Britain's broken welfare system is leaving our community on the brink

The Guardian has been working with a group of community reporters in Rochdale who turned the lens on a broken benefits system which they had seen first hand unfairly penalising vulnerable people in their community. The team of reporters met friends, family and others in the community trying to navigate the system while also trying to advocate for change in greater Manchester and across the country. This film was made as part of a collaborative video series called Made in Britain.
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#MadeInBritain #UK #Benefits #Welfare #Politics #News

[@theGuardian]

The Elephant's Trail are community reporters based in Rochdale, working on a series of collaborative videos with the Guardian. Their first film was on the constituency's 2024 by-election: kzbin.info/www/bejne/nmXZinpnnLWDnck

[@ZolaClyde]

Why is the closed captioning so erratic, is only what‘s been closed captioned important. And Yt’s auto-generated CCs turns what people are saying into gibberish! It’s exclusionary, not just for the deaf and heard of hearing, for all your viewers who have a bit of trouble with understanding the accents. For a publication that does pretty decent job covering, and including those who are excluded, not making it easier for your audience to understand what the speakers are saying, is a ridiculous, fully solvable fail.

[@james4ddy]

Suprised the guardian isn't blaming this on putin like everything else to be honest lol

[@jsmoothie7001]

I was jobless first time in 10 years. Unpleasant experience ever

[@soccerguy325]

Where are you located? How did it work out?

[@AlyshaRobson-qe1ns]

Me too I worked for twelve years had a bit of a mental breakdown the women I have been great as she's also been threw it,but jobs wise in my area it's terrible trying to get on a few courses to get a few tickets for better prospects

[@W_Bin]

I see people go through treatment like this, with my own eyes. Bureaucracy gone seriously wrong. The most horrible part is that that horror, maladministrated, bureaucracy is itself eating up funds allocated for helping people. Thank you Guardian. This is independent journalism at it's noblest.

[@xrayfish2020]

As a former recipient of the DWP, I fully endorse this film. 👍

[@EntinludeX]

It's almost like over a decade of austerity & privatization was a terrible idea. Who knew.

[@Sean-xy4hk]

It wasn’t a terrible idea for the rich

[@TheRealBlueValhalla]

Sean is captain obvious

[@thomasnewton8997]

I have a learning disabilitie and employers don't want to give us a chance

[@Sean-xy4hk]

@@TheRealBlueValhalla thanks for that dickhead

[@MrAmitkr007]

To protect Britain(its wealthy) and stop the developing countries from getting developed, UK did this

[@MrDpc1984]

This society is hurtling towards disintegration. People like this are worth their weight in gold trying to build and keep communities together, the very best of us. Great people being brutally let down by this cruel and callous system.

[@ianhesford]

As an American this looks really good. There is support among the people. Kind of heartwarming. I don’t see any tent cities. Be glad you’re not living in the US. Trust me.

[@Eric-kn4yn]

But millions millions of 👽 are invading usa southern border for a better life

[@bisratezra8247]

Wow. To hear that someone finds this (in my opinion rather depressing) video uplifting is astonishing to me. Greetings from Sweden.

[@simonstones1918]

We’re heading that way trust me! 15 years of Liberals in charge will see to that!

[@Mounhas]

@@simonstones1918Lol. Liberals. Sure…

[@mimi1o8]

@@bisratezra8247 there isn’t a safety net in the 🇺🇸 a family member life Saving medication cost 1 thousand dollars every pill .

[@codenamel]

The thing with his sister angered me. The people doing these assessments claiming people are fit to work, they are not fit to asses. They need to be better medically trained and improper assessments need to be investigated.

[@capt.bart.roberts4975]

I broke one of my assessors.

[@warrickhelme3973]

"If you give people encouragement, not coercion, they have more of a chance to succeed" powerful words, thanks for sharing all of your stories, inspires me to see how you're all persevering in the face of adversity.

