Quote Originally Posted by jon1959 View Post
There were 6.4 million people on Universal Credit in January 2024. 39% of them were in work - but not earning enough to live.

Is the 'mess' you speak of people claiming benefits (many don't claim who could) or the levels of pay that mean they cannot survive without?

The benefits system is a mess - the UC 'reforms' didn't resolve that and in many ways made it worse - but the underlying problem is poverty and low pay (and high housing and utilities costs). I'm sure you have your reasons for blaming 'soft leftie types' for all that but I think there are more obvious targets.
There are also plenty that claim that shouldn't.

People know how to play the system, people that are fit enough to work cash in hand but also claim the highest rates of disability, housing benefit etc etc. People know how to play the system. They'll squeeze every last penny they can, child benefit etc. How much is given to people that don't need it every year?

There are black people in America that blame the welfare state for ruining black families, mothers happy to raise kids without fathers because they get housing and other handouts.

More you give more people take, perhaps money given to people that don't need it but are happy to claim it (and more) could be better spent elsewhere, maybe they could spend it on care for the elderly, and put our council tax rates back down.