Do the British expect and rely on Benefits too much?

Question

I always hear of people in the UK talking about the different types of benefits they are entitled to and also council housing. It seems like people on average income still get some type of benefits.

My idea is that only the people in desperate poverty should be getting some benefits, or maybe no benefits at all and only support from charities.

What’s wrong with the idea that if you want something – go out and get a job or second job, work and save your money for it. Don’t expect government handouts.

Answer 1

I work with people who take benefits as well as hear lots of horror stories about it all, it doesnt look good i admit!

The government have these little things called equal rights, human rights etc blah blah! and have over recent years had to make it clear to people that they are entitled to stste benefits, witht the idea being that if you have worked enough, and you fall ill then you will be paid for by your national insurace credits accrued from working.

As soon as the public got wise to the fact that the state can pay for them even though they hadnt enough credits to pay for themselves, then we see a generation of people claiming benefits and not working.

You are right in that people should be working, not only because the rest of us have to pay for them , but also that work, and being rewarded for work builds self esteem. The amount of people i work with who have low self esteem issues and low self worth, and low worth of the world around them is huge, as they dont have any kind of reward in place for effort. They dont contribute to their lives so recieve no reward in the for of pay or praise!

The victorians and the UK population upto the 70's hardly had self esteem issues as they all worked...even if it was in a crappy factory or up chimneys, because they worked and got rewarded in some way!

If i do something for someone and they cant pay me....i ask them to pay anything they can, to show willing and commitment. that way they are more likely to feel ok about what they are getting, becuse they had given something.!

People on benefits give little, and get much, creating a disrespectful attitude which is being taught to their children!

god it annoys me!!

Answer 2

Your idea would create more poverty and cause more problems then it would actually solve. You have to face the fact that the average working person struggles to pay there bills each month, struggle to pay there mortgage and struggle to keep up with the ever rising prices of gas and electric. Without this countries benefit system the streets would be lines full of starving homeless people. What happened to the days when people helped those less fortunate then themselves instead of slamming them for needing help? There isn't enough jobs to go around that pay a decent enough wage for people to live on, there aren't enough employers willing to  gives jobs to people that maybe don't have ever qualification under the sun. Its good people say the goverment should spend more money on training, but simply training people isn't going to create enough jobs to cater for everyone. getting rid of benefits wouldn't make this country any better then what it is, some people don't agree with benefits but watch how fast they would be applying for them when they needed help. It's simple if you don't like where your tax goes, don't pay it then you can personaliy live off someone elses tax for a while whilst in jail.

Answer 3

I am on a military disability pension as my service made me ill. I cannot work and bitterly resent those who say that welfare recipients are all workshy scum. You are ignorant of what disabled people have to put up with from bigots everywhere who say "Get a job"

I would love to work but my disablity will not let me.

As to the t**d above who said "put them up a chimney" you are very lucky I do not know you otherwise you will be in reconstructive surgery and I would be on remand.  

Answer 4

The thing is there are people out there looking for work but most employers are too fussy about who they want. Most jobs which i have seen in the past month have all contained the words, required and esstential. There is no training anymore for people to do these jobs. People cannot live on charity money as charites cannot support the massive nessecity faced by the population.

An overhauled is needed I agree but the employers must start widening the net a bit and more jobs will be needed for people to fill.

Answer 5

No-one is ever going to get wealthy living on benefits - a single person's weekly Job Seekers' Allowance is only equivalent to around 10 hours at the national minimum wage, and it's not an open-ended benefit.

It annoys me when people read and believe the garbage printed in the Daily Mail (by extremely well-paid journalists) and don't look up the true facts themselves.

Answer 6

No and you have heard wrong, Benefits are severely restricted in the UK and only the poorest and most disadvantaged can claim. Middle income earners do not get benefits.  

Answer 7

The whole of the UK needs an overhaul. How can it be right where somebody who works 40 hours a week, gets less than scum scroungers on benefits. Where those taking benefits can afford to go on foreign holidays. The NHS needs reforming to cover A&E and essential healthcare. I agree with the other respondant that there need to be training courses specifically for job areas that are hard to fill. But people need to be realistic that if you don't get good qualifications, the chances of you making £££ are very limited. Please, please please, don't vote Labour next time round, 10 years of damage is enough.

Answer 8

that is a fine sentiment, apart from one problem. In the UK we are forced to pay national insuance when we work, which is to support pensions and benefits. If we pay for the insurance, we should be able to claim. THe problem is with the lazy liars who wreck it for everyone else.

Answer 9

What is wrong with your argument is the fact that for a whole variety of reasons some people can find themselves through no fault of their own temporarily or permanently unable to work.  

If there were no benefits there would be an increase in crime as people will steal to eat.  

Also I have to correct you, welfare benefits are not Government handouts, they are part of a fund that people contribute to while they are working so that they can draw on those funds if and when they become unemployed.  It is probably the best system a civilised society could use.

Answer 10

I think benefits only end up encouraging people to just give up and live off other's taxes. While I'm sure there's a fair share of people who really need this extra income, I think eventually most do end up relying too much on it. I have to say, the UK has sooo many opportunities for employment in comparison to other countries. If people are not qualified then I think the money from benefits would be better employed in training them.