[@user-yd1ld4yc1b]

My disability advisor at the dwp in a village in Scotland gave me encouragement. Because of her, I ended up having a successful interview and a job After two years. Encouragement shouldn’t just come from the person helping you, You need to put effort in yourself. Nobody gonna give you a spoon and feed you. You need to do it yourself

[@mairirobertson6479]

Really great stuff - between this and Anywhere But Westminster, you guys are doing awesome work bringing light to what most of the journos in Westminster don’t bother with

[@wheresmychippy]

This is more about mental health than anything else. We need to support people to have lives. Making mental health affected people work in mainstream jobs is like them being made to go through mainstream schooling and expecting success. I work in disability support as supervisor and it is incredible how people flourish when given the right support and understanding.

[@Jimmy009-st8mm]

Rubbish, I've been sectioned 3 times, treatment including 20 rounds of ECT , medication including amitriptyline seraquel lithium , at the Alfred hospital pysch ward , Melbourne, Australia, I got out and got a job at age 55 ,a job where I walked over 3 miles a day to and from the station to get there , the manager now picks me up from the station and sends an uber if he needs me to work on the weekend, keep promoting that victim mentality 😂😂😂

[@wheresmychippy]

@Jimmy009-st8mm you're an exception, and it's great that you've got that stability and that you're proud of it. But I'm sure you wouldn't want everyone to go through what you have to be able to feel safe and happy. P.S. It's interesting that you use miles when you live in Australia, don't you use Kms?

[@Jimmy009-st8mm]

Thanks for your reply, 2:5. Kilometers each way,I used miles because this is a british story , you claim you are a mental health professional so you should be aware that there are number of freeloaders trying to scam the system, hate to disappoint you but if you want me to have sympathy for the workshy you probably need to harden up😂😂😂😂😂

[@TT-fn1xb]

Thank you for your compassion.

[@misst.e.a.187]

Hear hear ❤

[@Abraham_Tsfaye]

When I was in UK. I saw empty boarded up streets under a constant grey sky, litter everywhere. Homeless people sleeping in doorways. A women with cat whiskers makeup casually walking into Tesco with her pajamas. Opioid addicts out of their mind and women so drunk they urinated on the streets. It's a sad declined country.

[@Jimmy009-st8mm]

Lazy country.

[@abdell75roussos]

How much you pay for migrants ever day and then for the future? Crime and other social problems? Enough money in one month to transform the town and those like it. Left wing cannot face reality.

[@MrSmith_]

@@Jimmy009-st8mm Yeah, course, some 68 million people are lazy. That's right. They don't want to work they are happy living on the breadline. Cushty life isn't it? /s

[@misst.e.a.187]

Not where I live 😂

[@alphaomega9446]

I saw this exact same comment on a different video BOT

[@liambartie7]

This is brilliant. Working class stories, told by working class filmmakers. More of this please!

[@thomasnewton8997]

I'm on benefits JSA and pip the problem is that it helps you but holds you back as well

[@allthatjazz9000]

You ain't joking! Can't win!

[@vanessahenderson1850]

It's specifically devised that way. Govt don't want to see people thriving.

[@rowredround7206]

It wasn’t in 2008 when you punished the poor for the sins of bankers?

[@tonygunn6889]

Want a banker work for living wage of £11.40 hour gone up by a £1.00

[@TuaTagovailoaTouchdowns]

Aren't cigarettes expensive?

[@ravindra7791]

Also family support seems non existent. How did he not know his sisters situation. He should be helping her

[@1nicko29]

this stuff has been going on for decades and not nuch has been changed for the better. the countries economy was declining and there simply was never a chance for everyone to find fair employment. some people are always left out and get told that its theyre own fault while cutting them off from support or pushing them towards directions they dont want to go. this system is picking on the weakest.

[@bar10ml44]

Jobs are hard to get. Companies will employ the least amount of people they can. Decent retail and service jobs have vanished. Try contacting any government department or private company and you are flung onto a merry go round of options and horrendous wait times. Everything requires internet and smart phones and computer. Those in work are not valued and paid little yet there are people sitting on their ass earning ridiculous amounts of money for doing a lousy job. I will never understand this world.

[@MichaelPetersFenwicks]

Am honestly speechless...

[@308473mb]

In the face of continuing dehumanization, the individuals we meet in the video are doing everything they can to re-humanize themselves and their communities. No matter what the politicians and managers say, it starts with humans and ends with humans, and dehumanizing the system is a lose-lose situation that, at best, gets you some quick results but never works out in the long run. Perhaps it works out for their careers, though, I do suppose.

