Can't Survive on £26k a Year Benefit

[The Year Of The Fox]

Thats unreal. Me and the misses own a house yet our combined income is less than that

[CupidStunt]

Most claimants live in London, the most expensive place to live, it baffles me

What always makes me smile is when people on high benefits are interviewed on tv at their homes, they always have the latest mobile sitting on the side table, and a brand new Tv in the back ground.

Problem is benefits have become a lifestyle, and not the helping hand while you get "back on your feet" benefit they were intended for

[Captain...]

Most claimants live in London, the most expensive place to live, it baffles me

What always makes me smile is when people on high benefits are interviewed on tv at their homes, they always have the latest mobile sitting on the side table, and a brand new Tv in the back ground.

Problem is benefits have become a lifestyle, and not the helping hand while you get "back on your feet" benefit they were intended for

True that is a problem and setting a cap at 26k is not going to stop that, but I refute your claim that they always have a brand new TV and the latest mobile, not everyone on benefits is making a career our of it.

Thats unreal. Me and the misses own a house yet our combined income is less than that

But you own a house, so it is not a comparable situation, the largest proportion of benefits is usually housing benefit, so how far would your money go if you had to spend and extra £200 a week on rent/mortgage repayments? Are you also supporting kids on that?

[DANGEROUS TIGER]

I certainly think the current benefit system, gives too many claimants no incentive to work.

I am well aware that many people require benefits, and genuinely cannot find work, particularly those nearing retirement age, and this is sad.

[Daggers]

What always makes me smile is when people on high benefits are interviewed on tv at their homes, they always have the latest mobile sitting on the side table, and a brand new Tv in the back ground.

Do they interview a lot of people on high benefits on your television? Can't say I've seen many on mine - and out of those that have been I've not seen inside many of the houses.

And how you can possibly work out if a television is "brand new" is unfathomable, I'm guessing that would be your chosen topic should you go on Mastermind.

Do you think, possibly, that on the rare occasion you have seen a couple being interviewed and you saw their telephone/television that they may have puschased them prior to unemployment? Do you think you may be generalising slightly?

Currently, the NHS reform program is budgetted at £1.8billion - which will fly over budget. At the same time, while six thousand nurses are going to lose their jobs, the forecast saving from benefit reform is £2billion - which it won't achieve. Sensible, rather than knee-jerk dogmatic changes to benefits would benefit society while cancelling the wholly unpopular NHS reforms would provide the savings required AND preserve jobs.

[danny.]

It isn't the average spend on utilities, it's made-up bollocks.

It doesn't remotely reflect my spend, it's made-up bollocks.

It may be similar to your bills - but it's still made-up bollocks.

Cool story bigot.

What exactly do you do, living on your own in a small house to spend all that on gas, water and electricity?

[l444ry]

Do they interview a lot of people on high benefits on your television? Can't say I've seen many on mine - and out of those that have been I've not seen inside many of the houses.

And how you can possibly work out if a television is "brand new" is unfathomable, I'm guessing that would be your chosen topic should you go on Mastermind.

Do you think, possibly, that on the rare occasion you have seen a couple being interviewed and you saw their telephone/television that they may have puschased them prior to unemployment? Do you think you may be generalising slightly?

Currently, the NHS reform program is budgetted at £1.8billion - which will fly over budget. At the same time, while six thousand nurses are going to lose their jobs, the forecast saving from benefit reform is £2billion - which it won't achieve. Sensible, rather than knee-jerk dogmatic changes to benefits would benefit society while cancelling the wholly unpopular NHS reforms would provide the savings required AND preserve jobs.

Classic post!! Also, for every £1 the Coalition saves, the Bank of England spends £32.50 saving the banks. A sense of perspective is in order.

[Jon the Hat]

Classic post!! Also, for every £1 the Coalition saves, the Bank of England spends £32.50 saving the banks. A sense of perspective is in order.

Isn't it just. If only people would stop talking about massive cuts and recognise the numbers are pretty small really, they could join the debate about efficiency. I am also impressed that you recongnise the importance of the banks, seeing as they are mainstays of the economy and a huge chunk of all our pensions were at stake.

[Daggers]

Cool story bigot.

What exactly do you do, living on your own in a small house to spend all that on gas, water and electricity?

Love to know how stating those made-up stats are bollocks constitutes me being a bigot - try doing some research and discover the actual average UK spend on utilities rather than spouting shite because it reflects nothing more than your personal experience.

You have no idea what my bills come to because I haven't stated them.

[The Year Of The Fox]

True that is a problem and setting a cap at 26k is not going to stop that, but I refute your claim that they always have a brand new TV and the latest mobile, not everyone on benefits is making a career our of it.

