Are they really hard up?

[GeorgeStorm]

I'd be interested to know what you define as that?

Just how many luxuries does one need to have a complete life of them? Even the richest man in the world can't have everything.

At what point is one a complete life of luxury?

I'd argue that when you've money for drink and cigs without any concern for key life needs your there.

By that phrase I was only saying they didn't have enough money to be at the stage where they could have whatever they wanted. You're looking a little deep into what was meant as an offhand comment to be countered by the next part of the sentence, you're focusing on the wrong bit
I personally think they live a fairly comfortable life by the sounds of it, I mean, I grew up (well, still growing really, only 20) in a comfortable lifestyle, but I wouldn't have considered us to have a luxury life when compared to some of my friends.

[doyll49]

If handicapped, cover expenses and a little extra. If able bodied cover expenses and no extras... and only if they work 8 hours a day 40 hours a week.... Can be picking up garbage, sweeping sidewalks, gardening in parks, reading to elderly in retirement homes, etc. But make them work!!

[aidanjt]

If handicapped, cover expenses and a little extra. If able bodied cover expenses and no extras...

Why? Being disabled isn't inherently more expensive than being able bodied. Both should be the same. If a particular disability requires special attention, then that matter should be assessed separately by the NHS, a department actually qualified to consider the unique needs demanded by particular disabilities.

and only if they work 8 hours a day 40 hours a week.... Can be picking up garbage, sweeping sidewalks, gardening in parks, reading to elderly in retirement homes, etc. But make them work!!

They're unemployed, not slaves for the state. If the state wants them working these jobs they should offer them with a reasonable wage.

Just how many daily fail readers are there on Hexus now anyway?

[cub1061]

Are they really hard up? No
Can they live if the benifits were cap at 26k? Yes

I was earning more 20years ago while free and single, now middle age, married with 2 kids and mortage, loans etc and earning less than what he gets in benifits but still manage to live.

We make do, can't aways have what we want and defo would never spend £240 a week shopping on food. £60 max if we really need to.

To me the hard up one are the ones that actually work to get on with their lives.

[Phage]

I quite like the idea of a universal credit instead of the myriad benefits and huge complexities surrounding the current system. However, I have no faith that it could ever be introduced.
Is 26k a living wage ? Is there anyone here who earns that and can comment from experience ?
http://www.universalcredit.co.uk/uni...nteed-to-fail/

[Jonj1611]

How the hell do you delete posts on here!

[Phage]

Obviously you can only edit your own posts.
Edit post and erase. But the entry remains.

[Jonj1611]

Hmm, fair enough.

[BobF64]

We make do, can't aways have what we want and defo would never spend £240 a week shopping on food. £60 max if we really need to.

Yes, that seems to be the difference between "on benefits" and "scroungers".

Those often complaining of "poverty" whilst on benefits probably arent that good at economising and managing their money, and dont seem to be willing to go without various luxuries like sky TV and mobile phones.

As for the £240, that seems one heck of a lot per week, but it is for 8 people, so £30 per week per person. Of course, a lot of that is their beer and fags, and according to mySupermarket, the cheapest box of 200 is £55.70.

No wonder they have no money.

[doyll49]

Why? Being disabled isn't inherently more expensive than being able bodied. Both should be the same. If a particular disability requires special attention, then that matter should be assessed separately by the NHS, a department actually qualified to consider the unique needs demanded by particular disabilities.

Disabled as in not physically/mentally able to work and need assistance physically and financially.
Able bodied means they can work but often choose not to and live off of the system instead.

They're unemployed, not slaves for the state. If the state wants them working these jobs they should offer them with a reasonable wage.

Reasonable wage is the benefits received.(enough for housing, heat, food). If they want more, find a job in private sector.

Able bodied on benefits is the problem.

Many of us live on far less working then able bodied on benefits receive for doing nothing.

Those who truly need benefits often get much less then able bodied do.

[TheAnimus]

How about a bit of funny:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature...&v=OA9t61PuiDc

[petercook7]

I have no doubt that many people are on benefits for a good reason, because they are physically incapable of work. The Beeb ran this article this morning which hasn't really helped me sympathise with people who complain about the benefit cuts:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-16812185

Do they deserve to be complaining?

My advice: ditch Sky and get the people at home LEARNING, try quitting smoking again (it can't cost more than the £3000 of ash it produces a year at 200/week) and perhaps consider not drinking the 24 cans of lager...?

Heck if they want entertainment, Lovefilm is £8 a month (c.f. £15 a week) and you get unlimited streaming movies! It costs me around £150 a year to get 4 discs at a time with unlimited streaming for 12 months - so you'd make back Sky Movies in under 3 months and have a much better selection to boot.

you forget, you need a pc you need adsl (unlimited) and you need a landline

[petercook7]

Are they really hard up? No
Can they live if the benifits were cap at 26k? Yes

I was earning more 20years ago while free and single, now middle age, married with 2 kids and mortage, loans etc and earning less than what he gets in benifits but still manage to live.

We make do, can't aways have what we want and defo would never spend £240 a week shopping on food. £60 max if we really need to.

To me the hard up one are the ones that actually work to get on with their lives.

Have you ever wondered that the wage you get has been less and hasnt been keeping up with the real market rates that employer should be paying?
You tell me that your max food bill is £60 a week for a family of 4? i do not believe that. Loans well that your fault for borrowing, ofcourse your going to feel your wage seems less.
I'm single and i spend min 40 pounds a week.

[petercook7]

I quite like the idea of a universal credit instead of the myriad benefits and huge complexities surrounding the current system. However, I have no faith that it could ever be introduced.
Is 26k a living wage ? Is there anyone here who earns that and can comment from experience ?
http://www.universalcredit.co.uk/uni...nteed-to-fail/

You dont need universal credit i'll just pump up prices down the line, what this country needs is universal housing, cheaper rents council own housing. The main reason is the cost of housing in this country, shift people away from social homes, reduce social home = more private demand sucking money out of the economy.
and this does not help.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/money/mar...g-presses.html

[kopite]

My missus has family in Denmark and was telling me that over there if you are on benefits then you go out at night and clean the streets. Shovel snow etc. Maybe if they implemented similar over here we would have a cleaner country and less benefit scroungers...

[scaryjim]

Is 26k a living wage ? Is there anyone here who earns that and can comment from experience ?

Currently supporting myself, wife and teenager on just under £20k (gross) wages, plus CHB, minimal tax credit (due to the messed up way the system handles changes in circumstance) and my wife's student loan and casual income. All together we're probably still on less than £26k *before* tax, let alone after.

It's tight - I'd be lying if I said it wasn't - but it's possible, and we still eat out occasionally, we have plenty of entertainment, we all have mobiles, we have broadband. What don't we have? Well, we don't run a car, and we don't watch television (let alone Sky). Those are probably the two main things that other people seem to consider essential that we do without.

But, of course, it all depends on circumstances. Could we live this comfortably with 6 children? I doubt it. But then again, £26k of benefits would be a considerable increase in our income...