[@user-uc8kr1pl6b]

It used to be the case that when going to the job centre, they actually used to help you. Youd see a job on a board, talk to staff about it, theyd phone the employer for you and, In a few of my instances, was having an interview and start later that day. Now YOU have to do all the chasing!

[@diskopartizan0850]

Yeah I signed on for a few weeks. They were perfectly nice to me but they're just making sure you are doing stuff they don't help at all. I had a compulsory work fair landed on me!

[@JestersDeadUK]

Like everything else that's been ruined... immigration.

[@tonyrobinson362]

I'm retired now thank goodness worked in the mines, The unions of my day would not have allowed zero hr contracts its totally disgusting its just to keep people down.

[@vanessahenderson1850]

@@tonyrobinson362 Yes, you are exactly right.

[@Boopop1024]

Universal basic income now. The state should celebrate volunteers, value unpaid carers.

[@bishboshs]

What level of UBI do you think there should be? I've read the head of the IFSs book and he makes a great point why a UBI can't work. Either it's lower than current benefits or we have to massively raise taxation. How would you make a UBI work?

[@Boopop1024]

A wealth tax would be a good start. UBI would be a good option, but I'd also settle for a much more forgiving benefits system than the one we've currently got. Either way the people in this video should not be treated in this way in such a supposedly rich country

[@MrAmitkr007]

But don't do any of that otherwise developing countries could get rich, we won't want that including BBC

[@Samuel-hd3cp]

Bishbosh. The head of the IFS is a plum. Taxes don't pay for benefits.

[@bishboshs]

@@Samuel-hd3cp "taxes don't pay for benefits" could you elaborate on this?

[@lauraedwards8127]

Learning about this system is devastating but those in this video battling it to succeed are inspiring. I can't think of anywhere else that you can get this sort of insight. More of this please @The Guardian. Well done all involved.

[@parikshitsharda4377]

From India. It is not your social security system that is broken, it is families. How can you have so many single parents and then complain.

[@robertmcgowan4149]

This is heartbreaking. Watching this from Manhattan NY USA. The UK Goverment is a disgrace. Where is their compassion? There will always be people who take advantage of the welfare system. These people are not those people. For the love of god help them!!

[@Gph0367]

We need an actual real living wage, and to properly tax the millionaires and billionaires!!

[@garyb455]

They can just move and you get nothing

[@chrysalis4126]

@@garyb455Other countries have wealth taxes and they haven't all moved.

[@stevenhenry5267]

Not if you do it right.

[@willsetchell4222]

​@@garyb455 all their money is tied up in assets so no, they can't just move. If they do, they need to sell the assets to someone who will pay so either way we get the tax paid. We did it to the Russian rich when the Ukraine war started and we can do it to the rest of the wealthy as well.

[@GameFuMaster]

@@willsetchell4222 You literally confiscated their assets. That's just outright theft.

[@Mustache_drone]

I know a polish girl, has a partner but officially she is alone woth one kid. Claiming house, benefits and...bragging about it 😢

[@ldn876]

DWP no use to man or dog.

[@SunofYork]

Sign off then

[@StuartPotts]

Well done my good friend Paddy 👏 much love ❤️ and respect 🙏 going out to you mate 👍🏻 keep it up my friend, God Bless you and all around you 👍🏻

[@MargaretEverson-fg2zj]

'Sis' has hardly any money to live on, yet smoking tailor made cigs! Does not ring true 😔

[@andrewlilley3660]

People should experience the way the system treats people approaching retirement, It's disgusting the hoops elderly people are expected to jump through, I opted out of the benefits system because of this. I have a bit less than a year before I can claim my state pension, people shouldn't be treated in this way no matter what their age.

[@MrSmith_]

The sad part is, the government don't care.

[@matth7448]

abolish the monarchy

[@sheridanjay]

Excellent film- people’s struggles needed to be highlighted like this.

[@stevenhenry5267]

All by design.

[@noelcahill6707]

You mean its costing the country a mint and its not getting to the real people who need it here in ireland the dole is about £190 a week basic

[@harryburden898]

This is an amazing piece and excellent to see authentic, grassroots voices leading the narrative. Great stuff!