But you own a house, so it is not a comparable situation, the largest proportion of benefits is usually housing benefit, so how far would your money go if you had to spend and extra £200 a week on rent/mortgage repayments? Are you also supporting kids on that?

No I know. And no I'm not, but I refuse to have any until I know I can afford to pay for them myself, not relying on benefits to do so.

[dave the caveman]

£370 - (average water bill)

£330 - (average electricity bill)

£330 - (average gas bill)

It isn't the average spend on utilities, it's made-up bollocks.

It doesn't remotely reflect my spend, it's made-up bollocks.

It may be similar to your bills - but it's still made-up bollocks.

It can't be "made up bollocks" if it comes from personal experience you clown, but never mind, I'm up in this thread, about to substantiate all over your weak shit.

The average household in the UK contains 2.4 people (source: http://www.nationmas...e-of-households).

The person in question lives alone and one would expect she lives in modest accommodation. I'm sure everyone will agree with me when I say that someone in these circumstances can reasonably be expected to consume at most about 70% of the water and energy consumed by the average household. I'm going to be generous and give them 75%.

So now let's look at the actual averages as published by the respective industry regulators:

£356 - average water bill: http://www.ofwat.gov...rges2011-12.pdf

75% of £365 is £267 for water. Considerable less than what I previously said.

£424 - average electricity bill: http://www.ofgem.gov...%20fig%20FS.pdf

75% of £424 is £318 for electricity. Slightly less than what I previously said.

£608 - average gas bill: http://www.ofgem.gov...%20fig%20FS.pdf

75% of £608 is £456 for gas. A bit more than what I previously said.

The old total using my "made up bollocks" was £1,030. The new total using official sources is £1,041. If it was bollocks then it was pretty ****ing accurate bollocks. And that's using a generous 75% of a household rate. Realistically somebody looking after their money in this situation should be looking at using less than 60% of an average household, which would bring the combined bill way down into the £800s.

[The Year Of The Fox]

Anyway, dunno whether this is of any relevance to anyone, but if anyone is struggling paying their bills, the first one to stop paying is the water bill. Its a human right to have access to water, so cannot be cut off unlike gas and electric.

[The Year Of The Fox]

Dunno whats 'bollocks. about the figures being quoted. I spend £32 a month on my water meter, and have paid £50 a month on each gas and electric since July last year. In that time I've had a combined refund of £160. Someone else do the maths.

[CupidStunt]

Do they interview a lot of people on high benefits on your television? Can't say I've seen many on mine - and out of those that have been I've not seen inside many of the houses.

And how you can possibly work out if a television is "brand new" is unfathomable, I'm guessing that would be your chosen topic should you go on Mastermind.

Do you think, possibly, that on the rare occasion you have seen a couple being interviewed and you saw their telephone/television that they may have puschased them prior to unemployment? Do you think you may be generalising slightly?

Currently, the NHS reform program is budgetted at £1.8billion - which will fly over budget. At the same time, while six thousand nurses are going to lose their jobs, the forecast saving from benefit reform is £2billion - which it won't achieve. Sensible, rather than knee-jerk dogmatic changes to benefits would benefit society while cancelling the wholly unpopular NHS reforms would provide the savings required AND preserve jobs.

Obviously you missed the various documentries about benefits (i guess your going to research the internet now and prove me wrong) and i for a fact know a few people out of work claiming, and have the latest touch pad phones.

As for me quoting a "brand new tv", i think you knew what i meant, and i think your just being padantic.

Being on benefits shouldnt be comfortable as it is, the majority of us know that.

I give you an example, my brother left his missus a while back, she stopped in the house, and he was going to keep paying the bills, but anyhow, she put a claim in, and no messing, and no checks to what he was going to pay, she got just over £200 a week in payments. He moved back in a month later, and did the right thing and stopped the claim, but he could have easily fooled the system.

Me for example, never been without work, have got 3 mortgages, what happens if i lose my job? I dont know what or how the system works, do they pay towards my mortgage?

[Captain...]

Obviously you missed the various documentries about benefits (i guess your going to research the internet now and prove me wrong) and i for a fact know a few people out of work claiming, and have the latest touch pad phones.

As for me quoting a "brand new tv", i think you knew what i meant, and i think your just being padantic.

Being on benefits shouldnt be comfortable as it is, the majority of us know that.

I give you an example, my brother left his missus a while back, she stopped in the house, and he was going to keep paying the bills, but anyhow, she put a claim in, and no messing, and no checks to what he was going to pay, she got just over £200 a week in payments. He moved back in a month later, and did the right thing and stopped the claim, but he could have easily fooled the system.

Me for example, never been without work, have got 3 mortgages, what happens if i lose my job? I dont know what or how the system works, do they pay towards my mortgage?

