Inside Britain’s £48 Billion Benefits Scandal | Dispatches | Channel 4 Documentaries

[@Somali1971]

When the rent for a single room amounts to 1200 and the monthly salary is only 1800, it raises concerns about the feasibility of sustaining a livelihood.

[@Somali1971]

@landrover4483 The primary issue faced by both parties is their acceptance of housing as a commodity. This is a significant injustice, as housing should be considered a fundamental necessity of life, not a marketable asset.

[@ghosthdel3098]

@@landrover4483 I havent worked since i was 27yo, currently i am getting £1500 / month from the benefits and i dont pay anything for my flat as its already paid off, the only thing i pay are council tax (discounted) and the factors which is around £150 every quarter. I do side gigs like selling stuff online which sometime i could make additional £500 on top. If i am very lucky £1000 which i always save for holidays to benidorm or magaluf.

[@sidaly1986]

550 a month I pay for a 2 bed

[@WayneClarke-n7b]

Then get a new job kid!

[@RichDreamz87]

I pay 600 for a single room

[@StoryMan_me]

The problem is low paid jobs. Having created a society of working poor through low paid jobs and zero hours contracts, it is not surprising that some people fall back on Welfare.

[@peterjones596]

It's not "fall back on welfare" it's stress of having a low paid/ zero hours job and worrying how you're going to keep a roof over your head/car on the road/feed your family, etc.. Welfare, despite shitehawk Fraser's assertion, does not pay well, it's basically subsistence

[@555555345]

I agree with you, it has been like this for too long now, I remember both of my parents being in work but their wages was too low, caused a lot of rows and we was living in the poverty. It doesn't add up.

[@555555345]

Never hurt your back and neck, it ruins everything. Muscle weakness in both arms and legs, and pins and needles and numbness in pain on a daily basis so you get put on stronger pain killers because normal pain killers don't stop the pain and in my case the stronger pain killers don't help me much either. Need even stronger pain killers. I have Cervical Spondylitis, Osteoarthritis, 3 Prolapsed dics, Gallstones, Adult Scoliosis crushing my organs, Lungs, Heart ♥, Ribs, Stomach, Bowels and Bladder. IBS, Breathlessness every single day i have numbness and need back surgery. I also have hearing problems and poor eyesight, I am short sighted but my medication has made it even worse, because have blurred eyesight and my eye go out of focus and I get white flashing in my left eye and had countless accidents with my left eye and have something pressing on my optic nerve. Get knee pain in both knees and they crack and lock. Have breathing problems because of Scoliosis and have bad chest infections all year round and I have tried asthma inhaler but did not help me and get Bronchitis a lot have chest infections all year round. If i try to do anything strenuous i have to stop due to breathless and feel like I am going to have an heart attack and it is very scary.

[@Telipressclub]

@@StoryMan_me no one in India is on welfare and people are surviving, it’s time you followed the footsteps of the people you once colonised and controlled and then the Hindu community came and conquered. The foundations have been laid get the British people off benefits and into work. Only a true English 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 man can do this, and a party for the Greater Britain 🇬🇧 Star man and Labour

[@seawavechau]

inter-generational failure in lives caused and destroyed by both parties... unskilled labour should be fairly paid, 2 x min pay.

[@JASuperflex1]

This country would make anyone sick, i am sick of working 40 hrs a week just to keep a roof over my head

[@lesleycronin832]

It's slavery. Simple

[@paulhank7967]

Vote Reform.

[@chunkylover48]

@@paulhank7967 So they can double down on keeping us poor while taking bribes and passing money to their mates? No thanks.

[@southaudley.8611]

Is the refugees sick. They seem to get a lot of benefits?

[@jh-oj7nb]

@@paulhank7967 you seriously think farage and his ultra freemarket multi millionaire backers are going to actually do anything for working people

[@wizard0909]

£35k of benefits is living on the bare minimum? Good luck making Britain productive again.

[@colleenpeck6347]

Especially if you have to pay rent or a mortgage. While you wait for your benefit approval, a person uses up all their savings and resources. By the time a person gets approval, your mental state is very poor due to anxiety and depression of their future. The fear of struggling to barely survive the rest of your life. But, it takes many years to get to see a psychiatrist. By the time you do, you're at rock bottom.

[@kaylidington]

Full time work (40 hrs a week) on minimum wage is less than £24k, and then there is tax and NI to come off it. £35k on benefits for an adult with a kid? No wonder so many people have 'mental health issues'. That woman could very easily work full time working from home. There are plenty of jobs that can be done from home - I do just that since I have been housebound for several years (waiting for surgery). I survived cancer by radical surgery that removed most of my gut 12 years ago, have arthritis that confines me the the house, suffer PTSD and depression that I have to actively manage to keep at bay, but I work. I could probably have made a case for a higher income from claiming benefits, as it seems many do (a rational economic decision) but for me it is not about money: it is about self-respect and independence. Sickness benefits should not exceed full time earnings potential of minimum wage employment. Apply a ceiling to sickness benefits of net income from a full time minimum wage job and suddenly a lot of working age people will return to work. Once in work there are opportunities to earn more from additional hours, the benefit of contribution to a pension part-paid by your employer, social engagement, paid leave and options to find higher paying alternative jobs that a work history make possible. Stop the benefit gravy train.

[@quadraticqueen]

Sickness benefits should not exceed earnings potential. Agreed. You sound amazing and I'm glad youre loving work. While working is hard it gives you more than money. 😊

[@sootyq]

@@colleenpeck6347 If your grandparents, and all that came before them.... what would they say about your comment?

[@fernandotorress100]

I nearly had my leg removed in June last summer my foot is struggling to recover and amputation is a real possibility this has progressed over year's and I don't get anywhere near half of 35k a year and now I will be migrated to universal credit and told to attend job centre and look for jobs when I'm fighting PAD which was caused by a clot which they cannot explain Everyone looks at you like your a peice of crap because of minority of fraudsters and that's what causes the mental health problems. I wouldn't wish bad health on anyone when your healthy all you care about is money when your ill all you care about is getting through a day. As for saying your suicidal to get "top" benefits? I have been classified as psychotic after losing my career and health as my suicide risk is so high. I also do not get "top" benefit and and saying your suicidal does not get whatever that is as thousands have took their lives stuck on job seekers and not getting mental health appointments until around 6 to 18 months Keep blaming the poor

[@oneplot5132]

Here we go again . The real issue is cost of living, energy costs, and poor levels of education. Go ahead and smash the unworkable, but it won't change a thing. We can't compete with emerging countries, because our housing costs are too high, energy costs for manufacturing is too high. This won't change the trajectory. Wages, cost of living and education. Otherwise your picking on the weakest again. Get the multi national tax dodger instead, just a thought

[@oneplot5132]

And my bonus winge, we can't compete with Brazil, Indonesia, India, china or any other countries who have low wages, low energy and low housing costs. Keep on day dreaming

[@matty506]

@@oneplot5132 Need a global minimum wage. It'll never happen but would create equal opportunities and would massively reduce imports of most manufactured goods.

[@MrNelford]

The cost of living is so high because people have to pay for so many on benefits via taxes.

[@neilbower9052]

14 years of tory austerity did that to this country

[@peterjones596]

@@MrNelford So, the unemployed are an effect on the shortage of housing and price of energy? OK, Mr Economist, do explain exactly how. I do like a laugh.

[@Ben-jq5oo]

Wages are shamefully low. Mental health support is shamefully non existent. Rents are shamefully high. A tragedy.

[@OghamTheBold]

True - Gran's home was £1,ooo - and I've paid over £66,666 rent for the same house type and they want £66,666 more - my nephew had to pay £66,666 for basic exams in Accountancy

[@gphilipc2031]

BUT ... We are from the government and we are here to help you.

[@OghamTheBold]

@@gphilipc2031 Success has many fathers while duoligarchy controlled plutocratic government[s] printing Monopoly money love AI that 90 percent of the time is CEOs (Cremating Embalmed Orphans)

[@Mercyful_Fate.]

I think there's a lotta mental health help if folk really want it.

[@JaguarZewFlow]

Healthy food is increasingly expensive, and the government is targeting farmers who produce that food. Water companies poison us and the environment. King Charles is on the highest benefits.

[@clair233]

Would really love channel 4 to do an up to date MPs expenses and daily allowance documentary ....

[@chrisjie2127]

This is the problem with the UK. Worried about a few thousands pounds here and there or some minor MP expenses. Meanwhile.....£5bn is lost to Government loan fraud or £100bn wasted on some NHS IT project and nobody cares.

[@BaronMichaelDeBlone1066]

And journalists.

[@lmn6440]

two wrongs don't make a right

[@Robertpurdy]

@@lmn6440 Why is it a wrong ? Do you feel they are overpaid for the role they do ? If you want a good quality government then you must pay well. Why become an MP when you can get a job in the banking sector on 200k+ per year ...

[@Ceecrystalclear]

@Smith-n7n😂😂

[@JohannesC-c9k]

Liz Kendall’s winter fuel hypocrisy after claiming up to £350 a month in energy bills Cabinet minister, who lives in a £4m luxury London mansion, axed payments to pensioners despite having her own energy bills in her second home paid for by taxpayer. That is what politicians are like that is the norm.

[@dasdasdatics420]

They are sending the wrong message and not helping the situation by living off benefits themselves

[@julieemery8963]

Corrupt AF🤬🤬

[@nihalmenezes1963]

They should make it illegal for MPs to own a second home unless they can prove they will use it frequently and ban the use of taxpayers money for paying her energy bills so they're forced to use their own salaries. Another idea is for MPs to finance deep insulation of their property and switch to heat pumps out of their own pocket.

[@whatevermate74]

She should pay her own bloody bills.

[@domashmore6247]

@@dasdasdatics420 They are laughing at us and want us all unalived.. Buckle up because 2025 is going to get even more chaotic

[@AnjiDuff]

I was labelled disabled after an accident at work. Being treated like a criminal and being forced into poverty through the benefits system nearly broke me. I am getting punished for having a disability and have nearly ended myself several times due to stress and anxiety never mind learning to walk again. They strip you of hope.

[@JaguarZewFlow]

Please never give up; many people are fighting this system legally. This program is to trigger and unhinged people further, and there is an agenda behind all, as I put in other comments here.

[@MarniTurboHoarder]

That’s so bad! I feel so bad for you! 😢

[@JaguarZewFlow]

@Tony-q1f are you disabled?

[@JaguarZewFlow]

Never give up; keep your life; may God and good people help you.

[@Cinders_in_Rags]

I can relate. That happened to me too

[@RalphAlvarez-r4b]

MAYBE its time to start rewarding those who do WORK ! Instead of taxing the hell out of them !

[@ImEvo_]

You can earn 12k tax free if you work full-time You can earn 16k+ tax free on welfare It 👏is 👏Bullshit 👏 Tax free allowance should be the same as welfare benefits

[@joannaz9398]

One pays 5k on average salary annually. That's not a lot considering education, infrastructure, healthcare, social care etc. ...

