There's no point working

the CSA is one of the government's special money making scams. I loudly announced this in my local job centre recently, it didnt go down well. last summer they wanted to take £150 a month from my ex, pocket £110 of it and hand me £40. how the hell they are allowed to do this is beyond me.

JuicyJ,

I think you are missing one important factor. Money is everything. Life is pretty miserable if you don't have any money or, you work your soul case out day in day out but just keep slipping further down the slope.

When I was younger I used to think that money was everything. Now that I am older I know that it is.

Yes, bailiffs letters for non paid bills are a wonderful way to improve self esteem! It's actually soul destroying to work 14 hours a day and still not make ends meet, to still not be able to send my child on school trips because I can't afford it, that destroys what little self esteem that is left. It's not that I don't want to work, or mind working for a poor salary, I have done for years because I love my job and the 'added benefits' of working. The problem is that everything has increased so much in price, food, ameneties etc, and wages have not. I can't give what I haven't got and if I don't pay bills such as gas and electric, you get cut off, and If you don't pay council tax, ultimately after losing all your possesions, you can go to prison. That would be a great example to set wouldn't it? I personally want to work, but due to the problems of lack of adequate childcare and cr@p wages not going up in line with everything else, I can't make ends meet. And before you start on about it, I have managed for five years, it's the recent hike in prices that have finished me off, so don't start telling me I should have thought about it before I had a child because I couldn't forsee this one coming!

It appears to have escaped you that there is more than one reason to choose work over benefits. The choice to work - even for a poor salary - is often made in the knowledge of the added benefits that come from working. These include an increased sense of self-esteem, the opportunity to mix with a wide range of people often from different backgrounds, the opportunity for learning and development and the possibility of greater opportunites through networking and contacts made during your day to day working life. In other words, if everyone gave up work simply because the pay was poor then nobody would rise through the ranks and be promoted to well paid jobs. Think about it. You have to get out of the 'poverty mindset'. You have to start thinking in terms other than 'work = wage' if you want to escape the poverty trap and offer any kind of hope and strong work ethic example to your children.

I'm working full time to support myself and my child and I'm actually getting into debt because everything has gone up but my wages! It is increasingly more difficult to find childcare for evenings (I work shifts and no it can't change because that's the job) and because there are no registered childminders that will take care of my child at home until I get in at 10pm, I pay for a babysitter myself, which is sometimes £60 per week, which is one and a half days pay, I work F/T hours over three days, you do the maths. This government is supposed to help parents work, but only if you work 9-5 monday to Friday, shift workers, although entitled to Tax Credits for registered childcare, often can't find a registered minder who will extend to the hours needed, I can't. So really it isn't worth me working, because I'm not only worse off, I'm actually not able to pay bills because I just don't earn enough.

Iv'e been working since the age of thirteen. I am now forty years of age having not one sick day in my whole life. My hours have more or less been 0700 - 1800hrs Mon - Sat.

I have decided to pack in work for a while. The State can look after me and it will do. Just like it has for the scroungers all these years. Paid my way now it is time for some pay back for all that I've thrown in the pot of gold for all.

I see darwins theory hasnt gone to waste survival of the fittest, I mean richest....its good to know ignorance is a trait thats not genetic.
we all have a right to have children,,,no matter our circumstance, come on..... (life)happens..words are words most things are not forever,,sorry if one fails to meet your standards

I am a lone parent studying part time and working part time 20 hrs a week. my child has no contact with her father and he doesnt pay anything towards her. I am not entittled to housing benefit as im earning too much. any student loans that you get counts towards your income, even though you have to pay it back....with interest..

I left the Army and have always worked upon leaving. Having recently lost my job, I also lost my flat, to a Polish couple on benefits. The landlord is guaranteed his money every month from the Social so I didn't stand a chance.

It used to be the other way around. Hard working decent people now have to go with cap in hand whereas the flipside are welcomed with open arms.

Some of you have no f... idea. I went back to work hoping to give my children a better life. I am worse off financially. Talk about stressed. Get a reality check...

My god some of you people are horrible! Pink said she WANTED to work but was advised by the Jobcentre that she'd be worse off. How does that translate as her being a scrounger???

It's the way this country is set up and doles our benefits that's at fault here, not a single mother trying to do her best for her kids AND herself by wanting to get a job.

Don't have children if you can't afford them. It's your own fault!