Famous, Rich And Hungry

[sherrardk]

For those that are interested this is just starting on BBC 1.

[Mamyalynne]

DR F , ah ATOS everyones favourites (not) - at my last interview the guy asked me if I could see the Fire Exit sign (about 2 foot square and vivid green) I said yes.

On the form he wrote 'eyesight fine' , I am partially sighted and had provided all prescriptions and Hospital details re my condition.

[sherrardk]

The man who was ill was trying to get work but potential employers seemed to baulk at taking on someone with a history of illness. He was also paying £25 each week to clear his electricity debt.

[ummmm]

Which left him £25.50 for the rest of his bills and food.

And how often do you read on here people harping on about people on benefits that have flat screen TV's, a car, and two holidays a year.

[mccfluff]

they are generally people who don't actually know anyone on benefits

[ummmm]

Maybe we should become like Japan and make people who have fell on hard times sell all their worldly goods before they are entitled to any benefits. You know, all the stuff they've worked hard to buy for 20 or 30 years...

[pastafreak]

Emmie..maybe he did save some of his wages...but its all gone now. With severely limited income,savings may not last long. And really...how many do save?...in spite of good incomes? I know myself and ex did not save,and that was on an income somewhat more than that gentleman's. Oh...and he had six or seven kids if I'm not mistaken...that's probably where much of his salary went.

*I was going to post this about 90 minutes ago,but page froze. Still relevant though.

[ummmm]

People tend to live a life they can afford at that moment. You don't think 'I won't go out this weekend in case my lung collapses sometime in the future'

From earning a decent wage to benefits must be a huge adjustment and savings would dwindle pretty rapidly.

[China Doll]

I seen it, I actually thought it was quite interesting and well done; I had an enomous amount of sympathy for the mother of three children having been one of three children being raised by my mothre on benefits following a tricky divorce which left no savings for either parent despite previously being in a situation that was financially viable - for the record, the children don't have an awful lot of fun either in that situation and it is painful to see either parent struggle at an age where you're too young to help but old enough to understand.

I thought a few of the 'rich' completely embarassed themselves at the begining wiht their questions such as ' do you not work because you don't want to?' or words to that effect from bird from Eastenders and Ms Johnson's query about what she should do if she saw all the food money in her family being spent on Sky television and fags; however it was good to see their opinions changing as they went along. I shall watch the next one tonight.

[emmie]

as i will, the chap should apply for PIP, if he can't work through serious illness, it may be a little lengthy a process, and like mamy i have done the Atos route myself and it was awful.

[ummmm]

I think he is fit for work. He got ill, things went tits up and he hasn't been able to find work since.

Being ill, unemployed, skint and hungry would certainly zap your confidence.

[emmie]

been there, not much has changed.

[ummmm]

I don't understand. Been where and what hasn't changed?

[emmie]

he didn't look fit for work though, he also seemed severely depressed, all the more reason he should try and get the doctors involved, to help him.

[emmie]

in the same place you said about the guy.

[sherrardk]

It's the sould crushing, never ending feeling of desperation and hopelessness that did my head in. When things went tits up for us, himself just put his head down and hid away. I had just had the things and I became really ill (I truly thought I was going to die). It took us a good six months to get find a way to pick ourselves back up, it is so hard - especially when you are living somewhere where you know no-one and you can't turn to anyone for help.

[ummmm]

Emmie...okay, didn't realise. I hope you're in a much better place now.

Sher...has it made you stronger? More compassionate? etc etc

[emmie]

its still a long struggle, when lost the o/h things truly went to pot.

[sherrardk]

Ummmm - sorry, ironically I was eating my tea! I am a lot stronger and more capable, I have a strong belief in the fact that I am right and I am doing the right thing, I am no-one's doormat and I can tackle any problem. When we got ripped off and lost everything a second time we just ploughed on and got going again. We are resourceful and resilient now, not much, if anything can faze us. When himself was so ill last year we could have thrown the towel in but I refused to let himself sit around like an invalid, so I coaxed and cajoled him and now he is just as focused as me. I know I sound like some complete control freak but I see the bigger picture than him.

I am more empathetic than before, before all of this it wouldn't have even occurred to me consider the issues facing some people. Now I can see it and feel sorry that they can't escape it all. What winds me up is sweeping generalisations about people on benefits (been there and it is horrible) and people on benefits with screwed up spending priorities (people bleating about having no money for Christmas and then going off to get a new tattoo (not anti tattoos).

[naomi24]

Tonight's offering confirmed what I said in the first place - that the problem generally is not insufficient income but the millstone of debt. Nightmare! The person getting the least money had no debts and was managing very well.

[sandyRoe]

I believe benefits for a single person is about £65 a week. Is that really enough to live on even if the recipient was debt free?