[@AceStar1994]

What was the reason Pete lost his job? I'm gutted for him 😢

[@Andrei-hq9jd]

Warehouse picking work is quite difficult to sustainable unless It's the busy time of the year. Effectivelly, they use agencies to max labour when its busy and as soon as there isnt quite enough work they start sending people hope. You basically have to be very, very fast and hard working to keep getting shifts. Not the easiest of work especially if you are older and maybe not that fit.

[@AceStar1994]

​@@Andrei-hq9jd Wow. This actually happened to me. I worked in a warehouse through an agency for only one and a half days. I was gutted. I loved the job. I wouldn't have minded so much if they tried me out for a week but letting me go after one and a half days? It left a sour taste in my mouth.

[@lukepatterson5367]

I know Pete ver well he is a top lad and trys his best . But he has learning difficulties and finds it very hard to perform the duties a job requires in any sort of job or industry. He hasn't got the skills required unfortunately... But the system lets him down over and over again when you have jobsworths deciding who is fit to work and who isn't. Pete has to get by with little or no money on job seekers when he should be on some sort of benefits because of his capabilities. With the job covered in this video he would of not been capable of doing what the company requires. For instance if it was a picking job where he has to go and pick certain items with petes learning difficulties he would unfortunately make mistake after mistake. That's just one example.

[@Kim-gs8dt]

The whole system wrong! Even getting a low paid job still means people struggle! That’s even if you can get full time! Most low skilled works part time. The systems design by people that don’t understand other people’s struggles.

[@user-cb7mi3pr2m]

Absolutely amazing tells emotional stories and how hard life is getting really enjoyed making this and meeting new people we will change the 1 step at a time❤

[@Artistically.Autistic]

There is a difference between living and surviving. One is sufficient and the other is not.

[@RespectthePhilippines-uu1eq]

I spent 30 years working around the world, many of the countries I visited had no welfare system in place. How would people manage here in the UK without welfare?

[@seiwarriors]

Not much, probably will go back to Victorian days.

[@xioshen2058]

prostitution and crime as its always been

[@jip230]

This is what I’m wondering. In the USA, we don’t offer a fraction of what the uk provides to its people as a social service and all the people in the uk do is complain. 90% of the people in this world don’t have a fraction of what you have and it’s not enough?!? Well, you can go get a job. The problem is that most of these people are unemployable even under the best of circumstances- but they expect the same standard of living as people that work. I don’t think this is at all realistic

[@bereal6590]

DWP THE department of wearing people down until they throw themselves under a bus. Hundreds have died!

[@amandag5072]

Thousands.

[@SunofYork]

@@amandag5072 577 million

[@RPKGameVids]

It's over 100,000.

[@SunofYork]

@@RPKGameVids Shortage of underclass whiners at that rate !

[@isabellac1117]

The US system is a mess. You move one inch to try to become independent the best one can, especially if you’re disabled, one can only make so little, otherwise you’ll lose needed benefits. And, once you are eager to live above the poverty line, you’re no longer seen as disabled. Many disabled can and want to find something they are capable of doing. Now, we people who are falling far behind are starting to find themselves homeless. Housing is basically non-existent; no counsel housing. 8-12 year waits to get to the top of a housing list. And, that’s expensive for anyone of a fixed budget.

[@vanessahenderson1850]

I know how difficult it is for people over in the US because my mom used to live and work over there. One of my Auntie's lost her husband and due to the welfare system she wasn't entitled to a penny. She was still having to work right the way through into her her mid 70's. One of my cousins lost her job in 2008 when the financial crash took place. She managed to find a couple of jobs after months of applying for different vacancies but sadly, what she got paid was nowhere near enough to keep her home. She ended up having her house re-possessed. If it hadn't have been for my Auntie, my cousin would have been on the streets.

[@robertmcgowan4149]

This is heartbreaking. To see honest decent people being treated like this is a scandal.

[@farinshore8900]

Not to mention that volunteering can lead to a paid position. It's happened to me twice in my life !

[@Pierrick2009]

Rochdale voted 3:2 in favour of Brexit. There are literally millions of unfilled vacancies across the country , especially since the end of EU freedom of movement. Can they not just applied for the vacancies left by EU workers?

[@seanlander9321]

Do the Brits have any idea when they’re going to stop leaning on Australia to pay their pensions? The lies they tell to avoid paying are scaling Russian type heights of absurdity.

