Re: April 1st already? Get a free council house for coming off benefits
 

Sirus i worked for over 40 years and its only since last summer is the first time ever for me to claim anything from the government in the way of benefits.

Last summer i had a stroke and just before Christmas a smaller stroke. I am unable to drive so my job went out the window and im 2 years from retiring.

I am unable to walk because the stroke has affected my right side of my body, i can no longer hold a pen, my son has to shave me because i no longer have good hand to eye coordination + i get spasms in my right arm and while holding a razor its not a good idea.

Some of the posts in the past on here when i have said i have bought something new have been downright discusting because im on benefit now.

Re: April 1st already? Get a free council house for coming off benefits
 

My post was not aimed at you personally. I lost my father to a stroke so i know how it is affecting you.

The benefits system is designed for those in your position, you have worked all your life and now you need that support from the benefits system. Sadly there are those in this country who think the benefits system is there pay check for life and have never worked and have no intention of ever working.

Re: April 1st already? Get a free council house for coming off benefits
 

:tu:

Re: April 1st already? Get a free council house for coming off benefits
 

Nope not true in all cases. As I mentioned there are a few contributors to the state but most of us are not among them. After all we're also running a deficit.

If you look at the average person then they'll have the cost of education to 16, around 12 years of free education. Then the state pension until they die. That's if they never use NHS services and never receive any state benefits (outside of the pension).

I tried to look up what the cost of schooling for an average person is but it's quite hard as it varies a lot. Still it appears it costs, on average, around £4,284 for each pupil per year in a primary school and they're there for about 6 years. So about £25,700 for that. Secondary schools, on average, is around £5,200 a year for 5 years so £26,000. The average cost to bring a child though the basic education system in the UK is £51,700. That excludes the two years of college.

As for a pension then if you were to receive it at 67 and live until the average life expectancy of the UK (81) then at £113 a week you would receive around £82,200.

It's too hard to work out these numbers for any specific individual as inflation, where and when they went to school, how long they'll live, what services they've used, what they've paid in etc is all too complicated to work out.

Still you can see how easy it is to be a net recipient from the state. There we can easily run up costs well in excess of £100,000 from only the state pension and education. You estimate to have paid over £200,000 from taxes but to be near the 40% mark you're some way above the average national wage (£26,500). I would also say the average person will use the NHS at some point at which time costs are also incurred.

I should point out I am not saying there is anything wrong with being in this situation. Most of us are. It's just worth remembering that when people say they've paid in and never get anything out then most of them are wrong. There aren't many people in the UK who can genuinely claim they're subsidising other people via the tax and benefit system. Also remember the biggest budget items are the NHS, Education and pensions. As an example the NHS is £97 billion a year, Pensions £74 billion a year, Education is £51 billion a year whilst Jobseekers allowance is £5 billion a year. Even the cost of debt interest is £48 billion year.

I should also point out that it's gets more complicated when you factor in VAT, working which can help increase GDP and generate more wealth etc.

Re: April 1st already? Get a free council house for coming off benefits
 

Here here... well said.

Re: April 1st already? Get a free council house for coming off benefits
 

As I have no children, have private health insurance and pay maximum into my pension scheme to be responsible for my future I think without even considering all the taxation I pay beside Tax and NI it will take many years of pension when I retire at 67 (If I can afford to) to refund what I have paid in. In comparison those career benefit claimants who have made no contributions and have no worries about funding their retirement.

The national average is a catch all meaningless figure ranging from minimum age workers to CEO's. I am earning well above the £26500 national average, when I started work in 1983 the national average was about £10000 and my wages were less than £2500. The interesting bit is that the current starting figure for recently qualified Engineering Graduates is about the same as the national average of £26500 and they usually get good wage rises for the three years on a graduate scheme.

Although graduates have higher qualifications, my 32 years experience means I am obviously earning considerably more than they are.