Why choose to live on benefits?

Question

A guy (father of 4) who goes to my gym does not work because of a bad back yet he runs 10 miles on the treadmill daily, he claims benefits and has done for 10 years, he is only 42.

There are many people who live on benefits who are able to work (this does not include people with a disability or a genuine reason for not being able to work), this is purely the lazy scroungers we all pay for. Why do they choose to live on handouts and what should we do with them?

Afallon - I agree to an extent but I still would not let someone else pay for me, after all I have respect for myself.

Keypoint - I totally agree

Ross - Your friend is someone to admire.

I do not believe this guy is unique, look how many single mothers with children of school age do not work. I believe this is common practise. Makes me laugh this guys wife has just had another baby so obviously his back is not that bad!!

cookie - at least these so called business men pay tax which pays for the NHS & education which people on benefits never do. My taxes allow people on benefits to get FREE health care.

owig - you have to remember we ALL pay indirect tax, my point is we pay for them and they put nothing back into the free services which they use.

Answer 1

They are criminals and they should be doing community service for their crimes. The sad thing is that it's cheaper just to give them fraudulent benefits than it is to employ somebody to enforce the rules or supervise community service.

It's a question of pride. People with good character are embarrassed to be dependent on others when they are capable of looking after themselves. People without good character feel no shame about it. I think the quid pro quo should be undeserving benefits in return for sterilisation.

Answer 2

They choose to live on handouts for 2 reasons. Firstly, because they have possibly had a genuine claim in the past, compared it with working and correctly ascertained that the benefit is worth more than a wage. If this man has to pay his rent, council tax, fares to work etc. from a wage he would not be left with much. But claiming benefits the state will pay his rent and council tax etc and leave him with more money to spend than if he was working. So in a way the state is responsible for making him feel like milking the system is a better option than working. Secondly, where the benefit is Incapacity Benefit (claims of this have rocketed for the last 25 years!) or Disability Living Allowance, the problem is firstly that doctors are failing correctly identify the malingerers from the genuine cases, and the panel medicals rarely happen now.

It may not always be laziness, more likely intelligence. I for one don't have the knowledge of how to milk the system some of these people have. But the wage of an unskilled worker is becoming a joke, even with the minimum wage, property prices (and therefore also rents) are soaring and working is not always profitable for unskilled people or those of poor academic backgrounds.

EDIT you are wrong that people on benefit pay no tax - they pay no DIRECT tax but they still pay VAT and excise duties etc, where the majority of the burden is for the less well off. Many people who are actually in work now make a NEGATIVE (income) tax contribution because of the tax credit system. This man with 4 kids could potentially still cost the treasury as much if he was working (though he would have to pay his rent. etc)

Answer 3

There are many genuine cases of people on benefit but occasionally you come across those that 'milk' the system and its you and I that are paying for them. I suggest you ring your local social security office, without giving your name, and ask them to check on this particular case as it is causing concern. Don't worry about the anonymous phone call the authorities receive many of them and this is the way they catch most of the offenders.

Answer 4

It's this country's fault, we give it to them.Don't blame them for taking it.If someone offered me £10,000 to do nothing for a month, I'd take it even though it would not make sense. We should only give benefits to the ones who really can't work and really need it.

Answer 5

research 'POVERTY TRAP' then you'll understand
Most people on benefits are 'better off' on benefits than working for a few quid an hour for the minimum skills they have.
And I'm not saying its right but they will be virturally homeless if they did work

Answer 6

Initially because they were entitled to the benefit. Later it became easy to rely upon the benefit, and have the time to do what you want. If you feel strongly about it, turn him in, and that will be one less.

Answer 7

My mate has cerebral palsy and has never claimed a penny off the state. He is a teacher in a college and even paid for his car to be fixed for him to use himself. These people who tell lies to get extra money make me vomit.

Answer 8

it's actually their choice to live their lives that way, now wether they are happy, contented or not, we cannot really say, but one thing for sure, if one lives in benefit and physically he is able, then he is not a good example to the younger ones, because he is not using what God gave Him, like the skills, talents and other gifts, which he must have use in order to glorify the One who made him.

Answer 9

THERE ARE STILL A LOT OF THESE IDIOTS AROUND.IT,S THE EASY WAY OUT FOR THEM.USUALLY THEIR RELATIONSHIPS GO DOWN THE PAN AS WELL.NO WOMAN WORTH HAVING RESPECTS A MAN WHO WILL NOT WORK.THEY ARE ONLY HALF CLEVER.

Answer 10

its the rich businessmen who avoid paying millions of pounds in tax you should be bothered about

benefit scroungers are small fry compared to them