[@harrydebastardeharris987]

In some countries you know how far its people can be pushed but in England it really is a Mystery. Stand Up en masse and take your country back !!!

[@ayela562]

This was incredibly well done. Bravo to Elephants Trail and the participants in this video. You’re putting a real face on a very important issue. ❤😊

[@Senkatuka23]

I really hope the tories who voted for this come to use the system they created.

[@DownUndaWhereTheresThunda]

I agree with you. But we both know those sh*ts well never have to. These souls in this documentary just get punished further and further.

[@abdell75roussos]

Tories spend 12 million a day for asylum seekers, and enough in one month to transform this town.

[@owengriffin2691]

As an American, these accents are wild

[@Sean-xy4hk]

A world exists outside America, wow 😮

[@bishboshs]

@@Sean-xy4hk I think their point was that there is massive differences in regional accents in the UK relative to america. Someone from 50 miles away in the UK can sound completely different whereas in the US 50 miles is the distance to the next town. No need to be snarky just because it's fashionable to make the 'americans are stupid and self obsessed' joke.

[@sydsaturn3337]

Im English and struggle with many Scottish and N Ireland accents 😂

[@carlbland68]

there so dumb @@Sean-xy4hk

[@meb8932]

As an American these accents really aren't that wild.

[@andrewhyde3146]

Fair play to the guy who got a job, the Jobcentre should be paying his travel to work expenses, at least until his first pay day.

[@MrMusicbyMartin]

The guy running the boxing club is an entrepreneur - if he’d come from a privileged background, with an economics degree maybe, he’d know how to siphon money out of the health or social services budget. He’s in the wrong place, with the wrong accent, that’s all.

[@mpmagber1]

I'm sure Galway will help improve things

[@stephenpeat3885]

We need to change the DWP including up scaling the skills of every person including improving the living wage to offer time and half for bank Holidays Christmas, Boxing and New Years Day. We need to improve mental health services, build more Council Houses include a energy social tariff. To reward people back into work for the first year no tax or insurance should be paid include remove zero hour contracts.

[@donalking5460]

Vote these torys out in the general election

[@exiled2home]

Vote Reform?

[@amandag5072]

@@exiled2home And get the rejects that are even madder than the ones currently in power!

[@exiled2home]

@@amandag5072 do you think labour has a coherent vision for the UK and if so what is it?

[@amandag5072]

@@exiled2home Their vision is far more coherent than both the Tories and Reform. Reform are just a bunch of loony extremists!

[@marshalerts4148]

People with long term jobs also get punished, zero access to anything if your a single working man, it keeps you a few weeks away from this type of life if your out of work, Imagine one of these guys get a job and they can do weekend so they work 7 days a week then look at the 300 quid thats missing every week in tax, its a joke on both sides ,we want the money back directly in the communities

[@lukepatterson5367]

Yes it's so fucked up this country. Me personally don't have the best paying job it's better than minimum wage but let's be honest the price of renting a property council tax etc most people in these low paid jobs are probably thinking work all week in a dead end job just to live and pay the bills and survive.. what's the fuckin g point ? I can sit at home get free housing and a small benefit payment and not be much worse off. It's ridiculous how the way of life has become for many people everyone who works should be able to live an enjoyable life have no housing problems no food problems afford to have children and not worry. It's the total opposite at the moment.

[@oenjielsvansoekamadjoe7405]

I don't understand. Brexit promised more work because of no immigrants (many documentaries show many businesses struggle because they have no workers). You have 350 million pound a week now pumped into NHS. How come the people complain about not affordable healthcare and no work to find.

[@OhNotThat]

almost like they were lying dogs about it the entire time.

[@SuperMyfamily01]

Yes there are problems with the benefits system highlighted by some of the stories in this piece. (I imagine also most people get their benefits without issue, which of course this video does not touch on as it does not fit into its narrative.) However I think this misses the wider issue of lack of investment in northern towns like Rochdale and there are simply very few opportunities for the people living in these areas. At the end of the day people who are able to work need jobs, not benefits.

