My Gripe - to get something off my chest
 

I thought long and hard before l decided to start this thread.

In the present economic problems, l thought we can survive.

I have a good job with good money, BUT, everything goes up with bills etc, but l find myself today filled with anger at the fact there l am with a job able to pay bills at the end of the month, and being a decent citizen.

And then the wife tells me that we might not be able to reach the end of the month without a struggle.

And yet we have thousand of people on the unemployment register cheating the system and getting hundreds of pounds of my tax money and laughing at us, having there rent paid etc, an yet myself work hard for what. Its makes me so angry. Its makes me wonder shall l jack in the job and live off the system, or carry on with all the stress of having a debt collector at the door or becoming homeless for refusing to pay the rent and let society pay for it.

Is it worth it:mad:

Re: My Gripe - to get something off my chest
 

How do you know thousands of unemployed people are cheating the system?

And what about all the people who have jobs but keep on claiming benefits? Do they anger you too?

Re: My Gripe - to get something off my chest
 

welcome to 21st century Britain Arthur .:D

---------- Post added at 15:22 ---------- Previous post was at 15:21 ----------


Of course they are ,where have you been living ,in a box ?:rolleyes:

Re: My Gripe - to get something off my chest
 

It must be true, I read it in the Daily Mail. ;)

Re: My Gripe - to get something off my chest
 

not like you to jump on someone's back.

all the same, see the supplied link. it states "Benefit fraud cost the country around £1.2 billion in 2010-11." That's not the total of one or two people commiting benefit fraud.

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/moneytax...ud/dg_10014876

the very fact the government has a website area dedicated to benefit fraud and how to report it implies in itself that this is a problem big enough to warrant some attention.

Re: My Gripe - to get something off my chest
 

So I ask the same question again. How do you know thousands of unemployed people are cheating the system?

The cases we hear of getting to court always seem to be employed people continuing to claim benefits after they find work.

Re: My Gripe - to get something off my chest
 

Welcome to OUR world Arfur!

Re: My Gripe - to get something off my chest
 

That figure actually appears low. Good surprised

No consider this . The net cost of membership of the EU is 28 billion but the gross PA figure could be as high as 65 Billion. so even if the figure today is 5 times higher making it 6 billion the EU costs 10 times more

Considering those on INCAP and JSA are considered as being to blame for the state of the economy i am even more convinced the UK needs to get out of the EU sharpish

---------- Post added at 19:03 ---------- Previous post was at 18:59 ----------

The costs of war far and away exceeds the cost of the fiddlers also. Maybe Tax payers should be angry about the amount of their tax goes to on the EU and War as well

Re: My Gripe - to get something off my chest
 

Cant happen quick enough if you ask me!

Re: My Gripe - to get something off my chest
 

agreed, but if America don't go to war to protect the trade of oil in petro-dollars with the UK sitting on it's lap like a good doggy, we may find ourselves even worse off. alternatively, if oil was traded in Euro's, we would be far bet... oh no, we're not in the Euro. scrub that - we may be far worse off still.

to be honest, I do not profess to be an authority in politics, economics, trade or war - i know full well I am not versed in any of these areas. I'm just here for the banter and hopefully to learn a few things, provided I can find evidence to support what people pass as fact. :)

Re: My Gripe - to get something off my chest
 

because most benefit fraud can only be committed by unemployed people,for example claiming JSA whilst working

Re: My Gripe - to get something off my chest
 

I feel your pain Arthur, yet I am bound to point out that the Tory-led Coalition you despise so much is tackling the issue by pursuing fraudulent or overblown claims of all kinds of benefits, and setting an upper limit on how much any family can milk the system for. I assume from the post above that you approve of these measures?

Regarding your difficulty making ends meet, well the whole nation is currently learning some painful lessons about living within our means. If it's a struggle, you need to take a long hard look at your outgoings and consider where you can trim them back. How about dropping your TV and Internet down a tier or two?

We cancelled Sky altogether when I had a spell of unemployment a few years ago and have never looked back. The box operates in Freesat mode to this very day.

Re: My Gripe - to get something off my chest
 

im unemployed and dont claim. not everyones benefit cheats even if their unemployed.

Re: My Gripe - to get something off my chest
 

IF they are working then they are not unemployed but they are benefit cheaters.

Re: My Gripe - to get something off my chest
 

Such pedantry in one so young ... ;)

If someone is claiming JSA then as far as the State is concerned they are unemployed. It just depends on which way you look at it.

Re: My Gripe - to get something off my chest
 

But if they're employed (ie paying Tax and NI) then the state would also see them as employed.

My gripe is that this thread (and many other rants) is aimed in part at the unemployed which is pretty unfair.

Re: My Gripe - to get something off my chest
 

Actually, in his OP Arthur referred to people who are "on the unemployment register", not "the unemployed". There is a world of difference - but either way, arguing over angels on a pinhead is rather missing the point. Arthur feels aggrieved that he works hard and goes without, while some people seem to be doing quite well out of "the system". What do we think about that?

Re: My Gripe - to get something off my chest
 

I'm no more a supporter of benefit cheats than the next person.However I'm sick of sweeping statements that suggest,imply or downright state that all people on benefit are cheats..or even that a large number are benefit cheats.

It is possible that the vast number are actually genuinely receiving benefit and are hoping to be off just as soon as they can get better or find a job.

In fact it seems from some of the shows I have watched such as Saints and Sinners, that the vast sums being stolen from the system are actually down to a far smaller group who are professional fraudsters who steal sums of up to 100,000 over many years using a variety of different identities and different addresses.

