Half of all single mothers don't want to work

[AB Asks]

A report has found that half of single mothers don't want to work. Labour is trying to reduce the number of people on living on benefits and current schemes to get lone parents into work are currently failing. There have been some discussions over the summer about withdrawing benefits from those who outright refuse to work. This approach was taken in the US by Bill Clinton in the nineties and proved successful. Labour is instead going to offer more incentives and extra benefits to encourage people to work. What do you think? Should we act like Clinton and withdraw benefits if these people refuse to work? Or are more and better incentives the way to encourage lone parents back into a job?

[Hugh Spencer]

The American solution might be useful over here but in some cases it may not be applicable. I think it would prove to be worth a try even if only 50% change their attitudes to work.

[Pippa68]

I think the government should try. However I don't think there will ever be a government with the guts to do it.

[Reverandfunk]

It shouldn't be just single mothers it should be anyone who refuses work/training.

Too many people make an occupation out of having kids and claiming benefits and when we have a system where people are better off on benefits as opposed to working somethings wrong.

[leg_end758]

make the idle work.

or like a hundred years ago let them starve.

[Goodsoulette]

Dont want to work??? Or cant!

How many jobs these days fit in the hours of 9-5 and dont want them to work weekends because those are the hours where finding childcare is no problem.

[redcrx]

yes there are single mothers who use the benefit system to their own advantage, just as there are couples with children and even without who do the same thing!

Why single out single mums? What the government should be doing is making all of those who choose to accept benefits instead of trying to earn for themselves go out to work. Even if the government got all of those on job seekers allowance out once a week helping in a voluntary capacity in the community.

Single mums are those that find it hardest to find a job that will allow them to raise a family and work. School holidays, childcare, childs sickness etc, many employers just cant make allowance for such things.

[LoftyLottie]

I totally agree with redcrx. Also, should any mother of young children be forced into working anyway? There should be an allowance paid to every young family so that a parent can stay at home for the first few years of their child's life - rather than given money towards childcare. Whilst children are put into childcare at an early age this country will continue to decline. We need to get back to proper parenting whether it be couples or single parents. The emphasis given by the government on providing nursery places makes me furious.

[China Doll]

It might be an idea to look at the cost of child care first.

Although if you force single mothers to go out to work I predict in ten years time you'll have the moans about 'youth of today have no respect, bl00dy single mothers can't take care of their kids etc...'

It would seem they can't win either way they go.

[Pippa68]

I agree with that too.

Unless adequate childcare is put in place first (as in Europe) there is no point in trying to implement these changes.

I also agree that single mothers aren't the entire problem, and I believe that a certain amount of time should be given for mothers to spend at home with their child/ren. That goes for single mothers and couples too.

[Youravonlady]

Strange is it not that single mums on benefits appear to manage to dress well, eat takeaways, smoke, drink, go on holiday and seemingly without exception have Sky TV.

A generalisation maybe but that's the way it looks to me.

[Pippa68]

Up the minimum wage to a decent level too. The only way people are going to go out to work is if it is worth it financially.

I know of several people who take home less than they would sitting at home on benefits, but they enjoy work and have pride in the fact that even though they have top ups they are contributing to society. If everyone felt like that there would be more money for the less fortunate (incapacity etc) and a better attitude.

[redcrx]

i think youll find that those ones are the ones that are playing the system, the ones who see children as a means to an income. These are few and far between avonlady

[Pippa68]

Very true, red.

Those are the ones who are fiddling the benefit system by claiming there isn't a father on the scene..raking in money from him AND the benefits.

[pugwash53]

I always thought that the benefits system was meant as a safety net to help people who'd fallen on bad times and would therefore be of temporary nature. Seems more recent times it has become a lifestyle choice for some due in part to the more generous allowances that are available. How can it be right that we provide more assistance for people to remain unemployed than assisting them back to work? Perhaps some sort of tapering off of allowances over time may be one way forward.

[Reverandfunk]

Unfortunately Red it is not always the case. I saw a woman 4 six months and she had 4 kids and had been on benefits for 29 years. Eldest son 29 youngest 8.

All of her friends who I met did the same (approx half a dozen of them) and this was the case with so many of the young women in that area.

Housing paid for, plus other benefits, kids dad giving them cash every week it does happen.

[China Doll]

Well if what Rev says is true...

Anyone fancy knocking me up?!

It sounds like such an easy way of life and I don't know why I'm trying to do things the hard way!

[wendilla]

Yes Youravonlady I don't need to say anymore you have said it all but do agree it is not just the single mums the dissability people should be checked more often and before anyone backfires on me yes there is the genuine cases but I know someone they have brand new car every few years ,husband uses car to work wife hardly goes out in it and I would say she is quite capable of going out on her own she had played on her back for years Comes to the door with walking stick. I will say it again we are penalised for working and paying our taxes. Wish I could get a photo of her hoovering and actually wallpapered. husband claims carers allowance.

[LoftyLottie]

Bringing up children is 'working' and should be the most important job for a parent. Those parents who stay at home and raise their children properly should be admired. I don't think a parent on benefits should be classed as 'sitting at home on benefits'. Although, there will always be those that take advantage of the system.

And yes, I am anti day care for pre school children. It doesn't work. More money should be invested into the family (single parents included).

China Doll is so right.

[redcrx]

Rev, i didnt say it didnt happen. I know of a few myself, but its still not the norm, luckily.

[4GS]

China Doll, I offered you the chance to go halfs on a 4GS sprog and you sprurned my advances.

To answer the question (sort of) instead of cutting benefits why not educated the little minx's in the art of contraception?