[@Eli-pj8xm]

@@joannaz9398 That's really not a lot if all those things you enumerated work as intended. Question is, do any of those things work for the average Brit? Probably not, therefore all of those things are incredibly expensive.

[@jeannemillsom9300]

Exactly, I think too many people think normal worry and stress is "mental health", life is stressful, you have to cope with it. Not working I believe makes people unhappy, they have no purpose in life.

[@d1p70]

​@@jeannemillsom9300 this. exactly! such a broad and undefined "social safety net" breeds a culture of weakness and laziness.

[@Nick-co8qm]

1.) Government prints money 2.) House prices and other assets inflate 3.) Salaries fail to keep up with inflation 4.) Life becomes unaffordable for the average worker 5.) Worker burns out and goes on sick leave 6.) Becomes depressed and stays on sick leave indefinitely. Meanwhile rich people with assets become insanely rich doing nothing.

[@STEVOSTHEBOSS]

So buy assets 😮

[@Nick-co8qm]

@@STEVOSTHEBOSS Exactly yes. But if you're on benefits or working a low paying job where do you get the money to buy the assets? Inflation is an invisible modern day slavery people don't even realize they're trapped in.

[@davidking9222]

@@STEVOSTHEBOSS It's proportionality. People should do what they can. Exploiting the system is wrong whether from the top, middle, or bottom.

[@LangtonCars]

You forgot the ones in the middle that work hard to keep both sides happy

[@ZooHeretic]

@@LangtonCars too true that. Now even the middle are getting squeezed from both sides.

[@Elvis36-j6p]

You work for 42yrs to have $2m in your retirement, Meanwhile some people are putting just $20k in a bitcoin for just few months and now they are multi millionaires I pray that anyone who reads this will be successful in life....

[@Ethanrtz]

Well explained. Thank you for sharing this video. Financial education is certainly necessary for more than 80% of the society in the country, because there are very few people who are knowledgeable on this subject. The value of the US 🇺🇲 dollar is decreasing due to inflation, but it is increasing when compared to other currencies and commodities such as gold and real estate. I am worried that the rising inflation will reduce the value of my $550,000 retirement savings. However, with Maria's help, I have earned $220,000 this week from an investment of $45,000. I am truly grateful for all the knowledge and valuable information you have given me these past few months....

[@Boddaert-v9m]

Well explained. Thank you for sharing this video. Financial education is certainly necessary for more than 80% of the society in the country, because there are very few people who are knowledgeable on this subject. The value of the US 🇺🇲 dollar is decreasing due to inflation, but it is increasing when compared to other currencies and commodities such as gold and real estate. I am worried that the rising inflation will reduce the value of my $550,000 retirement savings. However, with Maria's help, I have earned $220,000 this week from an investment of $45,000. I am truly grateful for all the knowledge and valuable information you have given me these past few months....

[@Ethel_Callens]

How ..? I'm new to cryptocurrency investing, can you tell me how you made a profit?

[@Socorro-k9d]

Yes! That's her name (Lady Scarlett). A lot of people think highly of her 😊 and I just started dating her from Northern Ireland 🇳🇿

[@Derisvalda]

The very first time we tried, we invested $2500, and after a week, we received $19,750. That really helped us a lot to pay up our bills

[@victoriavelvet3689]

Maybe give people proper wages and healthy food industry to feed themselves with and we may have less illness? Just a thought.

[@Raj-ul9my]

Exactly most jobs are low paid and are like £11 per hour or like £9 after taxes it’s crap

[@tonymiller225]

You can pay people 50 pound an hour it wont help - inflation will rise by a similar amount- Imagine you are a hairdresser and are mandated to pay you staff 50 an hour - you will be out of business tommorow unless you rise your prices to cover it. The low wages reflect low productivity and money sucked into the public sector which produces half of what the private does for the same amount.

[@MO-ss5mj]

​@@tonymiller225 should still be higher

[@tonymiller225]

@Smith-n7n Probably none. The country is in a death spiral. It needs hard medicine which will never occur in a democracy- 7pct of the working age population on long term sickness - vs < 1pct 40 years ago. The UK is screwed as is alot of the west,

[@peterjones596]

Yup, but actually teach "home economics" where cooking and budgeting were taught so that there would be less reliance on take aways and microwaveable "food"..

[@staceylee8571]

Plenty of people claiming disability benefits also work too, either part or full time. Those that cannot and rely on benefits, majority are legitimate. Fix the mental health services, ability to afford housing and pay liveable wages and more people would be more open minded to return or enter the work force.

[@icanseeyouallfromuphere]

Read a news article a few days ago £900,000,000 DWP benefits go unclaimed each year......

[@Taylor23890]

You can work and claim PIP

[@allykhan8594]

Put nonsense in your brain get brain problems. Welfare is the most harmful thing (except real disable people) in society. According to ONS 50% of people living in social housing in working age, don't work!

[@allykhan8594]

Totol welfare cists less pensions is £270,000,000,000 a year.

[@DJgregBrown]

@@allykhan8594 but yet pensions are the biggest spending point the all pip and UC combined.

[@hali8580]

Why are they acting like there's million jobs available. Why are they concentrating on the weak in society when there's bigger questions to be asked

[@alexs6770]

There are lots of jobs.There are many different types of jobs. The problem is most employers don't want to hire people with health problems. Or don't allow flexible working.

[@GoodKnight-mm4nv]

Exactly. A lot of jobs are not even worth applying for….rubbish wages, awkward hours, pathetic public transport at rip off prices making the commute sheer hassle and then you give at least a third of your wage to a greedy landlord so they can live in luxury in early retirement……it just seems that the whole system is a scam😡

[@Gareth-Mckenzie]

​@@alexs6770 the only jobs where I am instantly go to the polish and illegals where is your excuse for that?

[@abstractdrumz]

@@alexs6770 There are less than 1 million job vacancies in the UK right now. Unless the government can create literally millions of jobs in the next year or so, they're going to be forcing benefit claimants to find jobs that simply don't exist.

[@zoeybella234]

@@abstractdrumz Do you hear yourself? In many countries there is 0 jobs and people find ways to grind out a living. If more jobs were covered, companies would grow, employing more people to create more jobs. Why should people that work their butts off in terrible conditions to earn less than the many benefits scroungers, have to put up with this pathetic parasite fest?

[@TheSincereb11]

Im 35 and have depression, anxiety, insomnia and PTSD. Struggled with it my whole life but I still have went to work everyday. Not everyone can do that but alot more can.

[@a.brekkan4965]

I too have suffered from depression, anexiety and insomnia but I got though uni and I have worked for decades now. Ones attitude towards work decides whether one is employed or not

[@LucieneCurtis]

@@a.brekkan4965precisely

[@LucieneCurtis]

@@a.brekkan4965precisely

[@jojomama2424]

Worked 35 years with anxiety, depression, insomnia and severe migraines. Managed all the ailments with meds and therapy and powered through. Also have my own private disability insurance so if needed I am not taking hard working tax payers money. Thankfully now retired and out of the rat race…

[@lornam4596]

Same - bipolar, OCD, GAD, SAD and suspected ADHD. Never claimed any benefits and have worked full time for more than a decade.

[@PamelaBrigden]

Look at the actual jobs, they are terrible, long hours, no breaks, no pay for overtime. You don't know what's going on out there. My daughter works twelve hour shifts, mostly nights she is slowly going downhill she is getting ill. Try properly regulating the workplace again. Don't blame the ill people and let the employers off their bad practices. Sorry Channel 4 this is terrible, just paying lip service to government prejudice about who's to blame about the Increases.

[@garyk1334]

The country is no longer fit for purpose

[@user-vu9es1we8y]

Any other European country pays time & half after certain time during the weekdays & double on weekends and bank holidays

[@peterjones596]

Well said.

[@peterjones596]

@@user-vu9es1we8y Any other European country has Unions which aren't legislated against and that co-operate with the company for the common good. Also, as I checked years ago, France, Germany, Italy, Spain and Switzerland have never heard of "Continental Shifts", and when told what they were the common answer was "our Union would never allow this". And too bloody right!

[@johnpapworth433]

@@peterjones596 Well, if the unions didn't take the piss - then we would have had them!

[@Tay-n8m]

I think about the treatment my mum received from the system, worked her entire life and suffered with gallstones in her late 50s. Whilst waiting for the removal she was in and out of hospital with acute attacks. What I can only describe was how she felt so stigmatized and bullied by the job centre for being temporarily out of work. She eventually went back after surgery into a 0 hour contract job to make ends meet. She's still in this position 10 years later as a care worker. She's treated like rubbish, no sick pay or holiday pay, she's terrified to go back to universal credit after her experience. It is such a broken system, and it's frustrating to think this is stigmatized. 0 hours is one of the most disgusting things to happen to the UK job system.

[@noramartin96]

Labour said they were going to ban 0 hours?

[@ZooHeretic]

@@noramartin96 Labour say a lot of things but little action to back it up so I'll believe it when I see it.

[@frances6986]

@@ZooHeretic It's been less than 6 months since they got in - they cannot fix 14 years of crap in 6 months.

[@william_marshal]

Every worker is entitled to holiday and sick pay by right, even if they are on zero hour contract, part time contract or 40 hour week. Holiday pay is proportional to the hours you work i.e. if you work 40 hours/week you'll get holiday pay of 40 hours and if you're on part time i.e. 20 hours then your holiday pay will be 20 hours a week. If your mother is not paid holiday pay then she needs to put in a written grievance and failing that take the employer to an industrial tribunal. If you take your employer to a tribunal then they will sack you 100% !!!

[@pawelkonarski4667]

Become the landlord then!

[@detritiv0re144]

For sick and disabled people to work there needs to be employers willing and able to hire and pay them. They never talk about that side of the equation.

[@alexs6770]

Yep 100% Even if someone ill, managed to get a job they might get fired for not doing as much as their colleagues.

[@alexs6770]

1. A retailer popular with the middle class and starts with the letter M, employed a deaf woman.

[@alexs6770]

2.The woman was sent there by Remploy, a job agency for people with disabilities. Everyone at work ignored her for the whole day, staff, managers..

[@alexs6770]

3.Most staff were not told she was deaf and thought she was rude including customers, they made complaints about her. No one spoke to her just me. 😠 😡

[@mloclam6917]

The current government helped get us here

[@heracles89]

£24k a year for single person to sit around do nothing - GREAT Britain is finished if it keeps on this course

[@billygunn6185]

4M unemployed and around another 9M economically inactive people aged 16-65 in the UK Over 50% of UK population gets more out of the system then they pay in No wonder tax is at an all time high and everything is going down the drain

[@zr9145]

Who's getting 24 k though? Enhanced disability rates arnt even close to that..

[@alexs6770]

A friend asked for mental health treatment, counselling, their GP kept ignoring them. Finally 5 YEARS LATER they were told they are now at the top of the list 😂

[@Synfulz.]

