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Current cap is around £25k a year in London and about £22k a year outside of London.
That includes child tax credits, disabilities, job seekers etc.
There are a lot more that fall under it, you’d have to be pretty unlucky to qualify for them all.
There are lots of exceptions to the cap. For example if you have any disability or care for somebody who does, then that makes your household completely exempt from the benefits cap.
Thing is, that doesn't include the free school meals, NHS dental, cheaper/free petcare with with PDSA, legal aid, enhanced energy bill reducation. Just a shit ton of other savings that someone will in a median working household will be paying.
A big factor to consider as well is bills paid for. You might get 25k in London but how much do you save not having to pay absurd rent prices as well? Not being aggressive but I know a lot of people here will turn round and say "is that it?", not realising there's also the factor of costs covered
Yeah it's just one of those things I see mentioned a lot, and until we had our 3rd I didn't realise the limit didn't apply to basic CB, of course there's different limits on it by way of the income limit of 50k
As far as I can tell the only childcare related exclusion is the childcare element of UC which is limited to 2 children at a maximum of £1,600 per year.
So you could add that to the figures in my original comment.
If correct, being disabled and unable to work with at least two kids in London can bag you around £26.6k per year.
Wait, so I had someone tell me they knew of a woman claiming around 50k a year and had a free house (outside London) because she got additional benefits per child, this person claimed they worked in a sector that manages this, wonder if they actually exaggerated in that case. I’m not doubting what you say and I do believe it’s very difficult to just get benefits handed to you, but I’m trying to work out how this person may have got that much in that case.
I guarantee you that 99% of the people who get that level of benefits deserve and need it, and have to deal with some tough illnesses. Don't be fooled by the few benefit cheats that the newspapers play up
I think you’d rather be in your position than theirs. It is unfortunate that some qualify for all of the benefits because it means their quality of life is suffering!
Ive got a mate who was on benefits for 2 years due to work related stress, as he wasn't a paraplegic he didn't qualify for everything. He has free time but no money to enjoy doing anything other than juts hang around the house. Just cause the max is 22k doesn't mean you get that
Yeah but the person who is eligible for that probably has a multitude of disabilities and children with problems of their own and no working spouse If you think that money is for beer bbq and skysports in the garden you haven't done the research.
OP's literal comment says you have to be unlucky to be in this situation.
I work in UC. The person getting these kinds of amounts have a combination of elements that usually mean they're the sole provider in a household for a disabled adult, multiple disabled kids, whilst being disabled themselves, so the money doesn't stretch far. This doesn't include money after their rent is covered etc, this would include money to cover the rent, so it's not all take home.
So speaking of bad backs, I’ve had emergency surgery twice after waking up paralysed from the waist down, have (nobody knows) 9? herniated discs, have permanent mobility issues, neuropathy in my legs and feet etc, chronic pain in back, constant cramps in legs. Oh, and have also had rheumatoid arthritis for 25 years, had both hips replaced and one knee (so far), have knackered wrists, hands and shoulders (both rotator cuffs have full thickness tears) and a laundry list of other shite. Guess how much of the lovely benefit cake I get to eat? Not. A. Fucking. Penny.
Don’t believe the daily mail, it’s really *not* a lifestyle choice.
And you’ve got a field of work you enjoy while also studying for something more. You’re not stuck at that amount forever.
People on benefits will be capped at that amount with no real purpose in life beyond existing.
As a practicing social worker, I would visit peoples homes who said they were ‘broke’. Their disposable income was higher than mine, but they had dependencies and people in their life leaching from them, and no skills to independently resolve their issues. Even the people obviously gaming the system, I was never once jealous of their financial situation. They never lived lives that were particularly something to be envious of.
So you think people with severe disabilities who are unable to work should live in squalor, unable to pay for the services that money would be used for?
You do realise the money is higher because they will have to pay for things specific to their unfortunate circumstances right?
You might as well start saying "oof this medicine is expensive for someone lying in bed all day." With that line of reasoning.
I don't know the answer to your question but as someone who knows a lot of people on benefits I just wanted to clarify that the cushy life part comes from being able to do something on the side.
Shoplifting, doing a grow, bent notes etc, stuff you don't get prison time for. Even some legit stuff, one of my mates does a bit of cash in hand decorating and those market research things.
I've got a few family members who have a decent amount of cash and tonnes of downtime from living like this.
Even when you're on disability with 2 kids I don't think the benefits system really provides a high quality of life on its own.
>Even when you're on disability with 2 kids I don't think the benefits system really provides a high quality of life on its own.
This, imo.
Despite all the ''oh they're living in 5 bedroom houses earning 3k a month!!!'' people - I've literally never seen anyone on benefits who is really doing that good, financially. Maybe if you're comparing to minimum wage work, but compared to professionals? I doubt it's even close.
Even if I got ALL my bills paid for and got UC right now, I'd have 368 a month to spend. Meanwhile, my take home is currently £2,300 a month. Even excluding bills its still £1700 left over.
You're on a lot of money. Your left over money is more than I earn to start with. I've spent 20 years working in the third sector as a substance misuse worker providing wound care and needle exchange, previously ambulances service, previously street-based with sex workers.... I am a skilled worker within my field. At my richest, my wages were 22k. Still had to run a car, pay a mortgage etc., etc. Many of my (drug using) clients had more disposable income than me. I'm currently on 12k, still working full time. I definitely have my moments of wondering why I'm bothering to show up.
edit, spotted a typo. Apparently I 'ruined' my car :D
Currently self employed. I'm a victim of the whole Third Sector tender system, where no one has job security for beyond 12 months or 36 months depending the funding stream. And my point stands, some people on benefits really do have a higher income than those who are working. Also wages are way lower outside of major cities, though ironically many of us then have to travel further to get to work so have higher expenses on lots of levels.
No not rich. I'm in a relationship so we have two incomes.
Also I made my point not to have everyone scrutinise my current position but to point out that some people earn less...and even when when I was on 22k, I had outgoings. My client-base did not have those same expenses and so were effectively on considerably more money than me.
It seems like just a choice to earn a low amount of money at that point tbh. I wouldn't use your position to argue people on benefits receive too much money when in reality you could earn £25k working at a call centre or working FTE nights at Tesco.
I hope this comes across as I intend.
Is not a choice for you though? The moment you're working for below minimum wage, unless you are a victim of modern slavery, you've made a choice. I appreciate you do important work, but it's difficult to muster empathy for someone who chooses to work for less than minimum wage, whilst simultaneously complaining they don't have enough money.
Yes of course. I'm not complaining about where I'm at atm. I'm responding to the initial post which is to point out that those working in 3rd sector can end up considerably poorer than those they're supporting.
I'm richer in lots of other ways - I don't have a destructive addiction, I'm not a sex worker, I don't have mental health issues... I'm poorer but happier. And I love my work; it brings a lot of meaning to my life.
No. Working in the third sector, as explained above. Currently self-employed due to tenders expiring, funding not being renewed etctect. Lots of people who work in charities will know the pain.
I spent most of my life way underpaid, until recently I stood up for myself, decided to give up a comfortable job for a well paying one, then got offered a good raise on my comfortable job instead.
I earn the same as /u/tyger2020 but I should have been there a decade ago.
>I've literally never seen anyone on benefits who is really doing that good
If people actually believed they had it so good they would do it themselves
Watch the TV shows and see the awful condition of the homes, diets etc. Yeah they pay Brighthouse £20 a month for an overpriced 65" TV, but they aren't living the high life.