[@GavinTerrance]

When i served in Afghanistan my mate was badly hurt in an attack now in a wheelchair his wife has to help him eat wash and he has to wear an adult nappy he played rugby loved sport was fit healthy and now its come to this and they are still trying to get pip and help from the care system

[@user-zx8qq1so7j]

The Queen is lucky she left when she did avoiding the awareness of these catastrophes..

[@Autonomous1969]

Yet they all seem to smoke and drink alcohol. They have money for that.

[@JestersDeadUK]

And iPhone, Sky, Netflix

[@Autonomous1969]

@@JestersDeadUK And cannabis.

[@aspielife9323]

I am disabled, 43 years old, been unemployed for 14 years and before that in and out of short term unstable work before I was finally diagnosed. With the governments hostile benefits policy I fully expect to be made homeless at some point. I've bought some cheap camping gear to get ready for it. I don't expect to live long because of my health issues so looking for places I'd like to spend my last days. No point turning to our government for help. They are happy for people to die. More money for their friends. I have no hope and I am tired of fighting to get by. I just want it to stop but it never will until I die. This isn't a life.

[@steverobinson8771]

So why do you all keep voting?

[@janviljoen9554]

sunaks mafia not elected

[@fintamaria2429]

Sow seeds!!!😢😢😢

[@johnwright9372]

To those who dismiss the people in places like this as lazy, look again. So many areas like Rochdale have people with energy, willingness to work and talent. Decades of deindustrialisation, lack of investment and neglect has demoralised them. Morale is low, but it is encouraging that many have maintained their self respect and dignity.

[@thesecretformula1337]

This piece was desperately short on data and stats imo

[@jiresamatar1116]

Darren McGarvey , the competition is ON (12:57)!

[@jiresamatar1116]

Hope that doesn't take away from you the niche that you've created for yourself to get yourself & your offspring out of the situation that you found yourself in. 😊

[@neinkalando2519]

It's the same argument as in the United states, the federal income tax payers are sick and tired of the growing numbers of people coming onto the national welfare system

[@1Strawbz1]

these employers are ruthless... just literally use & abuse anyone willing to turn up for a shift

[@davidnavratil5349]

I lived in Manchester over a decade ago and have been to Oldham few times, right next to Rochdale and I just struggle to believe it's so hard to find a job there. The place is full of warehouses and factories.

[@diskopartizan0850]

Like Pete went through, it's not reliable work. You get a job for a week, go through all the faff with the DWP then you get no more shifts. That's the reality of a lot of factory and warehouse work.

[@MrSmith_]

@@Sassy-Sam You may disagree with me here, but work isn't always reliable. With so many people vying for the same jobs, zero-hours contracts and the like, job security just isn't a thing that all people can rely on. I don't think anyone in their right mind would subject themselves to the humiliating, degrading, and dehumanising treatment for the pittance that is offered. Universal Credit rates are as follows: If you’re single and under 25 you get £292.11 per month, If you’re single and 25 or over you get £368.74 per month. Tell me on what planet you can find rent for less than £73.02 per week, or even at the upper end less than £92.18 per week, this would literally leave you with nothing for food/bills etc. The basics to sustain life. It's astonishing. I would like to add that many people on benefits spend that money within their communities, or British businesses - typically the supermarkets, which goes directly back into the economy. I really hope that you do not find yourself in the same situation as these unfortunate people in the video where you require the support of benefits, I really do.

[@JestersDeadUK]

And dodgy takeaways that only employ their own

[@stuartobrien78]

The Disability support pension review in Australia found only 2% fit to work. A similar review in the UK found 80% fit for work. One of these is obviously wrong.

[@Eric-kn4yn]

Australia DSP was a gift to the work shy 80% could work govt admitted used to lower u/e stats but now very much harder to get before 65 % claims accepted now 30% successfull

[@Ggbdhbijber]

Hard to feel sorry for these people when you're travelling up and down the uk working on construction sites and sleeping in hotels

[@TheTomsdrc]

Why did you get into construction then? You made this choice.

[@penelopeoconnor1433]

Folk who want to work and are kept poverty-stricken. Still l ask myself if any political party is worth voting for ?

