Are benefits cheats equivalent to muggers?

[MrsT]

Surely even the lefties must agree with Osborne here?
http://news.sky.com/s...ounce_Fraud_Crackdown

[jake-the-peg]

They're equivilent of Tax Evaders doing cash in hand work and dodging paying VAT

[jake-the-peg]

And neither are the equivilent to muggers as I've yet to hear of one hit someone over the head or hold a knife to someone's throat in persuit of their profit.

[sandyRoe]

When you're born with a set of silver spoons in your mouth, as Osborne was, the world of the poor must seem very strange.
There are areas of the UK where there is no work. A single person on benefits receives around £60 per week, a couple double that. To exist on such a low level of income is like being in an open prison.
Benefit cheats are showing initiative. Good luck to them.

[jake-the-peg]

Not sure I'd go that far Sandy

I'd be interested to ask Mr Osbourne whether shadow chancellors who flip their half million pound homes in Cheshire are equivilent to muggers or just pick pockets.

Or maybe that's a totally different issue

[anotheoldgit]

sandyRoe

I don't think anyone is saying that for some being unable to get a job and living on basic benefits is a bed of roses, it must be extremely hard, and I can empathize with them.

But having said that, I think you really know in your own mind the one's being criticised.

These are those who make living off benefits a life style in it's own. These families are perhaps in the 3rd generation who have never worked in their lives. They know every nook and cranny into the benefit's system, how to make it work for them so as to provide them with a very good living, thank you very much,Ta.

[Haggisdj]

@AOG - Don't forget those who do two or three days work a week on the building sites or have "a little cleaning job" who get paid cash-in-hand.

[ummmm]

There is a difference though. These benefits cheats give nothing back.

[sandyRoe]

The people you sometimes see featured in the Mail or Express aren't cheats. They get what they're entitled to.
A cheat might work a few hours as a cleaner or a taxi driver to supplement their benefit. I can't see much wrong with that.

[ludwig]

No, they're not equivalent to muggers - and they're not equivalent to tax evaders doing cash in hand work to avoid VAT either.
After all, the people doing work cash in hand at least provide a service - at least you get your hedge trimmed or your brickwork repointed.

But yes - they're probably more akin to benefit fiddling MPs. That's what he should have said - 'We need to crack down on these fraudsters - they're no better than MPs'.

[ummmm]

And you don't think MP's put more back into the economy?

[youngmafbog]

Call then what you like, they must be stopped. Cheats are the ones taking something they shouldn't. I dont thinnk many MP's were doing thet, like many of the benefit scoungers (not cheats or genuine cases) the MP's were abusing the system. This of course should alos be stopped. I thought that MP;s had been stopped so now its time for the scroungers.

[rov1200]

There will always be fraud while they are handing over cash to the claimants. Far better for families if they'd issue food vouchers. Then the money could not be spent on cigs, gambling and booze.

[Answerprancer]

"Benefit cheats are showing initiative. Good luck to them".
LMAO - that is cage-rattlingly hilarious. I can almost hear the growling and dribbling.

[modeller]

sandy
# There are areas of the UK where there is no work. A single person on benefits receives around £60 per week, a couple double that. To exist on such a low level of income is like being in an open prison.
Benefit cheats are showing initiative. Good luck to them. #

Poor people like this you mean .
http://www.thisislond...l-the-rules-change.do

[sandyRoe]

Modeller, not all people on benefits are like the ones in the example you give. Can you imagine a single person trying to live on £60 a week? Or a couple on £120?
If somebody cleans windows or cuts garden hedges for a few extra quid would you tell the dole about them?

[reefer]

I wonder why the money people who have a position of trust never go to jail when they cheat.

http://www.guardian.c...m-lords-over-expenses