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.

YellowRaincoat - are you Jeremey Clarkson?

Just read the title and thought I'd cut to the chase; 'good salary on benefits' - this sounds fantastic! Where do I sign? When do I start? Can I do it at home, or is the building wheelchair adapted?

Fucking hell.

Can we just stop with all the crap that's on here about how these people shouldn't get benefits?!

FFS. She gets carers allowance and DLA - she has a disabled child! She DOES work! The reason she's getting tax credits is because SHE CAN'T EARN ENOUGH BY WORKING TO SUPPORT HERSELF! Copy and paste that for housing benefit.

She earns 5200 pounds a year! How on earth do you think she can support herself and her children on that?!?!

It makes me so incredibly angry that this total bullshit is posted on here, drumming up hatred towards benefits claimants when clearly the OP has not thought it through.

Why should she give her marital status? What right have we got to know the ins and outs of this woman's life? Oh, sorry, I forgot 'we' are paying for her, thus she is not allowed any privacy

Juggling
I thought that Weevil's post was a very honest and good post.

Yes, let's send those scroungers back to Romania and then ease our conscience by filling a cardboard box with crap from Poundland and sending it to her at Xmas.

(that was sarcasm, in case there was any doubt)

Ahh but the OP and her supporters thought it through they would have to admit it is a load of bullshit.

And that would spoil their fun.

There are people on here who would think nothing of spending 20k on a car but begrudge a single penny going to anyone they feel is undeserving. Undeserving based on very little verifiable information and a whole lot of deeps seated prejudice.

You know if the DM thinks life is SO much easier and better on benefits? Why don't they just all quit their jobs and sign on?

They could all become gay immigrants while they're at it. Since life is so simple for them, what with their "human rights" and all.

Totally agree, MrsDeVere, that there are people who don't bat an eyelid at spending shitloads because they have worked for it and therefore "deserve" it, without ever thinking about the wider issues.

We do the shoebox thing - either hand it in at school or church
I think it has been really good for the DCs to think about giving to others ( and yes, less fortunate) I like to think it might be quite nice for the child that receives the box as well. Even though it's a bit of a hassle wrapping the boxes I feel it's quite good for me too ( a little bit of Christmas goodwill to others outside my family )
Quite an imaginative project, that's succeeded in gaining widespread support from families.
There are worse things !
Just saying ... as they say

It's a hassle wrapping the boxes. Jeez. Did you think one iota about who distibutes these, and what their motives are? Did you think about the children who receive them and what they might have to do to get one, or how useful the contents are in the scheme of their lives. Or did you put some cheap stuff in a shoe box, moan about wrapping them and feel all warm and smug as you aresharing "xmas cheer"?

Ah but this is MN Mushroom - full of self entitled and self important yummy mummies who wouldn't know real life or poverty if it whacked them in the face. They can only exist by reading the Daily Mail and frothing about scroungers and immigrants, they are sadly too blinkered to realise how shite the reporting is and how economical with the truth.

Some of these spoilt and stupid women don't even have to work so they spend time getting their nails done while seething with others about Romanian women with disabled children who claim the benefits they are allowed to claim.

And if these silly women are fortunate enough to be SAHM by choice then I am entitled to hold the opinion that they contribute even less to society than the subject of this DM report who is at least trying to make a living.

Why do we feel charitable and happy to send something to a stranger yet can be so uncharitable to someone on our own doorstep?
I didnt do the shoebox last time because i forgot, but i did get a big steamy cup of coffee for the big issue seller out in the freezing cold.
Thank you MmeLindor! You get where i'm coming from.
And no my post wasnt sarcastic i was cheered by how many were against the OPs opinion and pleased at the sincere sympathy MMers have for a fellow Mum.

Well she shouldn't IMO. she hasn't paid any tax or NI. She has also deprived someone else of social housing and probably jumped the housing queue. How would you feel if you had been on the list for years' and couldn't get housed and she does.

Our resources are scarce and we are in a recession but it is still open house it appears.

And I think this is going on in every area of GB.

I still think it is problematical.

Also this story was in the Times as well or is that not relevant.

Just because I don't agree with it, doesn't mean I hate benefit claimants but it is a debating forum.

FFS. She has not jumped the housing queue and where does it say she has contributed nothing? Where in that article does it say she has never worked and payed tax in England or that her partner never did? Or that her children never will?

'i was cold i was hungry, were you there, were you there?
I was cold, i was hungry, were you there?
And the creed, and the colour,and the name dont matter,
Were you there?'

Remember that one from primary school?

How has she jumped the housing queue and how the feck would you know if she did?

well do you honestly think she has paid any tax selling big issue? she doesn't earn enough to pay tax? Is there any mention of her partner?

I could be wrong but somehow I don't think so. She doesn't even speak English.

Juggling
I am going to bite my tongue on the shoe box issue, cause I know that a lot of people do it and I argued with loads of people before Xmas about it

Weevil
A nice hot cup of coffee for a frozen big issue seller sounds good.

Well guess what. I dont pay tax. I've brought up 2 children on my own through no fault of my own. But i got on my feet with the help of the state and now pay salaries to 8 people and a huge amount of VAT to the government via my business. Nothings black and white.

but did you at some point Weevils, it sounds like you have found your feet. yes you are right nothing is black and white

90% of the people I work do not speak English, Alcemi, they all work 50 hour weeks and pay tax. The business I work for is not doing well atm. The partners of these men and mothers of their children may well end up like this woman soon

do you not think it is important that if you live in a country, you try to learn the language

My uncle has retired to Spain and he speaks fluent Spanish

Alemci
Yur uncle is likely one of the few Spanish speaking expats

Most don't though to be fair alemci.

I bet he is not fluent either. It is HARD learning another language when you are old - that part of your brain has long since switched off. I try REALLY hard with Dutch for example, listen to it every day. Fluency is a long way off.

No i've probably never paid income tax. I pay a pittance of NI.