You will receive housing benefit, that is normally the largest chunk of the benefits when talking about people earning 26k+, why do you have 3 mortgages? If you have 3 properties then I don't think you will be able to claim for them all on benefits, but if you have 3 mortgages against one property (is that possible?) then they will assess your needs and pay you accordingly so you don't lose your house.

[CupidStunt]

You will receive housing benefit, that is normally the largest chunk of the benefits when talking about people earning 26k+, why do you have 3 mortgages? If you have 3 properties then I don't think you will be able to claim for them all on benefits, but if you have 3 mortgages against one property (is that possible?) then they will assess your needs and pay you accordingly so you don't lose your house.

I have 2 houses (albiet one is rented out), and yes, you can have many mortgages as you want as far as i am aware, as long as your cirmcumstances qualify (they are only small mortgages)

Would i get housing benefit straight away? what if i'm sacked?

[FoxyPV]

I have 2 houses (albiet one is rented out), and yes, you can have many mortgages as you want as far as i am aware, as long as your cirmcumstances qualify (they are only small mortgages)

Would i get housing benefit straight away? what if i'm sacked?

You would be entitled to housing benefit on the property you live in. You'd have to sell the rest.

[m00nie]

anyone see this article?

lottery winners win 10 MILLION and still claim benfit for another 6 years and entitled to it as not means tested...

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/9061259/Lottery-winners-receive-benefits-despite-10.2-million-win.html

[Captain...]

anyone see this article?

lottery winners win 10 MILLION and still claim benfit for another 6 years and entitled to it as not means tested...

http://www.telegraph...illion-win.html

That is an extreme case, but where do you draw the line, the man is disabled and is entitled to claim,

I guess if you look at it as would he have continued working after winning the Lottery? I don't know but if so he would have had an extra income that he now can't because of his disability.

It is a similar issue with wealthy families taking child benefits even though they don't need them, there is certainly a need to look at the means testing when it comes to benefits, oh no, wait, hang on, the Government have got it sorted, they are going to put an arbitrary cap on benefits to save a bit of money and make some families destitute, phew problem solved all is well with the world.

[danny.]

Love to know how stating those made-up stats are bollocks constitutes me being a bigot - try doing some research and discover the actual average UK spend on utilities rather than spouting shite because it reflects nothing more than your personal experience.

You have no idea what my bills come to because I haven't stated them.

Stating statistics for an average spend for one person in a small house doesn't make you a bigot. You being close minded and refusing to accept that someone else might spend a different amount to you, despite evidence and testament to the contrary, makes you a bigot.

I don't need to do research to quote my own spend. I know that because I see the bills each month. Stating this does not constitute "spouting shite".

Seems like a fair amount of research and anecdotal evidence has been supplied in this thread to show one person in a small house can easily spend that amount, or less, anyway.

[Jon the Hat]

That is an extreme case, but where do you draw the line, the man is disabled and is entitled to claim,

I guess if you look at it as would he have continued working after winning the Lottery? I don't know but if so he would have had an extra income that he now can't because of his disability.

It is a similar issue with wealthy families taking child benefits even though they don't need them, there is certainly a need to look at the means testing when it comes to benefits, oh no, wait, hang on, the Government have got it sorted, they are going to put an arbitrary cap on benefits to save a bit of money and make some families destitute, phew problem solved all is well with the world.

Means testing is expensive. I will lose my child benefit next year. Shame, it is the only handout I have ever had.

[acooling08]

That is an extreme case, but where do you draw the line, the man is disabled and is entitled to claim,

I guess if you look at it as would he have continued working after winning the Lottery? I don't know but if so he would have had an extra income that he now can't because of his disability.

It is a similar issue with wealthy families taking child benefits even though they don't need them, there is certainly a need to look at the means testing when it comes to benefits, oh no, wait, hang on, the Government have got it sorted, they are going to put an arbitrary cap on benefits to save a bit of money and make some families destitute, phew problem solved all is well with the world.

Entitled my arse. He's won £10 million in a lottery so should not get benefits. In fact, he should be paying a shit load of tax on his winnings, the dispicable willy puller.

[Rincewind]

My JSA is going up to £71 in April. Wow, what shall I do with the extra £3.50? Suggestions on a cheque made payable to me.

[Webbo]

My JSA is going up to £71 in April. Wow, what shall I do with the extra £3.50? Suggestions on a cheque made payable to me.

A lot of people haven't had a pay rise for 2 or 3 years.

[Captain...]

Entitled my arse. He's won £10 million in a lottery so should not get benefits. In fact, he should be paying a shit load of tax on his winnings, the dispicable willy puller.

He may be entitled to your arse, hell he could have mine for a million, he is entitled to claim for disability allowance, that doesn't mean he deserves it or should have it, but the government in their welfare reforms aren't addressing this issue, nor the benefit cheats, nor the people living below the poverty line despite forking out millions on those that don't deserve it.