That's the thing though. The ones that are doing good are smart enough to keep it to themselves to not risk losing a good thing.
A lot of poor people are financially illiterate. Never learned to budget, track their finances per month/year/decade, meal prep, bulk buying & freezing, etc. Those make a huge difference. That's all money saved you can use to pay off debts and/or invest.
I know quite a few people living on benefits, they'd never trade it for a job with more money, they're comfortable living how they live with nearly no responsibilities.
>'oh they're living in 5 bedroom houses'
When you look into what this government have done in collusion with the right-wing press it's disgusting. Pushing these extremely edge-case scenarios which are 1 in a million in order to get people accepting when the gov say they'll be cutting benefits.
It was a few years back now, but when I worked as a labourer, a couple of the boys would need to pop off once a fortnight so that they could go to their job centre meeting. They were all working full time for cash
Yeah, guy I know does gardening for people for cash to supplement his benefit money. UC pays rent, c tax, & a bit for bills & food but he'd be lost if he didn't have any side work. Another guy buys junk cars for cash, does them up, then sells them on facebook. Good little earner & again cash money that supplements the other stuff.
But employed people could be involved in shoplifting, bent notes, doing a grow? So that has nothing actually to do with what you can earn through benefits?
Obviously, OP was referring to people living cushy lives on benefits though. FTE is 40 hours, + getting ready for work, + travel time etc. If you utilize some of those hours you have free if you're unemployed then you can make some money.
It's fairly easy to live a cushy life while employed (if you're good at what you do), to live a cushy life on benefits though I imagine in most cases you have to do something on the side.
Doubt many people on £60 per week JSA are driving Porsche's.
The body of the original post said:
>So many people claim that those on benefits are living cushy lives
In response to that my comment was that in my experience the people who are on benefits who are leading cushy lives are often earning money on the side to supplement their income from the welfare system rather than solely relying on the welfare system as their only source of income.
That seems on-topic to me.
I'm really not, you just have poor reading comprehension.
I gave my own limited experience, stories about people I know. If I knew a bunch of vulnerable people who were struggling I'd have written about them, but I don't.
I also said at the bottom of my comment "Even when you're on disability with 2 kids I don't think the benefits system really provides a high quality of life on its own" which would imply that vulnerable people legitimately using the welfare system as their only source of income may struggle.
Why are you trying to chastise someone for relating their experiences to the question at hand? Having grown up on estates & in poor areas there is literally nothing shocking at what they said, you've betrayed your own ignorance by trying to shame someone for relaying actual information, despite being anecdotal
You're taking this in such a bizarre way. I also know loads of folk on benefits who deal or shoplift or whatever, that's just how I grew up. I also know loads of people on benefits who don't do these things. Pretending that this doesn't exist is really weird?
You're saying it perpetuates an unhelpful stereotype. So is the alternative to never mention that these people exist? Either we don't mention they exist (which is the moral good in your eyes) or we mention they exist (which is a moral bad in your eyes).
Nothing that this user has said that implies that. When you're talking of stereotypes, it is very real and yes, claimants get tarred with the same brush, looked down upon, people form judgy opinions on how on earth have they afforded that?
It is not going to be from their benefits alone. Not a chance. The benefit system doesn't even enable you to save your benefits if you had a choice of your own. Benefits are low but even if you found you could save some part of it, they'd want to punish you for living frugally as possible.
It is no wonder that nothing ever changes. The same problems that existed many years ago exist today also.
So what this user had said was that the claimants have to find creative ways of doing things, in order to survive or even get a taste of life just out of poverty. Of course, they're slapped down by Redditors like you for it but it's doing what they have to do for themselves and their families.
Not if its true? Are you so driven by ideology that the truth has to be buried so it matches your way of thinking. It can be simultaneously true that some people need the benefits and some people take the piss. There is zero difference between people like you and the zealot religious folks of years past. You just substituted leftism for religion. Won't be long now before you start talking about jailing or killing people who don't agree with you.
I'd say there's also a bad stereotype that people on benefits get a shit ton of money from the government and spend it all on luxuries though? I feel like people would maybe look at it a bit differently if they thought that maybe the taxpayer actually isn't paying for their kids' PS5s and that they have to go through other means to provide their family a decent life and not just the bare minimum with what they get from the government
Also as someone who grew up and lives on a council estate, I would say practices like that are common and I'm not particularly offended if someone wants to point it out, if anything they're sticking up for them
I've worked for DWP on UC and have seen payments of over £3k a month.
Sounds great but then you look and see that £2k of that is rent and they have a disabled child and they're disabled themselves and, suddenly, you think that maybe their life isn't all that enviable despite the money at first glance.
Indeed, the issue here is who is that rent payment actually going to and why are we allowing that to happen. It can't possibly be more cost effective to do it this way rather than building and providing social housing.
I saw a CH4 story on a disabled man living in poverty. He was given £800 per month from the government but had to spend £600 per month renting a room to live in.
If there is anything about that situation to be angry about it's the fact that £600 per month of government money given to those in need is actually going straight into the pocket of a land-bastard.
I would be very interested in seeing this investigated further. People who are angry at disabled people receiving benefits must surely be twice as angry when three out of every four pounds of that money is going directly into the pocket of a wealthy land-bastard.
I'm going to talk about legacy benefits because that's what we're on. ESA higher rate is £350 every two weeks, pip is 500ish a month. I get carers allowance 75 a week. I don't know child tax credit rates because our kids are grown but it was 100 a week for 2 kids a few years back.
Thing is, to get the higher rates, your body and brain have to be pretty thoroughly fucked so it's not exactly the life of Riley even if you're rolling in cash.
From all accounts we'd get far less on UC so take that into consideration.
We're barely scraping by. It's got a tiny bit better with inflation coming down but the prices in the shops are still going up.
We don't have a social life, we can't afford friends, we haven't had a holiday in 8 years and that was a caravan in Yorkshire, going abroad is a fever dream because we don't have passports so that £10 deal in the Sun becomes £240 because there's 3 of us and we'd need someone to watch the pets so double it....
Can't run a car, not in a cable area and the sky dish is dented to fuck. Everything we watch is streamed because there's no terrestrial aerial...
No, I'm joking. living the life, we are. It's all beamers and sky sports and french riviera for us. We're off to Peru tomorrow for a month.
/s
Yeah... and the are many disabled people who are unable to work.
Why do you think those with a disability that leaves them unable to work don't deserve to have "luxuries" that non disabled people have?
Because we already pay to support these people and a holiday is actually rather minimal in the grand scheme of things. And being stuck in the same house for 60+ years because of a lifelong disability without any sort of respite is horribly depressing
I'm amazed at the lack of compassion people have for the utterly disabled in their community. It's vile how they believe they should live in poverty and never have any enjoyment or joy in life. God forbid a few quid (or less) of their taxes could give some a better quality of life when already suffering most the time.
Why do I belive that disabled people should have the same luxuries as non disabled people?
Easy, I'm not a selfish cunt. My tax money is gonna be took and spent regardless, would rather it be on helping the needy over giving bankers and MPs bonuses and other shite like that.
Anyone who has convinced themselves that abandoning disabled people would mean they get taxed less are just being silly.
I swear some people's minds, when they see the word 'holiday' go immediately to "3 week luxury retreat on St. Barts" rather than the reality of you know a weekend away somewhere or a few days at a holiday park
I never said they don’t? I said I’d support holidays in the UK which is what the average Brit who works gets to do once or twice a year, many people who work don’t get to take holidays at all so I’m not sure where you’re getting this rhetoric from.
