The UK Benefits Systems

[flip_flop]

How have we managed to get ourselves into this position?

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/articles /news/news.html?in_article_id=470335&in_page_i d=1770

In a way I can't blame them for what they are doing - yes they are workshy leeches, but their logic makes perverse sense: why bother working when they receive more money for not working.

So, my question is not about the Gillespies, it is how have we managed to get into a situation where people earn more money on benefits than by working? This doesn't make any sense at all.

And how do we solve it? Capping benefits to the equivalent (or below) of the minimum wage for both for a full weeks work?

[Gromit]

First of all flip_flop I would like to thank you for supplying the link, something which the AB Ed continuely fails to do.

Just to turn the facts on their head, this couples previous jobs paid them the minimum wage which they couldn't live on. The benefits gave them a better imcome. The benefits are all meticulously worked out and cross referenced with government data about what constitutes a level above the poverty line, and payment are made with that criteria.

So I blame ASDA for paying crummy wages and the government for setting the minimum wage too low.

[China Doll]

I agree with Gromit to an extent.

However I do actually think that having twelve kids that frankly (unless you're a millionaire) it's unlikely you can provide for is a least irresponsible.

[xhxmxsx]

the system is in a terrible state but while people can manipulate with it there's not much we can do, at least the gillespie's aren't committing benefit fraud which is what a lot of people do, my fiance's x for one claims she is a single mum with 4 kids although she has been married since april last year, they need to re evaluate the system and sort it out

[topkapi]

In some states in America when you are claiming welfare benefits you do not get any extra if you make your position worse ie have more children. The Americans try to get you off welfare ASAP. We should adopt this scenario immediately so that someone who has say two children and is claiming benefits does not then go on to have three, four, five or even twelve. Or is that too simple for the UK government?