A friend was looking for help for problems he had kept getting told it’s anxiety related and given pills 3 years later his been told he has a type of cancer borderline stage 3 so the symptoms was not anxiety lol 🤡

[@piddlydiddly]

I keep getting referred to computerised CBT.... for psychotic depression..... and SSRI's, that I've already got a long history of trying, they don't prevent my symptoms.

[@alexs6770]

@@piddlydiddly Sorry to hear that. Almost sounds like they are getting you treat yourself. If it's not helping please go back to your GP you deserve better.

[@trace567]

​@alexs6770 what is borderline hilarious is my GP surgery don't appear to know much about my medical history, only discovered this by the app. I've been agoraphobic in various ways, currently the worst at leaving my home drugged only 3 time this year for medical things. End of last year after a pip reassessment that took 12 months to complete pip contacted my GP surgery, concerned for my welfare. The bright spark GP over the phone refered me to the online talking therapies for a whole 6 sessions to cure my by then and now worst ever almost completely housebound agoraphobia will 6 sessions over the internet. Well since in person at home cbt and graded exposure has previously never fixed it, I guess let's try 6 online sessions instead lol. Course on completing those 6 sessions I apparently got magically cured so they removed the active housebound agoraphobia status. Which came after the GP filling out the pip form said i could travel to a medical, even though I couldn't even get down the road to the surgery. That's what happens when you have 15 GPs and locums caring for you over the telephone. They haven't a Scooby who you are or what is even wrong with you. I'm currently trying to get them to fix my medical records.

[@trace567]

If the GP and medical system got improved more people might actually be treated correctly and helped, whether they can cure or not. What you can't do is fix someone using the wrong tools then blame the patient for failure, which is effectively the current system.

[@jamtart161]

Im glad alot of these comments are challenging this video and treating people compassion not hate.

[@chasethechase2298]

Right? I thought that their propaganda would be effective but KZbin commenters aren't taking any of it

[@dereksmallsuk]

Yup. Typical crap ass reporting . SHAME ON YOU CHANNEL 4

[@125ordie2]

On the other hand people feel the opposite about those responsible for public money pouring into the pockets of the already rich.

[@jaijai5250]

That’s because most of the people shown are palm coloured. That’s the only reason the comments are showing compassion.

[@george20694]

​@jaijai5250 no need to race bait. Places like Boaton are predominately white. There is no evidence that people are only being compassionate due to it being White people on sickness benefit

[@donna25871]

Back in 2021 I had Glandular Fever and Covid within 12 months which brought on chronic fatigue and multiple autoimmune conditions. I had to stop work in the middle of 2022. I was fortunate that I had income protection insurance through my retirement fund which meant I received 80% of my salary while I was unable to work. People don’t realise how stress and worrying about how you are going to live while you are unable to work affects your health. I didn’t need to worry about that and could focus on my recovery. I will be going back in a part time capacity in the new year working my way back to full time over the first six months next year. I feel so fortunate that I had the support I needed and sad that many people don’t. One thing I didn’t mention - I live in Australia.

[@GAMascal345]

You almost forgot to mention the most important thing, you don't live in the UK‼️Why the hell those people voted to exit the EU god knows‼️‼️

[@Coffee23]

@@GAMascal345 Scotland and Northern Ireland voted to remain, but sadly, England decided to leave, so Brexit it was!

[@matthewg7182]

I am working in Health and Social care with people who are receiving more money than I do being a senior member of staff. This is disheartening, demoralising and depressing, taking on people who do not show any respect to our staff, blatantly pointing that we're all doing a dead-end job and THEY should be treated better since THEY pay us! Working full-time should always give you more than being on the benefits, and if it doesn't - along with the cost of living - no wonder people are being sick of life.

[@jeaniethom9763]

Becareful what you write for one; how do you know of the vulnerable's financial means? you sound bitter and resentful you ought not to be working in Health and Social Care, sharing such a comment warrants for an instant dismissal and at a senior position.

[@kaluludhianvi]

@jeaniethom9763 Did you even understand the comment? People on benefits are paid more then workers. It's why there is high unemployment and a huge welfare bill.

[@jeaniethom9763]

@@kaluludhianvi Report the matter to the Director of Social care...or shall I do so for you? But to talk about vulnerable people and their financial circumstances on Social media warrants for a employment dismissal... comprehend that.... And as written in one's employment contract....

[@jeaniethom9763]

@@matthewg7182 As someone who is setting up a social care business... I'll share this comment as evidence of distrust of employees and the potential risks for such vulnerable clients... it's called a 'case study '😊

[@kaluludhianvi]

@ Off course one mustn't mention anything about the millions of vulnerable people.

[@yorkie984]

The broken health system is the core problem. People are getting sicker because it's harder to access timely treatment. Many are passing the point of being treatable or deteriorating to the point where treatment is too late for proper recovery.

[@EC-xp5hj]

THIS

[@OghamTheBold]

That US private healthcare CEO (who was in to AI that failed 90 percent) got lead poisoning from 3,000,000 pencils signing a petition to have a properly funded NHS

[@rajs5397]

That's the real issue. Fix healthcare first.

[@louiseburke8012]

its true. I waited 13 months for standard NHS physio. 18 weeks (4.5 months) was the target last met in 2016

[@bashisobsolete.pythonismyn6321]

NHS doctors are EXACTLY IDENTICAL to the sadistic war criminals who were "just following orders"

[@GoodKnight-mm4nv]

A lot of people on long term disability benefits are living with horrendous mental illnesses such as schizophrenia and severe depression…….often there is no cure for these people and it is cruel to try and make these people go out and work in a normal job……maybe if the government looked at tax dodging by big companies and corporations people would realise that it’s NOT the disabled and mentally ill who are a drain on the economy.

[@mlgfrog27]

Why should working people support people who have never and will never contribute anything to society. Let their families pay for it. Britain is a socialist state at this point.

[@kemalistdevrimturkaydnlanm168]

It’s called neoliberal capitalism. Kings, politicians, corporations, mafia don’t pay taxes and allowed to make unlimited amounts of profits. While people like us have to pay taxes more each year while our income reduces by inflation. The bank I was working for after paying the missold insurance police’s, stop paying us bonuses and pay rises stoped in 2009 while the banks profits were soaring. The banks sell us mortgages at 7 percent, paying less than 1 percent for savings. Every 10 years, the government pumps our money to the banks which are not following the rules set by the government so that they don’t collapse. I get no service from monopolies like energy and water companies. I registered a complaint, no one cares.

[@unibars1]

Your ignorance is beyond stupidity and your failure to see reality is the reason the UK is a failed state I tried to help 35 years ago by providing over 1200 full time, well paid jobs and recruitment was near Impossible as almost every candidate wanted every other Thursday off to sign on and to be paid in cash I was, and remain, disgusted by the growth of the benefit state so much so that I sold up and left a long time ago and have never looked back as in most countries the people are better off working than being unemployed - unlike the UK where benefits pay much more than even well paying jobs - especially sickness benefits

[@kemalistdevrimturkaydnlanm168]

@ I hope you don’t get sick and loose your job.

[@lbunnygordon1133]

Do Starbucks Mcdonalds pay any tax ehat about entire govt and predecessor..did Bj and the like not embezzle cheat ask for million gbp pensions and get legsl aid! Plenty of judges and courts..to put away the lot of them who even committed perjury and lied to the Queen. So many crooked schemes ppe just the edge of it. Deal with them make them pay back our stolen monies ..you ll find there s so much spirited away..

[@tru2]

I am on disability receiving less than six thousand a year living below the poverty line. This programme is simple to stigmatize people on benefits

[@WayneClarke-n7b]

You should get zero! Why should my taxes pay for you?

[@boostmeup]

@@WayneClarke-n7b becasue she is classed as disabled

[@will006]

@@WayneClarke-n7b Woah brutal! If you became disabled im sure you wouldn't be saying that. Your taxes should very much pay for public services.

[@shbu2127]

@@WayneClarke-n7b I sincerely hope you never become disabled or chronically ill, sir. I have been struggling with chronic illness for my entire 20's and I've been fighting to get better at every step, being cutailed by the NHS at every turn. I'm grateful to those who are able to work and pay taxes to support me. My life is not really worth living with the pain I experience every day, but I wouldn't be able to survive at all without benefits and there are people who care that I continue to exist.

[@detritiv0re144]

@@WayneClarke-n7b Would you say that to their face?

[@wellwait4197]

It’s amazing how in countries where there is no real welfare benefits that “depression” is not a factor in stopping one from working and supporting one’s self….. amazing

[@sooticablue1664]

Is it? Have you seen skid row in LA? Have you seen the amount of people living under bridges in Glasgow, the amount of people trying to sleep on pavements in London…. Have you walked around the streets of Sheffield recently? I have. They don’t even get benefits. They’re on those streets because of their mental health. Wake up!

[@balanceis_key]

Are you really under the assumption that those in countries with no welfare net don't get depressed and stop working? They just become homeless and destitute. You can even take a look at how the infirm were treated before we had a welfare state. You can see it now with those who do not qualify through some exclusionary policy. Anyone can get sick at any time, including you. The system was meant to help those who couldn't work at all, yes, but also those who just needed help getting back on their feet. There are so many mechanisms, from insecure and poorly paid work, to high rents but dilapidated housing, a crumbling health service, that is funneling people from the latter group into the former through no fault of their own.

[@pgt909]

I've been working since 1988 never been on benefits in my life until I recently laid off. I can tell you that being over 50 it's really hard to get a job , I hear all the time the media and government saying that there are millions of jobs available? I applied for Job after job most of the time I don't even get a reply. Now I'm working for less than the minimum wage as a self employed courier . I'm not even making a living and I'm relying on state benefits to top up my wages. . That's the quality of the employment out there especially where I live in South Wales! Massive multi national companies aren't even paying the minimum wage and are getting around it by using people as self employed workers or offering workers zero hour contracts . The Minimum wage should be a lot higher and the government should be looking at the multinationals instead of picking on the public again. Who do the government serve? The people or the big companies?

[@Saddam-N-S]

Hope you get a job soon 😢

[@JaguarZewFlow]

they serve them self

[@paulhank7967]

The native British citizen is low down on the list.

[@Baldnesz]

Bitcoin Tesla.

[@Baldnesz]

Indeed. Apply for jobs and document the selection process. Then sue companies that you can demonstrate probably age discriminated against you. Use the proceeds to buy Bitcoin and Tesla shares.

[@FateBoost]

You have to wonder how many peoole are stuck on benefits as the NHS can't or won't properly treat chronic physical and mental health issues in a timely manner.

[@susanvanaken]

so true, no cure no work

[@marknewellmusic]

This is so true, firsthand experience, they won't treat my disease - only the symptoms. 🎆

[@meowkitty2956]

​@marknewellmusic same there isn't a specialist for my condition in the whole of east London and hospital that do have specialist aren't accepting patients outside their borough, when i tried to take out health insurance to go private I was told they wouldn't accept me or pay of treatments if I have an existing chronic condition so ive just been self managing this whole time🙃

[@marknewellmusic]

@@meowkitty2956 IBD?