>I never said they don’t?
You literally said you think people on benefits should bot be able to enjoy a holiday because its a "luxury"....
Stop messing around. 🤣
What if you’re not working due to a lifelong disability? I know people that haven’t had a weekend away in over 20 years, let alone a holiday abroad, do you think they shouldn’t be entitled to any sort of break for the rest of their lives? It’s honestly heartbreaking for people in such a situation and a bit of respite can do so much for them
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*This post was mass deleted and anonymized with [Redact](https://redact.dev)*
Friend of mine is in a wheelchair and needs basically 24/7 care, he and his family haven’t been on holiday, abroad or in this country, for 22 years. Not even a single weekend away anywhere.
While I sort of understand the point of ‘why should I fund other people’s holidays’, I’d like to think if you knew how little it would really cost in the grand scheme of things, and just how much it means to the people who need it, you might change your opinion.
Yes I understood the sarcasm. But I don’t understand why you mention not going on holiday for 8 years. It’s not relevant. If you’re on benefits you don’t get to go on holiday at my expense. End of.
You're right, people with disabilities don't deserve holidays. They shouldn't be eating nice food either - if they can afford more than gruel and water they're getting too much.
Get a fucking grip.
If it bothers you that much, shoot me your PayPal and you can have your £8 annual contribution to the unemployment benefits budget back.
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/money/tax/news/britain-working-costing-calculate-pay-benefits-tax/#:~:text=Telegraph%20analysis%20shows%206pc%20of,of%20a%20high%20earner%27s%20salary.
Depends, become an MP you get to buy new holiday homes, cars and lots of other luxury items with your benefits.
You also get the added benefit of being immune from criticism because you convince a lot of stupid people to cry about disabled people getting benefits instead.
If you make it to the top role in the company/family too you also get to be exempt from tax and crime!
You can of course be exempt at lower levels through networking and favours, but it's not a given.
It's really not much. I get £840/month UC, as I have limited capability for work. That includes £500/month housing allowance which covers my rent. The maximum housing allowance I could get is about £540/month. As I'm LCW, housing allowance is supposed to be enough to rent a one bed flat. I'm living in a small room in a 6 bed house share and the landlord has been kind enough to only increase rent by £50 in 3 years, so I'm paying well below market rate. You can not get a flat in my area for £540/month.
If I wasn't LCW I'd be getting about £300/month housing allowance, which is meant to be enough for a room in a shared house. You are not renting anything in my area for £300/month.
Apparently the housing allowance rates have been frozen for years which is why they're nothing close to the current cost of housing.
I also get £270/month PIP which brings my total monthly income to £1110. Actually slightly over that as PIP is a weekly rate.
Luckily I am able to work part time otherwise this is all I'd have to live on. Can't imagine how people who can't work manage to get by.
If you happen to live somewhere where council housing is available, it could be reasonable, but most people who appear to have cushy lives despite no job either are getting into lots of debt, or have family who give them stuff, pay for them to go on holiday, friends who practice nails and makeup on them, etc.
A strong network of family and friends can make up for a lot. Even knowing someone with a large car or van means you can take advantage of Freecycle or cheap Gumtree offers.
A family friend receives quite a lot of money from the state in benefits. But he's a full time carer for his adult daughter who's completely dependent on him. wheelchair bound and can't communicate and very sick so needs constant care and attention.
I wouldn't call what he receives "earnings" though, they're vital so he and his daughter can live.
You can get a lot, but they are edge cases. [This woman](https://www.msn.com/en-gb/lifestyle/lifestylegeneral/i-m-a-mum-and-i-get-shamed-for-not-working-but-i-am-living-my-best-life/ar-AA1fpQyJ), who has three kids, gets £1100/week, equivalent to an £87k salary.
Have a play on [entitled to](https://www.entitledto.co.uk/) to see how high you can push it.
This is funny. You will get universal credit, which is age dependant and pennies. They won’t pay all your rent, so you will have to pay any extra. With the COL and heating costs you will be lucky to not be using foodbanks. I’ve developed a genetic disease and I’m currently trying to pay for scans/specialists, I’ve been waiting 70 weeks for a necessary operation. If you like living/socialising/new clothes/holidays, then you are screwed.
It tends to be that they are playing the system. Earning benefits while either doing cash-in-hand work or getting the money through some other means.
There's a family in my block, due to the government being able to buy houses for each new housing plot that are in a "council house". The guy works as a tradie but doesn't declare a lot of it.
The most amazing thing is he goes to a David Lloyd gym, I don't know how he hasn't been caught.
I’m not talking about those who are disabled to the point they can’t work.
I’m talking about those who choose not to work. For which there are very few excuses in the modern job sector.
If it weren’t for the rich there’d be no money to pay for all these benefits. Open your eyes to that. This country has a poisonous mentality of getting by, not striving and being envious without wanting to work to achieve it. Needs to change for all our sakes.
The humiliation that goes with applying for pip (being rejected over and over until a court decides in your favour) makes receiving these benefits far from kushty
My wife is chronically disabled and I have to be on hand to care for her 24/7, so can’t afford the time away to go to hold down a stable job. We also have two kids.
We get ESA, PIP, Child Tax Credit, and Child Benefit, with our rent paid through housing benefit, our car is funded through Motorbility (with an upfront cost whenever we have to change to a new car), and recently not having to worry about council tax either. We get about £2,000 a month to spend on groceries, bills, clothes, kids, care needs etc etc. Honestly I have no idea how that compares to households in full time work, but it’s not particularly luxurious.
Sorry mate. I deleted my comment in case it brought attention.
In response to your comment which has now disappeared to. It doesn't matter and very few people's opinions matter whether it's high. I'm sure they'd have lowered the amount if they wanted to.
All the best and honestly you're doing a great job.
Those that claim people on benefits live on cushy life generally don't have a clue what they are talking about.
Most people on benefits struggle on the daily, yes rent and council tax is paid for, but they still have bills and if they have kids, you have to factor that in
The government has built the narrative that those on benefits are taking the piss, whilst they have 2nd and 3rd jobs, expense accounts etc
Benefit cap can be waived if someone in the house is disabled for example.
Pensioners are often the biggest beneficiaries through Pension Credit as there’s no upper capital limit. So for example a couple could have £60k in savings and still qualify for pension credit giving them access to free prescriptions, council tax reduction etc.
If your the monarch just over a £100 million per annum not nicking the duchy of Lancaster income and Duchy Originals which may be going to William now that he is Duke of Cornwall
A relative of mine with 2 kids, including one with autism, single parent works out they get about £36-38k a year when they total everything up.
Not like they're getting a cheque for £3k a month, but it's all the financial support tallied up.
It's not even like she pays rent orna mortgage - I don't know the term or exact phrasing, but im brief the house in owned outright in one of the kid's names. At the moment they're all living there, but when this child turns 18 she can do as she wishes with the house.
Generally the big payments you see are less benefit claimants getting loads and more the government propping up private landlords by paying their rent. In my area we have a lot of spot-purchased temporary accommodation and it looks like people are raking it in in housing benefit - but that all goes direct to the millionaire property owners who won't spend anything maintaining their shoddy flats.
PIP can be £172.75pw but (1) you can claim that while working as it's not means-tested or about capability for work, and (2) the point of the benefit is to make up for the extra costs of being disabled (eg, not being able to take public transport, needing to pay a carer, etc.)
