Should I ask my DS and his girlfriend for money

[DiaryofWimpy]

My DS2 has moved his girlfriend in with her 2 cats.

Obviously it’s another person using the washing machine,,TV, gas and electricity they are both 22 and don’t work but get benefits.

Do you think I’m being unreasonable asking them for money?

One thing I've learned in more than 2 decades of welfare rights work, primarily with clients with MH issues, is that the person best placed to judge if someone with MH problems is well enough to work is usually their lead practitioner at the community mental health team.

It's recognised that working can be very beneficial for people with MH issues, providing that the work is appropriate and well supported. That's why, in England at least, community MH teams can refer service users to NHS funded supported employment teams, where an experienced worker will help them access training, develop interview skills, support them to look for appropriate work, get experience by doing voluntary work etc. They will also help with retention in cases where someone's employment looks like going tits up because of a MH crisis.

Starting a job when someone isn't sufficiently recovered is a recipe for disaster.

I'm on disability benefits due to an accident. Just in case the comment about making more effort to find work was directed at me.

Lcwra and Pip tends to be time limited - and there's no guarantee someone will get it to start with - or get it at reassessment

Oh yes don’t get me started on the cash in hand jobs many do on the side.

They probably give more support to single parents to prepare for work - but that's because they have to be looking for work when their child reaches a certain age

This is likely to be a contributing factor as to why so many people receiving benefits continue to have more children. To avoid employment!

Nope it wasn’t directed at you. I’m saying more generally based on many people I know and from what I’ve heard of the OPs situation. And this thread isn’t about you.

Yes. Of course your anecdotal stories about your neighbour swinging the lead because they claim they have anxiety trumps people who really do need disability benefits.

Were you in receipt of Single Person discount before they moved in? You will lose this and they need to cover what you are now expected to pay

I never said it was about me. Hth.

You’re acting as if it is. HTH.

Without fail we all know someone who is on benefits who doesnt see much difference between the benefits they claim and a NMW role. So they skive off the tax payer for years whilst also doing cash in hand roles. Arent they clever they think. No, they wont have a state pension but they will get pension credit and the difference is laughable.

No I'm not. Hth. If you don't like my posts - you don't need to respond to them.

It sounds as I suspected that for the concept of work coaches to do any good (and it doesn’t sound an awful idea in theory) there would need to be more of them.

But I guess they also need to be working together with other professionals for alot of people - mental health professionals for example - and that’s a whole additional
story.

I’m sure they are the most helpful where people want to work, and are able to other than one specific circumstance- like being at home with a small child (and that coming to and end, as you’ve suggested) or if they’re just poor at organisation skills but otherwise fine to work or whatever.

I am sure most people are capable of wanting to work, but for many there is probably such a complex web of reasons why they get stuck not working that even the system probably gives up and just sticks them on benefits.

Not really sure what the answer is!

I don’t. I barely know anyone on benefits (maybe some on top up UC), let alone anyone defrauding the system.

Being on benefit like UC entities you to a credit towards the state pension.

I hope you pointed out to him that it is none of their business what you spend your money on……..
but its not Her money, its the bloody tax payers……

You’ve been responding to my posts so of course I’ll come back on it, that’s how a discussion forum works and yes you absolutely are acting as if this is all about you. I see it all over your posts to multiple people.

I don't know anyone who is defrauding the system. I know plenty of people who are struggling though

Cheers.

Sounds like the NMW needs to be higher!

Benefits should be the amount someone needs to life off in a basic way in circumstances where they can’t work.

NMW should be a decent whack above that in terms of setting the hourly rate - which should also remove the need for so many UC “top ups” - and that puts the bill onto private companies where it belongs, rather than on the taxpayer.

YABU for allowing it.

It amazes me that so many people share details of their benefits and health issues with their neighbours.

The only time my neighbours have known about my health problems have been when I had an arm in plaster and when I was on crutches following knee surgery.

There's a shortage of work coaches due to funding constraints. I know that one of my previous work coaches was overloaded - due to his case load. They don't have the staff to support everyone who needs it

Lime - you do seem to think this thread is all about you seeing your responses. How come we are turning into a national of anxious people who seemingly jump on the benefits bandwagon.

Why do you think the benefits bill for working age people is spiralling. Who do you think is going to pay for all of this? The very rich are leaving in droves, 30% of income tax is paid by 1% of tax payers. How much is right - 40%, 50%?

report him to the DWP then

I honestly don't know anything about my current neighbours lives. At all. I don't know what benefits they are on - unless they've told me themselves

The only neighbours who I previously knew anything about were drug dealers - they were notorious and they've made the press on multiple occasions. That's about it.