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?

[confused79]

I wish i had the option of NOT working, and bring up my children on my own, pick them up from school and take them, but as i live to provide for MYSELF and for my children, i cannot afford to do this.

It really annoys me when people do this, i know only too well that its not the single persons fault that they are single but you cannot REFUSE to work that is wrong, i know people who have kids that are old enough, say 14 to come home on their own while their parent is at work, but these parents choose still not to work and take money off the tax payer, some people who CANNOT work then obviously this is a different story.

I dont CHOOSE to work well i suppose i do because i coudl choose to sit on my @rse and live on benefits, but i want to give my children/work for my children and not expect to live on handouts.

I will say sometimes i feel people on benefits have more disposable income to live on as once i have paid everything out and dont get anything for nothing there is never much left for anything else!!!

It may be a good idea to go the same to take benefits off these people which id hope are in minorities (but doubt it) but what then woudl happen to their kids, its not their fault, maybe it can be a form of neglect so they could be deemed as unfit parents.

[LoftyLottie]

4GS Don't forget that not all single mums are little minxes. All us mums could find ourselves in similar circumstances. Unfortunately, 'single mums' always conjures up a picture of a certain type of adolescent.

Don't forget there are a lot of single dads out there doing fantastic jobs with their children. We should be encouraged to see 'parenting' as one of the most important things we do in life and a real contribution to society.

[Reverandfunk]

Red unfortunately in some areas of Brum and many other big towns or cities it is the norm.

Plus dont think because they dont work they are "looking after the kids".

Her youngest was illiterate at 8 the next one up lay in bed all day and smoked draw.

I tried to spend time reading to him, taking him swimming, to the park etc whilst mum was more busy shopping. When I first met her he had no bedroom carpet but he had playstation games and Burberry shirts.

[Dassie]

If offered a job then everybody on benefits should be taken off - no refusing because of excuses. Never mind about 9 - 5 jobs and childcare. Single mothers or not the child's father ( or childrens' fathers in some cases ) should be forced to look after them when mother goes to work. It is his responsibility as well. Don't these single mother's have any parents who could share the repercussions caused by their actions?
Simple answer - be responsible and don't have children if you can't support them without using OUR taxes.

[annie0000]

This argument come up time and time again. Single parents or non working couples saying that they should be supported in their decision to stay at home and raise their children - while working parents both single and couples are working to pay for them to do that whilst not being able to afford the luxury to do so themselves. The system stinks.

What example is it to set the younger generation that everything is handed to you on a plate?

Personally, I would feed and clothe all children with non working parents either through schools, nurserys or health centres - provide basic accomodation with heat etc. If the parents want to eat, they would need to go and earn it.

The benefit system is meant to protect the most vunerarable in society, it is not meant to be a lifestyle choice.

[confused79]

When i met my ex he was a single Dad and on benefits, which was not a fault of his own, he wanted to work but couldnt at the time, his ex (mum of baby) walked out and this had a bad effect on the baby and he wouldnt go with no one, clung to his Dad. So he used the benfit system for what i feel for the RIGHT reasons,

He now has returned to work using the NEW DEAL system, so we have 4 children between us and we both work.

[annie0000]

Just read your response confused - I apologise for repeating you - I agree entirely.

[Gromit]

A single mother I know recently looked at going back to work (part-time) as her children are now 11 and 12. She was quite interested in a job, 16 hours a week, which she could work around her childrens school hours.

She found that for working 16 hours she would be �20 better off.

From that you can conclude the benefits are too high or the wages are too low. Whichever, there is not a great incentive for her to work.

[gina32]

a friend of mine gave up her job to do something better and further her career and make things better for her son, and not have to rely on benefits she got on a training scheme, for a big company ,had to pay for the training herself for 5 weeks, she got intouch with the powers that be and was told that she wasnt entitled to a penny, but people who flatly refuse to go to work are asked which foot they want licking first!! its all wrong

[Reverandfunk]

My ex got prgenant at fifteen partially to get away from her dad who was an abusive alcoholic who used to beat her.

However she has been on benefits for nearly 30 years and has never done a paid days work in her life. She told me she couldnt work as she had to be there for her youngest son aged 8. Bearing in mid he was in school for 7 hours a day she could have worked.

Why should we support parents who CHOOSE to have kids and then not work?

Will the govt pay me to stop at home as I have no kids and do what i want ?

[daffy654]

Does anyone have a link to this so called report,how many single mothers were actually interviewed and asked their opinion on working? It could be that only 10 single mothers were asked so half of them is hardly representative of all single mothers. Also,why are single mothers being singled out again...what about single fathers.

I am convinced that this topic is always dragged out at a time when politicians are trying to gain votes for upcoming elections...Single mothers are an easy target for all the self righteous out there to vent thier spleens against. Not all single mothers are single through choice,they didn't create the children on their own,the fathers should be made to pay for thier offspring too.

[China Doll]

I'm disgusted at the fact no one feels like knocking me up today. I must have lost my touch.

I'm not sure that benefits are that generous that people actually aspire to be on them for their entire life. Especially as it's crippling to self esteem to live on what other people call 'hand outs.'

Or at least that is how I would look at it.

[China Doll]

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/articles /news/news.html?in_article_id=485104&in_page_i d=1770

Springs to mind.

[Reverandfunk]

It isnt just single mothers. I walk past the weatherspoons pub in Dudley at half 9 in the morning and all the dolies are sitting in the window with a pint.

Self esteem means jack sh*t to these people. Anyone who is on benefits should be put to work in the community for a minimum of a day per week.

[daffy654]

OMG not the daily hate again....that newspaper is never happy unless they are having a go at one minority or another!!!
I am not a single mother(I don't work due to disability and my fiance supports us) but I know several and all of them would work if there were jobs/support system/childcare that would make this feasible.

[China Doll]

Pubs open at half nine in Dudley?!

I just think you (and some others) are generalising Rev.

I don't think the money you get from benefits is enough to make me want to have and raise children on my own. My mother did it. It's not as easy as it's made out to be and it sure as heck is not a free ride.

I'm sure there are some people out there who abuse the system and do exactly like your ex. But I just don't think that it is the majority of people on benefits who do.

[Reverandfunk]

Daffy just playing devils advocate, if I want say a new car I savce up and make sacrifices so i can get it.

Support systems, childcare etc etc why do people have kids in the first place if they know that they have got live on state handouts. If they lived in a country with no such system would they be as willing then?

People should be encouraged not to have kids not the other way round.

[4GS]

This is the kind of society we are going to have unless something is done:
http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l190/claires man/madmothers-1.jpg

[Reverandfunk]

China I am just stating that in Dudley a certain pub is half full at nine in the morning and that the majority of people in there are on benefits. The job centre is always busy outside with people drinking Frosty jack.

Everything I described about my ex, her friends and the society they live in is true. Just because you dont know anyone who does it doesnt mean it doesnt exist and unfortunately it does.

[natterley]

I used to be on benefits but as soon as my son went to school I started volunteering and within 3 months I had a job at the place! I have since gone on and in the last year have gained an nvq and numerous other certificates. I have just left my lovely job ( which fitted perfectly around holidays and school times) as the government stopped my in work credit of �40 a week ( you are only entitled to it for the first year back to work) as I couldnt afford to work minus the in work credit money. When i went back to the job centre to look for new work I was complaining about it being unfair as I wanted to work and there are now no suitable jobs for me and I was worried about getting back in to debt ( whilst I was working I cleared off most of my debt) and I was told that every single mother is in debt and I should get my mum to look after my son so I can work nights?!?

I AM NOT AMUSED!