Reply to: Britain suddenly finds cure for bad backs and depression

[Gibbon]

So how does that work then?

Surely incapacity benefits and job seekers etc are all means tested. So if you're earning Lockhouse then how come the wife gets benefits?? Or us this another benefit i've missed!

Incapacity isn't means tested as far as I know. A fellow subbie's wife gets it even though he's on > 100k.

[gingerjedi]

As Sb says.

I'm interested in how it works etc

My partner worked until we had kids. Maternity is over etc and she no longer works.

So how does it all work. Benefits, job seekers, incapacity etc etc

Always wondered what u can can't claim for.

Gawd only knows, we had a poor year 2009/2010 yet now we're both working so far this year we've had a 3.5k rebate and free prescriptions for 12 months.

We really could have done with this 12 months ago, we don't really need it now.

[MarillionFan]

As Sb says.

I'm interested in how it works etc

My partner worked until we had kids. Maternity is over etc and she no longer works.

So how does it all work. Benefits, job seekers, incapacity etc etc

Always wondered what u can can't claim for.

[shaunbhoy]

If this lady has been independently earning, and paying tax, for 10, 20, 30 years, and then suffers an illness like the BigC or MS, or a serious injury (like my other half did in an RTA) - which could happen to anyone at anytime! - why the hell should she be means tested in her hour of need?

She is far more worthy than many fraudsters out there. I'm sure you weren't intending to call Mrs L that? As a society we need to protect our genuinely vulnerable members, while shaming the abusers only.

I must admit, I got the impression that MF was merely questioning whether or not the system allows her to claim, in practical terms, on an independent basis, rather than suggesting she is not entitled. For all the reasons you cite yourself.
For me, the most galling thing about the abuse of the system is that it penalises most the genuine cases who would, were it not for the actions of the abusers, be entitled to even more help than they currently get.

[SizeZero]

So how does that work then?

Surely incapacity benefits and job seekers etc are all means tested. So if you're earning Lockhouse then how come the wife gets benefits?? Or us this another benefit i've missed!

If this lady has been independently earning, and paying tax, for 10, 20, 30 years, and then suffers an illness like the BigC or MS, or a serious injury (like my other half did in an RTA) - which could happen to anyone at anytime! - why the hell should she be means tested in her hour of need?

She is far more worthy than many fraudsters out there. I'm sure you weren't intending to call Mrs L that? As a society we need to protect our genuinely vulnerable members, while shaming the abusers only.

[shaunbhoy]

The only benefit you've missed out is benefit of doubt

Whereas you have missed out on the benefit of being in the remotest way interesting.

[AtW]

Or us this another benefit i've missed!

The only benefit you've missed out is benefit of doubt

[MarillionFan]

My wife's on "incapacity benefit" and is genuinely unable to work. However she is really worried that she will fail the new tests as they are so stringent. I appreciate there are a lot of people out there who are pulling a fast one, but there are also some people who genuinely have a right to claim. Believe me, we'd both much rather she was fit and able to work.

So how does that work then?

Surely incapacity benefits and job seekers etc are all means tested. So if you're earning Lockhouse then how come the wife gets benefits?? Or us this another benefit i've missed!

[Mich the Tester]

My wife's on "incapacity benefit" and is genuinely unable to work. However she is really worried that she will fail the new tests as they are so stringent. I appreciate there are a lot of people out there who are pulling a fast one, but there are also some people who genuinely have a right to claim. Believe me, we'd both much rather she was fit and able to work.

Indeed, and this is always the danger when a government goes on a big drive to reduce sickness payments. Something similar happened in Holland a few years back, with consequences for people who are genuinely incapacitated; it's in the nature of a big administrative operation that mistakes will be made, people may not be given the attention they need, and some of those doing the checking might become cynical and unsympathetic. I wish you the best of luck, but I'd also say that this situation is the consequence of many years of abuse in the system and the circumstance that the current government is forced to dramatically cut spending. That's why this should never have been allowed to get out of hand, and it's why the people to blame are those who abused the system and those who stood by and allowed the abuse for so long.

[Troll]

My wife's on "incapacity benefit" and is genuinely unable to work. However she is really worried that she will fail the new tests as they are so stringent. I appreciate there are a lot of people out there who are pulling a fast one, but there are also some people who genuinely have a right to claim. Believe me, we'd both much rather she was fit and able to work.

What is her incapacity?

[Lockhouse]

My wife's on "incapacity benefit" and is genuinely unable to work. However she is really worried that she will fail the new tests as they are so stringent. I appreciate there are a lot of people out there who are pulling a fast one, but there are also some people who genuinely have a right to claim. Believe me, we'd both much rather she was fit and able to work.

[MrRobin]

I usually put whatever I was going to buy down, loudly, and walk out of the shop.

I sometimes throw this little hissy fit too It's usually to no avail tho as the till muppets are hardly going to care about lost business.

I do think there should be bug signs near all the self service tills you get in supermarkets now that say something along the lines of 'You must have an IQ of over 100 to use these tills'

[doodab]

It is annoying when you want to pay or be served in a shop and the people serving are chatting. While I wait, I often dream up a little task for them to do or something to find. Oh, wrong thread.

I usually put whatever I was going to buy down, loudly, and walk out of the shop.

[MaryPoppins]

It is annoying when you want to pay or be served in a shop and the people serving are chatting. While I wait, I often dream up a little task for them to do or something to find. Oh, wrong thread.

Oh too late, I've seen this.

I used to just mutter and grumble if a shop assistant was too busy to CHATTING to DO HER JOB and SERVE ME.

Where possible these days, I just dump whatever crap it is I was buying but didn't need, and walk out.

[Boudica]

There's a big thread running that's full of gripes like these. I was just making a little jokey reference to it.

haha