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Original poster

Anyone watching the John Humphries benefited programme?

23 replies

twinklytroll · 27/10/2011 21:18

I am hoping it will be a balanced and intelligent discussion.

Am shocked that someone does not think it is worth working to earn the same wage as my Dp - incidentally a job that required years of training and qualifications.

OP posts:
Whippet · 27/10/2011 21:50

I am watching it. Am horrified, but not surprised. I expect lots of people will pile in and say it's biased and anti those on benefits. Sadly I think it is a closer reflection of reality today in Britain than most people would like to admit.

These people are claiming benefits because they CAN. It has to change.

That man, saying why would he work, when he can stay with his kids for a few quid less? WTF?

This country needs to restore a work ethic in future generations, and improve education to ensure all can work in some way.

Hammy02 · 28/10/2011 09:35

I was astounded at the attitude of many of the people on this programme. I have a degree & used to earn good money but was made redundant. I now work for barely above the minimum wage but it would never occur to me to just sit and sponge because I thought I was above working for this level of pay. I wouldn't want to go as far as the US system but somewhere in between has to be better than what we have now.

ssd · 28/10/2011 09:48

i'd be better off not working and claiming benefits

but i want my kids to know its always better to go out to work and try

i liked the bit where a lot of the young teenagers were attending a class to help them get a job, even though none of their parents worked

good on them!

Hammy02 · 28/10/2011 09:57

The sense of entitlement was unbelievable. It doesn't seem to occur to them that someone, somewhere is grafting to pay for them to do nothing. Absolute waste of life. I'm not talking about people that fall on hard times, that is what the welfare state is there for. I mean people that set out for a life of living off the work of others.

Whippet · 28/10/2011 14:34

Thought the bit with the Spanish(?) family was particularly interesting... there they were, in their 'Sunday Best' for the cameras, clearly a lovely family, but taking in £1700 per month in benefits?
Their flat looked well-furnished and well-appointed (if a bit small).

I'd LOVE a flat in central London -perhaps I should give up my job, as it's clearly not worth working in the weekends/ evenings as I do, when I could do nothing and get just a few quid less per month... Hmm

DooinMeCleanin · 28/10/2011 14:45

Oh god, here we go again. A TV show chooses some of the countries most down and out families to try and portray how 'easy' life on benefits is and you lot all fall for it Hmm

When DH's next temporary contract comes to an end, because he cannot find permanent work, why don't one of you life swap with me? You can try and figure out how to feed and clothe two kids and make up the shortfall on the mortgage/rent payments on £150 per week, as well as paying gas and leccy bills, but hey, we get most of our rent paid, so I guess we should be grateful Hmm

perceptionreality · 28/10/2011 14:50

But hammy, from what I have heard from people I know advisors at places like Job Centres actually tell people it is not worth them getting a job and they may as well continue to claim benefits, and you would think that they should encourage working where possible.

It's also very difficult for some people to work and make any money when they will have to pay child care costs to do so which cancel out any money earned.

It's all very well to say it instills a bad work ethic but when you have bills to pay etc, what else are you supposed to do?

perceptionreality · 28/10/2011 14:55

oh, and where are all these jobs that people can just walk into at the moment?

The government has made it difficult for people to retrain as well because they have cut course fee remission for everyone except those who claim JSA.

belledechocchipcookie · 28/10/2011 15:02

Doesn't child tax credit cover childcare costs if the parent/s are working and are on a low income? They can still claim housing benefit as well, it just depends on how much they earn. I think the benefit system should be a safety net, not a source of income. I don't really get why families with lots of children receive so much money in benefits. Yes, they have to buy more food but surely they can hand clothes and toys down so they would not have to buy a new cot/pram etc? It seems silly that we're paying for people to stay at home and have lots of children, it's a life choice. If I chose to drive a car I wouldn't expect the government to pay for petrol.

DooinMeCleanin · 28/10/2011 15:06

CTC only covers a portion of childcare costs and that portion goes down with each child you have in childcare. I believe it is upto 70% of the cost of child care, but with a maximum of £300 per week.

perceptionreality · 28/10/2011 15:09

I don't agree with two parents staying at home and claiming because they don't want to work and there is no other reason. But if you are a single parent who just gets tax credits and nobody in the family is disabled then you don't get anything like a working wage from what my friend says who is a lone parent of 4. She really struggles to get by.

