Hi johnizere,
i have some sympathy with your situaion,
my brother was in a simlar situation as yuor self,
he to worked hard for 36 years when he was made
redundant, he did not have a great deal of savings,but
it had taken him years to save it, he was forced to use it before he could claim anything.
however the benefits system is abused, by young people
who have no intention of working, they keep having children
to get council houses, pay no rent or council tax,
they dont work because they are better off staying at home.
but you can not blame them completly its the system thats wrong.
ps before anyone says that young people dont do these things i would say open your eyes.