[@Me-lm6yd]

Living conditions are tied to it a lot of the time imo. I feel a lot of the people suffering from mental health illness aren't actually unwell, it's just their body processing being unsafe in an appropriate way. Like if someone's parent passes? The way they feel and act after can look a lot like depression... but it isn't. It has a clear cause, if not for the cause they wouldnt be down. When people aren't paid a wage that lets them live in a stable way, free from fear - of course they're anxious, on edge and mentally ill. It's not something a course of CBT will treat. There needs to be massive systemic change.

[@AnjiDuff]

Are you seriously doing a doc on poor people trying to survive? Why not do a doc on TAX DODGERS AND TRUST MANAGERS??? The fact that people with money are withdrawing it from taxation and hiding it from banks how are you helping? We have no NHS or support system. Everything costs double last year. People living in fear and persecution on waiting lists for the non diagnostic services. Name and shame the billionaire tax dodgers who are the true paracites of the UK.

[@kychpal6236]

Agree with you, pay has been too low and it seems kept low for years. But the profits keep on rolling in. Thinking of companies like Amazon. Tax dodgers yes.

[@Qincable]

Close em down Duffy

[@TheLucanicLord]

@@Wally-555 If they were trying to help they wouldn't have hired a tory bootlicker to present it.

[@funny7]

This opinion is insane. These billionnaires are the ones who pay a huge amount of tax that is paying for the benefits. Our economy is not falling apart because a few rich people hiding a bit here and there. Its falling apart because such a huge number of people only take from the economy and never give. You're mentality is exactly the problem and why we are in this mess. Its way to easy to keep blaming people who have money and are not giving enough to the poor, this is not a solution to anything.

[@martinwalker9234]

"Every thing costs double last year"....really? which part of Britain do you live in where inflation is 100%?

[@deanchads]

So if I say I drink every day and I say I'm depressed.... £800 a month. Worked for 25 years, minimum of 50 hours a week. I can see why people go down this route. It's far too easy and too much.

[@geehappyhips]

I have a friend who mentors getting people over their mental health issues -a lot can’t get well because they couldn’t cope with the cost of living and managing on a low income.

[@magnus9701]

i cant either im oap

[@billybobdog3815]

I have a friend who is a support worker for mental health detained patients how you think she feels earning a take home pay of £1800 a month and the people she cares for are getting £800 to £1200 a month disposable income no bills to pay no rent to pay meals provided and a unsuite room and all the latest trainers and high end brand clothing .

[@geehappyhips]

@ yes I also work in End of life care on a similar wage . I’m not justifying it , but my friend reports that it’s not in their interest to admit they’ve recovered - need some bridging system.

[@PotterSpurn1]

@@billybobdog3815 I expect she feels terrible. But this should incentivise her to use her training, experience and re-train or market herself for a better position elsewhere. There is too much self-victimhood around these days. Too much 'poor me'. Sorry to sound harsh, but some lessons need learning, it seems to me. I was lucky enough to be taught them at an early age, perhaps some readers weren't. Well here they are.. Everyone should learn to see the positive in their situation, not keep dwelling on the negative and then staring into an abyss of hopelessness and despair. For every situation you find yourself in, there is usually an upside - as long as you look for it. A sense of entitlement and bitterness will kill that off entirely - and to their own detriment - not to anyone else's. Working people have more of a chance to change their situation than those who can't or don't want to work, even their wages are not that high currently or they feel put upon. Working has always been the same. Nothing has changed. You need to work your way up or start up your own business to stand any chance of a good life and to deserve a good life where you can live well and, perhaps retire early. People are also lucky and not everyone is. That is also life. Everyone who isn't lucky or a hard worker (and I don't been slogging at Aldi on minimum wage) just gets by at best - scraping to the pay the bills and slogging away into old age until their bones give way. The only difference between then and now is that in the decades when I grew up as a teenager and young adult people realised that they were in that position because they deserved it due to an adversity to risk, not being bothered, not having any get up and go, playing safe, not aspiring to something better and just staying in a nice safe job that was going nowhere. Now everyone is so darned entitled, they believe everyone owes them a living - and a good one, at that - from the cradle to the grave - even when they don't pull a finger out. They are too busy saying 'poor me, poor me' and guess what they end up poor. So life can sometimes throw you a curve ball, doesn't mean you should give up on life and expect everyone else to carry you. The lesson endeth.

[@ellislegg3937]

⁠if you are long term detained all benefits are reduced

[@darrellbrown6957]

The incompetence of politicians for decades has caused this crisis.They allowed highly paid skilled jobs to disappear over 40 years to be replaced with minimum wage jobs in warehouses.

[@jam99]

Civil servants do the incompetent long term policy work. Politicians are just figure heads for 5 minutes.

[@danielcampbell3686]

Added to that they import everything now, if there's ever another war the UK is F, ed, at least in the ww2 we had shipbuilding, coal mining, steel industry, heavy manufacturing industry, and farmers. had skilled experts in many different forms of making and building stuff. we had tons of apprenticeships for young people in jobs they were interested in right up until the late 70's. Then both the Tories and Labour started to sell everything off to foreign investors, who now own all our utility companies, and transport, with the promise they were going to invest and update what they bought for the 21st century. instead, we still have an aging electrified network, victorian pipework, and over-inflated tickets for services that never run on time. They did nothing and lined their pockets and paid massive amounts to their shareholders and CEOs at taxpayers' expense. Massive unemployment in the North, Scotland, and Wales where there are no jobs now, and no prospects for the young except a life on the dole. or piss poor min wage jobs where even if they worked there 20 years will still be paid min wage. Even the work programs they send people on, where they are told that after they have been trained there's a job for them, the employer just gets rid of them after teaching them nothing and replaces them with someone else, after a year, easy money for them and next to free labor. but it makes the government books look good.

[@SteveConkie-t6r]

The politicians have not been incompetent. They have been very good at their job.....which was to drain the place dry right in front of everyone's faces and give an entire country's wealth to their mates. The Tories are actively evil. They enact policies which they know will result in misery and death. They constantly lie and con people while they are slipping the knife in. And they ALWAYS leave a broken society for Labour to clean up. Just wait a few years and the same people whose lives were ruined by The Tory Party will be singing the praises of a new "Compassionate Conservative" leader.

[@richardbrown9344]

Incompetence?...Its being done on purpose.

[@colinm4]

​@@richardbrown9344people say this and refer to some plan....what is the agenda and why?

[@freedomcaffeatwhitehallhis532]

It is the system that is making us sick. Work hard all week just for pay high house rents, expensive food and transport. We are left with peanuts and in a long run some people can’t take it anymore and sickness shows

[@green76081]

Indeed

[@SteveConkie-t6r]

Exactly. At some point, you just can't chip away any more without it becoming obvious that society is broken. It is all connected. The State has been dismantled and all those aspects of society that keeps a person housed and warm and fed are gone. Sold off. No bloody football pitches or libraries, no doctors, no chuffing dentists, or places to go. No jobs, no heating, no hope no food....no nothing. And the Coup de Grace, Brexit, ensured that nobody gives a toss about us anymore.

[@Jesuslovesus599]

Not everyone my local Sainsburys shows many people are rolling in it .,if the number of mercedess and luxury cars worth over 60k are a barometer

[@cfcsk2996]

​@Jesuslovesus599 they'll all be on finance, mostly.

[@dragonrider116old4]

Well said I agree

[@youtubing9762]

"There are now more than 800k jobs advertised in the UK, more than any time before the pandemic." Yes, and many many applying for them, but companies only make those job ads to look successful and like they want to be grow. They don't actually intend to hire, and those ads also are a great source of sell-able info when tonnes of people apply.

[@MelissaGarrett1980]

I’m pleasantly surprised that the comments section is so understanding and enlightened, because so often these sorts of documentaries call out the right-wing hate brigade. I was expecting abuse because I’m longterm disabled, but it seems people are seeing past the media spin and understand that people on benefits are not the real problem.

[@jamesbyrne9312]

Agreed, its refreshing

[@mayfieldnorris4280]

This is because the people featured in the programme are "white indigenous."Migrants would evoke a different reaction.

[@NotMe-f2e]

"Right wing hate brigade" you'll find the left have a lot more hatred for their fellow humans. Us people on the right want the best for our country and our people!

[@Moustache-Gaming]

Indeed, I scrolled down with dread, only to have what little faith in humanity i have left actually raised a little.

[@mogznwaz]

Not all people on benefits are the problem, we ALL understand that, but there really are a lot of people gaming the system and taking the p-- and a lot of them aren’t even British. That’s what gets people riled up.

[@Londonlight522]

A lot of us are working with health conditions, a lot of people have decided that it’s not worth sacrificing their health for company’s where they are undervalued and a government that pisses their tax up the wall. I’m lucky to be in a job that offers a range of adjustments but if my option was retail, customer service or hospitality I most definitely wouldn’t be working. The sick bill will keep increasing until work is more attractive than driving yourself into a breakdown for pittance.

[@MrNelford]

What about the concept of self respect? So you are saying you would happily go on benefits knowing that others will have to burden even more taxes.

[@Londonlight522]

@ We pay tax regardless, I have never had a reduction in my tax when unemployment rates improve. I speak to the staff in my local coop who get abused by shoplifters, understaffed and underpaid. They are disrespected by the public and their managers. It’s really a double edged sword, it’s easy to punch down but the problem comes from the top where society has been allowed to become lawless and wages are stagnant.

[@Londonlight522]

@ I used to have a negative view on people who claimed benefits but I worked in the jobcentre for two years. People had been failed by the care system, mental health system, prison system, school system and then we were expected to bash them with a stick for not wanting to work for a company headed by a tyrannical CEO pocketing bonuses whilst they’re struggling. I’m not even left leaning but I can understand how it’s come to this.

[@Rosso87]

@@MrNelford Im currently working, i have a number of conditions, one of which is a nerve condition that causes me to be in immense amounts of pain and have to take strong painkillers every day. I work 8-10 hours a day and employer doesn't give a shit if im in pain, none ever have. Either turn up to work in horrendous pain dosed up on pain killers or don't get paid and then they expect overtime every week to get things done on time. Every day i struggle through this shit going on the sick looks more and more like the best option. Why should i have to spend my life in pain with absolutley no help from my employer to make things easier, just to make them millions when i get paid 27k per year??

[@taranchies1505]

@@Londonlight522 really good to hear you've changed your views on this! Yes send all the people kicking those on benefits to work at the job centre for 2 years :P all the MPs can go.

[@leonbeaufort7660]

Stop bashing the disabled channel4. I’m sick of it. Mental health issues are real. Services are non existent. Scandalous.

[@juneannhollick9840]

@@leonbeaufort7660 that is why I whent to sage which is mental health Counciling group because I couldn't wait for the NHS I'm glad I did

[@stephanieshefer5545]

Lots scamming mental health too. I've ment them...

[@Holidayhome-spain]

I think it's aimed at sick not disabled?