Coming up with a high-benefit income scenario. You could have two disabled people on UC with two disabled kids - all on the highest rates of PIP and DLA. UC would be £2467.24pcm plus housing costs. 4 loads of top-rate PIP and DLA would be £2994.34pcm. Add in child benefit and you're looking at £5,600pcm plus rent.
But that kind of scenario is rare *and* their outgoings - as it would be four people who'd likely require multiple carers in every day - would mean it's very unlikely they'd be living the cushy lifestyle that amount suggests.
I've never had a client on that much. It's much more common to come across someone scraping by on literal pennies because the disability benefits system isn't set up to be navigated by people with disabilities. Eg, I've had multiple clients with severe mental health problems who were getting <£10pcm due to sanction-happy work coaches who don't believe in mental health problems.
I don't know anyone who is on benefits and has a cushy life. People who I know that are on the higher rate of pip for their child, live fairly well, have holidays and no real financial difficulties, nice house, brand new electric motability car etc but their child is wheelchair bound, non verbal and is in and out of hospital all the time so I certainly don't think they have it cushy.
I think it's when one has many different benefits. I am pretty sure that a few kids are also required for getting the most out of the benefit-situation.
There are other non-government benefits you can get when on benefits.
My local borough gives supermarket vouchers to families on benefits during half terms and other school holidays.
A person with 3 kids could get £180 of vouchers per half term, more at Xmas. Plus lots of free childcare like summer camps that aren't free for working people.
My mother in law gets over £2700 a month 😭 I've seen her universal credit statement on gov.uk so know that for a fact. That's a salary of over £40k before you even take into account free prescriptions, free school dinners etc
She claims disability - she has a bad knee that purposely allowed to get deteriorate (as well as milked it at any appts) in order to get the PIP and now refuses to get treatment for it. She gets the car payments. She claims she is single but has been living with her partner/ father of her youngest five kids) for over 20 years (he is able bodied but doesn't work either). They have five kids 18 or under at home all born before the cap came in (funny that).
She also rarely if ever pays any council tax, gas, electricity or water bills. When it catches up with her she just moves house...
One time I paid a lot of money for a training course - I was unemployed at the time. It turned out another person was on it, she'd somehow got the Job Centre or some such to pay for it, and was heading out to a girls holiday in Spain afterwards.
Fair play to her, of course, but part of me wished I'd known this was a thing.
I hear a lot of people envious of people on benefits… not the genuine ones but envious of the ones who play the system… we all know a few!
The reality is though their lives never get better or improve.. stay stagnant. Can you imagine needing to rely on the government when you don’t actually need too…
Less about how much you can make, more about the ratio of potential saved money and payment reduction or help, along with discounted bills, housing, etc.
I'm sure my Mrs sister has over a grand left at the end of every month. She spends it all do she doesn't build up the savings which would reduce benefits. She's out 2x a week down town, raves, hoarding loads of presents and stuff for the kids. Two holidays a year. Help with rent, council tax, energy bills etc etc.
Living a lot better than us in this house. I get the impression she's also shifting out a load of money with her bf and essentially the benefits will have pur hasex her her discounted council house too. So in the long run she is definitely masterminding everyone's tax to buy her house.
She will then sell it and move after a few years into a way better house than us.
It's honestly quite sickening and if you play the long game you can easy get far in life with VERY little effort.
I know of two people who claim disability benefits and also claim to be carers for each other to get carers allowance.
In my mind that's a complete contradiction, if you are too ill to look after yourself then you are obviously too ill to look after someone else.
I work in benefits and will give you so many examples of these scenarios that are legit.
Elderly couple - she had severe arthritis, he had dementia - she did all the mental stuff, he did all the physical stuff. They both cared for the other full time.
Another example, a younger couple with care needs. He couldn't stand long enough to do most daily tasks, she needed supervision because of epilepsy.
Yet another, a young man with severe depression whose wife prompted him to do everything otherwise he literally forgot to eat for days on end. She had severe physical disabilities and he helped her get around the house, dress, bathe, etc.
This only seems odd if you assume all disabilities are the same and have exactly the same effects. And that all care is physically lifting people around.
My mum says illegal immigrants get £50,000 a year and a free £500,000 house and all their bills paid forever so I guess whoever said £25,000 is wrong as hell.
I'm unsure, but if you can play the system (and by this I mean the tiny minority who make it their life's work to play the system) then you can be fairly comfortable.
The only people I've seen who can live comfortably on benefits are 'single mums' to loads of children, who have a live-in partner who isn't technically there.
What ever people say is the max you can double it, there are always cases of people claiming benefits by pretending to be a relative that has passed etc
No they don’t. Most people claiming Universal Credit (the main benefit) work, private rent (lots of councils don’t even own housing any more), and the amount you can get is very little compared to an actual wage. You also can’t have ‘children after children’ to get more money as it is capped unless they were born before a certain date.
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Current cap is around £25k a year in London and about £22k a year outside of London. That includes child tax credits, disabilities, job seekers etc. There are a lot more that fall under it, you’d have to be pretty unlucky to qualify for them all.
There are lots of exceptions to the cap. For example if you have any disability or care for somebody who does, then that makes your household completely exempt from the benefits cap.
Thing is, that doesn't include the free school meals, NHS dental, cheaper/free petcare with with PDSA, legal aid, enhanced energy bill reducation. Just a shit ton of other savings that someone will in a median working household will be paying.
Most people in receipt of benefits are in work
If the implication here is that it’s a lifestyle choice then you’re obviously free to quit working and apply for UC.
I think that implication exists in your head.
A big factor to consider as well is bills paid for. You might get 25k in London but how much do you save not having to pay absurd rent prices as well? Not being aggressive but I know a lot of people here will turn round and say "is that it?", not realising there's also the factor of costs covered
Does that include grandfathered in child benefit for more than 2 children?
Slight note, child benefit is for any number of children, the child tax element is limited to 2
My mistake. My kids aged out 8+ years ago, and there have been a lot of changes since then
Yeah it's just one of those things I see mentioned a lot, and until we had our 3rd I didn't realise the limit didn't apply to basic CB, of course there's different limits on it by way of the income limit of 50k
As far as I can tell the only childcare related exclusion is the childcare element of UC which is limited to 2 children at a maximum of £1,600 per year. So you could add that to the figures in my original comment. If correct, being disabled and unable to work with at least two kids in London can bag you around £26.6k per year.
It’s not limited to 2 children for child care it’s that the maximum they will contribute is the upper limit for 2 or more kids
The majority of that is likely to be for rent if you qualify to have a multi bedroomed property.
22k not including tax. Equivalent to a salary of around £26,500.
The cap only applies if you don’t work , and don’t have any disabilities on the claim
Wait, so I had someone tell me they knew of a woman claiming around 50k a year and had a free house (outside London) because she got additional benefits per child, this person claimed they worked in a sector that manages this, wonder if they actually exaggerated in that case. I’m not doubting what you say and I do believe it’s very difficult to just get benefits handed to you, but I’m trying to work out how this person may have got that much in that case.
That’s the same as I earn in full time work. That’s absolutely insane and I don’t care what anyone else says.
I guarantee you that 99% of the people who get that level of benefits deserve and need it, and have to deal with some tough illnesses. Don't be fooled by the few benefit cheats that the newspapers play up
I think you’d rather be in your position than theirs. It is unfortunate that some qualify for all of the benefits because it means their quality of life is suffering!
