What needs addressing is the fact that now there is no ambition to get a job as why would they need to when you can leave school get pregnant have a house money every thing that people have worked years and years to achieve. People don't see benefits as temporary anymore they see it as a way of life

I don't mean to stray from the original issue, but I don't agree with the comment that elderly people don't need that money.

It's exactly the same principle as the tax credits etc. Yes we all know people for whom it appears a perk or bonus. But there are thousands of elderly people out there who have nothing. Socially isolated. House bound and immobile. People who look forward to their carers coming to have someone to talk to. Carers they need to maintain what little independence they have, and pay for out of their pension. Most have no family, no support. They sit in cold houses (hence the heating allowance), and end up in hospital with pneumonia. A heating allowance is far less money than a hospital stay.

The bus pass will allow them to remain social and get about if able.

People are living longer due to advances in medicine and health care. Most elderly people have at least one chronic condition requiring numerous medications. I know I couldn't afford prescription prices for the amount of medication the average elderly patient takes.

If you need 24 hour care, they will use your savings, and when they run out they will sell your house. Usually family homes with decades of memories and love.

Oops I went on a bit there ?

But regardless of tax credits etc. Old age comes to us all. I think it's a worthy cause.

I've not long handed my notice in to work... I've worked for 23 years since the age of 14.... It was a hard thing for me to do as I love my job and my bit of independence.. my reasons are that my 9th old baby is now classed as disabled and needs 24 hr care... she has just been diagnosed with an eye condition which means she has hardly any vision.. she also is very behind on milestones and can't even pick anything up or sit up etc.. she is tiny and still very baby like.. she is undergoing physio and other therapies awaiting appointments. We are still waiting for genetic and metabolic results and her eeg. 2 medical professionals have both said they think she has features of a syndrome.. I have lost over £250 a month giving my job up!! I appreciate the help I'm getting from taxes Ive contributed to for last 23 years.. I hoping in the future to return to work. .. its taken me 3 weeks to post her disability claim form... I just don't like taking money I'm proud.. her health visitor had filled most out and gave it me and told me to apply for it... so yes I am now as I know the money will help lilly with anything she needs and im paying a fortune every month in hospital parking £40 last month.... I'm not a sponge or a scrounger.. my kids get everything befire me... always nice clothes and food in their tummy. I rarely go out or treat myself. So I hate what that stuck up b**** put!! Everyone's circumstances are different. . Yes a lot abuse the system but I will not be tarred by same brush... to me also posting that disability form has now made it real to me that my baby is classed as disabled...

My next door neighbours both do not work they have 5 children and boast that they don't need to work because of the amount of money they are entitled to. Yesterday they drove down our street in their van completely payed for via the tax payers which had been completely resprayed and walked into their house in designer clothes to watch tele on their home screen cinema mounted to their wall that the whole street can see. Now I 200000% agree that money is there for people who need help- but surely there HAS to be a limit on how much they are entitled too. 4 kids under 5- one does not live with them. 2 cars. Endless new toys that the children parade up and down the street! Whereas here I am working my arse off at 33 weeks on an apprenticeship wage because my wages do not qualify for Maternity Pay so I need as much money as possible before maternity leave in 5 weeks! Yes help the people in need but clue up on how much help people actually need- not just entitled to it.

I agree that tax credit cuts are ridiculous! They assume that every family aren't wanting to raise their children and they said that if they cut tax credits they will make child care free which is fair enough but that means if you haven't got thousands saved then you can't take time off to raise you child and see their first steps and first words because you have to work to afford the costs of living! And I bet that if they did stop giving us tax credits then they will not give the extra money to the NHS like they deserve but they will raise their own wages AGAIN!!

@banana, once again you're spot on. I'm glad to see other people see things as I do. As for the BBC,I refused to pay my TV licence on the grounds of them covering up paedophilia, so removed their right to access and haven't been bothered since.

Pensioners?

Pensioners pay ridiculous amounts of money when they require help.. They pay bills over £7-800 a month in order to have people like me go in and help them when they require care. Some sell their homes after using all their pension to pay for it and go to their graves with nothing! They don't need their money taken from them anymore than what already is in my opinion. Theyv worked for that money to later relax... Not many of them get to dust to ill health etc, but those who are more fortunate then so be it, let them live their lives and relax in retirement as that's what they have worked for!

Ear28...... put that in your pipe.

Remember every newspaper and every tv channel has a polictial agenda. It's all propaganda. The BBC is probably the worst. Look how they are villiainising the people of Palestine? The daily mail/the sun, channel 4+5 are all extreme right wing. Hence the numeral articles and programmes on benefits. Of course the more people that believe their lies are helping the tories to stay in power which in turn means more tax breaks for them.

Facebook paid just £4000 in tax last year. My oh paid double that!

Maybe instead of picking on the little people we should remember how firms such as Apple, Google and Microsoft dodge paying into the system by using clever loopholes? Google earned £11.5 billion from the UK 2006-11 and paid just £10 million tax. They should've paid just under 30%. Now my maths ain't great but... ?

????????????

There the most corrupt criminals ... Yet they brainwash people into pointing the blame else were!

@banana, I couldn't remember if it was Malcom X or MLK lol. And you're spot on with the illegal wars. As for ISIS,we're guilty of training, funding and arming them. Same with Al Queda back in the day. It just annoys me that people tar anyone who needs help with the same brush as the scumbags they show on the brainwash box,I mean TV lol

?????? not to mention the amount they spend on illegal wars, charities (kids company ahem) the space program, not to mention the things we don't know about (Isis).

Very well said. It's actually a Malcolm X quote. Would highly recommend the book if you get a chance. ??

In short the poor aren't taking your money. The rich are!

All the help is there for people who need it. I work hard, pay my taxes and can't get any help (fiamce earns too much, yet supports 2 families). I don't mind my money going to those to help but we need to remember that there are many scroungers out there. What's wrong is putting that label on everyone who receives any kind of benefit.