[@marxk4rl]

If you have a mental issue, go to a therapist. Don't claim life long benefits. It's like saying, I have a toothache, can't work, give me benefits. Go to a dentist and solve your issue.

[@leonbeaufort7660]

It's an agenda by MSM to demonize the sick and disabled​@@Holidayhome-spain

[@dba1222]

Whatever the issue actually is, calling 3 million people off sick a "scandal" is editorialised opinion and reveals the journalists own views and lack of objectivity. Disappointing. You cannot label this a "scandal" when there is zero evidence of things that would make it scandalous e.g. fraud (which DWP says is

[@jotttn]

Jeeez, if this isn’t deflection from the real criminals (politicians) I don’t know what is!!!

[@nebulaaah]

Both of these things are problems.

[@sambranton3346]

Watch propaganda, expect propaganda.

[@LovingLifeOnLess]

Well said

[@Baldnesz]

And thus voters. Who did you vote for ?

[@tomekhotdog]

This is an analysis of incentives and system design. I do agree that we should expect government to fix broken incentives by a system they manage.

[@Downwiththatsortofthing]

Imagine if you will, having constant heavy menstrual bleeding with no more than 3 days reprieve a month, unable to leave the house at times because of blood loss, becoming severely anaemic as a result, being placed on a waiting list for gynae as an emergency referral and waiting 18 months to be seen even as an emergency, in the meantime you’ve lost your job due to sickness and being unable to physically manage it anymore. SORT HEALTHCARE OUT FIRST!

[@MannatAjmani]

Agree with u totally

[@SaoirsenahÉireann1]

❤❤

[@AlissaSss23]

I absolutely agree. My GP lost my referrals for the last 2.5 years, I bleed heavily daily too due to hemorrhoids, I saw them twice about it and I was thrown a cream and suppositories at. A few months ago I ended up in the hospital with IV drips for anaemia, and I suspect I might have to go back soon, to avoid fainting and maybe hitting my head in the fall.

[@lorrainevart8827]

Very sorry for you but many people are able to work but just don't want to

[@Nick_80599]

I got into a situation were I have Fibromyalgia with severe widespread pain im into new jobs then unemployed then into another new job then unemployed ect.... its very hard to manage, ive become fully dependent on strong painkillers like Pregabalin and Codeine but I have successfully been employed for some time and remarkably only had 2 days sick in the past year, the original OP comment really hit me hard because I know what it is like when you cannot make it out the door and your employer cannot cope with you being absent a high number of times, healthcare should be fixed first, painkillers stop working after some time and I will end up with a high sickness level once again. Don't send sick people to work, get their health right and get them somw support first because it's not fair on them or the employer

[@JaguarZewFlow]

Producers of this program seem to be in excellent cooperation with The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP), which has already faced significant scrutiny over deaths linked to Personal Independence Payment (PIP) claimants. According to figures released by the DWP, 17,070 PIP claimants died between April 2013 and April 2018 while waiting for a decision on their claim. Additionally, 7,990 disabled people died within six months of their PIP claim being rejected during the same period. These figures have raised serious concerns about the assessment process's impact on claimants' mental and physical health, leading to calls for reforms to ensure the system is more compassionate and supportive. Since then, not much change has been noted between disability rights advocates, activists, and claimants. Therefore, it is logical to conclude that DWP's introduction of new types of powers involving scrutinisation, investigations, and privacy rights violations will have further, more severe consequences not only for people with disabilities but also for their entire families and communities.

[@deedeee5156]

OMG I am truly horrified to hear this. I claimed PIP and it was only by a stroke of pure luck and the heavens smiling down on me that the assessor I got had the same condition and so I didn't need to convince her that I was telling the truth. She would know it reading my claim. But it shouldn't take luck to claim. I dread my 2 year review and how much I will have to fight.

[@philfoxtrot2115]

If you can manage a child single-handedly, even with a walking stick, you are capable of performing 70% of jobs.

[@MaRi-Br1984]

Love the push from the comments on this video. We only ever hear one side of the story on the media, and I always love to see the British people push back against these old neoliberal narratives that only talks about the problems but never about the model that causes the problems to begin with. Families should be at the center of the macroeconomy not the markets, what we have is a system that’s prioritizing the well being of money over the well being of the people.

[@taranchies1505]

'prioritizing the well being of money over the well being of the people.' - yes!

[@Azoz195]

100%. I think the penny is dropping more and more, and we can all contribute by spreading the message far and wide. LOUDLY. This is a failed economic model that wreaks disgusting havoc upon a supposedly ‘developed’ economy. Why anyone would think that tying up huge swathes of wealth in illiquid and unproductive assets - like housing - is a good idea is mind boggling, This is the net result, skyrocketing sickness, low growth, high tax, unproductive, uncompetitive economy, The system is your enemy, make no mistake,

[@MaRi-Br1984]

@@Azoz195 exactly, they treat an unproductive sector of the economy (the banking system) as if it’s the only thing that matters, what’s scary is like how they were so proud of the fact that they were attracting international investments to Britain, as if it’s needed, listen if the investment money is coming from outside you can be sure the gains from that investments are going to leave the country, it’s as if they are confusing money with capital, in the process of doing this they are also undermining the pound, it’s as if they don’t know that Britain, the Bank of England has the capacity to finance whatever capital is needed in the country. They pretend they don’t understand how monetary policy works, I gotta say the overall quality of the politicians is like some sick joke, any serious mid/long term investor would actually be afraid to invest in Britain watching the politicians talk, the only people who are happy are the speculators.

[@Ankolysing_Spondylitis]

the government doesnt care about its people, the whole system needs changing before the UK is a third world country. They wont help people with serious health problems! if you can walk you can work! no matter what quality of life you have or how much pain your in it just doesnt matter to the narcissists in charge

[@icanseeyouallfromuphere]

Read a news article a few days ago £900,000,000 DWP benefits go unclaimed each year......

[@alexs6770]

​@user-nu5rw8ol3vyou can remove the word slow from your comment please. I'm sure everyone knows what mentally impared means.

[@noynadisley3921]

My husband has been in knee pain for a long time and he had been waiting for 5 years no chance NHS helps at all now he had been going to another country for help and of course he paid for himself ,he never ever calmed for anything in this country only he did all pay in

[@aftabbashir4924]

Lets not forget how the the 3rd world became the 3rd world, UK government played its part there aswel!

[@Ankolysing_Spondylitis]

@@noynadisley3921 same here, a fused spine and AS and I get no help from UK government. Its a pot we pay into so we get help when we need it. But really we pay in and get nothing back when we need help...

[@dmcgeeav]

Fraser Nelson, the narrator of this “investigative documentary” who “has been investigating this for years……. Blah blah blah”, has being doing other stuff for years: Nelson is a board director of the Centre for Policy Studies think tank, yes the very right wing conservative think tank. Additionally he was editor of The Spectator (he was succeeded by none other than Michael Gove, that other ….). In May 2018 he publishing a defence of German troops by Taki Theodoracopulos titled "In praise of the Wehrmacht" which said readers should feel sorry for Wehrmacht soldiers at Normandy. Not sure I would treat Mr Nelson’s views as being balanced or neutral.

[@MrBenski]

Precisely. I think Channel 4 should be ashamed. This has really impacted my perception of the channels output from now onwards.

[@JaguarZewFlow]

Well said. I can see the resemblance between Fraser Nelson and the Natzi or Soviet regimes' propaganda, which produced films and posters depicting people with different abilities as a burden on society. These materials often highlighted the cost of caring for disabled individuals and suggested that their existence was a drain on resources. They also seem to cherry-pick people for this documentary and misrepresent the facts. The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has already faced significant scrutiny over deaths linked to Personal Independence Payment (PIP) claimants. According to figures released by the DWP, 17,070 PIP claimants died between April 2013 and April 2018 while waiting for a decision on their claim. Additionally, 7,990 disabled people died within six months of their PIP claim being rejected during the same period. According to a report by the National Audit Office, at least 69 suicides have been linked to problems with benefit claims over six years. However, the number is much higher, as the DWP has not actively sought information from coroners or families or investigated all reported cases. DWP systematically ignores official complaints regarding the abuse of their powers, hoping that people will die from being in distress or too sick to fight.

[@noramartin96]

Thank you I have just checked him out on Wikipedia he certainly keeps nice company! Theodoracopulos's column "High Life" has appeared in British weekly The Spectator since 1977, where he wrote a series of controversial articles, including one claiming that black people had lower IQs than other people, for which Boris Johnson, made editor in 1999, later apologised.[8][9] He has also written for other US and UK publications, including Esquire, Hamptons Magazine, Newsweek, the New York Press, The Sunday Times, and Vanity Fair.[10] In 1984, Theodoracopulos was arrested for the possession of cocaine, after attempting to board a plane at Heathrow Airport, and served three months in HMP Pentonville.[3][5] He documented his prison experiences in Nothing to Declare: Prison Memoirs (1991) and discussed them in an extended appearance ........

[@JaguarZewFlow]

@@noramartin96@noramartin96 Wow, it explains a lot and shows his tendencies and real intentions. This so-called "documentary is dripping with misinformation and disgusting manipulation. He also seems to think that general viewers of this soft totalitarian propaganda are low IQs who will not see how low and up to who's "behinds" his cocaine nose is this time.

[@tomekhotdog]

I love how in your critique you've taken elements of the documentary and challenged the logic or the facts. Insightful.

[@Anurag-2309]

Michael at 36:00 is a hero. I can relate so much….I once quit my job and lived off my parents for about 2 years… towards the end I was more depressed than when I had quit.. But then going back to work I enjoyed with colleagues, made new friends, contributed to the community. Life had so much more meaning. My 2 years off the work were also transformative as I relooked at my life and set goals for myself. Found what truly inspires me.

[@SpikeyAlbinoPotato]

What’s the point in people working? There is absolutely no incentive! Full ridiculously high rent, full council tax, full payment for childcare, full payment for glasses, dentist and medication prescriptions and absolutely no spare money!! Imagine waking up every morning to spend all your life at work, missing out on family and life, just to barely cover your overheads. The government has a lot to answer for.

[@deanosaur808]

If everyone thought like that the country would collapse 😱 I mean really collapse 10 times worse than we have it now

[@MargaretBanks-f9s]

If you are working what you get depends on income. I would give everyone free eye tests and glAssews I think who find fewer people gi g blind also eyetezts can pick up others. Eg diabetes in their early stahes

[@Gibbo1]

Go on benefits then and let everyone else go to work and pay for you that's if you have no pride of course

[@Manicpanicanticant]

@@deanosaur808 No it would not collapse. More likely the rich would come to the conclusion they would have to spread more of their obscene wealth around and employers desperately needing jobs done would have to get their finger out and get people that want to work for them other than simply the sole motivating factor being a job or starvation

[@Manicpanicanticant]

@@Gibbo1 You do realize almost half of those on UC are in work? And the reason they are still on benefits and can't sign off is that big companies are using the benefits system which is paid for by your taxes to subsidize their shitty pay and conditions?

