£42,000 a year benefits

If there is no reason why they cant work then community work in exchange for benefits would be acceptable imo.
Im not talking about mothers with kids younger than school age cos that opens another debate, but if they are at school then why not do a few hours a day, would help keep the communities upto scratch and maybe, just maybe, instil some pride into the area.

Surely there should be some system designed similar to a Time Constant graph where one kid gives you a big chunk but the more kids you have the less money you get and once you get to 5, get bent for more money.

You look now and the younger you are the more your looked down upon. I'm 21 and managed to swindle getting my own house, bike and car. I am currently £85k in debt and literally have everything through the back door.

My house was bought because of land problems and the need to get rid of it, my bike was 0% dealer clearance and my car was bought off a guy i work with and cost me £500. I've worked to get my apprenticeship completed and now should get a job at the end which will hopefully allow my debts to fall down and then i can start to look into travelling etc . . but to see clowns like this have 2 big cars, a big house worth more than i could ever afford.

Another problem to throw into the equation, Average house price is £160k and average wage is £22k compared to 13 years ago i imagine the ratio was 6/7 years wages to a house price not 7/8 years, which is a hell of a lot more money.

Another idea, why not make these mothers help working mums out by looking after their kids for free?

We all need to take responsibility for the situation. Closing our eyes to it, or looking down upon them will never resolve the issue. It'll only push us further to a society like the USA with such appalling differences in living conditions.

No one would ever choose to live an entire life on benefits, which begs the question what other choice do they have?

Originally Posted by gettin2dizzy

We all need to take responsibility for the situation. Closing our eyes to it, or looking down upon them will never resolve the issue. It'll only push us further to a society like the USA with such appalling differences in living conditions.

No one would ever choose to live an entire life on benefits, which begs the question what other choice do they have?

I dont look down on people in that way, but i dont buy that above statement, if you do you you live in a different land to me.
There are loads of people around who think this world owes them a living and they are not prepared to work to get it.
There is always a choice, might not be the one you want but there is always one.
I agree about the states though, there is a big gap between the middle class and working class.

i also believe rich kids should be forced to earn money and not be spoon fed.

Look at Bransons boy or as much as i hate to give praise to the germans i mean the royal family Harry and William have paid their dues.

Originally Posted by specialone

I dont look down on people in that way, but i dont buy that above statement, if you do you you live in a different land to me.
There are loads of people around who think this world owes them a living and they are not prepared to work to get it.
There is always a choice, might not be the one you want but there is always one.
I agree about the states though, there is a big gap between the middle class and working class.

What are their other options? A huge amount are illiterate, they have never had an adult figure demonstrating a work ethic, leaving benefits to work leaves you out of pocket (and getting back on to them does this again), no support network of working friends.

Put simply, it's an alien world. They can try to go for a job, but who would employ a chav who is incapable of presenting himself due to their social circumstances? To maintain any dignity they can present it as their 'choice', but really they have no other options.

The whole benefit thing needs to change to be honest its not worth working when you can get the same amount or more from being on benefits. I'm on job seekers allowance after I lost my job a little bit ago so I'm getting £50 a week, i found another job but the max amount of hours im doing is 9 a week(glass collector friday and Saturday if some one wants the day off) then the money that I earn which is basically a maximum of 42 quid is taken off what i can get off being on benefits bar a fiver that they let you earn before you get money deducted from your benefits so because im not earning more than what i would be on job seekers allowance in real terms I get paid a fiver a week to work because no ones taking on around here (not for lack of trying) the only reason I do go do the work is because i would rather be doing it than sitting on my ****.

Originally Posted by gettin2dizzy

What are their other options? A huge amount are illiterate, they have never had an adult figure demonstrating a work ethic, leaving benefits to work leaves you out of pocket (and getting back on to them does this again), no support network of working friends.

Put simply, it's an alien world. They can try to go for a job, but who would employ a chav who is incapable of presenting himself due to their social circumstances? To maintain any dignity they can present it as their 'choice', but really they have no other options.

But being illiterate is another problem that would need to be solved, but just paying people to sit on their backsides is just a kop out, i dont think it needs to be that way, like i said earlier, if they can work but cant get a job, its not the end of all problems to give them benefits, community service would give them training, job skills, a bit of acheivement and pride in what they are doing, ok not for some, but some.

Likewise I work two jobs to pay the bills, I've sold everythign I have that can be sold to stay afloat, I've even lost out on a few expensive bits in shipping them for sale but swallowed the cost, my situation's only going to get worse as the missus is now on maternity leave and on 90% pay, and that will go down fast to the point we are probably only going to have 2 weeks for me and 6 months for the wife before we both go back to full time

I'm trying to sell my bike, we've cut down on all expenses, we've borrowed, we've begged, I've even sold stuff that I shouldn't have just to stay afloat.

I COULD claim disability and depression from my accident injury (I can't stand up and still for more than a few minutes without my spine being very painful), pump out another kid or two after this one, and go on benefits, but I won't, like my parents I'll work myself to the bone before I give up and try to leach off the system (not that I will get much if I do as I'll be "income" based benefits, Ie, faff all because you earnt this much which means you should be fine for x years..., instead of means tested, IE, we'll provide everything you need)*

*this may not be an accurate description of the system, it's just based on my talks with the coucil about my own situation and may be biased ^_^

Originally Posted by L3nny

Why should kids be entitled to a room each? When I was growing up every family I knew of who had 3 kids or more had to share rooms, they all managed fine.

All the people who are defending the benefits system seem to forget it is their money that is being given to these people. Money they have worked for money that is taken from them without asking and means they have to go without some of the luxuries the people receiving the benefits take for granted.

I don't have a problem with my money funding people on benefits and I probably pay more tax than most people here because I'm only one bracket below the highest tax level.

The welfare system is akin to insurance - we pay into it in the knowledge that others will receive our money as a bet against the possibility that we may end up relying on it in the future. What's more, it's a symbol of our humanity and compassion as a nation that we are willing to care for our weakest and poorest members. I'm proud to be part of a compassionate society that believes in that notion and I'm ashamed that some of you resort to blind Daily Mail esque "our money" ranting to hide your naked "f*ck you, got mine" mentality.