Tories to Examine Welfare Benefits

[Texanadian 10]

I wonder how this will effect this wonderful example of UK welfare gone wrong.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1265508/Peter-Davey-gets-42-000-benefits-year-drives-Mercedes.html

[Kathryn41 3,205]

Offensive labels and judgmental comments are unnecessary and add nothing to the discussion of this topic as well as violating TOS for VJ. Please try to discuss the topic without resorting to such comments in the future.

[Welshcookie 17]

I think, and have thought this for many years. That the UK has caught itself in a Catch 22 situation. I lived and worked as a single mother for 10yrs but I could never 'free' myself from welfare completely. Why you may ask? Because it is hugely expensive to live there, why? because of our social policies. It is very hard to work and see your neighbour 'earn' as much as you do by not working. I would work full-time and still have to top up with some kind of benefit and to be honest it was demoralizing.

But, I have seen the other side of it here in my time, my brother-in-law who had to have brain surgery to save his life..it took him a year to claim his disability money and still he lives on friends sofas now to get by....a 44 yr old man who worked hard all his life but it there is no safety net for him...life would be ok for him in my country, and why not?

[Welshcookie 17]

I tried to edit but left it too late..but I did want to address Incapacity Benefit, as I believe it is the most abused benefit atm, and I have a son who claims it. I have to fight it on a yearly basis so that he can continue his claim.

[Usui Takumi 1,562]

Hey WelshCookie, could I ask some questions (and if they are too personal feel free to ignore).

So if you took your UK job and your situation back then, and brought it all here to the US would you have not needed welfare? Try to compare matching cost of living. IE if you were in London think of New York, or if you were in Cardiff think of a Midwest city. Also factor in the cost of healthcare here etc.

[Welshcookie 17]

That's very difficult to answer since my life and finances changed hugely since I met my husband 7 years ago. I can say that I see a lot more poverty and struggle here in the US which I guess is what you are asking, I don't have experience of claiming welfare here or paying for healthcare. But I do see that living and claiming welfare here is very different from back in the UK.