Benefits (or thieving scum, for Express readers)
 

How, the 'feckin hell do people live on this? I mean, the stories put about in the papers suggest a life of luxury.

Scenario - long neurological illness too ugly to go into details, now in remission. Was partly supported by employer during this time, who six months ago quite understandably decided that enough was enough and let me go. For the last six months I've been living off my savings and spending most of my time in hospital. In the last six months I've now exhausted my 6K savings.

Given I live with my partner, who does work, I'm not entitled to housing benefit or council tax benefit, and due to remission no incapacity benefit. I get Jobseekers Plus. Or ?60 a week.

My share of the rent is ?325 per month, my share of the bills ?150 per month. I've barely contributed anything to the food shopping lately so I don't even want to go there.

But just rent & bills = about ?120 per week. Double what benefits bring in.

A life of crime is looking increasingly feckin attractive to be honest. As someone who has worked since leaving school 15 years ago on some pretty good wages (and hence pretty good NI & tax contributions) I'm kinda lost as to what the hell I'm supposed to do. I would actually be better off living rent and council tax free in a ditch. Hell, if I get lucky the police might get fed up of "moving me on" and give me a cell and a meal for the night.

Re: Benefits (or thieving scum, for Express readers)
 

They know how to abuse the system.
Which unfortunately you sound to be far to nice to be able to do.
You have my sympathies - hope things work out.

Re: Benefits (or thieving scum, for Express readers)
 

As has already been said, they know how to work the system, i have a brother in law who is supposedly too ill to work & for years has been getting more in benefits than i earn each month, he also gets a new car every few years which is taxed & insured by the state & he can park where ever the hell he likes due to the little badge displayed, i saw him a while back doing voluntary work because he was bored, now if he can do that why the ferk can't he be sent back to work to support himself, i got so fed up with hearing all about it i havn't been round his house for years.