liveries who dont pull their weight rant-poo picking

[Holly Hocks]

At those who are slagging off people on benefits - it is a miserable existence. As a single parent I was better off with a crap shop job than being on benefits, so don't believe the bullshit you read in tabloids about 'benefit scroungers' having plenty of money please. That money wont all go to the recipient, most of that will be housing benefit and council tax benefit, and there is no room for spare money on benefits.

From someone who sees it every day, I agree with you to a point - in fact being a single is one of the worst situations to be in on benefits - almost as bad as just being a single person on benefits who has no children - that really is the worst.
The ones that get to me are those who are clearly capable of work, but claim not to be. I will give you a scenario - a real life scenario - one I see day in, day out.
A couple with no children. They claim income support and DLA at high rate care and mobility. Basically to claim at this rate it means that they need 24/7 care and can't walk unaided for more than 50 yards. However what they then do is each claim carer's allowance for looking after the other. Carer's allowance should only be paid when you are caring for someone 35hrs a week or more. All I can say is that it must be difficult to do that when you need 24/7 care yourself and have no mobility.
So up to now they're getting income support, DLA and CA. On top of this, they get rent (all the rent paid as they are getting some income support) and council tax benefit. At a rent of £450 per month, if you total everything together, it makes around £33000 per year. Not bad going for doing nothing.

I don't believe single parents are scroungers in the slightest. Most end up in that situation through no fault of their own. However as illustrated above, there are scroungers out there who never have and never will do a days' work in their life - and their lifestyle is paid for courtesy of you and me. That's fact.

 

[KazzOnAPiano]

Crikey Hollyhocks - they are really working the system!

I am in a more reasonably paid job these days (though still poor while I get my masters), but I always feel I should stand up for people who are entitled to benefits to be able to claim without all the tabloid generated stigma.

 

[Holly Hocks]

Crikey Hollyhocks - they are really working the system!

I am in a more reasonably paid job these days (though still poor while I get my masters), but I always feel I should stand up for people who are entitled to benefits to be able to claim without all the tabloid generated stigma.

Kazz, you're right - there are people who are genuinely entitled to benefits and that's the people that they are designed for - those who have fallen into unemployment or who are genuinely too sick to work, or who are left holding the children when the other half exits the household. Unfortunately in my job, I see to many of the other sort. Good luck with your Masters - think of how much you'll be able to earn then!!