the housing assoc I refered to earlier had a strict policy on the subject.
living in a first floor flat, you get mice it is a lifestyle problem
or put in the non-pc manner "if you live like a pig in shit you can expect little visitors and you sort out their next journey"

it sounds like some places still have a Benefits from cradle to grave policy,
mind you in the place concerned the Pest Control Dept was closed down, all enquirers referred to private companies.


presumably if receiving Disability/Pension the tenant would have to pay for the visit(s).
sounds a bit tough, but then if they were living in their own property they would have to stump up the money.
which sounds fair to me.

She's certainly not a snob as she pointed out lol, but she talks in such a derogatory manner about people, in such a blanket fashion that some of her posts are offensive and not a reflection of the real world. She has the misfortune to be in a job and country she does not enjoy but to a stranger reading her (and other posts by other members) posts the image of the UK presented is far from the truth. Not all on benefits are scroungers, drive 4x4's, drink daily etc etc etc. The overwhelming majority are good honest people and deserve a better image than is so often projected here.

I had to stop nursing and volunteer work with age concern a couple of years ago through ill health so I do have a lot of experience of people on pensions and benefits, never saw one in a 4x4. I've been incredibly lucky in that the army and nursing have good pensions in place, we bought property to rent out and inherited other properties, remove those and I'd now be claiming benefit and that thought frightens me because of the struggles I've seen others go through in trying to make ends meet.

Read posts here and people think its the high life getting a 'gyro',,,,far from it, its a grim life for many.

then I have to take it that I am included in with Jo, as I have made comments based on fact, which I have to assume have been taken as a gross overstatement.

the people who stick out are those people who you see off to the pub at 12.30 (set your clock by them), stagger home about 20.00. One in particular came to me for "assistance" as he had been instructed to do so by the JobCentre. He is medically unfit due to injuries and strains from working on building sites. He came to see me on his way to the pub.
also the people who are always complaining they cannot get this they cannot get that, their HB is late arriving and the landlord wants to kick them out. They treat their "home" like a doss house, always in the office complaining this doesnt work, that has fallen off. One woman came in to complain that no one had been to fix the latch on her back garden gate, it was reported less than 5 days previously.

those who you don't see are the ones who don't complain, who help others, one old dear is 72, she is a Friend of the local hospital and spends 2 mornings a week meeting & greeting people and taking them to the ward or department they want. Her toyboy (he's 68!) drives the elderly to and from hospital.

Life is a balance of people, some good some bad. But its the bad ones who show up the system doing more for those who won't try rather than helping those who don't want to be a burden, just try to fudge it through themselves -such people are fiercly independent.

remember Bad News Makes for Good Headlines, just depends on exactly what it is, what day it is and what else is happening.

Getting back to the original OP , I really,really,really feel your pain . I am in a similar situation as you, but my condition was born in Spain.

The spinal column is , if not the hardest of areas to treat , with very little advances being made in that particular area . When illness strikes us when we are young it`s an even bigger blow.

Yes, a warmer climate does help and Spain has a warmer climate. However, as other`s have said Spain is in no way Britain. Please think long and hard about trying a move out here. Especially with a condition like yourself.

Medicine is advancing in terms of a snail with regard to the spinal column in most countries. However, adult stem cell injections for our spinal discs are getting closer. I am assuming you have problems with your discs.

Lady luck just smiles more on certain people than others - It`s the way it is , having read all the posts in this forum. However, most of the posts offer a negative to both Spain and Britain with respect to claiming money for disability - which in your case seems to have very good base and the system is blocking your rights in part. This should not be in your case.

Unless you have a generous amount of money in the bank and a promise of a job , speak Spanish then great.

Lets not forget Spain is in it upto it`s neck in finances. Honestly, as a poster said before try a move to the south of England. Climate is warmer , but don`t forget Britain is an island surrounded by water which produces humidity which is bad for bones !!

In any case it would be better than Scotland - much better. You just need to try it.

In all honesty with hand on heart you are better off in the mother land . Stem cell therapies are coming along . Try and see if you can hook up to a spinal association ,they usually have access to specialist consultants . they have the means to diagnose and put you on clinical stem cell trials.

I am in Spain in a place called Granada and I have hooked up with a specialist in rheumatism via the Ankylosing Spondylitis association . Even though I don`t have the condition , I am pretty bad. He knows of another specialist who is directly involved in restoring, "yes", restoring spinal discs.

That association was the closest to my own illness. They even have use of the local hospitals pool but when I went many as far as I could see had little to do with AS and danced around the pool like teenagers whilst I suffered in pain in the corner. These are folk in their 60`s and 70`s . At least I made the contact I was after but things are slow.

With a large bank account I would be off to the USA . Not only do clinics treat you with the ST`s but give you special fisio for your back to fortify muscle which is so important.

