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.