90 Years on Benefits

Hetty58

That's a very good point about tax dodgers/evaders.

What happened with Google, Amazon, Starbucks etc that have been found to be paying very minimal taxes in the UK? That whole scandalous business seems to have been ignored by the media.

What about the hundreds or maybe thousands of other big companies that we haven't heard about that do their accounting 'creatively'?

I bet they take 1000X more from the Treasury in 1 year than benefits cheats do in a couple of decades.

It's about perspective - and the agenda and psychology behind the very regular production of these type of programmes. Which, of course, help to maintain the Tories in power.

I can't watch those programmes, they make me sooooo cross. On the other hand, my 40 year old daughter who was left as a single parent 15 years ago with no support from her husband. She lost the house they had bought with her income. She has worked and worked as a legal secretary but this resulted in her living hand to mouth with the occasional food bank visits as she is not entitled to the vast majority of benefits, because she has enough self esteem to continue working part time. But, like I said to her, at least you can look in the mirror each morning and think "I made it by myself and don't owe anyone anything". Makes me sad though I try and support her and my granddaughter financially when I can.

GabriellaG54 please do not let the doubters get to you.

I can tell you the names of the theatre sisters, matron and many of the nurses and consultants who were there at the time and even point out which room I had when living in (as one had to do for the first 12 months)
I can recite the names of some staff at the JL branch where I worked and even where the judo club I went to ( for JL employees) was situated.
Why you want to doubt me, I've no idea.

GracesGranMK3
Always trying to find fault...I wonder why?
I was a 17 yr old student nurse at the time mentioned in the post you refer to,
the emphasis being on the word student.
I didn't study for my law degree until I was married, several years later.
Is it unheard of to have had more than one job in a lifetime?
I have mentioned this in previous posts since joining GN and my 'story' hasn't changed. One cannot change facts.

GGK3 It’s got to something when you imply another member is a liar! I’m sure Gabriella doesn’t need to bend the truth to make her point although I’m sure some do.

My first job aged 15 was at JL and I was paid £1.17s.6d pw. That was 1960.

I'm talking about 1962 as a student nurse CherryCezzy. Ok? I know what I'm talking about and I have a good memory. The thing is, it's easy to remember the truth. Liars often forget what they said and to whom they said it. That's why I'm an advocate for the truth.

Circa. Mid 1980s student nurses tended to be paid around £325 per month if that helps at all.

I too couldn't find channel 5star so I googled it -

5Star
FreeviewChannel 30 Channel 55 (+1)
Satellite
FreesatChannel 131 Channel 141 (+1)
Sky (UK only)Channel 128 Channel 228 (+1)

and I still can't find it.

How long ago would a student nurse be on £11 a month?. I am in my seventies and in my youth £11 a week might have been nearer the mark.

I was a student nurse

This is either an interesting shift or you are not the same GabriellaG54. You made it very clear previously that you were a solicitor and "knew" about the behaviour of those you wanted to attack because of the time you spent in court. This is very strange that you have now become an ex-nurse. Not impossible of course but "I have my reservations ..........^

I know someone who has never worked in her life and she is 74!

mcem my dd was talking about this a few days ago.

Those that like OP said "hid money under the table" to show little profit have not got stung!

Oh yes GabriellaG I see. When she rang earlier my friend told me that jobcentre plus did mention an extra £20 would be paid (short term) to new claimants if a couple of conditions were met. One was her earnings in February and the other was the date of her claim. She does not qualify for the extra money, thanks for giving me the information though.

I know a couple in their late twenties, neither of whom have worked a day in their lives. One of them has a young child from a previous relationship. They seem to move from one council property to another on a whim, and they can afford a car, since one of them recently passed their test at the sixth or seventh attempt.

I don’t envy their lives in the least, though. The child is at school and I don’t know what they do all day, except wander around the shops or smoke and drink. It seems such a meaningless existence. It’s even odder in that I know the family of one of them, and they’re all hardworking, decent people who wouldn’t dream of acting that way themselves.

They'll probably be able to give him some cream for it.

mcem, I too know someone like that. A lot of her income is under the table. She’s come unstuck now. Shame.

It could though. I’m aware I’m idealistic, and when I was a uk teacher, the salary was fine for me. But these people are saving lives. They COULD claim symptoms and isolate, but they’re not.

I’d like to think Boris will have an epiphany while in hospital.

I doubt whether the majority of nurses made the choice because they wanted to 'serve their country' above earning enough to live on. If people were paid their worth then footballers would be on NHS salaries and vice versa. Life doesn't work that way.

An acquaintance who is self-employed has come unstuck!
His accountant can show that the business makes marginal profits so no income tax is paid. He is now furious that he can't claim as a claim would be based on profits!
Objecting because a couple of parts of the business 'show a loss' while others show a little profit. Ridiculous that HMRC say that the profitable parts are expected to be lumped in with the 'loss-making' thereby removing his right to claim!

Barmeyoldbat Also I object very strongly to the word SCROUNGERS being used to describe people claiming benefits.
I think posters have made it very clear that applies to SOME people who work the system and that other people are deserving claimants. No-one said they were scroungers.

Gabriella, the country would be screwed now if every nurse had decided to go for a well paid career instead of serving their country.

How about we pay them what they’re worth? They are literally putting the lives on the line for their country right now. I genuinely hope BJ is getting better. I hope he looks at those highly skilled nurses and feels guilty.

An edited email that I received today:

Oh, I certainly could GracesGranMK3 but I know much of this is repeated on FB and other social media and the persons involved are known and have been punished.