Why do people have such bad attitudes towards people on benefits?

Question

I know that there are some people who live on benefits there whole lives and really do abuse the system designed to help people get back on there feet
My problem is that my parents have between them been paying over £2000 a month in taxes for over 10 years. I had my first baby last year and I was at college so I wasn’t working, the government gave my about £50 a week to look after my little boy, I was recieving this for around a year. The amount of people who looked down on me was incredible.
Why is it that people automatically take up such bad attitudes without knowing anything about them?

Answer 1

For me it's only people who just can't be fcukin' arsed to work, they don't deserve anything. They are just bone idle, and take us as a country for mugs.
I say that if they don't want to work then don't give them a penny...........the government should clamp down on these wasters.

Answer 2

Because when people like myself and my husband pay taxes for years and years and finally do come into the need for those benefits, they are not available because we havent quite fallen flat enough in the opnion of the government. I dont think that is fair. Need is need, whether you have had money in the past and just need a little help now or you never had any to begin with. For example: I got pregnant last year and my husband had just gotten out of the military and began a new job where medical benefits were not offered through work until he was there for 6 months, but I could not get medicaid because we made too much money according to the government. We had my husbands pay only and is Disability benefits from the military only because I couldnt work due to high risk pregnancy and bed rest...By the way...they included his Non taxable disability income into consideration but not the money we had to pay monthly for child support for his daughter, also which is taxed while in his pay check. They also would not let us claim his daughter as a dependent....therefore I was unfairly denied benefits while in need. So when some people make all the right decisions and dont have the same considerations as other people in need, it can make a person resentful. Sorry if I rambled...I hope that made sense......

Answer 3

Well my other half lost his job 4 weeks ago and although hes been busting his backside looking for work he's had no luck since so he's had to sign on for JobSeekers Allowance. We have an 8 month old son to care for and a mortgage which we can't pay at present!

We don't intend to be on benefits forever. But we've both paid enough into the system for years and years that I see no reason why it should not help us a little while we go through this bad patch.

Answer 4

You've answered your own question really - it's the scum scroungers that give all the other properly needy folks a bad name.

I wouldn't begrudge you a penny but there are those who (as you say) use and abuse the system "earning" themselves hundreds if not thousands of pounds.

I have an acquaintance who had a baby and was on benefits (fair enough you say) but then she has gone on to have 3 (yes 3!) more children whilst still on benefits and no hope of ever coming off them.
She also has the audacity to moan that they don't "pay" her enough to look after her kids properly and to be able to afford to buy them the trainers etc that they need. (I'm sorry but since when did a £90 pair of trainers become a necessity!?)

I'm not saying people shouldn't have children just because they're on benefits but some people take the p**s.

Answer 5

It is a shame for those who genuinley do need some supprt through difficult times that they do get tarred by the same brush as long term benefit depenent families.
It is very frustrating for working parents struggling to support thier own children and paying taxes to support a lot of others who have no intention of doing anything to help themselves in life.
To be honest you are lucky, with such wealthy parents it is unlikely that you or your child will go without, some people do not have that luxury.

Answer 6

People are smallminded and put everyone under one roof. I had to do it for a few months after my son was born. what people dont know is that statutory maternity pay, no matter how well paid your job is every mother gets, is only £100 a week after the first 6 weeks. Ive been working full time now in a good job for over a year and my son is 2. You get a job when you are good and ready nobody should have the right to tell you not to stay with your child if thats what you want. Thats what they are there for and what we pay tax for before we have kids!However there are people who do it for their whole lives who dont care for their children enough to provide properly for them who live in rough housing and will do forever. These are the people who give benefit claimers bad names as they are not doing it because they need to they do it because they want to. Also this country makes it too easy for these people to do it too.

Answer 7

Not everyone gets assistance because of "bad choices". There are people out there that just have crap happen to them. There are job closures, lay offs, disabilities, etc. There are also people that just live in lower income areas where so called "good jobs" are hard to come by. There are times when both parents can work and still be below the poverty level. Or if both parents work the ENTIRE second check goes to child care, so then you still get assistance. Here's is my opinion on it... I have no problem with people getting assistance and using it wisely to take care of their children. I do have a problem with people who make it their way of life and lie and cheat to keep it. I have been both on and off so I can see it from both sides. I worked a t a grocery store and remember people coming in and buying the most expensive cuts of meat or junk food and it used to drive me crazy. But when someone would come in buying the best value and making their food stamps stretch I never had a problem with it. The person that said our tax money goes there any way is right. You will pay those same taxes wether people get the help or not. I would rather it go to families in need than sit there and be wasted

Answer 8

If your parents paid 2000 a month in taxes over the last ten years that means that they were making a LOT of MONEY! So if your parents were paying 24,000 a year + in taxes and you were in college (did your parents help with college?). On top of that you were going to school and the money that you spent on school (instead of that 50 from the government) could have went to your baby instead of you. Hey no one can have it all, why do you get to have a kid and go to college, if you can't make ends meet without the government help.
Hope that helps you understand, I'm not trying to be cruel but I see why people would not like you having a kid, going to college, and collecting benifits because of it, espicially if you have rich parents.

Answer 9

I think many people feel that those on benefits abuse the system especially those that live off of benefits for a long time. If people don't know you, they are lumping you with all those who do scourge off the taxpayer. I think the benefits system should be a short term safety net not a career.

I actually work for the Department for Work and Pensions and see people swing the lead all the time, but most people don't want to be on benefits and want to be self-sufficient. It is the same old story of a minority spoiling it for the majority.

Answer 10

people assume that everyone using benefits are abusing the system, most people however use those benefits the way they were designed to be used. As a way to get back on your feet.

Most people need to realize that they should be pulling the "logs" out of their own eyes before looking around to find someones else's "log."

EDIT: the majority of people on benefits are NOT abusing the system, unfortunately we hear more about the bad cases then about the good ones. Good meaning the people who work hard and do what needs to be done, such as finishing an education and getting a job then getting off of benefits so that they can give back .

Answer 11

I have changed my attitude now that I am on benefits. I have been a good taxpayer and earner for the last 10 years. i have always made money and prided myself on it. I just got married and because I had a stable job my husband started his own business. I got pregnant rthe same month I got laid off, we went from being pretty well off to being virtually penniless over night. Thank god the baby was approved for medicare, i am not and my husband isnt, which I understand, but the cost of delivery and baby care will be paid for. I hope to get a job with benefits as soon as possible, but no one will hire me with the huge belly. I will never jugde again.