Family life on benefits
 

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-16812185

Following on from the threads about the cost of living and bring up children.

Proves that working for a living is optional and a comfortable life can be had without the bother of it.

I have worked out that the guy in the article would need to earn a salary of £41k to have the same net income. That is without taking into account the fact his rent is heavily subsidised and if he had a job he would also probably have to fund a car so £45k is more realistic.

Not bad for some.

Re: Family life on benefits
 

That article is interesting. If they quit their 200/week smoking habit, that'd almost cover the deficit. And also his argument about being unemployed because demand for his skills have dried up is rubbish. There are plenty of threads on this very forum of people retraining.

I know that's not the point of your thread, but just worth pointing out.

Re: Family life on benefits
 

£26k a year for doing nothing. I've worked full time for the last ten years and my salary has never got near that amount!

I know it's a complex issue to say the least but, FFS, that is what's wrong with the country in a nutshell. IMHO, obviously.

Re: Family life on benefits
 

Firstly junk the 24 cans of lager, the 200 cigarettes and the Sky TV subscription - that'll give them a tidy little saving.

Re: Family life on benefits
 

Ya forgot the baccy.

Re: Family life on benefits
 

And the 4 or 5 mobile phone contracts.

Re: Family life on benefits
 

+1
'Entertainment' and 'Mobiles': Not exactly necessities.
Paid for by our taxes.

Dont know how they have the cheek to say ' have to chose between eating or heating'.

No wonder they changed the example's name.

Your's
Mr Angry
Manchester

My Life
http://t1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:A...HoS73cYuUs3Pjw
Their life
http://t3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:A...bKYf7R879sHdHg

Re: Family life on benefits
 

That was the first comment in our office when MrsDJF spotted the story. Makes my blood boil

Re: Family life on benefits
 

"We get the Sky Movies package because we're stuck in the house all week - otherwise we wouldn't have any entertainment.'"

Surely not. How can they find time to watch films between going to the job centre, filling in job applications, attending interviews, and studying/training for a new career?

Re: Family life on benefits
 

Slab of larger £20
Sleeve of smokes (say marlboro's) £65
Bag of baccy (25g filters and papers) £8

I don't even spend that a week including all the bills (or drink that much)

As Lenny said you'd need to earn around £45K before deductions for say £55k to be safe.

This

Last time I was on I applied for around 120 jobs in 12 weeks around Christmas and the Dole said I was "applying for too many"