Before I start this is my opinion and feelings of the way the UK currently is.

I moan all the time about how the (undeserving) people claiming benefits would rather claim from the Government than go out and work. We have generations sitting on their asses doing nothing and would’nt even consider looking for a job.

It’s the good working people who are taxed and taxed again who end up paying for them. I know that Canada (Toronto in particular) has its social state / council but is it as bad as it is here???.

It really hit me when this time after returning from Canada it was blatant that so many people are taking the mick out of the UK government and sitting at home claiming and getting free housing and every other benefit that goes with it. Now to be very controversial I would stick my neck out and even say that most of the petty crimes, hoddies and general anti social behaviour come from the people claiming benefits.

In one hand we pay for them with our taxes and then on the other hand they turn around and become a pain to society.

Please note that I don’t want to come across as being snobbish or middle class. After all I grew up in social housing after my parent went bankrupt in the 90’s. However my parents made sure I went to Uni got an education and get out. Now I have my own house and a Family.

For those of you in Canada please shed some light on how it is in Canada and is this something you see when you come to England (the Social Housing in every corner)

It's about the same.

Pulls up a seat and waits for this one to develop.

I`m way too much of a bigot to be able to express an opinion

[QUOTE=Almost Canadian;8897254]Pulls up a seat and waits for this one to develop.

I`m way too much of a bigot to be able to express an opinion[/QU

You never had a problem expressing an opinion before

Is this thread any different to the other benefit thread, or should I merge them?

Can anyone help me move this post to "Immigration" as i have placed it in the wrong area!!?!?! Thanks

I could, but its not really an immigration topic. That area is for the nuts and bolts of the visa process.

This would be the appropriate area for this thread, along with the other benefit thread. Immigration is for visa and immigration discussions.

Okay

Much as it will pain the OP to hear this, I agree with what he said.

The amount of benefits are not the same, but benefits are made to those that require them. I guess the main difference here is that EI, for example, is time limited, so one cannot live on it for decades but, I assume, some other form of benefit is likely to be available to replace it.

We don`t have the Daily Mail here so, on a day to day basis, it doesn`t register on most people`s radar unless, of course, one lives close to a First Nation Reserve, then your local press will likely raise it as an issue, depending on whether said media is left or right leaning.

EI maxes out at about $860 biweekly from memory, if you paid in at maximum levels, hardly the lap of luxury. Probably not enough to cover the average mortgage in a major city? Ive spent a few months on EI, and I was well motivated to get back into the workplace!

Once its timed out the next level of "safety net" is basically welfare, far less, and not a comfortable place to be at all.

The social housing situation in Canada I think is not nearly the same as the UK either.

I have no idea about the figures but $860 biweekly seems to me to be more than one would receive in the UK.

I used to act for a municipal landlord in landlord - tenant disputes. While I wasn`t too involved in the "means testing" aspect of the disputes, the amount of rent paid certainly lead me to believe that, while I accept Canada may not pay the rent in full, as is the case in the UK, it is not too far from doing so. One memorable tenant`s rent was assessed at $50 a month, and she had run up arrears in excess of $3,000, how, I was never able to ascertain!

Its a MAXIMUM of $457 a week. and its taxable income, so you are likely to owe them money come tax time if you are on EI for any considerable period!

The maximum rent assistance you can get used to be ~$200 a month. If you own a house and have a mortgage, tough luck. Living on benefits is no picnic here.

The other problem with the UK is that any work nullifies the benefits so it's hard for someone to gradually come off of state-mooching. For example there's nowhere in the UK really like Labour Ready (or at least as widespread) because once you work for the day thats a chunk of your benefits gone.

The same is true here isnt it? A day worked is a days pay subtracted from benefits more or less.

Perhaps some people just prefer to be out working, maybe even thinking it could lead them to a permanent position?