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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

I do not know anyone who is having a 'party' living on benefits....post here if you do

444 replies

electra · 03/05/2010 13:01

On MN, I keep reading on many different threads that Labour has been giving away loads of money in benefits to people who don't really need it which has caused the financial crisis.

All the people I know who rely on their tax credits and have children seem to have to watch every penny. I do not see evidence of them having any sort of 'party' life.

I had thought the banks were mostly responsible for the financial crisis by lending money that didn't exist.

Can anyone correct me on this? I'm open to different opinions.

OP posts:
TheJollyPirate · 03/05/2010 13:04

I agree electra - the only ones I see "having a ball" on benefits are those working cash in hand to top it up and not declaring it. They are few and far between.
The familes on benefits I meet are struggling to manage. Getting off benefits and earning enough to cover what you lose is a nightmare.

Tootlesmummy · 03/05/2010 13:06

I think you're right that you and others in your position are not having a 'party' however, there are a number of people who are getting lots of benefits and can afford to live to a better standard of living than some people who work full time and receive no benefits.

I don't want to say all people receiving benefits shouldn't get it or don't deserve it but when I see people with 8 children receiving £40k per year in benefits and can afford 2 cars, multiple play stations/Wiis and sky etc it does tend to jar a bit.

There are people who should be working to support their families but because of the way the welfare system is structured they don't have to as they would be worse off.

As I say please don't read this as me saying people shouldn't get benefits but there are some that IMO shouldn't get them.

Reality · 03/05/2010 13:07

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

peppapighastakenovermylife · 03/05/2010 13:08

I too thought it was the banks. I don't quite understand why people are blaming the whole thing on Gordon when the whole world was in financial meltdown.

Most people I know are better off with tax credits but what they receive just gets swallowed up by childcare etc. I know of no one with children who has had a holiday more exotic than centre parks (out of school holidays) or their caravan.

The only people I know who get 'large' (and I use that in the loosest possible way) amounts of tax credits are the ones who have low incomes but high childcare bills or who have a real need for it e.g. a child with a disability.

House prices, childcare, cost of living are so expensive that no one I know is living it up - even people with high incomes.

bamboobutton · 03/05/2010 13:08

theres a guy i went to school with and who is friends with my sister who spends his time surfing in cornwall, raving, smoking spliffs and generally living a hippies dream at the expense of the taxpayer.

don't know any families who are living it up benefits but i know plenty of single young people.

Original poster
electra · 03/05/2010 13:09

I don't 'want to hear' anything - I'm interested to hear people's experiences.

OP posts:
bamboobutton · 03/05/2010 13:09

that should say 'plenty of single young people who do'.

biddysmama · 03/05/2010 13:13

i know a few that are fiddling the system, working cash in hand, claiming disabilty when they are perfectly able to work and do for cash in hand.... theres also the ones that dont pay their bills or whos kids dont eat much (kid on my street eats his food outside, toast for dinner pot noddle for tea..)

RubysReturn · 03/05/2010 13:15

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

oldandgreynow · 03/05/2010 13:17

Personally I don't know anyone on benefits but I live in a wealthy area.DH and I work hard but we are certainly not living the life of Riley.

tethersend · 03/05/2010 13:20

YABU.

Don't you realise that these so-called 'people' on benefits are the cause of all ill in our society.

Especially the ones with flat-screen TVs.

toccatanfudge · 03/05/2010 13:20

you know single young people living it up on benefits?

really £64.30 a week doesn't really stretch that far - no child benefit or CTC to top up with.

Disenchanted3 · 03/05/2010 13:21

We live on benefits and live comftably, this is probably because we are used to a very low living level finacially anyways
(DH was on minimum wage shop job when he worked and we struggled to pay for everything) but as we live in a council house we have the rent /CT paid so do not struggle now.

If we were used to a good wage and now had a mortgage to pay I imagine we would really be struggling now.

onadietcokebreak · 03/05/2010 13:22

but interested by the replies!

