Why work when you can get a good salary on benefits?

[Orwellian]

Sorry to come over all DM but I just can't believe the amount that is given out in benefits. I just read this story; www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2087857/Romanian-Big-Issue-seller-given-legal-right-claim-housing-benefit.html
and this lady is getting over £25k a year tax free (and will get housing benefit to boot soon) as well as her nice little earner from selling the Big Issue (isn't that supposed to be for homeless people, not those on £25k per annum?).

Anyway, it just got me thinking. What is the point in getting into debt at university to achieve a high career (which will take years to climb the career ladder), when you can simply achieve the same income by having several children. I did a calculation on the Turn2us website and there is actually not much difference (especially when all the extra benefits such as free school meals are included) in a family with one higher rate taxpayer and a similar family where nobody is working once everything is taken in to account.

I never see my husband because he works so many hours. Maybe I should suggest he gives up work as we would only be slightly worse off on benefits but he would be around to help me with the children.

This is going to kick off

I agree, lots won't

Have my first

ffs.

Until housing and childcare and food and heating cost 25 pence a month, benefit levels, and tax credit levels will have to be enough to meet those costs.

Do you understand this very simple mathematics?

The cost of living is to blame.

Well... Firstly, (obviously) the dm is a load of tosh and you'd be daft to believe anything you read in it. Secondly, even if you choose to believe the article, she failed to get a job to support her 4 kids, so she applied to the Big Issue which is a pretty horrid job I would imagine - which by their own definition is for people in financial crisis, not just homeless.

Rather a lot of people would consider you very, very lucky to be supported by your husband. I'm sure if this lady had be offered that option, or the option of going to university, she'd bite your hand off.

Please OP, the DM is a hate mongering fascist rag and has dug out the most "extreme" case. Don't take them seriously by spreading their evil here. Read the Guardian instead, 'tis far more balanced and fair.

Perhaps the DM could sponsor/advertise/give royalties to MN for the amount of coverage they get on this forum.

What lubeybooby said too; good point.

They won't be better off when the children have left home, and all they have is income support.

You are always better off working in the long run.

ffs we have crap like this in the news section, yet nothing about how the Government have cure 20% of DLA claimants
what is it with mn

I'd like to see MN simply delete these type of threads for the bunfighting exercise that it is. There is no constructive reason for posting this. Anyone that has been on MN for more than 5 minutes knows this.

People on benefits are just as skint as anyone else usually. My uncle worked his butt off all week for £10 more a month than he gets being on benefits after being laid off he is now considered too old by employers and finding it difficult to get a job but he was gobsmacked when he realised how little difference loosing his job made to his and my aunt and their kids finances made

@ OP

'yes dear, now run along'

Every week she receives £326 in tax credits, £60.50 in child benefits, £49.30 in disability living allowance and £55.50 in carers? allowance

The only "benefits" in the traditional sense is the tax credits. DLA and carers allowance is for her disabled child. Should we take that away from her?

She will now get £50 a week HB (will be reduced from the £160 they state cause of the other benefits).

She cares for four kids, one of whom is disabled and manages to go out and work but cannot earn enough to pay rent on the house.

If she were British, the DM would have a compeletely different take on the story.

"Brave mum-of-four battles in battle to keep roof over her children's heads"

One of her children is obviously disabled (or her husband) That's why she gets this amount.

The Daily Mail is such a racist nasty rag making a big thing of the fact she's Romanian.

You bit, OP. The DM is designed for people who think like you.

It's obvious it was intended to upset people. They made sure to show her TV and her satellite dish out front. It's classic DM.

Love how its all about how terrible she is. Shes clearly looking after a child with SN, the DLA is for that child, and everyone who gets DLA gets a top up on the CTC. Its hardly her fault is it?
She works, she works hard in the cold for £100 a week, seriously, i wouldnt do it unless i needed to.
I love how they say they "get" so much in benifits!! They dont it goes straight to landlord or LA.

The propoganda arm of the far right tories strikes again, claiming yet another moron victim. Why do people even read this arrant bullshit let alone believe it?

People who work will always be bitter about what people on benefits have in their homes. My dp is disabled and signed off by a specialist who knows more than a little about his condition so no disputing his disability im at home with him and the kids for the moment so therefore im called a scrounger by some. I do have nice things but im in debt now and regretting it. But im sure a lot of people would rather myself dp and kids went around in rags and lived in a dive just so im not getting any more than ive earnt rh?

I'm not even going to open that link as I can guarantee it will b a load of bollocks.

But I will say that I have been a lone parent on benefits and I can see why people do not make the effort to go out and get a job. By the time you take into account free school meals and assistance with uniform/school trips and the everyday costs of actually getting to work (travel and lunches) I was no better off working. On top of that I had child care costs to factor in (even with assistance)

I agree completely with loobey benefits need to be that amount for people to survive. simple.

I can understand your frustrations op but you need to get over it.

Sounds like a plan OP. Which of your children would you like to become disabled?

Read this to get a bit of balance.

Then try some outrage at how people are still, in the 1st century living in poverty.

Perhaps your efforts would be better spent doing something about that rather than starting a benefit bashing thread on the internet.

Oh, and stop reading the DM.

please ignore the crap op and
sign this in protest
it is people like the op that is allowing the government to get away with this.

There's a pattern emerging OP. do you bang on about anything else?

Personally I'd rather stick with being able bodied and having NT children and an NT partner than swap with her and get her benefits. That's just me though. I can fully understand why some people would prefer to be disabled or have to care for someone with a disability and get the extra cash. Oh, hang on....

Yes, read about the REAL issues rather than the ones exaggerated and misrepresented in the DM.

Housing Crisis

Fuel Poverty

This is why benefits are so high, because people cannot afford to live in UK on the low wages.