General Chat

Im so angry!!! after watching a programme yesterday evening, seeing one man who got away with 20 thousand pounds of benefits he was not entitled to, and a poor woman who was careing for her disabled son ALONE!24/7 and couldent get a carers allowance because she had a widows pension!! Theres something really wrong with our system!! IM FURIOUS!!!!!!!!!

I had to take out a loan for £8000 towards adaptations for my disabled kids because I was working. There is only so much money available so these people really are stealing from the disabled. Bob

In my previous job I came across quite a few who were committing benefits fraud and felt no hesitation in shopping them either. I even did so on behalf of their neighbours who were too afraid of reprecussions. Last night's programme only concentrated on British fraudsters which is bad enough. They want to look into how many foreigners seeking asylum here are abusing the system. That would be an eye opener & they should be deported. Next week's programme features single mothers abusing the system. I've walked in the front door as the 'man of the house' is leaving by the back door. Another eye opener. Whatever the official figures I'd be inclined to treble it. Until there is a whole shake up in this country then it will only get worse and those mostly in need will be the losers every time.

This makes me so angry. I have one next door to me who when she was reported got out of it by saying she was doing the work for therapy for her illness!! I can't even get courses to help me get back to work, because I'm married and my husband works I would have to go to evening classes and pay. Wheres the justice for all of us law abiding people.

In 1999 i had an accident at work,broke my foot in 14 places,my employers spent 12 months campaigning to get me classed disabled,there excuse was i would be a liability and they would be open to compensation claims ,in the end after17 medicals the D.H.S.S agreed,i never recieved any benefit`s for 18months so can someone tell me how the cheats manage it Steve from Somerset

Roxanne, Yes i saw that program last night it makes me so mad as my husband is on 22 tablets a day and almost bed bound . He does get the higher rate for mobility but only the lower rate for care which is ridiculus as he can hardly do anything for himself and at over 17 st in wieght there is no way i can lift him . My son does all that for him ,which means my son can,t work . Yet my son can,t claim a penny because you can only claim carers allowance if the person you care for is on the middle rate or above for care . The system is all wrong . Those that really need the help are not getting it . Cath

roxanne they are the few.the amount of money the benifit system could claim if they investigated further into claims.just think of all the money they would savexxxxxxxxx((((:

What a poor woman on that programme. Does love and devotion count for nothing.? No doubt she will now get her extra £44 pound a week as a result of the publicity. Some people (far too many) know how to work the system. I agree with Tony,s attempts to overhaul the system but he won,t get it through because of opposition within his own party. Happy days

I havent got a problem with genuine people getting help, But it seems to me there are far to many false claims getting through and genuine people like the lady on T.V last night being rejected, this is not right!! That guy last night had been cheating the system for years its an outrage!!

This is a really sore point with me as I know a number of people who are 'milking' the system and my Husband and I struggle for money because of the taxes and other bills we have to pay so that some people can sponge off the state. One person I know of actually got a parking space outside her house marked off as Disabled - it's supposed to be a parking area for all residents, but now only she is allowed to park there! Even her daughter can't believe she got it. It is nothing short of theft in my eyes and is taking money away from those that really need it. Kaye x

When I worked in Manchester I had occasion to visit an Asian Accountants office...on the wall were adverts referring to various benefits and an amount underneath.. A little naive I pointed out that the amounts shown were not the correct amounts for the benefits.. The accountant explained that this was the amount he charged his clients to get them the benefit..... to further questions he replied that it was not just a language thing but that you have to know the loopholes in the system and which doctors are able and willing to assist,,,,,,this was in the mid 1970s

Its just disgraceful that this woman(and Im sure many others) dont get the help they need and SHOULD GET!! and then you have some that milk the system and have no right to anything, Im afraid it seems to me the more honest and needy you are the less you get!!!!!!!!!!

I know a few people who have been milking the system here for years. A woman I know whose mother was a deserted wife & lived on the allowance for many years her daughter had her first child the same year I had mine has been living on unmarried mothers allowance (which is what it was called here its now lone parents allowance) while living with the father, who had a full time job yet didn't need to provide for his child their daughter is 18 now and has a 2 year old child herself so she has now gone on unmarried mothers allowance straight out of school :-( That is three generations. It is widespread here and makes me wonder these people people that is normal not to provide anything to Society & just keep taking all the time. Most of these people work for cash in hand and declare nothing. I'm afraid it's everywhere is made too easy and there seems there isn't any stigma about it :-((( Pat x

That thing next to me hasn't worked a legitimate day for over 6 years!! Yet she gets incapacity benefit and everything else, although she does do jobs, they are things that she can get cash in hand for, such as cleaning, etc. If she can do that she can work and pay tax.

Diane, If thats true you should report it, people should not get away with it, Im just so mad after seeing it on T.V. Roxanne x

Just to clarify Pat, there is no such thing now as single mother/parent benefit. You used to get more for being a lone parent I think, but not now. You can claim Income Support if you have school age children (£56.20 per week), child tax credit (max is about £370 per month for 2 kids), housing and council tax benefit and you get the standard rate of child benefit that is paid to EVERY parent, rich or poor. The only other thing I can think of is free school meals. If you have a disabled child you can claim DLA for them and if you are very poorly off you can try for grants from the social fund. No school uniform vouchers nowadays either. Maz. XX

If you know someone is claiming when they shouldn't then SHOP 'EM! I have done this a couple of times and the people on the other end of the phone are really pleasent After all the money is there for needy people not lazy scroungers. Claire

Where I live those on benefits can get help towards uniforms. £29.50 for primary and about £44.50 for secondary school.

Thats my point she has been reported. She put a letter through my door accusing me. She then went on to say how pleased they were she was doing what she was doing as therapy for her illness!! If that was true, which it could be from other stories I have heard, why do we bother going to work and paying our way. Its absolute rubbish.

Hi Julie, I actually asked at the school a couple of days ago. Apparently there used to be a huge fund for each borough, used mainly for kids going up to senior school. Now this has been cut (for our borough at least) to £10,000 - this is Waltham Forest, very densely populated and 'deprived' area! My school recently tried to get help for someone they thought was VERY deserving and were turned down! I just assumed that the whole country was the same - as it should be of course! Maz. XX