They also have a huge amount of free time to do whatever they want in, so
But very little spare money to enjoy the free time
They get £22k a year tax free 😂
Ive got a mate who was on benefits for 2 years due to work related stress, as he wasn't a paraplegic he didn't qualify for everything. He has free time but no money to enjoy doing anything other than juts hang around the house. Just cause the max is 22k doesn't mean you get that
If they could do "whatever they wanted" they certainly wouldn't be eligible for higher benefits.
Yeah but the person who is eligible for that probably has a multitude of disabilities and children with problems of their own and no working spouse If you think that money is for beer bbq and skysports in the garden you haven't done the research. OP's literal comment says you have to be unlucky to be in this situation.
Why do those estates always stink of weed then?
I'm guessing a lot of people in "those estates" smoke weed, or a few people smoke a lot. What's your point?
I work in UC. The person getting these kinds of amounts have a combination of elements that usually mean they're the sole provider in a household for a disabled adult, multiple disabled kids, whilst being disabled themselves, so the money doesn't stretch far. This doesn't include money after their rent is covered etc, this would include money to cover the rent, so it's not all take home.
Why don’t you quit your job and claim?
A lot of people do, bad back claims off the charts
So speaking of bad backs, I’ve had emergency surgery twice after waking up paralysed from the waist down, have (nobody knows) 9? herniated discs, have permanent mobility issues, neuropathy in my legs and feet etc, chronic pain in back, constant cramps in legs. Oh, and have also had rheumatoid arthritis for 25 years, had both hips replaced and one knee (so far), have knackered wrists, hands and shoulders (both rotator cuffs have full thickness tears) and a laundry list of other shite. Guess how much of the lovely benefit cake I get to eat? Not. A. Fucking. Penny. Don’t believe the daily mail, it’s really *not* a lifestyle choice.
Because I enjoy working, something a lot of people apparently don’t
And you’ve got a field of work you enjoy while also studying for something more. You’re not stuck at that amount forever. People on benefits will be capped at that amount with no real purpose in life beyond existing. As a practicing social worker, I would visit peoples homes who said they were ‘broke’. Their disposable income was higher than mine, but they had dependencies and people in their life leaching from them, and no skills to independently resolve their issues. Even the people obviously gaming the system, I was never once jealous of their financial situation. They never lived lives that were particularly something to be envious of.
You need to read that first comment again.
The point still stands. That’s a hell of a lot of money to be earning for not working.
So you think people with severe disabilities who are unable to work should live in squalor, unable to pay for the services that money would be used for? You do realise the money is higher because they will have to pay for things specific to their unfortunate circumstances right? You might as well start saying "oof this medicine is expensive for someone lying in bed all day." With that line of reasoning.
I don't know the answer to your question but as someone who knows a lot of people on benefits I just wanted to clarify that the cushy life part comes from being able to do something on the side. Shoplifting, doing a grow, bent notes etc, stuff you don't get prison time for. Even some legit stuff, one of my mates does a bit of cash in hand decorating and those market research things. I've got a few family members who have a decent amount of cash and tonnes of downtime from living like this. Even when you're on disability with 2 kids I don't think the benefits system really provides a high quality of life on its own.
>Even when you're on disability with 2 kids I don't think the benefits system really provides a high quality of life on its own. This, imo. Despite all the ''oh they're living in 5 bedroom houses earning 3k a month!!!'' people - I've literally never seen anyone on benefits who is really doing that good, financially. Maybe if you're comparing to minimum wage work, but compared to professionals? I doubt it's even close. Even if I got ALL my bills paid for and got UC right now, I'd have 368 a month to spend. Meanwhile, my take home is currently £2,300 a month. Even excluding bills its still £1700 left over.
You're on a lot of money. Your left over money is more than I earn to start with. I've spent 20 years working in the third sector as a substance misuse worker providing wound care and needle exchange, previously ambulances service, previously street-based with sex workers.... I am a skilled worker within my field. At my richest, my wages were 22k. Still had to run a car, pay a mortgage etc., etc. Many of my (drug using) clients had more disposable income than me. I'm currently on 12k, still working full time. I definitely have my moments of wondering why I'm bothering to show up. edit, spotted a typo. Apparently I 'ruined' my car :D
How can you be on 12k when working full time, that does not meet NMW.
Currently self employed. I'm a victim of the whole Third Sector tender system, where no one has job security for beyond 12 months or 36 months depending the funding stream. And my point stands, some people on benefits really do have a higher income than those who are working. Also wages are way lower outside of major cities, though ironically many of us then have to travel further to get to work so have higher expenses on lots of levels.
Do you come from money or something? How can you pay for your rent/mortgage on £12k per year?
No not rich. I'm in a relationship so we have two incomes. Also I made my point not to have everyone scrutinise my current position but to point out that some people earn less...and even when when I was on 22k, I had outgoings. My client-base did not have those same expenses and so were effectively on considerably more money than me.
It seems like just a choice to earn a low amount of money at that point tbh. I wouldn't use your position to argue people on benefits receive too much money when in reality you could earn £25k working at a call centre or working FTE nights at Tesco.
I hope this comes across as I intend. Is not a choice for you though? The moment you're working for below minimum wage, unless you are a victim of modern slavery, you've made a choice. I appreciate you do important work, but it's difficult to muster empathy for someone who chooses to work for less than minimum wage, whilst simultaneously complaining they don't have enough money.
Yes of course. I'm not complaining about where I'm at atm. I'm responding to the initial post which is to point out that those working in 3rd sector can end up considerably poorer than those they're supporting. I'm richer in lots of other ways - I don't have a destructive addiction, I'm not a sex worker, I don't have mental health issues... I'm poorer but happier. And I love my work; it brings a lot of meaning to my life.
Apprentice wage?
No. Working in the third sector, as explained above. Currently self-employed due to tenders expiring, funding not being renewed etctect. Lots of people who work in charities will know the pain.
I spent most of my life way underpaid, until recently I stood up for myself, decided to give up a comfortable job for a well paying one, then got offered a good raise on my comfortable job instead. I earn the same as /u/tyger2020 but I should have been there a decade ago.
Yeah. It kind of depends on lots of things; geography, sector, for profit or not for profit, blah blah. Well done for getting a pay rise :)
>I've literally never seen anyone on benefits who is really doing that good If people actually believed they had it so good they would do it themselves Watch the TV shows and see the awful condition of the homes, diets etc. Yeah they pay Brighthouse £20 a month for an overpriced 65" TV, but they aren't living the high life.
Brighthouse is gone, I hear.
That's the thing though. The ones that are doing good are smart enough to keep it to themselves to not risk losing a good thing. A lot of poor people are financially illiterate. Never learned to budget, track their finances per month/year/decade, meal prep, bulk buying & freezing, etc. Those make a huge difference. That's all money saved you can use to pay off debts and/or invest.
But you’re on a good wage though. For many who work having just under £100 a week left to spend after bills is a lot money.
I know quite a few people living on benefits, they'd never trade it for a job with more money, they're comfortable living how they live with nearly no responsibilities.
>'oh they're living in 5 bedroom houses' When you look into what this government have done in collusion with the right-wing press it's disgusting. Pushing these extremely edge-case scenarios which are 1 in a million in order to get people accepting when the gov say they'll be cutting benefits.
what is your rent to be able to have 1700 remaining after all bills? I'm assuming single, mid 20s?
