//I can't see how anyone believes that bringing up children is ever the easier or lazier option!// I don't believe anybody is suggesting it is the "easier option". Such people will churn out kids whatever their circumstances. They are unlikely to be able (or willing) to earn enough to keep them so benefits is a suitable choice. Unlike working people, more...
Cloverjo, //When I was on benefits, for some reason, the Child Benefit was paid a day later than my Income Support. That was a very welcome tenner. I certainly couldn’t afford to put it away to save up for shoes.//
Bet your children had shoes though so somehow you were getting your priorities right.
Zero hours contracts were a life-saver for me, when I was single with small children. I couldn't afford the summer holidays previously to that.
It is a question of priorities... but a roof over their heads, lighting, heat, food, council tax... are all essentials. I also had to have a car, in order to work... I would not be surprised if there were some people, who struggle, even with their best efforts.
The cap for child benefit is too high. I have got CB for all my kids and we are comfortably off. I saved every penny into accounts for them which meant when they were 18 they had a good nest egg to buy a car & insurance & money left over (my youngest has nearly 8K). The CB was and should be classed as a Tax credit and as such should be spent on what the parents need, be that shoes or champagne. However, some need educating on the merits of home cooking and budgeting.
Some of the ones I see down town would probably die if you offered them a job. They pop out kids until they can't anymore then go on the sick with anxiety. The Government needs to up the minimum wage and give long time spongers less incentives to scrounge of the Tax Payer.
no idea, but the time i sat there was school leaving time, so 3.30 to 4pm or thereabouts. Families whether in work or not were in abundance, as i said i sat there having a coffee whilst waiting for a friend.
Nobody seems to have mentioned the freeze in Local Housing Allowance. That's resulted in many families having to spend money which was intended for food, clothes, heating, etc on topping up their rents, leaving them struggling to feed and clothe their kids.
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