Re: My Gripe - to get something off my chest
 

Read this thread a couple of times and this is probably the only constructive response to the OP. Ok I know Arthur has issues with facts and can be over emotive, but come on guys he opened a thread with a post that shows frustration and difficilties in his life and he's getting disected for misquoting a "fact". I think sometimes we need to look at what's behind a post and offer constructive advice, maybe evena "we feel your pain" type of response. Life's hard enouh as it is without having to be ripped apart everytime you post something.

Re: My Gripe - to get something off my chest
 

I think my response is perfectly constructive..I've not denigrated the OP but I'm not letting him or others get away with sweeping accusations against a group of people who already face enough hardship being unemployed and with just as many debts (if not more ) as Arthur.

I too am in the same position as Arthur but the people I will denigrate are the criminals that cheat the system not those who have lost their job and the income that went with it and still have bills to pay.

Re: My Gripe - to get something off my chest
 

I'm unemployed. My GP's find me unfit for work yet the 'benefits officer' disagrees. I should be receiving around £100 a week. Instead I'm on £70 because I'm appealing.

I live on my own and have no help from anyone. It's a bloody nightmare and I can't do anything about it. So if you think it's great on benefits you are mistaken. I don't drink, smoke or anything. Never go out, never buy new clothes etc. My tivo and internet is all I have.

Be thankful you have a job and can work! I would love to be in that position.

Re: My Gripe - to get something off my chest
 

What annoys me is when a mother moves into a house with children and claims everything because she is supposed to be on her own, But the partner is there too & working full time. It happens all the time. This is unfair to a decent couple working & paying everything, because they maybe a few pound over the limit to claim anything[COLOR="Silver"]

---------- Post added at 15:06 ---------- Previous post was at 15:03 ----------

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Re: My Gripe - to get something off my chest
 

Let me assure everyone that l am NOT having a dig at the unemployed, l was out of work twice over the last twenty years.

One for three years, and one for two years, and l know exactly how people feel, My gripe is with the fact that some people are swanning about enjoying the life on benefit, knowing that they could work, but are taking the p***.

When l was out of work, l did everything l could to find a job, but couldn't yet you read in the papers that some people are on £20.000 per year free rent etc, and yet myself l am on the same but have to find money for this and that.

There are some hard working people out there, who want to work but cannot, my gripe is at the people who are milking the system and are getting away with it.

Re: My Gripe - to get something off my chest
 

I know exactly 2 families that do this. One totally takes the **** and lives like a king. The other still struggles as it's private rented accommodation in London.

---------- Post added at 17:18 ---------- Previous post was at 17:17 ----------

How do you know they're on benefits? Did you ask them?

Re: My Gripe - to get something off my chest
 

well anyone fiddling JSA and paying tax and NI will be caught very easily . I know there are stupid people in the world but there can not be that many doing that

Re: My Gripe - to get something off my chest
 

Problem is that everybody on benefit now has a bad name. No thanks to the Jeremy Vile show. As soon as you mention you are on benefit you are labelled as a 'chav' and a 'scrounger'.

Just last September they re-tested people claiming sickness/disability benefit and the exam was one big joke. A tick box test that passed you fit for work if you could do certain stuff. Nowhere on there it mentions the stuff that STOPS you from working.

As a person who has seen over 10 doctors and all of them say I cannot work. One idiot with a tickbox questionaire has been given the job to reduce money spent on benefits....and now I have to go without. My doctor of 15+ years sends a detailed letter that it's impossible for me to work "through no fault of my own" and yet that's not good enough.

I think it's time to give people on benefits a break. They are the most vulnerable members of society. Yes there are people who cheat the system! ....but there are cheats everywhere. There is millions and millions of pounds lost every year from foriegn people using NHS services. Why not go after these people to pay hospital charges? Or charge people who make themselves ill through drug abuse.

Time to give people on benefits a break.

Re: My Gripe - to get something off my chest
 

think of all the dead in Iraq and Afghanistan your taxes paid for that too. Bankrupt countries in the EU IE Iceland your taxes paid for that too. The Jubilee foreign visits MPs wages and expenses and the list goes on all paid for by your taxes

Re: My Gripe - to get something off my chest
 

The 'problem' is people who claim benefits also work 'cash in hand jobs'. There are many immigrants who also do this and don't pay tax.

Re: My Gripe - to get something off my chest
 

UKIP Want out of the EU

I agree totally

Re: My Gripe - to get something off my chest
 

Re: My Gripe - to get something off my chest
 

It sucks.......if they are simpy milking the system

Re: My Gripe - to get something off my chest
 

The problem is the system was originally intended for a nation of honest people.

Unfortunately there are a lot of thieves out there.

It doesn't matter whether it's benefit fraud, expense abuse, tax fraud, shoplifting or bank robbery. It's all theft that ultimately costs those amongst us who are honest.

We've all witnessed successive Governments introducing schemes to catch out the wrong uns but it's never resourced properly. It serves the purpose for what it's intended - a political point scoring exercise. A wee massage of the figures here and there and they can even show that such schemes have been successfull..... I think we all know differently ;)

Re: My Gripe - to get something off my chest
 

---------- Post added at 20:44 ---------- Previous post was at 20:41 ----------

I will also point out that the largest sums of money being stolen as benefit is being stolen by highly organised gangs with fake passports and fake IDs and any number of bank accounts under fake names..