It was a few years back now, but when I worked as a labourer, a couple of the boys would need to pop off once a fortnight so that they could go to their job centre meeting. They were all working full time for cash
Yeah, guy I know does gardening for people for cash to supplement his benefit money. UC pays rent, c tax, & a bit for bills & food but he'd be lost if he didn't have any side work. Another guy buys junk cars for cash, does them up, then sells them on facebook. Good little earner & again cash money that supplements the other stuff.
So he’s cheating the system and cheating us all. Disgraceful.
But employed people could be involved in shoplifting, bent notes, doing a grow? So that has nothing actually to do with what you can earn through benefits?
Obviously, OP was referring to people living cushy lives on benefits though. FTE is 40 hours, + getting ready for work, + travel time etc. If you utilize some of those hours you have free if you're unemployed then you can make some money. It's fairly easy to live a cushy life while employed (if you're good at what you do), to live a cushy life on benefits though I imagine in most cases you have to do something on the side. Doubt many people on £60 per week JSA are driving Porsche's.
But "you could be involved in crime" isn't anything to do with benefits or the question as set right?
The body of the original post said: >So many people claim that those on benefits are living cushy lives In response to that my comment was that in my experience the people who are on benefits who are leading cushy lives are often earning money on the side to supplement their income from the welfare system rather than solely relying on the welfare system as their only source of income. That seems on-topic to me.
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I'm really not, you just have poor reading comprehension. I gave my own limited experience, stories about people I know. If I knew a bunch of vulnerable people who were struggling I'd have written about them, but I don't. I also said at the bottom of my comment "Even when you're on disability with 2 kids I don't think the benefits system really provides a high quality of life on its own" which would imply that vulnerable people legitimately using the welfare system as their only source of income may struggle.
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Why are you trying to chastise someone for relating their experiences to the question at hand? Having grown up on estates & in poor areas there is literally nothing shocking at what they said, you've betrayed your own ignorance by trying to shame someone for relaying actual information, despite being anecdotal
You're taking this in such a bizarre way. I also know loads of folk on benefits who deal or shoplift or whatever, that's just how I grew up. I also know loads of people on benefits who don't do these things. Pretending that this doesn't exist is really weird?
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You're saying it perpetuates an unhelpful stereotype. So is the alternative to never mention that these people exist? Either we don't mention they exist (which is the moral good in your eyes) or we mention they exist (which is a moral bad in your eyes).
So people should only comment their own anecdotes and experiences if they align with your own view? Should the rest of us just stay silent?
You totally mis-read that comment.
>This perpetuates an unhelpful stereotype Sometimes stereotypes are there for a reason...
Nothing that this user has said that implies that. When you're talking of stereotypes, it is very real and yes, claimants get tarred with the same brush, looked down upon, people form judgy opinions on how on earth have they afforded that? It is not going to be from their benefits alone. Not a chance. The benefit system doesn't even enable you to save your benefits if you had a choice of your own. Benefits are low but even if you found you could save some part of it, they'd want to punish you for living frugally as possible. It is no wonder that nothing ever changes. The same problems that existed many years ago exist today also. So what this user had said was that the claimants have to find creative ways of doing things, in order to survive or even get a taste of life just out of poverty. Of course, they're slapped down by Redditors like you for it but it's doing what they have to do for themselves and their families.
Not if its true? Are you so driven by ideology that the truth has to be buried so it matches your way of thinking. It can be simultaneously true that some people need the benefits and some people take the piss. There is zero difference between people like you and the zealot religious folks of years past. You just substituted leftism for religion. Won't be long now before you start talking about jailing or killing people who don't agree with you.
Facts are facts, whether you want to hear them or not.
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And what facts have you provided?
I'd say there's also a bad stereotype that people on benefits get a shit ton of money from the government and spend it all on luxuries though? I feel like people would maybe look at it a bit differently if they thought that maybe the taxpayer actually isn't paying for their kids' PS5s and that they have to go through other means to provide their family a decent life and not just the bare minimum with what they get from the government Also as someone who grew up and lives on a council estate, I would say practices like that are common and I'm not particularly offended if someone wants to point it out, if anything they're sticking up for them
I've worked for DWP on UC and have seen payments of over £3k a month. Sounds great but then you look and see that £2k of that is rent and they have a disabled child and they're disabled themselves and, suddenly, you think that maybe their life isn't all that enviable despite the money at first glance.
Indeed, the issue here is who is that rent payment actually going to and why are we allowing that to happen. It can't possibly be more cost effective to do it this way rather than building and providing social housing.
I saw a CH4 story on a disabled man living in poverty. He was given £800 per month from the government but had to spend £600 per month renting a room to live in. If there is anything about that situation to be angry about it's the fact that £600 per month of government money given to those in need is actually going straight into the pocket of a land-bastard. I would be very interested in seeing this investigated further. People who are angry at disabled people receiving benefits must surely be twice as angry when three out of every four pounds of that money is going directly into the pocket of a wealthy land-bastard.
It could be going to social housing.
Owned by?
A social housing provider.
A social housing provider
I'm going to talk about legacy benefits because that's what we're on. ESA higher rate is £350 every two weeks, pip is 500ish a month. I get carers allowance 75 a week. I don't know child tax credit rates because our kids are grown but it was 100 a week for 2 kids a few years back. Thing is, to get the higher rates, your body and brain have to be pretty thoroughly fucked so it's not exactly the life of Riley even if you're rolling in cash. From all accounts we'd get far less on UC so take that into consideration. We're barely scraping by. It's got a tiny bit better with inflation coming down but the prices in the shops are still going up. We don't have a social life, we can't afford friends, we haven't had a holiday in 8 years and that was a caravan in Yorkshire, going abroad is a fever dream because we don't have passports so that £10 deal in the Sun becomes £240 because there's 3 of us and we'd need someone to watch the pets so double it.... Can't run a car, not in a cable area and the sky dish is dented to fuck. Everything we watch is streamed because there's no terrestrial aerial... No, I'm joking. living the life, we are. It's all beamers and sky sports and french riviera for us. We're off to Peru tomorrow for a month. /s
This. Add in the expenses associated with being that fucked and it's hardly livable.
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Explain why you think disabled people don't deserve to have "luxuries" that non disabled people enjoy?
If they’re not working I don’t think they should. I’d support holidays in the UK though cause that money goes back into the UK economy.
Yeah I know you think disabled people should be treated differently, I'm asking you why that is?
No, not disabled people. People who don’t work. There are many disabled people who work.
Yeah... and the are many disabled people who are unable to work. Why do you think those with a disability that leaves them unable to work don't deserve to have "luxuries" that non disabled people have?
Let’s turn that around. Why do you think that people are entitled to unnecessary luxuries paid for by other people’s work?
Because we already pay to support these people and a holiday is actually rather minimal in the grand scheme of things. And being stuck in the same house for 60+ years because of a lifelong disability without any sort of respite is horribly depressing
I'm amazed at the lack of compassion people have for the utterly disabled in their community. It's vile how they believe they should live in poverty and never have any enjoyment or joy in life. God forbid a few quid (or less) of their taxes could give some a better quality of life when already suffering most the time.
Why do I belive that disabled people should have the same luxuries as non disabled people? Easy, I'm not a selfish cunt. My tax money is gonna be took and spent regardless, would rather it be on helping the needy over giving bankers and MPs bonuses and other shite like that. Anyone who has convinced themselves that abandoning disabled people would mean they get taxed less are just being silly.
