In praise of the Welfare State.

[Codandchops]

I know we have had a lot of "benefits" threads but thought we could do with remembering how fantastically lucky we are in the UK.
Whatever your views about benefits etc, the fact is any one of us could be in the position of needing to rely on it.

My son is autistic and nights are difficult, in addition he is struggling at school. Because we have a Welfare State I have been able to say "okay I need to take a year out and support my son" (and to catch up on sleep).

My son gets DLA, I get Carers Allowance, Income Support etc.

When my son was born I could not have predicted the difficulties he would face and how hard these would make my life. I never envisaged a future on benefits but I am bloody glad they are there for me at a time when I need them.

I can even do some ad-hoc work for my employer and know that in the future when things settle I can return to work because I will have kept up to date.

So I think it's fantastic that we have this. No I am not as well off financially out of work (as is only right) but I have enough to manage life while helping my son cope with the challenges his autism is bringing him at the moment.

good post cod, shows the other side of this

we get tax credits, but in no way am I moaning about anything, after reading the disability benefits cut thread I'm feeling sick and furious and don't know where to start complaining

but I'm glad its helped you out, I just fear for others that are vulnerable and being pushed into a hole, really worried for them

I am fortunate enough to have never needed to claim a means tested benefit. However, I do view the fact that as a society we support our most vulnerable members as a positive part of our society. I find some other first world systems that leave vulnerable members of society completely to the charity sector quite distasteful.
I know there are certain members of our society who know how to work this system, however, for me I would rather support 10 people who are working the system than see 1 vulnerable member be unsupported.

We are fortunate, I was thinking about this again today. My son is benefitting from my extra input and this might well stop problems further down the line....but I couldn't take this step of a year out of work if it was not for the Welfare State.