Benefits Britain episode 7 -I'm speechless!

These programmes are made to attract audiences and sensationalise the worst cases, I used to get wound up by them but I see many genuine cases of people who just cant cope with the pace of modern life and as someone else has said 'would flourish if someone would take them under their wing'.

This is the problem with modern day life , I worked in a factory and several people with borderline learning difficulties were employed, they did lowly jobs like sweeping up, or putting things into boxes and were paid a less rate than others for a simpler job, but this gave them a reason to get up in the morning and pride in working. The unions stopped all this and made everyones wages the same and gradually these people were paid off. Equality does not work for all.

As a girl we all had a 'village idiot' who would do gardening, run errands and would be paid a pittance but they were well cared for and if in hardship all would rally round donating food etc. Nowadys the welfare state has killed all this neighbourliness. It has caused jelousy and resentment even by the better off, scarcely a day goes by when someone is being slagged off for being on benefits therefore programmes like this are fodder for people like this.

There is within the population a proportion who are simply unemployable. It may be because they have borderline personality problems, someone I know who is on the mild edge of autism and OCD has rarely worked despite desperately wanting to because despite help and assistance his social skills are poor and he has been sacked from a range of jobs for rudeness and being uncooperative.

For others their low mental abilities mean that while not being officially classed as learning disabled they are close to the boundary and quite simply cannot cope with the complexity of modern life or holding down a job.

I worked with elderly people giving help with benefits and other problems. Most were sensible people who for whatever reason had had hard lives and deserved every bit of help they got but I can remember one couple, who needed help because of problems with council tax payments and it soon became clear that both were incapable of managing money and their lives were a story of debt and struggle despite an adequate income and the lady concerned always complained about having to pay utility bills now she was retired. Yet ten years ago when I knew them, their joint income, as both received a range of untaxed disability benefits and income support benefits was £400 a week

When her husband died she gave him the most expensive funeral possible even though she had no money to pay for any funeral and was unlikely to ever pay the money off. She complained about the cost of that as well.

I had a friend who used to boast about the way she was supporting her five children "herself". She used to get very annoyed when the rest of us tried to point out that in fact it was us supporting her children because, unlike her, we declared our earnings and paid income tax.

My MIL who was eventually discovered to have thousands of pounds stashed in the bank while she claimed Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit was furious when she had to pay the money back. She never appreciated the way we had managed to save her from prosecution, and till the day she died she complained bitterly about the way the Council had taken all "Her" money away. She never seemed to grasp that she couldn't claim for things if she had the money to pay, or that she was taking money that other people might desperately need. In all other ways she was a very honest, upright citizen, she just had a complete blind spot about benefits.

We had a similar arrangement with the hospital in Staffs. As they were very short of accom for staff, we were told they would furnish our home if we bought one. Nothing matched, patterned curtains with patterned carpets, teak and plastic settee and 2 chairs,etc- small formica kitchen table and stools, cheap cooker and fridge- but it got us started- we paid the princely sum of £7 a month for the privilege. At the end of the 3 year rotation contract- a van came to pick it all up- except the carpets they allowed us to keep- neighbours thought it was the bailiffs!

I have asked someone ' in the know' about the fully kitted out flat. Apparently some councils will do this, using house fitting firms, a bit like you get when posted abroad.

The tenant either pays up in full, presumably with help from relatives, or 'leases' the furniture making weekly payments from their benefits!

I'm not commenting on the rights or wrongs of this system, just letting you know! x

These programmes are of course very selective and pick those claimants who are likely to evoke a response. I did not see the programme, but I guess there were not many people on it with a genuine problem and working hard to find a job; although a lady with LD has been mentioned above.

I spent a lot of my career working with those who desperately needed benefits because of their genuine disabilities but were struggling with the complex system for trying to claim, and for whom life was very difficult. I did also meet the other end of the spectrum where whole families saw living on benefits as a way of life. It is very irritating, but I guess, given the choice, I would rather support a few duff claimants in order to make sure that the genuinely needy are helped - the system can never be perfect and will be abused by the few.

I can understand that watching these sorts of people must get right under the skin of those who have struggled with the system whilst playing by the rules and doing all the right things. The media can be very manipulative.

GrannyTwice- of course, we all know the intention of those programmes and other Press articles in the DM, etc.

However- the total denial by so many, that such abuse is far too frequent and should be effectively dealt with- is not helping at all. We all know that the Bankers have got us in this mess- but shouting it every time welfare abuse is mentionned- does not help either. It is not a question of either or, or some sort of competition, is it. One wrong, even if worse, does not excuse another, im my book.

We all know people who are swinging the system, and have been for a long time, sometimes for generations- and are very happy to sit there making excuses. I also know two women in their 40s who have forever been on unemployment, etc, benefits- and who also say they should not do 'normal' work because they are too talented and should be top dancers - but can't because of some minor health problem. It's not going to happen is it? It makes my daugthers blood boil, as they work their guts out to pay for them and others in the same position.

I also saw a mixture of absolutely genuine claimants and some who were truly just "at it". However, among those were people who really didn't understand where money comes from. I have had to explain so often that the government doesn't just have money from nowhere in particular but only have what we, who are earning, contribute through taxes. It always seemed to be a surprise to them! I remember sitting quietly seething while one man told me that there was no point in him working as he'd only be £200 a month better off. Sometimes it was hard to remain professional! I get angry at people like them tarring all claimants with the same brush. I also saw extremely deserving cases who wouldn't dream of asking for help but who really needed it and were in fact the people for whom the benefits system was set up.

Yes POGS, I thought that she showed she was really trying, both with the weight and learning to drive so that she would be better placed to find work. I also admired the way she kept up with the "voluntary" work, even though it wasn't easy for her to get there.

I think that although she is going to the gym etc, losing the weight might be a struggle, as her parents were on the large side too, to put it mildly.

Phoenix

I think they were both getting it at one stage but he either had his stopped or reduced somewhere along the line. . I remember him calling the government and his wife said she had to support him now.

Both they and the woman who had returned from Australia to 'grow her business' here of selling Chakra Swings were abusing the system in my opinion and it is defending the indefensible to say anything other, of course some will. All 3 of them had no intention of finding employment, they were entrepreneurs , work, moi.

I found myself batting for the overweight lass, who by her own admission said she had learning difficulties,. She is going to struggle to get a job but you couldn"'t help but find her a kindly girl who could flourish, albeit in a small way, if someone could take her under their wing. She was at least trying and not like the others who felt it was 'their right' to be funded by the tax payer to have a good lifestyle whilst chasing their dreams.

Same here, POGS , unless I misunderstood and it was only his wife who was getting it. I thought the attitude of the two sons was interesting, they both seemed to give the impression that they thought it was time he gave up his fanciful notions and moved on.

Well I couldn't understand how the guy who thought he was a genius at writing music was getting welfare in the first place?

Silly little old me thought that Job Seekers Allowance was exactly that, a benefit paid to people who are actually actively seeking work.

Don't agree. I see a lot of genuine and frankly fraudulent claimants.
The problem is which is which.

Quite frankly GrannyTwice I think I'm entitled to express my own views on here, whether you think I'm "being ridiculous" or not.

Quote frankly Phoenix anyone who thinks these sort of programmes are designed as anything other than to stir up the sort of response that you have
is being ridiculous . These are not the real issues facing the majority of benefit claimants today. Every time there is a programme like this you respond like this .Dont you realise you are being wound up?