[@JaguarZewFlow]

The loss of benefits pushed many disabled individuals into poverty. Studies have shown that nearly half of the poverty in the UK is directly associated with disability, as per research conducted by the Joseph Rowntree Foundation (JRF). Their report highlights that nearly half of everyone in poverty is either a disabled person or lives with a disabled person. This led to a sudden drop in income, making it difficult for people with disabilities to cover basic living expenses. The stress and anxiety of losing benefits, coupled with the pressure to find work despite their health conditions, led to a decline in both mental and physical health for many individuals. Charities and support organisations noted increased demand for their services as more disabled individuals sought help with appeals, financial support, and mental health services. The assessments were criticised for being inaccurate and not considering the full extent of individuals' health conditions. This led to many wrongful reclassifications and subsequent appeals. These consequences highlight the DWP's policies' significant impact on the lives of disabled individuals and the broader implications for society.

[@Jesuslovesus599]

This is wrong .if you get benefits abd disability benefits you are on as a good an income as a starter social worker about 1700 per month .disabled are not poor !!! Do turn 2us curves if you don’t believe me .if you are single and not disabled but on benefits then you will be on low income .the drinking hit has m h issues , spends his money on weed and drink .he is not poor but has m health issues bless him Lost to the system Get the money but not the help ,!! That’s the issue , lack of help for people .

[@zr9145]

​@@Jesuslovesus599indeed and all those appeals cost money. Taxpayers money..

[@thiagomene]

How can we have this debate without talking about low wages and high cost of living???

[@chester6343]

Whilst that's true I don't think it means that rinsing the benefit system is justified..

[@Disabledqueen96]

​​@@chester6343 100% it's not justified but you know what is justified abolishing MP's claiming expenses, getting fed for free ect, taxing the mega rich corporations, getting rid of tax loopholes

[@hannah51238]

I'm ashamed of Channel 4 tbh, it's usually the other channels that show such one sided arguments

[@danjdear]

​@@chester6343well it does perhaps explain why we're at this point. Maybe people weren't milking the system as much 30 years ago because the rewards for work were more significant back then.

[@billygunn6185]

A couple both earning minimum wage will be taking home around £3,600pcm after tax If this isn't enough for you then get a job that isn't minimum wage

[@snowy3578]

drugs and alcohol dependency is self inflicted. People don’t work because the benefit system is to good. Just stop benefits after 6 months and then watch the majority of people find employment.

[@meandmyDadvolgs]

Isn't the royal family on the dole

[@taranchies1505]

😆very good point!

[@Saddam-N-S]

The queen used to line up at the post office and get her pension every Monday 😂😂😂

[@chickenoriental1210]

​@okLondon-v1e

[@Ralphjons]

They are allowed to do light work like cutting ribbons in between trips abroad.

[@ImEvo_]

In the financial year ending March 2024, the Crown Estate reported record profits of £1.1 billion, largely due to significant fees from offshore wind farm leases. These profits are paid directly to the UK Treasury, supporting public finances.

[@pierreleroux2441]

Mr journalist, with due respect to you, I’m 70 years old, I cried at night while I was working and receiving pip, I suffer mega depression, anxiety and panic attacks and have spondiloarthropathy, in constant pain, medication to fill my belly to assist my condition and many more other ailments, I don’t feel guilty claiming even when I worked, I’ve attempted a few times to take my own life to escape the reality of my quality of life. I would challenge any healthy person like yourself to walk in my shoes and then have a discussion with you and how my conditions affected you. But I wish you the best of luck with your health going forward.

[@lroyjohnston5560]

That's terrible, I hope u are getting some relief from your ailments, god love you. Life can be so hard sometimes

[@os1333]

I totally understand and my mum suffers with a muscle degeneration and deserves it too, but there is no denying that some people cheat the system and mess it up for the people who really need it.

[@fezaannazar4081]

My friend, hope your get better. You absolutely deserve the help and this program is not aimed at you. But to those abusing the system.

[@jamtart161]

I wish you the best of luck too must be so hard to deal with

[@attentionlabel]

This breaks my heart to read and I'm sorry you have experienced such pain. Sending you a big hug.

[@shbu2127]

I'm a disabled woman at 27 years old. I've been trying to get proper medical support since I fell ill around 8 years ago. I was chronically ill the entire time I was undertaking my law degree, and even flunked it at one point and had to resit a year. I would love to be able to work, to work hard to earn my place in society, to have a home, to have children, but the NHS has failed me time and time again. I have an autoimmune disorder that could be easily treated if I could only see a doctor regularly. It took around 7 months JUST to get a blood test because my GP surgery's blood test form printer was broken for non emergencies. What do you know, I finally get my blood tested and my medication needs to be put up. Just let me rot for another half a year before I can get that sorted out. I wish I didn't have to claim benefits.

[@A_Pt_9298]

I've got Degenerative Spinal Disease, I have arthritis, I get cramps during the day, I can't do anything physical like I used to, 10 years ago I was diagnosed with this and not once did they offer me the choice of surgery, I even got down on my knees and begged them to refer me but they wouldn't. I'd much prefer to be earning £500-1000 a week and contributing to the country's pot than be stuck on but ESA and PIP and, despite known scientific benefits of medical cannabis, which was legal for medical use since 2017, they refuse me but they'd rather fill my gut full of dirty pharma! Because they make money off of prescribing us it, they're paid to and there's nothing we can do about it, it pisses me off so much! £40k it is for the surgery and what's the bill for all of the pharma over 10 years?

[@louieschneider8937]

Axy spondy?

[@caterinagryko1901]

Maybe book "Goodbye Lupus by Brooke Goldner" will be able to help you with your condition?

[@charliebrown6455]

I have PTSD from growing up with extremely abusive parents and also parenting induced ADHD. I've been using cannabis on a daily basis for over 27 years and I struggle with regular mood swings throughout the day every day. I have feet problems which cause me a lot of pain in my whole left side of the body, from my big toe all the way up to my neck. The pain restricts my mobility and I struggle to move on a daily basis. I have two auto immune conditions which I'm aware of and suffer with their symptoms. I have 4 university degrees, including a law degree and 2 master degrees. I've been working through my life and I started having a summer job when I was 11 years old. I workout every day, keep fit and stretch regularly. I have a successful business and often work 12+ hours a day and haven't claimed a single penny from the government apart from child benefit. I own 2 houses and one was paid off completely after 8 years. I'm 49 now. Grow up and get a job. Probably your auto immune condition and mental health will improve rapidly. Just saying you know.

[@louieschneider8937]

@charliebrown6455 what an absolutely ridiculous thing to say. People with auto immune conditions are often seriously disabled with physical symptoms all over the body. Not self inflicted by smoking cannabis every day straight for 27 years either. Do some research on the different types of arthritis and then come back to me before spouting your uninformed bigoted nonsense. You think because you can cope with/smoke away your "PTSD" you can belittle people like this? Grow up.

[@duckpuddles]

I have had anxiety all my life. worried about being clobbered by my big brother, worried at school about being beaten by teachers, not being picked for the football team, not being part of the current "in" group of friends, worried about failing exams, worried about my dentist appointment, ex naval dentist who drilled without injections. Then girlfriends, does she really love me, takes anxiety to another level, then marriage and kids do not let anyone tell you this can be most anxious. Let alone running a business, dealing with employees , paying bills , making enough money to pay the mortgage . Hurt my back playing Rugby, went around with a stick for some time in my twenties, but still had to go to work. Realised that an exercise machine that concentrated on strengthening muscles at the base of the spine which has solved my back problem. Now in my seventies I look back over a life of anxiety, and could have made a big deal about it and hit the bottle, but I didn't and consider I have had a relatively normal happy life and I am happy now.

[@icanseeyouallfromuphere]

Read a news article a few days ago £900,000,000 DWP benefits go unclaimed each year.......

[@alexs6770]

Yep 😂😂😂. I read a news article a few months ago about a group of people who worked together to steal £50 million in Universal Credit! And what about the tax dodgers and £80 million they spent on PPE that went in the bin?😊😊😊

[@lbunnygordon1133]

They also take supposed overpayments yet never give them back even if wrong..imagine how msmy billions that is. Get Sunak and J and co on a court trisl to euther pay back stolen zillions or else long prison sentences...where did it go on their embezzling lying scams...

[@Forget-me-not144]

Exactly. Many ppl denied or are unaware of what they can apply for. You can't believe everything said r narrative on media channels.

[@justmaybe6638]

@@alexs6770 Yes, they were Romanians. Hor that amount they must have had people on the inside.

[@icanseeyouallfromuphere]

@@alexs6770 exactly, it's already been said in the media, they did a analysis and found there is absolutely - 0 - fraudulent claims aside the few under investigation or that are routinely caught FOR EXTREME Benefits fraud using false names and multiple applications using false addresses etc

[@duncanglen3452]

More worried about massive corporations dodging their tax

[@paddy1144]

We've found the dole dosser

[@petersavage9456]

@@paddy1144 You better pray karma doesn't send you a much needed lesson 😉

[@MrJeffHead]

Why? at least they contribute to society, and will likely reinvest what they would have spent on tax in further growing the economy. The benefit scroungers are just a burden on society.

[@petersavage9456]

@@MrJeffHead How do they contribute? they pay little or no tax - pray you never get a disabling illness, although I do think it would be a great lesson for you.

[@MrJeffHead]

@@petersavage9456 They employ lots of people. They pay lots of VAT, Employers N.I. They support lots of local businesses. Lots of people with disabilities work, some very severe. When you see people like that working and then see 4th generation benefit scroungers and people fresh in the country claiming it makes you frustrated paying so much in tax.

[@mayfieldnorris4280]

Some jobs just do not come with any respect, and that is reflected in how the companies treat these workers.

[@AnthonyD-yy2in]

No respect for me.. no work from me. My motto.. 👍👍👍

[@phitsf5475]

Look at some job listings and check out the "perks" listed at the bottom. How often I see "free parking " as a perk is a joke 🤣

[@longdragon3]

@@AnthonyD-yy2in No problem. 3rd world people like me coming in will work without no respect and climb up the social ladder by being smart with the earning. I was a cleaner(wages I got back then was £6.79) and then working smart I got out of the menial job pit by educating myself and getting a degree in theoretical physics and now I earn a not so bad wages and housing is no problem either. You keep living by your motto of "No respect for me.. no work from me." and you wil rest in peace much like the Neandrethalensis when Homo sapien arrived into the European continent. I like Darwin and love his theory. May the weak one parish and be replenished by hardier and more adapted breed and thus this speicie is made more stronger.

[@Turkiye958]

Some People on benefits born in this country past 40 years don’t know what hard work is!

[@Chambers36TheEnter]

Tax avoidance is 3 times higher than benefit fraud.

[@alexs6770]

2024 Figures for overpayment or for fraudulent claims: Personal independence payment (PIP) 0%, Universal credit (UC) 10.9%, Pension credit (PC) 3.9%,Housing benefit (HB) 3.9%

[@alexs6770]

News said 0% of PIP claims were fake/fraud/ people making up illness. But people shouting they are lying nothing wrong with them 😮

[@alexs6770]

Yes they should investigate tax fraud but that would mean they would be outed as committing tax fraud themselves!

