Ok 2 claim benefits u don't need, just because you can?

[Pixelpeep 135]

Following on from the Katie Price DD thread. I happen to mention that KP made the tax payer foot the bill for her son Harvey to get to school everyday in a minicab, even though at the time she was fairly well off.

Anyway - it has been 'pointed out' to me that we would all claim stuff we were entitled to, even if we didn't need to.

For transparency - i've been unemployed several times and even though i'd paid enough NI to be entitled to job seekers, i didn't claim it, because i didn't need to.


So., if you had enough money and was comfortable, but was told you could still claim for something from the Government - would you?

[DodgyGeezer]

where do you draw the line? Prescriptions? OAP TV licence (though that's now going)? etc etc

[Johnnytheboy]

If you are entitled to benefits you don't need, and claim them, the system is wrong, not you.

[okgo]

I claimed job seekers allowance yep. Didn't need it, but given I've contributed I thought why not.

[NGee]

I am able to support myself however I still claim my pension, why? Because I worked for it all my working life and I'm ENTITLED to it.

I don't know anyone who would not collected their pension. Why wouldn't they?

[TwigtheWonderkid]

Johnnytheboy said:

If you are entitled to benefits you don't need, and claim them, the system is wrong, not you.

Until a few years back, child benefit was universal. I certainly claimed it, even though I didn't need it. Saved it for my kids. I will also claim my state pension when the time comes. I would happily claim PIP which isn't means tested, if I had a disability. Because......I've paid in loads.

[bristolbaron]

There were personal payments available to me during covid which I turned down as they weren’t needed, and whilst eligible I didn’t feel it was ethical for me to accept them. What KP does is between her and her conscience, countless others would do the same without us hearing about it.

[Smitters]

Johnnytheboy said:

If you are entitled to benefits you don't need, and claim them, the system is wrong, not you.

Agree with this, broadly speaking. If I'm entitled, I'll claim for it and then if I need it later in life, I've got it.

[oddman]

As a higher rate tax payer for nearly all my working life and continuing to do so in retirement, I'll look at any benefits I eventually get as a tax rebate (copyright Ken Clarke)

[Whats on Second]

find it highly unlikely kp has paid much tax or ni , but like the chav she is, will demand all the benefits she and her unholy brood are "entitled to "

[AC43]

oddman said:

As a higher rate tax payer for nearly all my working life and continuing to do so in retirement, I'll look at any benefits I eventually get as a tax rebate (copyright Ken Clarke)

I love that :-)

[Doofus]

Never claimed anything, don't intend to.

I was unemployed for a while 25 years ago. I didn't claim dole, and once I got a job I topped up my NICs. I've had private health insurance (paid for by me, not an employer) for more than 25 years.

"Entitled" is a large part of why people have become so selfish, IMO.

[Nickbrapp]

Hundreds of thousands of people get money for popping out a sprog, you pay into the system you might aswell milk it while you can.

Plenty of millionaires still collect their state pension, bus pass, tv licence reduction, winter fuel payment etc

[Doofus]

Nickbrapp said:

Hundreds of thousands of people get money for popping out a sprog, you pay into the system you might aswell milk it while you can.

Plenty of millionaires still collect their state pension, bus pass, tv licence reduction, winter fuel payment etc

My mum refused a bus pass on the basis the nearest bus stop was over three miles away, and she turned down the winter fuel payment too. Apparently the latter was really difficult to achieve.

[okgo]

Getting free cash isn’t actually that easy I found.

[ChocolateFrog]

Johnnytheboy said:

If you are entitled to benefits you don't need, and claim them, the system is wrong, not you.

I agree with this.

There are millionaires (lots of them) and probably a few billionaires that get the winter fuel payment.

It's not means tested because it's an easy vote winner for a demographic that always votes.

[ChocolateFrog]

I've usually not claimed what I could personally, apart from claiming job seekers when Lockdown 1 started as upto that point it was a personal choice not to look too hard for work, also took a council tax rebate at the same time because I could and on paper we were only bringing in statutory maternity pay between us.

It gave me an insight into those who choose never to work and I can see why they do it.

[kambites]

I have no moral problem with people doing so, but from what I've seen most benefits are too much of a faff to claim to be worthwhile anyway if you are reasonably well off but put any value on your own time.Even if it was objectionable where do you draw the line? Should people who can afford private healthcare not use the NHS? Should people who can afford to put their kids through private schools not use the state school system?

[A993LAD]

My wife claims carers allowance because she is full time carer for her father.
Also I just submitted a claim for attendance allowance on behalf of my father.
Neither need the money but given both myself and my father paid 50% income tax for decades I feel comfortable taking a bit back.
Keeps the civil servants in a job processing the paperwork too.

[Doofus]

Tax isn't a savings fund.

And now I'm flouncing from this thread.