[Tom]

Its always quite an interesting debate. What are your opinions of benefits as a whole?

[bridge7too7far]

Originally posted by Tom_
Its always quite an interesting debate. What are your opinions of benefits as a whole?

There's so menay different benefits, how can any body judge it at a whole.thats impossible to work. Can't you break it down a touch?

[Sod_James]

Benefits are great when ppl really need them. but then you get the ppl that abuse the systems and use benefits as a form of income rather than going out to get a job like a normal person when there is nothing really holding them back.

Benefits would only work if ppl where honest and its a sad fact that in todays society honesty does not feature high on the list of ppls prorities.

[GiRTh]

Benfits are essential in a free democratic state like Britain. Obviously, the system if flawed and some people take advantage of the flaws but nevertheless the benefit system helps the more disadvantaged sections of the community. Benefits have also helped me in the past, so I'm unlikely to criticise.

[Sunny_01]

I agree with Girth, the sad thing is we have so many people in this country who abuse the benefits system that it costs the tax payer a fortune.

I know people who have never worked a day in their lives and get all sorts of sickness benefits but nothing stops them doing govvy work its a disgrace the way the system is abused.

[Shaun]

My mother claims benefits for me (which will run out after the end of this school year) and my 3 brother/sister/niece. She's in her mid-50s and has diabetes, but I don't know what to think...

I've obviously got to be careful in what I'm saying since it's illegal, but she has claimed benefits and worked before, which is benefit fraud... (she doesn't any more by the way) and I'd usually frown upon it, but she receives Ł180 a week to support all 5 of us. Taking electricity, gas, water, tv, phone and food into account, as well as other things we might require [household products, possible repair bills, petrol], that's not a lot. So I could understand why she did that.

So I'm in a difficult position when it comes to benefits. It's also incredibly bizarre to think I'm a snobby Conservative when on benefits.

--------------------------------

We haven't always claimed benefits though, my dad used to live with us and he had a stable job...but he then became an alcoholic, lost his drivers license, lost his job...and they separated. He's since got his life on track, almost. He still drinks though, which is incredibly annoying to see.

[GiRTh]

Well put Shaun. Thanks for being so honest.

Personally, if I knew how to scam the benefits agancy, I'd give up work tomorrow.

[Tom]

I think the Government are too light and stupid when it comes to cases where people are clearly being a baby factory for the benefits and people purposely not getting a job so they can sit on their fat a*se all day and still get paid. Its people like these who tarnish the reputation for those who genuinely need it such as those who physically cannot work and its not fair on them.

Theres a story HERE on the BBC website about people who prefer to sign on rather than get paid Ł7/hour. Some people said its because they don't want to work in a cornfield, some people said its because they don't want to work with foreigners. IMO, the real problematic foreigners are those who come over and steal our benefits and council houses- something which British people complain about when they do the EXACT same thing. Those who come over and work are no problem at all. They have clearly come to this country to get money to send home, not to cause additional problems for the tax payer.

[GiRTh]

The rules and conditions in place will always be broken. Take the CSA what a useless organisation they were in just about every single way. I dont think the government can be blamed for benifits fraud. It will always happen.

[bridge7too7far]

Originally posted by GiRTh
The rules and conditions in place will always be broken. Take the CSA what a useless organisation they were in just about every single way. I dont think the government can be blamed for benifits fraud. It will always happen.

But they had a hard job to do. Imagine how ahard it was to screw money out of men and pass it ontp the mothers of all the kids after the couple splitup

[GiRTh]

Originally posted by bridge7too7far

But they had a hard job to do. Imagine how ahard it was to screw money out of men and pass it ontp the mothers of all the kids after the couple splitup

[Legend]

The way I look at it, I don't think people intentionally wake up and think "today I want to commit benefit fraud", I think if people do work and claim benefits then there is a reason for it, if they are willing to break the law then no doubt they need the money because they have bills to pay and kids to feed.

Yeah there are boneidle people who would rather claim benefits than work and yeah they are lazy, boneidle etc but that's life, I pity them rather than get annoyed by them.