Roger backs campaign giving voice to people supported by benefits
Posted by Roger Godsiff, MP for Birmingham, Hall Green, at 13:37, Thu 17 October 2013:
Roger is supporting a campaign which aims to give a voice to the millions of people who are supported by benefits at some point in their lives.
Polling by the campaign Who Benefits? revealed overwhelming public support for the principle that benefits should be there for people who need them, most of whom are either working, looking for work or unable to work due to illness or disability. 81 percent agree that ‘benefits are an important safety net to support people when they need help’, while two-thirds (64 percent) agree that ‘we all benefit as a society when support from benefits is available for those that need it’.
But despite widespread public support, more than a quarter (27 percent) of those who currently claim benefits say they have hidden this because of what people will think. This rises to half (47 percent) of 16-24 year olds who have been supported by benefits. And more than half (51 percent) of all those who had never been supported by benefits said they would feel embarrassed to claim.
The Who Benefits? Campaign argues that the overwhelming majority of those on benefits really need the support, yet too often their voices are ignored, misrepresented or at worst they are blamed for their situation. The campaign has been launched by more than 70 charities and community groups brought together by the Children’s Society, Crisis, Gingerbread, Macmillan Cancer Support and Mind. Roger said: “I’ve seen firsthand that the vast majority of people supported by benefits really need that help. No one should go hungry because they lose their job, or be forced into debt because they are on a very low wage. People from all kinds of backgrounds need help from benefits at some point in their lives. I’d encourage them to support the campaign and share their own stories, so the debate on benefits reflects their experiences.”
Who Benefits? is asking people to share their stories through whobenefits.org.uk. A thousand people who have been supported by benefits have already shared their stories through the website and through social media with the hashtag #WeAllBenefit.
At a time when families up and down the country are feeling the squeeze, Roger believes that it is more important than ever that society supports those in need. Benefits can lift people from homelessness and enable them to contribute to society, or prevent families from going hungry. They can also help people with mental or physical health problems to stay independent. Forcing people into destitution or homelessness because of factors over which they have no control benefits no one.
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Posted by Colin, 14:18, Thu 17 October 2013: (Is this post abusive?) #
No one would argue with benefits, as a safety net for those who have fallen on hard times, or who are genuinely unable to work because of illness, disability, etc. The problem comes with those who choose benefits as a lifestyle (sometimes many generations of the same family have never worked), plus fraudsters & economic migrants. There are 600,000 unemployed EU citizens living in the UK. They cost the NHS alone, a staggering £1.5 BILLION a year, that's without their housing, education & other benefits. Why should hard-pressed British taxpayers be expected to support these people? A recent programme, about people living on the dole, showed recipients paying for nail extensions & ordering a Virgin TV subscription, in addition to their existing Sky service! Is it reasonable for anyone to ask their working neighbours to pay for this? With a fair system, there would be plenty of money for those who really need it. In Australia, benefits are paid onto a debit card, which cannot be used for non-essentials, such as booze, fags, TV or nails. It works there, why not here.
Posted by Mohammed Hemraj, 15:23, Thu 17 October 2013: (Is this post abusive?) #
The question is how people are able to survive in countries where there is high unemployment and no benefit. It is easy to blame the foreigners for taking away the jobs of potential UK citizens but these foreigners are prepared to work hard (many hours) at meager pay. For many, life without TV and booze will be full of misery. I know some Muslims who are entitled to claim but do not claim benefit because they wrongly think it is against their religion and conscious. Whereas there might be others claiming benefits for which they are not entitled to. It is possible to cut down expenses by leading a simple life say by using public transport, not wearing expensive fashionable clothes and not going on holidays abroad every year.