[Ammi]

Originally Posted by Johnnyuk123

Nice wood flooring and leather sofa in the picture and the kids look well fed too.
Not many on benefits can afford nice wood flooring and i'm guessing here but i'm sure there will be a nice big lcd tv in that room and the kids will fend off starvation by playng on the latest sony playstation games console or if that fails they will move over to their ipads until mum phones pizza hut to deliver their dinner.

...sensible, practical flooring and sofa, Johnny.....all those things are reasonable prices because they are so widely available in the modern day as it were...and with 8 children all under 12yrs old at the time, they seem to me to be perfect choices...and yeah, it's lovely to see the children all looking so smart and healthy..the craziness of that is/the craziness of the system, is if they weren't that/well fed as you say..?..then even on benefits and so very obviously a struggle, they would attract the attention of welfare in terms of possible 'neglect' for being anything other, so well done mum really...in fact, that's what would be said at our school of those children, just looking at them in the pic...that mum was definitely doing many things right and trying her very best...

[joeysteele]

Originally Posted by Ammi

...sensible, practical flooring and sofa, Johnny.....all those things are reasonable prices because they are so widely available in the modern day as it were...and with 8 children all under 12yrs old at the time, they seem to me to be perfect choices...and yeah, it's lovely to see the children all looking so smart and healthy..the craziness of that is/the craziness of the system, is if they weren't that/well fed as you say..?..then even on benefits and so very obviously a struggle, they would attract the attention of welfare in terms of possible 'neglect' for being anything other, so well done mum really...in fact, that's what would be said at our school of those children, just looking at them in the pic...that mum was definitely doing many things right and trying her very best...

I agree with all you say above.

The only thing I'd question is as to her having so many children anyway but that is done now.

Also it amuses me when people attack such individuals for having decent furnishings and even luxuries.
When it isn't even known did they buy them 2nd hand, or even did they get them given.
Also some housing and local authorities let you get furnishings and electrical items just about interest free for small payments weekly

3 times I have changed my TV in the last 5 years and each time I have,I have given,yes given the old one to someone I knew in difficulty or on benefits.

Instant 'negative' judgements when facts are not even looked for let alone even known are very dangerous things to do in my view.

[Cherie]

It doesn't really matter how old the story is, It gets the point across that this is just not acceptable anymore and the benefit cap is a real thing, if you are fit and healthy this isn't a lifestyle choice you can make any more. I would also like to see the Dad put on TV to explain why he walked away from his kids, it's not completely the woman's problem that she has 8 children to bring up.