Disenchanted3 · 03/05/2010 13:24

But we are by no means having a party, we manage to eat and this year we will have 5 days away at pontins, we have to put money away every week for christmas and birthdays so we are OK when they come around as we can't just conjure up money that week, iykwim.

DH and I don't drink or smoke. We def don't go out. We don't really have days out as a family. We don't drive.

biddysmama · 03/05/2010 13:25

the op said party lifestyle, i know people that are living comfortably as well... i meant the ones that are out drinking at the weekends or in the pub while the kids are at school

ive been on benefits twice, when i split up with ds's dad and when i had to give up my job and move away because of domestic violence

toccatanfudge · 03/05/2010 13:25

FWIW - I'm comfortable (by my standards) on benefits. Certainly not a party though

If I were working I would be slightly less "well off" but the fact that the working poor have it even shitter than those living (properly - ie no cash in hand/dodgy extras) on benefits doesn't mean that benefits are too high. It means that the something is wrong with the way that the working poor are supported/housing costs/minimum wage etc etc

Original poster
electra · 03/05/2010 13:27

What about the banks - does anyone know about that?

I don't think Labour is perfect but imo GB is being scapegoated to some extent.

OP posts:
toccatanfudge · 03/05/2010 13:29

I confess to knowing practically eff all about the banks aside from the fact that some of the bankers seemed to get bonuses that would keep me and my 3 boys very comfortable (again my standards which may well not be others idea of comfortable ) for several years.......

onadietcokebreak · 03/05/2010 13:31

In work poverty is a real problem- The Kenway reports highlights that a million more children now need the tax credits system to say out of poverty then they did a decade again. This trend could be due to the increased reduction in hours as claimants realise that it is sometimes more benefical to work less hours.

TBH I have seen both sides of the benefits system and the only one having a party are the ones commiting fraud.

Legalistion (particualary from Europe) have made it harder for the fraud team to do observations.

squilly · 03/05/2010 13:32

My niece is on benefits. She has a child. She's got a live in partner who's also on benefits. They have a large flat screen tv, pedigree dogs, designer branded pushchair, the usual stuff. But they are desparate to get out of the benefits trap.

He's just started an apprenticeship and she's a SAHM for now, but is looking to go back to work/train when her little girl is at school.

They hadn't used to look at their situation as anything unusual...a lot of their friends live similar lives, but since their little 'un was born, they decided they wanted more...they want jobs and a house of their own. At some point, that's what they'll do.

MrsRhettButler · 03/05/2010 13:33

i agree with toccata about the working poor and benefits not being too high

toccatanfudge · 03/05/2010 13:35

"They have a large flat screen tv, pedigree dogs, designer branded pushchair, the usual stuff. "

The usual stuff?/ eh - this is SO not fair - I still haven't got my flat screen TV - been waiting 2yrs for it now, a pushchair that I'm not worried will fall to pieces half way across the country when I go on my budget holiday in August would be nice as well never mind a designer branded one........and my landlord won't let me have dogs. (not that I could afford the insurance/vet bills/food)

flockwallpaper · 03/05/2010 13:35

The banks caused the financial crisis, but the crisis will affect our quality of life the UK much more than it might have done because GB and his government went on a spending spree in the good times rather than seeking to reduce the national debt, or to address the real issue which is the high cost of living, lack of affordable housing, etc, etc.

I don't think people on benefits are having a party, but they are spending the money that others have worked hard to earn. The low paid get a particularly raw deal IMHO.

EricNorthmansmistress · 03/05/2010 13:35

I have a friend on benefits who is pretty well off. But she is in a HA flat, so cheap rent, her ExH lives with his Dad so gives her over half his wages, and has a DD with ASD so gets DLA and carers allowance. She doesn't claim HB or CTC although she could. She has no debts and has more disposable income than me. She would like to work but can't find anything within school hours, can't drive due to epilepsy. She has no debt.

I don't begrudge her that though, I don't think she should live in poverty, but I also know she's lucky to have an Ex who is reasonable and generous.