you. But it’s not pretty, is it?

They're reporting today that over 50% of the population are taking out more in benefits than they are paying in and that trend is increasing. I don't know what the right answer is, but the current situation is unsustainable.

IMO there needs to be a complete overhaul of a lot of benefits and the money put into affordable (and I mean truly affordable) childcare including wrap around care for school aged children. This is the only way so many women can get back into the workforce and off benefits. It seems to work in other countries although I’ll admit I don’t have a whole lot of knowledge as to how it works financially for the government

Then those people should not be having children.

I sometimes feel like it'd make more sense to provide food vouchers. You get people like my mate's brother who hasn't worked in a decade, lives at home, and has bought a PS5 and copoius amounts of weed with his benefits.

Disabled people shouldn't have kids?

Agreed. Or even get yourself on the pill before you contemplate sex.

Work hard and only have a child when financially stable. Should you then fall on hardtimes you will have many contributory years and should be able to claim benefits for a SHORT time whilst you get back on your feet.

Safety net not a lifestyle choice.

On balance, I probably would suggest it's not the smartest choice. Disabilities do tend to accumulate.

They should if they are capable of looking after the child and do not require financial help..

Not every one can bring themselves to have an abortion especially when you're young and have stronger emotions

My severely disabled sibling has never worked and claims benefits. Is that ok?

Yes this…. Working mum’s have to work so why are mum’s on benefits any different?

Agree with you OP, and stunned at how harsh people are. Tax should make highly unequal society a bit fairer, with the rich paying a bigger share. We can’t make people destitute for not managing to find work, or for not being as resourceful as other, or for having an unplanned pregnancy - even if they were careless. People shouldn’t be punished with destitution for misfortune or a mistake.