Livin' off the government

I try not to judge others. I try not to always believe media articles when they victimize or demonize people.

But, WOW.

Tracey Crompton has never had a job, and her husband Harry has been out of work for 15 years. Yet the couple live for free in a seven bedroom house with their ten children and receive £32,656 in benefits a year. They even have their own vineyard in their 270ft long garden.
....
The couple say they are enjoying the credit crunch because it has forced down the price of luxury goods like TVs and computer games, but do have two gripes.
Firstly, they want even more benefits. Secondly, that their neighbours have nicknamed them 'Britain's Biggest Freeloaders'.

Mrs Crompton, 40, moaned: 'I'm not satisfied with the benefits we get - I want more. I haven't been able to work because I've had to bring up the kids and Harry's got health problems.'
Fortunately their benefits do stretch to a £250 weekly shop which usually includes 50 packs of crisps and ten litres of fizzy drinks.
....
As both are unemployed, their weekly £120 rent is paid by housing benefit and they receive another £628 a week in income support, disability and carer's allowance and other payments.

Mrs. Crompton said if she gets a job it would have to pay more than the benefits. This is what it's come to in Britain. You can read story after story and talk to the British people and you'll hear it time and time again - people choosing to live off the government and the taxpayers. Sigh.

Comments

[bellasmum]

Yes, this has become very common place over here. I watched a Panorama episode on BBC1 last year, and it was about a family (grandparents, parents, and their children...most of them grown) who have never worked a day in their life...none of them! They lived in a fairly decent house, living off benefits and were incredibly PROUD of it. They were doing much better than people who were out working their bums off to make a decent living. It was absolutely disgusting!!

[Kath]

I know, while I was living and working over there my co-workers would be speaking about this problem. Even my husband's sister ran into a situation where she could get more for sitting at home with her baby than for going back to work (after something like 9 months paid maternity leave). She has gone back to work - a moral victory for her at least!
Thanks for commenting, I love hearing from across the pond :o)