[@leahj99]

Exactly but people don’t want to talk about. Channel 4 have a narrative and want us all to hate each other

[@conconmc]

Most of the tax avoidance is small businesses or shops taking cash instead of card, best way would be to go cashless, you okay with that?

[@SkintLivingUK]

Look into MPs Channel 4. My MP, Paula Barker, for example claims over £250,000 in expenses every year!!!! Plus many MPS have 2, 3 or 4 extra jobs paying them vast sums of money. How can they possibly do the job as an MP properly with all the extra jobs? Yet people who are ill get vilified for claiming benefits they are eligible for. (Incidentally, I don't claim these benefits). The NHS is on its knees, get that sorted it will have a positive knock on effect on people claiming. Plus what about all the BS jobs out there these days. Who wants to do a rubbish job with no job security regardless of their age. I used to be a supply teacher and got offered work recently. The agencies are offering the same money I was on in 2008, how is that right?

[@WatcherintheRye]

In real terms, we are ALL earning the same or less than we were in 2008. Except the richest 1%. They're 'earning' about 40x what they were in 2008. I wonder if there is a connection between the two?

[@theinngu5560]

Yes it does seem that a lot of MPs are pretty well off. I have great respect for Rupert Lowe, who donates his parliamentary salary to good causes in his constituency every month. He also has excellent ideas for governance.

[@katieblue3373]

Nhs is not on its knees, doesn't matter how much money will put into it will never be enough. Getting money is one thing. Managing them, second. You know why doctors cannot see more patients? Because they need to fill in stupid and useless documentation. That should be secretary work. Doctors should treat their patients. MEANWHILE in the UK you can have million gp appointments, no one will offer you full blood check. So you are booking one appointment after another, taking medicine after medicine, and no one will ever treat the problem, they will treat symptoms. In most cases one blood examination should help you to find the source of your problem, for example checking vit d deficiency, iron, CRP, sugar or cortisol level. It's also cheap. But what for, it's better to book million useless appointments and let your gp to fill millions of useless documents. Every single surgery I've been patient with in my town works this way. So pay for the NHS, more and more, they will waste more and more, nothing will change anyway. Same with physiotherapy, my severely disabled daughter got 1.5 hours per month, my pediatrician just laughed after hearing this fact.this system is creating disabilities rather than preventing and treating them. And it is structural rather than financial problem.

[@AlissaSss23]

I agree. I have a level 3 diploma in childcare and 17+ years experience, last year I was offered minimum wages, and the management would pinch money out of people's checks, treat employees and the children in case like sc*m.

[@AlissaSss23]

​@@theinngu5560 that might be the only decent/ honest politician ever.

[@brendangray]

Regulate the employers’ behaviour, people will then want to work. Nobody wants to go to work and get mistreated on top of having to do the workload. Unfortunately, this is happening in most workplaces.

[@bloodmoon1956]

Well said 👍

[@sootyq]

@@bloodmoon1956 UK workers are oftenn lazy and greedy. Polish and others have NO beneft system. Your country is finnished unless you get back to work.

[@Ciufu-k2f]

Benefits should be only for people who cannot work for obvious reasons. Why get benefits just for being a single parent? Why having children if can't afford it? Yes, it's tough working but part of the problem is related to amount of money we need to spend on benefits. There are no free meals. Working people pay for all of it. Try to find anyone to do any type of work. I'm just sick of it. Even to get a cleaner is complicated. I gave up doing an extension just because no one was interested in doing it unless they make a fortune, and it was worth tens of thousands of pounds....This is the reality, benefits system makes all of it more expensive...just sort it

[@JaguarZewFlow]

The Government's attacks on disabled individuals through policies like the Work Capability Assessments (WCA) are already documented problems. These assessments were used to reclassify sick and disabled individuals as "fit for work," often leading to the withdrawal of benefits. At the same the protection of disabled people's rights, freedoms, and liberties was taken away, frequently leading to dramatic or even tragic consequences.

[@EC-xp5hj]

How on earth can you make a documentary about long term sickness without discussing the critical state of our healthcare, lack of mental health services, and abysmal waiting lists?! I know for a fact I wouldn't now be on sickness benefits myself if I'd had proper care in the last 2 years. This is a problem caused by the government not the people. And no I don't want to be here on benefits, I would like to earn, have a nice house, be in a position to think about starting a family, and go on holiday thank you!

[@MaterLacrymarum]

Mental Health care in the UK is absolutely abysmal. It's Victorian level bad. A guy I know went from working to being sick. When he was working, able to work, he earned 5X what he gets on benefits. He'd rather work, but can't manage it. Mental Health care, especially beyond being thrown a bag of pills, doesn't exist. And no, doing self-study via the internet is NOT a treatment. Do some people cheat? Yes, of course, you'll never totally eradicate it. But for those in need, what's the alternative?

[@jeannemillsom9300]

No it is caused by all this unsustainable immigration.

[@johns1600]

Starting a family and going on holidays are luxuries of ppl who can afford them, so maybe park that until you can support it, not tax payers who strive for those things but also fund you

[@EC-xp5hj]

@johns1600 this is what I'm saying, I'm having to park this, and I shouldn't have had to if I had the right care from the start. I've paid taxes all my life until July this year so no need to make me feel bad about it, I don't want to be here! If I could work I absolutely would.

[@AlissaSss23]

I completely relate and agree

[@rougeur]

This administration is putting many families in difficult situations. A lot of people are financially struggling to live, put a roof over their head and put food on the table. Things are getting worse these days, if you don't find means of multiplying your money you might wake up a day to realise you didn't plan well for yourself and family…

[@kaylat63]

I agree with you and I believe that the secret to financial stability is having the right investment ideas to enable you earn more money, I don’t know who agrees with me but either way I recommend either real estate and stocks..

[@mnthunder]

I’ve been diligently working, saving and contributing towards early retirement and financial freedom, but since covid outbreak, the economy so far has caused my portfolio to underperform, do I keep contributing to my 401k or look at alternative sectors to meet my goals?

[@rougeur]

Understanding your financial needs and making effective decisions is very essential. If I could advise you, you should seek the help of a financial advisor. For the record, working with one has been the best for my finances...

[@mnthunder]

@@rougeur How can one find a verifiable financial planner? I would not mind looking up the professional that helped you. I will be retiring in two years and I might need some management on my much larger portfolio. Don't want to take any chances.

[@mnthunder]

How can one find a verifiable financial planner? I would not mind looking up the professional that helped you. I will be retiring in two years and I might need some management on my much larger portfolio. Don't want to take any chances.

[@magburner]

I do not mind paying taxes for the welfare system. I was a carer for eighteen years, raising two disabled daughters from birth, I was completely dependent on the welfare system. I work for a living now, and I happily pay my taxes to help other people who are in need.

[@laurynbrewitt9668]

Sick of seeing these documentaries constantly as it just constantly reaffirms this idea everyone is lazy and bums. Have a look into tax dodging and how much people on the top end of things get. Politicians are a great start. Stop villianising the people at the bottom of the chain

[@JaguarZewFlow]

I see royals as lazy and dodgy. They cost a lot and receive inappropriate benefits. Apart from the cheap magazines, no one needs them.

[@richardjones4142]

Narrated by someone who always likes to punch down, never up. So very brave.

[@johns1600]

He's speaking up for the ppl working hard in challenging times to fund the nearing 10% of the workforce off work and funded by those working and struggling

[@Megmaf111]

One of the big issues is that the nhs isn’t functioning. I was working full time up until 3 weeks ago where I was admitted into hospital . I had a stent put in and was sent home and told to wait for a surgery date. My body is struggling with the stent and it’s causing lots of pain and i am now struggling to walk without lots of pain. Spoken to my doctor who said they can’t do anything and I need to put up with it until I have the operation and can have the stent removed. God knows when I will get that operation . I feel like I’d rather die than go through this pain everyday for ever . My father’s been waiting for heart surgery for over 3 years !!!! I hope a kidney surgery for myself doesn’t take so long and now it’s the struggle to try and get some support while I currently can’t work 😢 I’ve been so confused because there where no symptoms and then suddenly it all hit me and I ended up becoming and emergency situation which had me spend an entire week in hospital. Unfortunately I’m one of the minority of people who have bad reactions to stents 😭

[@niccihowe1009]

That sounds awful, I hope they’re able to get it sorted soon! I’m fed up of waiting around for appointments and tests, I’m one of the lucky ones who has been allowed to work from home so I still work full time but I still need lots of days off sick. Such a waste that a more organised NHS could solve!

[@KevinTalbotTV]

Cut 99% of benefits and people will go to work. If your well enough to drive a car you’re well enough to work.

[@RomanAugustus]

It's formidable the amount of people on Benefits that want to work but when attempting or thinking about work their benefit money gets struck off. If they could continue to receive their benefit while testing the working environment for 2/3 months that would act as a proper springboard to help people to jump out of the benefit system.

[@jamesbyrne9312]

Absolutely agree

[@jesspixie589]

@@Wally-555 Your name is wally, but I suggest going & reading how esa & pip is assessed.PIP is an in work benefit for those who are disabled,it lets them keep working while also having support to manage an ongoing health condition,& knowing they can take time off work for treatments or for illness reasons, but it's almost impossible to commit disability fraud.If you read my post you will be shocked at who most of the benefits bill goes to & it isn't disabled people.

[@pauldadzie6991]

That's another scam waiting to happen. Someone would " test the waters" for 2 months, earning benefits plus pay, then decide work isn't for them at that time and go back home. After a month they are back to testing the waters and quitting after 2 months.

[@Serfdomftw]

People will always abuse the system, so the only answer is to be harsh and force people to work. In the 19th century people were forced into work as it was the "morally right" thing to do, as not being productive leads to the devil or some bullshit. Now in the 21st century, we've taken the absolute opposite and seem to be of the position that you should be able to choose to live without work and either end up in the same or better circumstance than someone who is working. I have always been of the opinion that the biggest driver for people to work is hunger. Its all game theory. How much does a minimum wage job need to be above benefits, before work becomes attractive, and how many people are on benefits because its easier, than working. Like FFS we're in a digital age. We have people who are bed bound who are Vtubers and making hundreds of thousands. We have thousands of jobs you can do if you are disabled, its just getting them into the right job for their disability if legitimate. And ofc there will always be a portion of people who are too disabled to work, but this is such a small amount compared to what we currently have classified as not fit to work.

[@jamesbyrne9312]

@Serfdomftw some good points you make, but do you have a disability? If not then I question you're authority on this. I work as much as I can being disabled. It's not just about what I can do, which is writing annual reports for companies, it's about how often I get exhausted. I have a colostomy amd severe scoliosis. However I do agree that many people could find at least partial employment if the government invested in training. Forcing people is not the right thing to do unless their reasons are not legitimate.