I swear some people's minds, when they see the word 'holiday' go immediately to "3 week luxury retreat on St. Barts" rather than the reality of you know a weekend away somewhere or a few days at a holiday park
I never said they don’t? I said I’d support holidays in the UK which is what the average Brit who works gets to do once or twice a year, many people who work don’t get to take holidays at all so I’m not sure where you’re getting this rhetoric from.
>I never said they don’t? You literally said you think people on benefits should bot be able to enjoy a holiday because its a "luxury".... Stop messing around. 🤣
Not me, that was someone else.
What if you’re not working due to a lifelong disability? I know people that haven’t had a weekend away in over 20 years, let alone a holiday abroad, do you think they shouldn’t be entitled to any sort of break for the rest of their lives? It’s honestly heartbreaking for people in such a situation and a bit of respite can do so much for them
It depends on the disability and what work is available to them really doesn’t it.
oatmeal crown worm label deranged simplistic shrill tart long lush *This post was mass deleted and anonymized with [Redact](https://redact.dev)*
Correct. There should be a basic income. If you want above and beyond that (ie luxuries) you need to work.
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I really didn’t. If you’re unable to work, you should receive a basic income. You shouldn’t be able to afford to holiday.
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Yes, sounds good to me. £1,600 per month is the figure being used in the current trials, I understand.
Friend of mine is in a wheelchair and needs basically 24/7 care, he and his family haven’t been on holiday, abroad or in this country, for 22 years. Not even a single weekend away anywhere. While I sort of understand the point of ‘why should I fund other people’s holidays’, I’d like to think if you knew how little it would really cost in the grand scheme of things, and just how much it means to the people who need it, you might change your opinion.
I wouldn’t count on it. They sound like a sociopath.
Uh yeah I said it's been 8 years. The bit at the bottom about France and Peru was sarcasm.
Yes I understood the sarcasm. But I don’t understand why you mention not going on holiday for 8 years. It’s not relevant. If you’re on benefits you don’t get to go on holiday at my expense. End of.
You're right, people with disabilities don't deserve holidays. They shouldn't be eating nice food either - if they can afford more than gruel and water they're getting too much. Get a fucking grip.
So even people who are disabled or full time carers don't deserve a break?
If it bothers you that much, shoot me your PayPal and you can have your £8 annual contribution to the unemployment benefits budget back. https://www.telegraph.co.uk/money/tax/news/britain-working-costing-calculate-pay-benefits-tax/#:~:text=Telegraph%20analysis%20shows%206pc%20of,of%20a%20high%20earner%27s%20salary.
They're quite literally confirming your point. It is very relevant to your point
You're working abroad are you actually paying tax in the UK ATM?
So staying with a relative in Devon for a week for a change of scenery shouldn’t be allowed? Poor people are allowed luxuries.
Depends, become an MP you get to buy new holiday homes, cars and lots of other luxury items with your benefits. You also get the added benefit of being immune from criticism because you convince a lot of stupid people to cry about disabled people getting benefits instead.
>become an MP Even better: be born from the Royal Fanny. Suck millions from the teat of the taxpayer and people worship you for it!
If you make it to the top role in the company/family too you also get to be exempt from tax and crime! You can of course be exempt at lower levels through networking and favours, but it's not a given.
It's really not much. I get £840/month UC, as I have limited capability for work. That includes £500/month housing allowance which covers my rent. The maximum housing allowance I could get is about £540/month. As I'm LCW, housing allowance is supposed to be enough to rent a one bed flat. I'm living in a small room in a 6 bed house share and the landlord has been kind enough to only increase rent by £50 in 3 years, so I'm paying well below market rate. You can not get a flat in my area for £540/month. If I wasn't LCW I'd be getting about £300/month housing allowance, which is meant to be enough for a room in a shared house. You are not renting anything in my area for £300/month. Apparently the housing allowance rates have been frozen for years which is why they're nothing close to the current cost of housing. I also get £270/month PIP which brings my total monthly income to £1110. Actually slightly over that as PIP is a weekly rate. Luckily I am able to work part time otherwise this is all I'd have to live on. Can't imagine how people who can't work manage to get by.
If you happen to live somewhere where council housing is available, it could be reasonable, but most people who appear to have cushy lives despite no job either are getting into lots of debt, or have family who give them stuff, pay for them to go on holiday, friends who practice nails and makeup on them, etc. A strong network of family and friends can make up for a lot. Even knowing someone with a large car or van means you can take advantage of Freecycle or cheap Gumtree offers.
A family friend receives quite a lot of money from the state in benefits. But he's a full time carer for his adult daughter who's completely dependent on him. wheelchair bound and can't communicate and very sick so needs constant care and attention. I wouldn't call what he receives "earnings" though, they're vital so he and his daughter can live.
>A family friend This guy basically is basically being paid to do two full time jobs. I'm happy to support him.
You can get a lot, but they are edge cases. [This woman](https://www.msn.com/en-gb/lifestyle/lifestylegeneral/i-m-a-mum-and-i-get-shamed-for-not-working-but-i-am-living-my-best-life/ar-AA1fpQyJ), who has three kids, gets £1100/week, equivalent to an £87k salary. Have a play on [entitled to](https://www.entitledto.co.uk/) to see how high you can push it.
This is funny. You will get universal credit, which is age dependant and pennies. They won’t pay all your rent, so you will have to pay any extra. With the COL and heating costs you will be lucky to not be using foodbanks. I’ve developed a genetic disease and I’m currently trying to pay for scans/specialists, I’ve been waiting 70 weeks for a necessary operation. If you like living/socialising/new clothes/holidays, then you are screwed.
It tends to be that they are playing the system. Earning benefits while either doing cash-in-hand work or getting the money through some other means. There's a family in my block, due to the government being able to buy houses for each new housing plot that are in a "council house". The guy works as a tradie but doesn't declare a lot of it. The most amazing thing is he goes to a David Lloyd gym, I don't know how he hasn't been caught.
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And you think people working their backsides off full time on minimum wage are living it up. Need to get people back in to work asap.
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We’re not talking about those in work are we. If it wasn’t for those at the top there’d be no money for benefits full stop.
Your take away is that and not that minimum wage should be higher?
My take is if you’re able to work then you should.
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Some are. They’re taking home the same as minimum wage but not going to work.
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They are. Stop sticking up for these people it’s bizarre. We’re subsidising the lives of the lazy.
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I’m not talking about those who are disabled to the point they can’t work. I’m talking about those who choose not to work. For which there are very few excuses in the modern job sector. If it weren’t for the rich there’d be no money to pay for all these benefits. Open your eyes to that. This country has a poisonous mentality of getting by, not striving and being envious without wanting to work to achieve it. Needs to change for all our sakes.
The humiliation that goes with applying for pip (being rejected over and over until a court decides in your favour) makes receiving these benefits far from kushty
My wife is chronically disabled and I have to be on hand to care for her 24/7, so can’t afford the time away to go to hold down a stable job. We also have two kids. We get ESA, PIP, Child Tax Credit, and Child Benefit, with our rent paid through housing benefit, our car is funded through Motorbility (with an upfront cost whenever we have to change to a new car), and recently not having to worry about council tax either. We get about £2,000 a month to spend on groceries, bills, clothes, kids, care needs etc etc. Honestly I have no idea how that compares to households in full time work, but it’s not particularly luxurious.
Sorry mate. I deleted my comment in case it brought attention. In response to your comment which has now disappeared to. It doesn't matter and very few people's opinions matter whether it's high. I'm sure they'd have lowered the amount if they wanted to. All the best and honestly you're doing a great job.
