Don't believe all that you hear . . . Welfare myths.

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Don't believe all that you hear . . . . . Welfare Myths:


Myth 1: "Benefit claimants are idlers and parasites." Wrong.


             The majority of those who claim benefits are in work, 
             including nearly 90% of those who claim housing benefits.


Myth 2: "Unemployment is a lifestyle choice for those who wish 
             to live comfortably without working." Wrong.


             Firstly, there are between 4 and 5 million people looking for 
             work, but only half a million job vacancies. 


             Secondly, only 5,000 people, 0.017% of a UK workforce of 
             30 million, have been claiming Jobseekers Allowance for more 
             than 5 years. And,


             Thirdly, according to the CBAG, after housing costs have 
             been deducted, the UK poverty threshold is £124 for a 
             single person with no children, £214 for a couple with no 
             children, and £348 for a couple with two children. 
             JSA amounts to £67 per week for a single person with no 
             children, £106 per week for a couple with no children. A 
             couple with two children would receive an extra £34 per 
             week in child benefit, and a maximum of £109 per week 
             in child tax credit - a total of £249, and nearly £100 below 
             the poverty level.


Myth 3: "The massive welfare bill is crippling the economy and 
             needs to be cut." Wrong.

             But in 1997 welfare spending as a % of GDP was 7.76%. 
             In 2010 it was 7.26%. And unemployment benefits in the 
             UK are among the lowest in Europe, having fallen from 17% 
             of average earnings in 1976 to 10% in 2011. 


             As for the proposed Housing Benefit cap, this will save £290 
             million per year, a minuscule 0.5% of the £53 billion per 
             year in welfare payments given to those in the top half of 
             the income scale. 


Myth 4: "The UK is being bankrupted by benefit fraud." 
             More Nonsense.


             Benefit fraud has been declining for years and now 
             accounts for less than 0.5% of the welfare budget 
             (£1.1 billion). Compare this to the £16 billion of 
             benefits which go unclaimed every year to the annual 
             £20 billion-plus which is lost through tax avoidance 
             and evasion.


Myth 5: "Welfare saps the will to work." 

             In which case, how come post-war employment was 
             at its lowest in the 1950's, when unemployment 
             benefits were at their highest in relation to pay?