uk benefits system fair or unfair?

Question

i have a friend who is currently on benefits and is unable to work through illness and is struggling.
the reason for this is because when all the gas and electric prices go up and other charges his benefit never increases, so how can he and others in the same position be expected to have any quality of life gas and electricity here in the uk is again going up but his benefits are not, he does not smoke or drink and has £7.00 per week to cover food as well as bills.

Answer 1

You're right, its disgusting. The benefits are not enough to pay for the basics, but everyone moans about how much its costing us. The fact is that honest people suffer when they're on benefits.
Your friend needs to get legal advice to make sure he's claiming everything he's entitled to. There's Citizens Advice, and most areas have a solicitor that specialises in this kind of thing. He'll be entitled to legal aid.
He should be getting housing benefit and council tax benefit. If he can get support from his g.p. he could claim invalidity or similar.
It worries me when I see people on this site complaining that their taxes go to support scroungers. Many people don't earn enough to have a good pension or savings, and ending up on benefits can happen to any one of us.

Answer 2

The UK Benefits Systems is unfair. How can anybody possibly feed themselves on £7.00 per week! The system should be completely overhauled and upgraded. Instead of the Government trying to oust Tony Blair, his ministers should be concentrating on improving things for people like your friend.

Answer 3

Whether she was on Incapacity or not, at the age of 60 she will have officially retired. As she most probably has not paid full stamps for 39 years she is entitled to a top up. They cannot change the rules just because she has not worked for 20 years. Your neighbour will also be receiving help with rent and council tax.

Answer 4

Categorically unfair.
I am English, and worked for 25 years in England, and paid a fortune in taxes and National Insurance.
I moved to Thailand for ten years, but eventually ran comnpletely out of money.
I returned to England to look for a job, hoping for a little support for a couple of weeks. I was entitled to absolutely nothing - no dole, no houoing allowance not one penny.
If it hadn't been for old friends supporting me, I would have had to live on the street, and starve to death. If I had been an illegal immigrant, I would have been entitled to money!
Luckily, I found a job, worked 70 hours a week, saved some money, and left again as fast as I could.

Answer 5

My dad has been medically signed off by his GP but social security say he is fit and well and can go to work, never mind the fact that when he went to see them he nearly toppled over in front of them and had to have a chair and a glass of water brought to him. The system stinks!
They need to pull their heads out of their @rses and start sorting things for those people like my dad and your friend who really need the help.
What really pisses me off is that in the pub where i work there is a couple on benefits and they spend about £50 a day on frickin booze! and other genuine people don't have a pot to piss in.
I think they should spend a day in my local and see where the money they give these people goes, i bet it would be a real eye opener!

Answer 6

Its the same for working people as well ...
i work and my rent , gas , electric, poll tax ect has all gone up ... yet my wages stay the same ...

This country is unfair ... people who are able to work should be made to work voluntary instead of sponging off the state ... if u genuinely cant work fair enough i understand i have been in that position myself ... but there are way too many spongers out there and it p*sses me off that they can get away with it !

Answer 7

I understand completly isn't there any harship grants he could apply for? I have been where your friend is plus I had 3 children now that's difficult. Tell your friend to visit the citizen advice bureau they can help with advice on how to cut down costs and how to pay for them does he have meters/card payments?
Close the curtains just before they get dark, turn down your themostate 1 degree less it does work i have tried all this and more good luck!! Gary G this is wrong your wife is disabled if she hasn't got both arms apply again!!!

Answer 8

Write to your mp. I live near a council estate and there are so many women there who have never worked, aren't married and have children. They consider the benefits system as a career. Maybe your friend should go to them for advice. Or have a child.

Answer 9

It is grossly unfair, how people are expected to exist on such a low income is beyond me. I am a pensioner and struggle to make ends meet as it is without price increases, especially heating costs. Your friend will only get worse without proper food and as he is probably housebound so he'll need extra fuel costs. Is this a better way to cure the sick and needy - I don't think so. I wish I could help him..........

Answer 10

It seems those genuinely in need get the inquisition for any benefit but others who are clearly (to those of us in the real world) scroungers have a free run.