Saving From Benefits.

[sapelesam]

I honestly don't give a fig what people spend their money on, but how does a family of eight on benefits save over £166 per month to spend on presents.
https://www.msn.com/en-gb/lifestyle/style/selfless-benefits-mum-who-only-has-one-pair-of-shoes-defends-blowing-£2k-on-christmas-presents-for-her-six-kids/ar-BBGGaur?li=BBoPOOm.

[Mamyalynne]

There should be a way of doing it better but then if the Government paid someone's mortgage the state would technically be buying part of the house.

I'm not an accountant, you can tell.

[ummmm]

Yeah...but they pay rent to buy someone elses house.

[Mamyalynne]

I have no clue how they work systems out Ummmm or what criteria they use.

They is a lot of unfairness on that we'll agree.

[albaqwerty]

re: the mortgage situation, I think the only help is with interest after 6 months
(might have changed over the years tho)

[Mamyalynne]

Changes afoot soon.

http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/politics/tory-government-quietly-axed-free-10958915

[EDDIE51]

I really can't understand the hate that runs through this thread.
As I said surely it is better she spends the money on presents for her children rather than on smoking. £166 a month is less than 12 cigs a day. What sort of response would this have got on AB if the story was that she could not afford Christmas because she smoked?
Chris everyone on benefit apart from pensioners on pension credit has to pay at least 10% of the council tax.
It may be worth pointing out that if this woman was able to work just 16 hours a week she would get a lot more money in benefit (on top of her income) due to working tax credit ,family tax credit and child care allowance. She could claim for 16 hours a week child care for each child to allow her to work, that alone would be several £100 more cash.
Out of work benefits are steadily being reduced not increased as some on here have said.

[EDDIE51]

^ Plus if she worked part time she would get National Insurance credits towards a larger pension when she reached retirement age.