There must be an association near you . Remember, Southern England, better climate and you wouldn`t be broke.

Please take care , all the best.

Hi Bob I now see where you are coming from and again agree with a large part of your post. However I do not know where you are living I live in the North East and have just moved house from a beautiful mid Northumberland Village where I lived for 18 years on leaving the Forces after 22 years. I have moved as part of my plans re Spain having a house there that I plan to use now being retired. My point is that yes you are correct that not all people on benefits are or claiming disability are scroungers or have 4x4 etc or indeed are drug dealers. However that does depend upon where you are living. As I say when I worked after leaving the Forces was idyllic, there were people in the village that needed to claim benefits at times including my daughter, these people though generally were short term claimers striving to get work, I even got into a dispute myself with the job centre when my daughter came home in tears over the way she had been treated by staff there.
However I was for those 18 years a Police Officer working mainly in some of the worst estates within the North east of England. This was from 1994 to the end of last year when I retired. From my personal experience believe me there were people there not only totally abusing the benefit system but also on top of this continuing to commit crime. When I started in 94 when carrying out raids for drugs stolen property etc many of these people lived to a standard that I would think not many of us would see as what we would want. By the way I will add that I come from quite a poor (monetary) background brought up by a single parent on a council estate in a pit village in Yorkshire (I know what being hard up is). It always made me feel that having worked 22 yrs in the Forces and getting myself a bit better educated and joining the Police paid off for me and my family.By 2000 I was going into houses on these same estates to find that many had everything that I had in my house they had in fact far better TV's etc than I could afford and had become to term a phrase brand snobs not for them TV's etc from a Supermarket Sony etc. They also had lovely fitted kitchens tiled to a high standard, fitted bathrooms etc, these were council Premises and most of this work had been done by the local authority. This may not be the case where you are but Tony Blair and Co certainly made a big difference to them. Trouble was these people didn't appreciate what they were given they still didn't bother to get work (not all some did work but had before) the bad ones still committed crime ,thefts burgling neighbours? small scale drug dealing etc. I dealt with one family that were being plagued by the local scum, why because dad worked for the council as a cleaner and the scum used to brag etc that they could get more for doing nothing, my heart went out to him and his family he was trying to do the right thing and getting abused by the idle, for me the likes of him should never end up worse of than the idle. They even complained when the council had some houses put aside for refugees as they said that the council should do more for them as it was their country and their rights not foreigners.
The point I am making is I do agree with your valid comment "not all on benefits are scroungers" that is so true and as I often said in the police "there but for the grace of god go I" but that is not actually totally true why, because I have worked hard all my working life and taken opportunities when they have come up, improved my education to get to do what I want, yes I have been luck but I have improved my chances of good luck by doing this (unfortunately not the case with my venture into property ownership in Spain but that's another matter). I am pleased that things are being done to cut down on the abuse of our generous benefits system and do accept that to benefit all we will never prevent this all together.

Sound sense. Of course it has to be pointed out that you only saw the bad side of things. You wouldn't be required to go if the house was law abiding would you?

Eh ? unfortunately I did not all people the police deal with are criminals, you do get victims of crime as well!

I'm simply relaying how it is in a certain part of the UK and the mentality of some I've come across! Sadly, these people arent open to the type of "do gooder" mentality and from what I see, these people feed off do gooders who fuel their self pity! I have friends who claim benefits and friends who work and trust me, those who are on benefits have the most disposable incomes by far - we've discussed it. One of my working friends even worked out that she'd be financially better off if she split from her husband, gave up work and claimed!!!! in fact several years ago I was in a position whereby I'd have been financially better off by stopping work and claiming! I think you underestimate how little disposable income average working families have

Those I feel sorry for are those who live in Spain - they dont get unlimited benefits at all and you know what? Those people shop lift, cheat and steal for need - not greed!

So back on topic. The UK is the place to be if you need financial assistance and help. Its great, but sadly exploited

Jo xxxx

Exploited by a very small minority and by no means the majority.

it always makes me angry to read about "victimless crime"
surely somebody somewhere has been "done" - broken in to, shoplifted etc

there are % added to the sale price of products to cover for shoplifting, especially in clothing shops

and how much % is added to car insurance to cover for un-insured drivers, and things like these phony whiplash and damage claims from groups who set up accidents to order

you could say that coming back drunk from the pub with your mates and breaking a few windows is fun, victimless as no one gets hurt, and insurance will cover it - but the householder will be charged more next year, they will be held on a claims register for up to 5 years and get knocked back every year.

there is no such thing as victimless crime, but then you know that only too well bob

Yes Domino there is no such thing as a victimless crime and I agree with your post. I was pointing out that the Police do not just deal with criminals or bad people as was suggested by stating that I would only deal with the law abiding side of society. I have said it before and always maintain there is good and bad in all walks of life that includes those on benefit as well.