I am not sure how much childcare TC covers. Is it 70%?

belledechocchipcookie · 28/10/2011 15:16

£300 a week is loads! Most nurseries and childminders don't charge that. I worked since ds was a baby, I didn't earn a lot, minimum wage only but people can manage on this, even if TC only cover 70% of childcare (although I did use the time ds was with his father to work one shift a week).

perceptionreality · 28/10/2011 15:23

My daughter's nursery is £35 a day. So you could get childcare mostly paid for, then if you have two under school age, I assume (most people would not have more than that).

It's easier if you already have a working dh though.

belledechocchipcookie · 28/10/2011 15:26

I thought they paid more if there was more then 1 child??

DooinMeCleanin · 28/10/2011 15:32

They upto 70% of the total cost of childcare or £300 depending on which figure is higher.

So if nursery is £35 per day that would be £175 per week for one child. 70% of this would be £122.50. That is what you would get towards the cost of childcare if you were entitled to the maximum amount e.g if you were a lone parent on minimum wage. You'd have to pay the other £52.50 per week yourself. Which is a lot of money when you don't earn much.

I worked as a lone parent with dd1, I was grand total of £15 per week better off after child care and rent/CT had been paid. Most of that £15 was spent on lunches and buses.

belledechocchipcookie · 28/10/2011 15:36

I thught the cut off for 1 child is £140? It is hard, I know it is. It can be managed though. I think it's more then the money, no value can be put on self esteem.

carernotasaint · 28/10/2011 17:34

So when bailiffs come round you can stop them in their tracks by saying "Well i havent got the money to pay you the council tax but i do have self esteem. Fab!

I didnt watch this programme because
a. ive been watching Hidden and
b. i knew it would be biased propaganda.
c. And class based. Still remember how many threads i saw on another internet forum where middle class parents were kicking up a stink about their Child Benefit being removed if they went over the earning threshold.
Bit hypocritical really.

Whippet · 28/10/2011 20:14

DooinMeCleanin - these we not 'down and out' families! They were people with nice homes and nice belongings. In the case of one guy he quite blatently said "why should I work for "nothing" (his interpretation of a job that paid the same as his benefits) - I want to watch my children grow up.....
It's that sort of mentality that I abhor - the belief that living on benefits is a legitimate 'life choice' rather than a temporary support. Absolutely shocking.

DooinMeCleanin · 29/10/2011 00:23

'Why should I work for nothing' - sounds down and out to me.

Nice homes? Council houses are not nice around here. If they're in private rented then they'll more than likely be topping up the rent from their JSA. If they own their house, then they must've worked at some point.

Nice belongings? We have every console going and a flat screen all bought and paid for when DH had a secure job. If they've never worked then those things are on credit from places like BrightHouse at 1000 and something % interest. The bailiffs will catch up with them eventually.

You lot are not thick. You can count. The figures are all readily available online. Do some math and come back and tell me you really think that living on benefits is a walk in the park. If you can make it look like a walk in the park, do let me how, so I can practise your wisdom next time we end up in the shit.

ssd · 29/10/2011 11:07

that guy you are talking about, he said he and his wife and 2 kids bring in £1600 a month, from benefits and no work, dont know if he paid bills like rent from that.

we both work menial, tiring jobs and bring in £1600 a month, and have to pay full council tax/morgage/bills from that

dont know why we bother, other than I want my kids to know that work is a must, not a choice.

i earn minimum wage, dh not much more

maybe we're daft

ssd · 29/10/2011 11:09

dooinmecleanin, I dont think benefits is a walk in any park, but neither is watching a family sitting on their arses all day bringing in the same money as you when both of you work

DooinMeCleanin · 29/10/2011 14:03

The £1600 will include housing benefit and council tax credit which the family won't have as cash in their pocket. Do you not get any top-ups like TC or CTC on top of that £1600 ssd? We do when DH is working, although we bring home less than £1600 per month from wages.

ssd · 30/10/2011 07:36

we get £35 a week, so i guess thats what we;re working for

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