There is a HUGE misconception on how much people actually recieve on benefits. The goverement issues the money on a means tested basis. What this means is they have worked out the BARE minimum of how much BASIC food, gas and electricity cost. It is not and will NEVER be a comfortable lifestyle for anyone. The idea that people do not want to work and do not want to earn more money is ridiculous! There are those who take advantage, but there is ALWAYS those people who will take advantage wherever possible, and everyone else should NOT have to suffer because of them.
Besides if you don’t give benefits when people do have babies what would our country become?? There has always been the rich and the poor, and what our country has quite RIGHTLY done is bridge the gap between the two. Before the benefits system there were still those out of work and still those who had babies young, the difference was the rich let those people suffer. We need to look at the big picture, and think what kind of a country would we be if we allowed people to basically rot on the streets because they have had a child, or have disabilities or simply lost their job… Or maybe simply just didnt have the parents that some people are LUCKY to have and hense wern’t given as easier ride through life.
I had a child when I was 18 and had to go onto benfits. I am now 21 studying financial mathematics at university. All the money I recieved in benefits I will be paying back in tax within my first few years of working. I got pregnant had no place to stay and had not choice but to turn to the council. I first lived in a hostel, then was moved to tempory accomidation on one of the worst estates in my area, full of gangs and drugs, and finally was moved to my permenant place where I am very happy now. I was in the benefits office every single week trying to sort out my benfits, having the local council leave you with NO money until you find all the documents they require, having the staff treat you as if your a criminal.
I got myself into it so I am not complaining I am writing this to make the point that it is NOT easy at all to have a baby with no money, no family support and no home. Some girls are stupid enough to have babies purly for a home and money, but then they are in for a rude awakening.
It does become easier and once you have a place and your benefits are coming in every week, because then you do not have to work as they won’t take those benefits away. However can you have buy a car, go on holiday, buy nice clothes, go out to a nice resterans? The simple answer is no. You have enough money to get by and live half the normal life others do. I’m now a student and have more money living off student loans then I did on benefits.
I have studied the benfits system inside and out and there are many reasons why people are not working, one huge factor is that rents are just way too high for people on low income jobs to afford, another is the moral and self confidence in people from bad backgrounds are so SO low. It is never as simple as those who are blessed with and easier life make out.
The unemployment in this country is so high now there actually isn’t any jobs. If you go and try to get a job off the job centre website when you have little or no qualifications you will see the compitition people are up against. What this country needs to do is show the people on benefits, show those raising children, show those even on disabilities that life would be better when working. There is a way to gain enough qualifications and experience to work your way out of the bottom up to the top, and then give back to our country.
People do not want to feel worthless it isn’t in our nature.
