The Welfare State

Had a look through the forums and didn't see any topic related to this so I thought I'd start one.

This subject is one which really gets me angry. You may have heard about 'Lizzie Bardsley', that silly woman from Rochdale off wifeswap who claimed £40,000 a year in benefits after having had EIGHT kids. I cannot believe it, £40,000 off the government? Absolutely disgraceful, and the woman doesn't do anything for it. It really makes me angry when my mum and dad have to work so hard for their money and then this happens. NO PERSON who is capable of work should get money off other people like this without working. There is no excuse, given that you are well. As for the 'Well, erm, she wouldn't be able to support her children if she didn't get the money off the government?' NO!! If she weren't able to support any children, she shouldn't have had the children! Isn't that common sense, that you do not get what you cannot afford? Or is it just me? I hate this child support system! Why can't people plan for their children and use contraception?

Benefit scroungers really do my head in. It's such an easy way to get money. If I didn't have any self respect then maybe I'd consider doing it when I'm older.

(BTW, I don't disagree with disability benefit, that is deserved)

Your views please...

[Paul K]

The welfare state was meant to be a safety net to ensure that people that needed help had it but unfortunately now it seems that more and more people are seeing the welfare system as a source of main income. A lot of people are having kids these days to supplement their financial status and the only people to suffer (apart from the tax payers) are the kids themselves.
Obviously not everyone on the welfare system are screwing it over, there are many people out there that are on welfare through no fault of their own but they aren't the ones that the press are interested in. The people who feign illness, disability etc are the ones that get all the publicity

[Ramrod]

No m8......we should carry on giving a house and money to every silly bint who doesn't fancy working for a living

[allieyoung666]

Yeah that really annoys me 2. Paul had a really bad accident in Oct 03, we took months and months of fighting to get his industrial injuries benefit, I was told by a former Social employee, that if Paul had lost his leg [which he nearly did] we would have been rolling in it. I got upet and angry by this, as I have a neighbour next door who we have had no end of problems with, he claims he has a back injury but he walks fine without his stick. But when assement time comes out comes the walking stick and the limp. I have reported him time and time again, but nothing is ever done to this guy, he has even threatened Paul with the stick!!!!!! I am still fighting for my husband to get DLA, but he got that fed up Paul ended up going back to work and we still do not even know if he is going to have his leg as he cannot stand to well on it at all now.

[Chris W]

I agree with what has been said so far, however, if all benefits except for disability benefits were abolished, don't you think there would be a sudden increase in people who had "disabilities" and this is a little unfair on those who have a genuine disability which prevents them from working and need the money.

Originally Posted by Diamond

(BTW, I don't disagree with disability benefit, that is deserved)

Yes but even this is abused and handed out to some folks who have absolutely nothing wrong with them and are able to work.

It has been in the news recently though that the government want to make some changes to the welfare state, some big changes since 1948.

http://www.sky.com/skynews/article/0...293612,00.html

[allieyoung666]

See most disabilties are in peoples heads and they convince themsleves that they have got something wrong when they havent. They are sponging off the state, genuine cases like Pauls take forever to deal with because of the fakies. You can see the pics if you want not very nice at all!!!

Originally Posted by Mick

Yes but even this is abused and handed out to some folks who have absolutely nothing wrong with them and are able to work.

It has been in the news recently though that the government want to make some changes to the welfare state, some big changes since 1948.

http://www.sky.com/skynews/article/0...293612,00.html

Yes, unfortunately. Many cases aren't even investigated.

[Paul K]

Originally Posted by allieyoung666

See most disabilties are in peoples heads and they convince themsleves that they have got something wrong when they havent. They are sponging off the state, genuine cases like Pauls take forever to deal with because of the fakies. You can see the pics if you want not very nice at all!!!

I do hope you have stats to back up that claim Yes there are a lot of spongers out there but to make the sweeping statement that most disabilities are in peoples' heads is wrong. I'll have to remember to tell my dad that his disability is in his head when I next see him. There are also a lot of people with disabilities that refuse to sponge off the state because they have a lot of pride and self respect. We cannot and should not tar all the people who are reliant on the welfare state to help them survive from day to day with the same brush.

[Chimaera]

Yes - my Mum has a blue badge for her car and is virtually housebound but refuses to apply for disability benefits as she doesn't want to be thought of a a scrounger. She also says there are other people who deserve it more than she does, and that she can manage quite well on her pension that she has paid into all her working life.

[allieyoung666]

I do, it is under phycosis in my nursing hospitial and home. I am not being rude or arrogant, but my husband has worked bloody hard and continues to do so, even when he had the accident that nearly claimed his life, he decided that he was not a state sponger, he had pride and self repsect and got back to work within 16wks of that accident, the company he works for could have kept him as well as the state but he is a worker not a shirker. I often cry when I see him struggling to walk or his leg colapses beneath him for no reason . The pained expressions on his face, the sleepless and restless nights since 10th of oct 03. I also have a mother who has mental health problems and I have mental health problems we both could sponge off the state, but I love being a nurse and mum loves her job. They should not have to live off the state, what would these people do??? if Mr Blair decided to get tough like the Swedes??? A lot of people would be in trouble wouldnt they?

[Paul K]

Originally Posted by allieyoung666

I do, it is under phycosis in my nursing hospitial and home. I am not being rude or arrogant, but my husband has worked bloody hard and continues to do so, even when he had the accident that nearly claimed his life, he decided that he was not a state sponger, he had pride and self repsect and got back to work within 16wks of that accident, the company he works for could have kept him as well as the state but he is a worker not a shirker. I often cry when I see him struggling to walk or his leg colapses beneath him for no reason . The pained expressions on his face, the sleepless and restless nights since 10th of oct 03. I also have a mother who has mental health problems and I have mental health problems we both could sponge off the state, but I love being a nurse and mum loves her job. They should not have to live off the state, what would these people do??? if Mr Blair decided to get tough like the Swedes??? A lot of people would be in trouble wouldnt they?

So you see a small number of people with pyschological problems and assume that everyone is the same? Sorry but they aren't. I've no doubt that Paul is among the minority of us that work hard for what we have and refuse to let pain, discomfort or problems keep us from going to work every day to put money into our pockets. He has pride and self-respect that many people seem too willing to sacrifice for welfare cheque
Having said that though I still disagree with your view that the majority of people on welfare are faking it. As with everything there will always be people that try to abuse the circumstances/system, unfortunately the percentage of people claiming welfare un-necessarily is increasing as more people see it as easy money for no effort.
It does seem though that these days a lot of kids out there get pregnant these days as it's effort free income and many of them are too lazy/ ignorant to go out and get a job to earn their income. These are the people that I do not think should be allowed to leech from the welfare system, people that produce kids on a regular basis just to keep the level of income coming into the home. These people rarely pay their rates, rent, gas/electric/ water bills but do regularly demand more money, bigger houses, clothing grants etc and should be stopped.
People that continuosly take money from the welfare/ NHS without actually working a day in their life should face some sort of restrictions in what they claim but then we all know that would just end in a trip to the court of human right
Maybe we should start a new thread, "welfare state cap, yes or no"

Originally Posted by Paul

Maybe we should start a new thread, "welfare state cap, yes or no"

Please god no!!!

[Paul K]

Originally Posted by Mick

Please god no!!!

Awww go on, you know the cap threads are always fun

Could get confusing if it's merged into the 'all cap discussions here' thread though!