[@gemmataylor4868]

I WANNA GO BACK TO WORK BUT THEY WONT HELP ME STOP DRINKIN,... I ONLY WANT 1 WEELK ON LIBRIUM

[@creosl]

I thought brexit would fix everything

[@theStevenPowell]

the system is ridiculous but if you cant afford child care dont have children.... ffs

[@tonygunn6889]

Where. In 1980s. Call Dhss. Change. Name to. Dwp. Work base on short term. Zero hours contract /gig economy. Plus work ing provert

[@quwipyui6519]

true

[@thomasanders1314]

We can only hope that something new and better will be born from this mess.

[@LuciThomasHardylover-qx6ts]

In the late 80's I was married to a violent, alcoholic drug user.within 2 years I'd divorced and gone to college. In those days, under Major, I received an extra £10 on top of my single parent benefits to motivate people back into training. My childminder fees were paid, college was free and I got a grañt for any books I needed! I did the GCSEs I missed at school and then went on to do my A levels and then I was also doing voluntary work at the probation office leading to me being offered a place to train. On my way I met so many people who were volunteering in the chosen field they were hoping to join, employers all want experience so how can the government, same Tory government,stop people's benefits for doing exactly the right thing to get employed..it beggars belief!

[@Tom-xs3mn]

Get your campaign listened to! Lol bro they thinking the opposite way. The system is getting worse, in five years it will be shocking

[@mattttt8226]

How come those foodbank users can afford cigarettes, tattoos and iPhones? If only the spent more time applying for jobs and less time getting tacky tattoos!! These lazy people should get nothing.

[@htee7426]

But where I live in SE Asia, there’s no welfare state. If you don’t work, you don’t have money. Everything, including medicine has to be paid for so life Yang easy for many people but - people look after each other and work.

[@grodesby3422]

Once the government starts paying welfare, they can't stop without causing immense suffering 'cos the communal links that would otherwise support people wither and die.

[@jonboymk1bridgemaryfront889]

Nearly Everyone in this country are a paycheck away from being ruined and loosing their home

[@valuetraveler2026]

such nice people though

[@MrE7746]

1:54 Syd Little’s life has really gone downhill hill since Eddie died. 😔

[@michaelplank8966]

Of course its broken everything is broken to many people of course its all coming to a head

[@danielshimmin3438]

Its not the DWP, its the policy framework they're handed by the Tories.

[@sanjayfurtado3993]

UK does not have primary goods. It does not have enough productive farmland to feed itself. It does not have the breadth of minerals to allow cheap manufacturing. The people do not have the work ethic of Asians, so manufacturing will always be costlier. Productivity is low. People like to go on the dole as it is the easy way out. Increasing taxes will not work. The middle class will stop working. The rich will move to Dubai. Time for a government to change things. Make work pay. Decrease benefits. Cut pensions as the old are the richest. They can borrow against their houses and house prices will fall. Rents will fall. People will have more money. Raise the lower limit tax threshold. Remove jobseekers allowance if unemployed long term. Pay for unemployment based on previous work.

[@electrochrist1046]

nooo poor people should stay in hotels you tw...

[@lukepatterson5367]

Very interesting idea I like it 👍

[@amandag5072]

Easy way out? At £75 a week and constant harrsment from the DWP! You're ignorance is showing.

[@Eric-kn4yn]

Austaliian pension none contribution is aus $ 1000pf + single person numerous concessions and add ons rent payment up to aus $ 200 pf single person

[@adotholland22]

no more benefiets,,,a Basic income is better.

[@whubarney9901]

The state of some of these people. All socio-economically caused, result of generations of deprivation and lack of opportunities. Sickening, you don’t get communities left behind to this extent in much of Western Europe. Class system in action

[@tonyrobinson362]

Good luck to all of you because the government dont care, Stay safe, Tone from Mansfield❤

[@karlpennington72]

I've got schitzophrenia staying alive is my battle .anyone want schitzophrenia 😮

[@tabshoura]

Dwp saved my life from destitution multiple times

[@SnakePlisskin.]

Some Actual decent reporting from the Guardian im suprised....Keep it up

[@user-is6qh4wf9r]

Think the main Issue is cultural

[@basedelon]

Rochdale, Manchester area. A traditionally Labour-run city and surrounding area. No connection to the subject of the video I'm sure.

[@diskopartizan0850]

Do local councils set the rate of benefits or the criteria for fit to work assessments?

[@sbaby-kg8hn]

Greater Manchester