Who Is Worse Off?

[New Judge]

Three single mothers (and one of each of their children) have lost a legal challenge to the government’s benefit cap. This caps the total benefits they can receive at £500 per week:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-24818747

Lawyers acting for the group argued that the "cruel and arbitrary" measure was "reminiscent of the days of the workhouse". They also argued (surprise, surprise) that the cap unlawfully breached the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child and the European Convention on Human Rights, which protects the right to respect for home and family life. The women themselves feared it would leave them destitute.

Where, then, does this leave State pensioners? I’m sure some of them would not mind being so destitute. Their plight is a little more pronounced as the cruel and arbitrary level of their payments is capped at £145 (for the poorest who receive full Pension Credit). Of course they receive Housing Benefit as well (example rates are £120pw in leafy Maidstone up to £250pw in Mayfair). This still leaves them considerably worse off. A pensioner living in Maidstone receives a little over half the workhouse levels that the single mothers are complaining of. Perhaps they’d like to swap places.

[jno]

there's a thread on this below

http://www.theanswerbank.co.uk/News/Question1289119.html

But the fact that pensioners receive very little isn't an argument that everyone should do so.

[sandyRoe]

The lawyers arguments cut no ice with the judges and their challenge failed. The money the women receive is to cover the living costs of a family. When rent is deducted it's not a fortune.

[OILhead]

But what the single mothers get also has to pay to raise a family and according to a study by Halifax last year the average cost per child is 300 per month - and while people might say don't have children you can't afford, circumstances change.

[youngmafbog]

Yes well pensioners have paid into the State most likely and many will have relatives that paid into teh state with their lives.

And all so sponging scum can use the HRA to live a life paid for by others.

Makes you puke.

[jim360]

Except it doesn't really, ymb, because their argument failed.

[emmie]

being a pensioner these days seemingly makes one an easy target, sure my ma would like some of that spondoolicks upfront, she had to wait an awful long time and get to a considerable age before getting a little bit of extra help, these women shouldn't moan, it may be expensive raising children, but no one forced them into it, and those pensioners one would think they have paid well and truly into the pot..

[jake-the-peg]

Ah the deserving and undeserving poor

A continual theme for a hundred years or more

Retell the story casting them as war widows and doubtlessly the outrage at their cruel treatment would know no bounds!

[emmie]

their husbands paid the ultimate price for freedom, so one would think whatever small amount they get in a widows pension is worth it.

[sandyRoe]

Perhaps they did. They might have come from decent Christian families where illegitimacy still carries a stigma.

[emmie]

trigger, that is an absurd point, didn't have to get married, they could have got married before he joined up, do you suggest that they get divorced just because he enlisted. The war widows of WW2 are dying off, so you won't have to pay for many of them much longer. And those men didn't get much of a choice on joining up, much like WW1.

[pixie373]

Pensioners and single mothers are both worth it, it shouldn't be one or the other. Of course, mothers are paying for other people too, so they would get more.

[emmie]

pixie. men paid towards their families upkeep once, as they should now if the mother doesn't work and has children, why should the state be responsible all the time.

[jno]

you're bang on every target today, triggs

[emmie]

what attitudes, there is more antipathy towards the elderly than there is towards young people, you see it on here, in news, papers, so on,

[emmie]

so you are happy they get whatever money, just because they have children, what about the dad's responsibility?
as to the analogy of the workhouse, the women should be ashamed to say such things, going on the conditions in the real work houses.