Would you go on benefits and live in a council house if you had to?
 

Not meant in a judgemental way, perhaps some people on here already do.

Would you do it if you HAD to, even with the stigma attached to it?

If I had to, like had no choice then obviously I would because atleast I have a roof over my head. Don't think I'm ever gonna be in this situation though.

I've been on benefits myself and I didn't like it, nothing to do with any stigma but because I worked from the age of 16 and always supported myself, but had no choice at the time so it was necessary.

If it meant it was the only way I could keep a roof over mine and my family's head though then I wouldn't have a problem with doing it, but I'd obviously try and get myself back to where I could support myself again and not rely on money from the state.

Just the way I was brought up I guess, to work hard and give back to society, people who scrounge off the dole out of sheer laziness really make me angry, there was an article in the paper today about a young girl who refuses to work, has a young child and boasts about how much money she gets without needing to work, has no intention of ever getting a job, now that **** makes me mad!

depends, i would ask my parents for help first if i had money problems
which i hope never happens when i'm older

For the likes of those people (ie long term unemployed for no reason) I think they should just be sent supermarket vouchers or something then we'd see who'd be boasting

I don't look down on people at all though. The stigma is ridiculous. Each to their own. Okay it's given some think it's an easy life and are lazy *****, but most can't help it... no jobs etc.

Well yeah because i'm not really gonna be homeless just because of a stupid stigma there is.

I think it's important that we live in a society that helps the unfortunates too. I can accept the odd scrounger if it means that many families or individuals in difficult positions get the support they need through tough times.

Yeah I agree with that. This girl smokes 20 a day, spends her money on the latest fashion etc and moans that she still doesn't get enough money to go out clubbing as much as she wants to!

No problem with people who NEED help, but it's when people that do need it get turned down when there's people out there cheating the system that really winds me up. I agree Ross most people do genuinely need it, it's the few, well it's actually more than just a few, that take the piss that gets me mad.

My uncle is one of the bad ones, got banned from driving (and his job as he was driving a huge lorry whilst drunk) so lost his job and has been on the doll for like 3 years and although he tells us hes looking for a job, and probably is now... he spend like 2 years in the pub every day.

You can become downhearted and attach yourself to a drug when you're feeling that low. I can sympathize with him over that and I always say, but for the grace of God, there go I. Is he an alcoholic?

Well I'd take that over being homeless if that's what you're asking.

Anyway, rough chic is so "in" right now.

I would go on benifits and live in a council house.

I have done and I had no choice at the time, I lived in housing association flat for a few years till I got a better job etc

I'm on sick, but don't have my own house. Dunno what that conuts as really, i'd like to work but it's not my fault. I help my Dad with workshops now and again so i'm not a total waste lol

It depends on the situation I think.

Luckily I have never been out of work, but if I get ill or injured and no home, I may have to consider it.

I'd ask family/friends first, but if it really came down to it I suppose I'd have to

Of course. By 'had to' - I mean disabled, injured, living in poverty. I don't look down on people who are on benefits for those reasons, and I don't think there's a stigma attached to those reasons.

If you gotta do it, you gotta do it.

Who knows what may happen in your life. Not everyone has family to rely on. People get sick. People lose their jobs. People do not always have the best of choices in life. If you have to you have to. Some people have to survive on minimum wages despite trying their best. It does not make you any less of a person. Why this stigma about council housing? I was brought up in a council house with no money and I bet it did me a damn sight better than living in the lap of luxury. Not having a lot makes you appreciate things a little bit more in my experience and maybe helps you strive for better things. Not everybody has that oppurtunity in life.

to the 2 people who said No, you would go and sleep rough on the streets then instead???

one of them was courtney, are you really suprised LOL?

Crazy isn't it.
Imagine explaining to the kids "ok I have worked hard payed my taxes and prsi ,now I have lost my job and I could claim some of that money back through benefits so that we could eat and be warm at least but I'm not going to ,so pick a cardboard box and lets go."
:conf:

lol, I know yeah, it would be a rather strange decision to take lol

Of course I would.

You'd have to :\
Other people around you in the street will understand your problems, because they'll be in the same situation.
Also, council houses are stereotyped as horrible, messy houses.. but that's because of the people who live in them usually, and it's those people who end up in that situation...

No offence to anyone aha!

What stigma?

I wouldn't like to, but if I had to, yes. What else would I do? Go homeless?

I have family who live in it, and I'm not ashamed of them. **** the stigma.

I live in a council house... and I personally think you are a snobby bastard for having the views you do Tom.





Oh yeah,, and no offense..

I'm a working class hero!

I would as a last resort but it is not something to take advantage off. A problem in the UK is that we do have lazy chuffers who would rather sit in their council house and smoke weed all day...

I never made it as a working class hero.......;)

I would say I am working class at the moment.

FA wrong with it

I do.
My mum's a single mum who cannot work due to illness and is on benefits, and we live in a council house.
But we're not chavs.

There has been a class shift though, the working class of the 70's does not exist.

yeah.. The governement seem to give more advantages to people on benefits anyway. A Lady in my street has never payed rent, lives on benefits, gets nice new doors and new windows.. a nice new kitchen, has never worked a day in her life
My mum has worked all of her life and we don't get new kitchens and doors etc. I live in a council house but we rent it with our own money, it's under the same council company aswell, it all seems a bit unfair really. I mean, fair enough if you are unable to work because of illness, but the woman spends every day on her ass watching daytime TV and is quite capable of working. I mean, I'm 14 and I have a 16 hour a week job.. 30 hours in holiday weeks... Surely a healthy 27 year old girl can get a job somewhere

The whole question just reeks of snobbery. It's essentially saying that it would be the worst thing in the world to claim benefits and live in council housing.

I don't claim benefits, but I live in council housing. Not because I have to, but because I'm working class. Worked since I was 16 til I had my kids. My husband works and he earns a **** wage, as we live in an area which is renowned for **** wages (just ask Billy).

We don't have the opportunities some of you have. We weren't all born with a silver effing spoon in our mouth. Sorry for being irate, but this kind of thing irks the ***** out of me.

It is not snobbery at all but there are SOME capable people in the UK who take advantage and sponge off the system. Fair enough to the people who have genuine illness or can't find a job after hunting everyday for one.

You don't think it's snobbery to talk about council housing like it's some kind of hellhole?