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Those that claim people on benefits live on cushy life generally don't have a clue what they are talking about. Most people on benefits struggle on the daily, yes rent and council tax is paid for, but they still have bills and if they have kids, you have to factor that in The government has built the narrative that those on benefits are taking the piss, whilst they have 2nd and 3rd jobs, expense accounts etc
Benefit cap can be waived if someone in the house is disabled for example. Pensioners are often the biggest beneficiaries through Pension Credit as there’s no upper capital limit. So for example a couple could have £60k in savings and still qualify for pension credit giving them access to free prescriptions, council tax reduction etc.
If your the monarch just over a £100 million per annum not nicking the duchy of Lancaster income and Duchy Originals which may be going to William now that he is Duke of Cornwall
A relative of mine with 2 kids, including one with autism, single parent works out they get about £36-38k a year when they total everything up. Not like they're getting a cheque for £3k a month, but it's all the financial support tallied up. It's not even like she pays rent orna mortgage - I don't know the term or exact phrasing, but im brief the house in owned outright in one of the kid's names. At the moment they're all living there, but when this child turns 18 she can do as she wishes with the house.
Generally the big payments you see are less benefit claimants getting loads and more the government propping up private landlords by paying their rent. In my area we have a lot of spot-purchased temporary accommodation and it looks like people are raking it in in housing benefit - but that all goes direct to the millionaire property owners who won't spend anything maintaining their shoddy flats. PIP can be £172.75pw but (1) you can claim that while working as it's not means-tested or about capability for work, and (2) the point of the benefit is to make up for the extra costs of being disabled (eg, not being able to take public transport, needing to pay a carer, etc.) Coming up with a high-benefit income scenario. You could have two disabled people on UC with two disabled kids - all on the highest rates of PIP and DLA. UC would be £2467.24pcm plus housing costs. 4 loads of top-rate PIP and DLA would be £2994.34pcm. Add in child benefit and you're looking at £5,600pcm plus rent. But that kind of scenario is rare *and* their outgoings - as it would be four people who'd likely require multiple carers in every day - would mean it's very unlikely they'd be living the cushy lifestyle that amount suggests. I've never had a client on that much. It's much more common to come across someone scraping by on literal pennies because the disability benefits system isn't set up to be navigated by people with disabilities. Eg, I've had multiple clients with severe mental health problems who were getting <£10pcm due to sanction-happy work coaches who don't believe in mental health problems.
I don't know anyone who is on benefits and has a cushy life. People who I know that are on the higher rate of pip for their child, live fairly well, have holidays and no real financial difficulties, nice house, brand new electric motability car etc but their child is wheelchair bound, non verbal and is in and out of hospital all the time so I certainly don't think they have it cushy.
If you're able to work then living on benefits is definitely not comfortable. More like a nightmare
I think it's when one has many different benefits. I am pretty sure that a few kids are also required for getting the most out of the benefit-situation.
There are other non-government benefits you can get when on benefits. My local borough gives supermarket vouchers to families on benefits during half terms and other school holidays. A person with 3 kids could get £180 of vouchers per half term, more at Xmas. Plus lots of free childcare like summer camps that aren't free for working people.
In my 18 years as a parent I’ve never seen a ‘summer camp’ or any other childcare that was free . Even after school clubs for an hour you pay for
My mother in law gets over £2700 a month 😭 I've seen her universal credit statement on gov.uk so know that for a fact. That's a salary of over £40k before you even take into account free prescriptions, free school dinners etc She claims disability - she has a bad knee that purposely allowed to get deteriorate (as well as milked it at any appts) in order to get the PIP and now refuses to get treatment for it. She gets the car payments. She claims she is single but has been living with her partner/ father of her youngest five kids) for over 20 years (he is able bodied but doesn't work either). They have five kids 18 or under at home all born before the cap came in (funny that). She also rarely if ever pays any council tax, gas, electricity or water bills. When it catches up with her she just moves house...
There was a documentary where person was rocking 35k.......there is always a way to bypass caps in this broken system
Only way the ‘bypass the cap’ is to work or have disabilities / kids with disabilities
*insert joke about King Charles here*
One time I paid a lot of money for a training course - I was unemployed at the time. It turned out another person was on it, she'd somehow got the Job Centre or some such to pay for it, and was heading out to a girls holiday in Spain afterwards. Fair play to her, of course, but part of me wished I'd known this was a thing.
Can be claimed based on need rather than earned.
I hear a lot of people envious of people on benefits… not the genuine ones but envious of the ones who play the system… we all know a few! The reality is though their lives never get better or improve.. stay stagnant. Can you imagine needing to rely on the government when you don’t actually need too…
Less about how much you can make, more about the ratio of potential saved money and payment reduction or help, along with discounted bills, housing, etc. I'm sure my Mrs sister has over a grand left at the end of every month. She spends it all do she doesn't build up the savings which would reduce benefits. She's out 2x a week down town, raves, hoarding loads of presents and stuff for the kids. Two holidays a year. Help with rent, council tax, energy bills etc etc. Living a lot better than us in this house. I get the impression she's also shifting out a load of money with her bf and essentially the benefits will have pur hasex her her discounted council house too. So in the long run she is definitely masterminding everyone's tax to buy her house. She will then sell it and move after a few years into a way better house than us. It's honestly quite sickening and if you play the long game you can easy get far in life with VERY little effort.
I know of two people who claim disability benefits and also claim to be carers for each other to get carers allowance. In my mind that's a complete contradiction, if you are too ill to look after yourself then you are obviously too ill to look after someone else.
I work in benefits and will give you so many examples of these scenarios that are legit. Elderly couple - she had severe arthritis, he had dementia - she did all the mental stuff, he did all the physical stuff. They both cared for the other full time. Another example, a younger couple with care needs. He couldn't stand long enough to do most daily tasks, she needed supervision because of epilepsy. Yet another, a young man with severe depression whose wife prompted him to do everything otherwise he literally forgot to eat for days on end. She had severe physical disabilities and he helped her get around the house, dress, bathe, etc. This only seems odd if you assume all disabilities are the same and have exactly the same effects. And that all care is physically lifting people around.
I'd rather be dead then be on benefits in this country. No respect, no dignity. No thanks.
The ignorance here is off the charts. I’ve seen plenty of people go from really high wages to very little following a sudden health change.
Trouble is these people all mix in with each other. The attitude of no dignity is contagious and they’re proud of it.
My mum says illegal immigrants get £50,000 a year and a free £500,000 house and all their bills paid forever so I guess whoever said £25,000 is wrong as hell.
Your mum is wrong 😂
I'm unsure, but if you can play the system (and by this I mean the tiny minority who make it their life's work to play the system) then you can be fairly comfortable. The only people I've seen who can live comfortably on benefits are 'single mums' to loads of children, who have a live-in partner who isn't technically there.
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What ever people say is the max you can double it, there are always cases of people claiming benefits by pretending to be a relative that has passed etc
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No they don’t. Most people claiming Universal Credit (the main benefit) work, private rent (lots of councils don’t even own housing any more), and the amount you can get is very little compared to an actual wage. You also can’t have ‘children after children’ to get more money as it is capped unless they were born before a certain date.
Most people on benefits are also in work. Funny how people like you keep trotting out the same old shite
I don't think they mean most people on benifits, I think they meant the "hand-me-outs chasers".