[rock_climber86]

Hi,

I'm on JSA (job seekers allowance), and i'm not ashamed to be on it. I've paid thousands in tax when I was working and now I'm job hunting I don't see anything wrong with being on it.

I've read a lot of threads where people have said "I would never claim benefits", "i'd rather die than claim benefits" etc etc. So I was just wondering - why is claiming benefits so frowned upon? It's there for a reason, to help the needy be they on low incomes or out of work.

[iSMark]

(Original post by rock_climber86)
Hi,

I'm on JSA (job seekers allowance), and i'm not ashamed to be on it. I've paid thousands in tax when I was working and now I'm job hunting I don't see nothing wrong with being on it.

I've read a lot of threads where people have said "I would never claim benefits", "i'd rather die than claim benefits" etc etc. So I was just wondering - why is claiming benefits so frowned upon? It's there for a reason, to help the needy be they on low incomes or out of work.

I don't think the majority would say 'I'd rather die than claim benefits'. It's an unfortunate situation and should only be temporary. I think as long as you're not illegally claiming or claiming for most of your lifetime people won't mind.

I've been on JSA, for a couple of months after uni, I didn't find myself insulted, the majority of people (non-internet comments) were sympathising that this was one of the worst times to be looking for graduate calibre jobs etc. Luckily I found a job, and so should everyone else if they try their hardest.

If you do get negative comments from people, then it's because they have a narrow minded view of Britain in 2012.

[rock_climber86]

(Original post by iSMark)
I don't think the majority would say 'I'd rather die than claim benefits'. .

i kid you not, i saw a guy say this on another thread yesterday! Real life people are sympathetic towards me too, thank god! **** time to be a grad eh?

[sarahthegemini]

Because some people are disgusting snobs.

[maxcartwright]

I don't think its the claiming of them, its the view that a large amount of the population that are on benefits are taking them for granted or not supposed to be on them in the first place. If you are claiming jobseekers whilst looking for a job there is nothing wrong at all.

[Bellissima]

it is usually people who think they are immune from being in that position, people who don't understand what it can be like... OR people from low level income who think "i have a job and work why can't they"... there is nothing wrong with being on JSA... the only problem is a small minority of people who fraudulently claim benefits or make claiming benefits their living with no effort to get off of them when they could.

[iSMark]

(Original post by rock_climber86)
i kid you now, i saw a guy say this on another thread yesterday! Real life people are sympathetic towards me too, thank god! **** time to be a grad eh?

I believe that someone on the internet would say that, however the internet is full of opinions that never really come to fruition in day to day life. The type of person that would say this to a genuine job seeker is very much in the minority.

[Joinedup]

A lot of people are clueless idiots basically.

[electriic_ink]

Those people haven't had to fend for themselves in the real world.

[PinkyPurply]

If someone's actively seeking work or at a position where they are legitimately too ill to work then there can be surely no argument against supporting them.

Benefits have been stigmatized so whenever someone mentions benefits people immediately think of scroungers.

Also, I'd take whatever anyone says on TSR with a pinch of salt.

[rock_climber86]

(Original post by Bellissima)
it is usually people who think they are immune from being in that position, people who don't understand what it can be like... OR people from low level income who think "i have a job and work why can't they"... there is nothing wrong with being on JSA... the only problem is a small minority of people who fraudulently claim benefits or make claiming benefits their living with no effort to get off of them when they could.

strange how all sectors of society (working class to the rich) have people that frown upon people on benefits. It's not like it's a class thing either. A lot of working class people have been like: you're not trying hard enough blah blah. clueless twits tbh.

[Chlomc]

I think it's down to the fact that there's a fair amount of people claiming benefits wrongly. Like for instance, spending a lifetime on them when they are able and have had opportunities to work. And it's thanks to those sorts of people that those who are generally in need of benefits tend to be looked down upon.

If your able to work, and your looking for a job then there nothing wrong with it in my opinion and its a real shame that a system that's there to look out for the welfare of others is taken advantage of.

[rcummins1]

It's mainly shock stories in the media about Afghan refugees and 20 year old mums with 8 kids getting free council houses and thousands of pounds in handouts...whilst this does happen, they're very limited cases.

[LickOfPaint]

There's no shame in being unemployed...

...except for the shame of being unemployed

[electriic_ink]

(Original post by LickOfPaint)
There's no shame in being unemployed...

...except for the shame of being unemployed

The only shame is being unemployed and not looking for work.

[Peli-Pelican]

(Original post by rock_climber86)
Hi,

I'm on JSA (job seekers allowance), and i'm not ashamed to be on it. I've paid thousands in tax when I was working and now I'm job hunting I don't see nothing wrong with being on it.

I've read a lot of threads where people have said "I would never claim benefits", "i'd rather die than claim benefits" etc etc. So I was just wondering - why is claiming benefits so frowned upon? It's there for a reason, to help the needy be they on low incomes or out of work.

Because they are fools. Also, many (not necessarily all) have parents who are willing/able to house and feed them for free while they're jobhunting so they don't realise the need for it.
I personally hated being on it, but that's more because I was applying for everything I could find and getting nowhere which was demoralising and frustrating rather than the actual claiming itself.

[Bellissima]

(Original post by rock_climber86)
strange how all sectors of society (working class to the rich) have people that frown upon people on benefits. It's not like it's a class thing either. A lot of working class people have been like: you're not trying hard enough blah blah. clueless twits tbh.

i find it is mainly working to middle classes that actually even care about it... some uppers do but most are unconcerned (only in my experience, then again it's not like you talk about benefits with people that often)... probably because they have so much money they don't care.

[LannaBanana]

I think it's because mummy and daddy take care of them. Obviously, they've never NEEDED to claim benefits and big whoop for them. And honestly, at 58 quid a week, I'd much rather have a job, as I'm sure 99% of the people claiming JSA do.

[creak]

Because in recent years the media and politicians have led a campaign to stigmatise those claiming benefits. There's nothing wrong with it and the vast majority of cases are genuine and legitimate- the few pisstake examples that do emerge though are held up to justify the attack on everyone who relies on some form of benefit to live.

[AP1989]

Obvs some people resent the fact that you can get something for nothing.