AIBU to feel annoyed by fit people refusing to work?

[Lazypeopleannoyme]

I get really annoyed when I see perfectly fit people not working and then complaining that they are forced to go back to work.

I know if a woman that has lost custody of her 3 children. One was put into care with her parents because the father didn’t want to take care. The other 2 are living with their father.

She pays no maintenance for them because she isn’t working. Her benefits are being cut and all she does is complain to the fathers that she has no money and wants them to pay her living costs and her petrol to collect the children.

I’ve tried to help her. I have said if she goes back to working it might help her with getting the children back.
She told me she quit her job 3 years ago for benefits.
Not because she couldn’t work. So that is where my main feeling comes from.
I would like to see her standing on her own two feet but have the feeling she is just being lazy now.
She claims she is fine mentally now.

You say you aren't bashing at the same time as saying you're annoyed and she's lazy.

Just pat yourself on the back that you're better than this person and move on. Please don't get involved in her life, you are not going to do her any good.

I don’t know many people on benefits but those that I can think of, I wouldn’t want their life. My job isn’t amazing but it gives a sense of purpose, community, independence and something to do now my children are older.

If I had loads of money independently I would give it up and do something else, maybe a passion project or similar. But I believe it’s important to have structure and purpose so I don’t envy those on long term benefits.

I know 4

Thank goodness such people are a tiny minority (just about enough for a benefit bashing show on channel 5 or something) and most people who claim benefits are decent people, trying their best.

You must know this woman very well if you’re party to all the conversations she has with her children’s fathers.

No, you don't.

The "16 hours a week" trap hasn't been a thing since Income Support/Jobseekers Allowance were replaced by Universal Credit. UC has very different rules and conditionality and people don't get to "work under 16 hours a week to retain their benefits". That literally isn't possible under UC rules.

This. do you know how bad things have to be to lose custody of your kids, especially a woman. It doesn't scream healthy stable adult

I was about to say have we gone back in time this was a thing when it was working tax credit before it turned into universal credit

Having three kids taken away from her suggests she is neither fit or able.

...and your argument is that she's perfectly well mentally?

She doesn't sound mentally fit. If it has been agreed that she is unfit to look after her children and they've been taken away what makes you think she is fit/stable enough to look for and keep a job.

I hope this woman doesn't class you as a friend!

I get suspicious when there are posts like this one, seemingly pedalling incorrect/insensitive/outdated information about benefits. It’s almost like they’re part of a coordinated campaign to demonise benefits claimants, when the reality is the vast majority of people on UC actually work full time.

Luckily I’m sure that’s not the case with OP.

"I’m not bashing. Just trying to understand."

What exactly are you trying to understand OP? The only question you've asked is "AIBU to feel annoyed by fit people refusing to work?"

How is the answer to that going to help you understand anything?

Reform are now planning to stop anyone on benefits getting discounts at zoos etc.

There really are people angry that kids might be able to have a trip to the zoo they don't "deserve".

Oh yeah that'll really save the finances if the nation won't it? Imagine being that much of a massive fucking cunt, that you try to win votes by promising to stop poor kids getting discounted access to days out and cultural capital.

Also, good luck to Reform trying to tell privately owned attractions/venues what they can and can't charge people. Surely it's fuck all to do with the government anyway? Free market and all that...

Robert Jenrick is the Reform arsehole suggesting this.
Yes, that's right, the arsehole who had the Mickey Mouse mural painted over at an asylum centre for unaccompanied child migrants.

Robert Jenrick is the guy who when he was housing secretary rushed a billionaire's planning application through to enable him to dodge a £40 million tax bill.

It's tax avoiding billionaires and bent MPs like Jenrick that are the problem. Not women on their uppers getting a discount at the zoo.

Perhaps you could try engaging with the REALITY that’s the more under claimed in benefits than is paid out

that ought to help Farage and the right wing too

REALITY is fucking useful here

You are wildly over invested in this person's life. You obviously dislike her- why stay so close that you know everything about her? Bizarre.

She wouldn’t have been required to look for work ‘when her youngest started primary school’, it doesn’t work like that. What other inaccuracies are your posts littered with?

Also (and it really does pain me to have to explain this to an adult, but it’s a pretty regular thing so ok), just because you stayed in work when you had mental health issues doesn’t mean everyone else has the exact same experience. You know, like mental health issues are a spectrum, not just something people have or don’t have / deal with well or badly.

Some of these replies on here make me sick.
People on benefits should start making the same tough decisions as those in work

Can’t afford kids - don’t have them

Can’t afford after school club - don’t send them

Can’t afford to go to attractions in the holidays - don't go

These are the choices ordinary working people on lower wages have to make every day

Those on UC should have to be the same

Why should they get free money and a plethora of discounts that whose working do not get

It is not fair

Give up your job then.

Enjoy the cushy lifestyle of a UC claimant.

It appears many are doing just that.