[@Lel_J]

I'm not quite sure why so many people believe that GPs decide who gets sickness benefit. On Universal Credit certainly, a person has to go through a Work Capability Assessment which is run by the DWP. The DWP decides in 100% of cases who gets sickness benefit and who doesn't. So it's a bit rich that you have people like Mel Stride castigating GPs when it's the DWP themselves who decide on sickness benefit.

[@AppleAirsoft]

In the UK the wealth distribution is now worse than it was during the french revolution, the gap between our richest and poorest 10% is now, the US excepted, the highest in the developed world. And the rich will still be telling you its the fault of the poor people and you will still buy their papers and still be poor. Blame the poor, blame the immigrants who are poor not the literal people making our lives worse and who own both parties and the media, the oligarchs.

[@paulgibbons2320]

15.4 billion goes in the back pocket of private landlords. Only 13.1 billion spent on child benefit. Landlords are the biggest scroungers.

[@BrookT786]

Landlords biggest scroungers? So nothing on the govt for selling off social housing for peanuts in many cases?

[@nathancharlesworth1666]

To get to where they are, which is semi retirement and totally fair enough at 50+, most landlords have done their bit, contributed to society, and probably contributed 50x in tax over their life to what people who cant be bothered to work contribute. Landlords have contributed and they are allowed to retire

[@billygunn6185]

Ah, the old ignorant landlords bashing comment Without private landlords, people who need/want to rent wouldn't have anywhere to live

[@paulgibbons2320]

@ Not true. They would not swallow up housing. Drive up pricing. People could buy and own their own property. Landlords are stealing the income of younger generations. They need bashing. Why should anyone's work pay for you ? You are living on peoples backs.

[@paulgibbons2320]

@@nathancharlesworth1666 the renters are not aloud to retire. They retire with nothing.

[@astellarno]

With corporations pumping the food, air, water with toxic chemicals the number of people with long term untreatable chronic conditions will continue to increase, this is what needs looking at

[@JaguarZewFlow]

absolutely

[@catherinepayne8513]

Plus the Jabba-roo.

[@lauriukaslauriukas2418]

💯 correct!

[@spiritualjay3141]

Every single parent has to claim benefits. Even if they work full-time hours, they still need to claim because jobs don't pay enough. Even if they're not single both parents still need to claim. It's mental

[@definitelykoala3570]

what a load of complete bollocks

[@HeReignsJohn3-16]

@@definitelykoala3570 how is it bollocks? Working full time on minimum wage is not going to cover childcare, rent, council tax utilities, bare minimum of clothing needs and food. Maybe the government should raise the minimum wage then the cost would be covered by businesses instead of the state. But they can’t because they are in bed with businesses - so they can’t complain about the top up benefits that single parents need to live that’s not including any other expenses

[@definitelykoala3570]

@@HeReignsJohn3-16 it’s bollocks because not every single parent is on minimum wage, it’s bollocks because when both parents work they can still earn enough as not everyone is on minimum wage, some people actually have a decent education or skills to use in the workplace. Also the government are putting the minimum wage up in April and also planning on scrapping the age restrictions behind the living wage. Also ur claim that putting wages up will magically solve things is also bollocks, where do u think that money comes from? Wages go up, so shops then have to increase prices to not lose money, taxes go up to pay the increased wages of those working in public sectors. Also the small business that can only employ a few people will then either have to shut down or let people go as they’re not gonna be magically making more profit to afford the higher wages. Also this video proves that people would rather just sit on benefits as not only are they better off, it’s easier to do so. Like that single mum who’s on 35k a year. That’s more that what a lot of working people earn and yet people who work seem to be able to make it work, so what’s her excuse? Other than that she’s just lazy and doesn’t wanna give up her free 35k a year for doing fuck all?

[@HeReignsJohn3-16]

@ you didn’t address any of the examples I gave. If businesses paid a living wage then their profits would go down actually. And it would not cause an increase in prices because of supply and demand. Overcharging businesses who are making excessive profits would simply have to readjust instead of becoming even more wealthy because of their abusing wage labour. My sister is a social worker in a city she would not be able to afford to live alone and her children are grown, because again landlords are charging the highest rent they can to maximise profit. Her partner is a contractor and it takes both their wages to barely get by. My other sister is a nurse and lives alone, she is also work poor. So that crap about getting an education is also a misconception- you sound like a total Tory feeling superior in yourself and having no idea of the reality of life even for working professionals in the Uk

[@Autonomous1969]

I was entitled to nothing because I had a mortgage.

[@DJgregBrown]

No nurse with morals would take part in work assessment. Normal go after the ill not the billionaires, I been assessed as fit to work twice, and both time I lost PIP for six months while I tokje DWP to tribunal twice because you can not asses health over one phone call. Doctors have to constantly fight to keep me getting support, because DWP always assess as fit to work when you are not, I have a disability which effects my daily living and mental health. Because keep you shit together for 20 minute phone call vs 8 hour working day it is a big different.

[@blueocean9305]

The taxi driver has something some the others do not. Pride, integrity and self worth. I respect him greatly.

[@CRingsing]

The country went over the cliff years ago. It looked bad already before the Global Financial Crash. Then the gov spent £100bn to take over the banks, and another £600bn to recapitalise the same banks to get them lending again. Gov debt has ballooned ever since. We have been “lucky” in over 14 years in that the interest rate has remained low, why the gov hasn’t been too badly affected, but those days are now over, and if interest gets 10% just the interest on the govt debt will be £300bn (more than total cost of NHS). The Automotive industry is dying, we haven’t prepared the country for ban of petrol/diesel, there is hardly any charging stations, and those in place rarely works. We buy ALL our energy as we gave/sold our ability to make it ourselves, our 28 water companies owes £100bn, and probably need another 100-200bn to sort all the waste water problems, train services are most expensive in Europe, and many in a pathetic state… Economically inactive people are just a small problem in a much larger financial (pending) disaster… Not to mention #Brexit. How 52% of population could think we could afford to live outside the union shows a lot about the level of financial acumen/skill by ordinary people. Well, they can only blame themselves… It’s not all bad though. The circa 150 billionaires in the country have circa doubled their wealth since the Brexit referendum. Several has also since left the country… Dyson being one….

[@icanseeyouallfromuphere]

Read a news article a few days ago £900,000,000 DWP benefits go unclaimed each year......

[@tdtm82]

Iceland and Portugal had far worse financial crashes then us. They did the right things. They are now florishing. We had this idiot with blonde hair going around protecting banks. He became PM.

[@Ditch_Head]

Best comment on here 👏👏👏👏👏👏👏 brilliant assessment. Should be shared far and wide as many just don’t get it.

[@mrrolandlawrence]

yeh he went to singapore. just like brexit hero jim ratcliffe who makd the ineos grenedir 4x4... all british all the way.. got millions to develop land in wales... ended up building in france. yeh the banking was why you had separate retail banks and separate merchant banks. that way casino banking would not destroy the economy. some bright spark decided to deregulate that as well as share buybacks. it was just over a decade from boom to bailout.

[@desmondroberts6034]

@CRingsing The Tories sold off the tax-payers' shares in the banks purchased by Brown's Labour Govt and, for less than we paid for them - quite unecessarily. Lovely jubbly for their City mates.

[@Davman316]

Well done to the people in the comments who can see through this hit piece propaganda which is blaming the sick and disabled while the rich have never had it so good.

[@safirahmed]

The entire documentary itself is based on a false premise. The welfare state is affordable even with increased benefit levels. The vast majority of the welfare bill is spent on state pensions and the majority of working age benefits are paid to those in work. The government can afford the welfare state, can afford to double all social security benefits, can afford to reinstate universal welfare and reinstate winter fuel allowance, can afford to fully fund public services and fund full renationalisation of privatised companies through Quantitative Easing by interest free borrowing from the government owned Bank of England. Bank of England has already spent £4 trillion on Quantitative Easing from 2009 - 2022 with £200 billion spent in 2009 with most of this money gone to institutional investors. Quantitative Easing could fully fund a high quality large scale nationwide council house building programme to work towards the end of homelessness, ensure people move into high quality accommodation and reduce both rent costs and lower house prices. It's time a similar amount was spent on the people to eradicate poverty, renew and regenerate public infrastructure and fully fund public services.

[@mbb05jb]

when you say quantatative easing, do you mean printing money and eroding peoples savings?

[@safirahmed]

@@mbb05jb It's not about printing money and eroding people's savings it's about investing in the people and the country, growing the economy and increasing the tax base and raise tax revenue thereby reducing the net amount spent on Quantitative Easing and improving both people's lives and the economy now and in the future, thereby lowering tax on the lowest income earners and small business. Quantitative Easing has previously been used to support the markets and institutional investors and this needs to change.

[@growyourownfreedom2191]

@@mbb05jb it wouldn’t erode the value of the pound if the money was used to build houses, the value of all the property and the economic stimulation caused by all the construction and jobs being created would easily offset the cost of the investment

[@railtonfeagus8539]

Quantitative Easing is basically the Bank of England creating money out of thin air and buying government bonds (the government issues bonds when it borrows money). So most of the money didn't go institutional investors (which in the UK is largely pension funds, which hold the pension savings of ordinary people); most of the money went to the government to cover its deficit and pay for government spending. QE did have positive impacts for the wealthy though because it kept interest rates low and benefitted anyone who owns a house or has a lot of shares or bonds, which would all have crashed in value otherwise. The other way of doing it, which is called deficit financing, would be to just print money and give it to the government to spend without issuing bonds (so the government has no obligation to pay it back) - no serious country does that as your currency collapses in value pretty quickly, you get rampant inflation and you end up like Zimbabwe with a loaf of bread costing a trillion dollars.

[@safirahmed]

@railtonfeagus8539 Richard J Murphy has a video on the need for Quantitative Easing and why austerity of Quantitative Tightening following 14 failed years of Conservative rule will be catastrophic for the economy, the country and the people.

[@Englsh129]

I have been working nonstop since 2009. Since 2017, i have worked every week of the year, taking off only 7 weeks in the past 7 years. That's one week a year, not in work, and have nothing to show for it. All these years of work and I just about make ends meet every month. I still could not convince myself to go on benefits and face the humiliation these people are going through. In this country, we are not humans, just numbers.

[@SmallPaul.]

The main issue is people are only earning about £1900 a month full time and millions of folk are paying over 1k of that on rent my rent is 385 a month for council they need to either make landlords rents cheaper or start paying full rent benefit my LHA is 485 a month the cheapest private rent in my area i could find was 1k its crazy the other issue is people want to stay in a nice area and are willing to pay what ever to live there

[@AlissaSss23]

Hold on, where do you live? Central London? A double room in London goes for £600-£800

[@lapetusX]

When the guy says "that can literally shorten your life" he isn't getting it, some of us don't care, that's ideal, we are that depressed we don't care if we have a shorter life

[@lapetusX]

ALso the NHS can't prescribe drugs that work for anxiety anymore, I'd gladly work if I could hve diazepam to work, I can't though can I, so I'm stuck this way

[@Insanio]

​@@lapetusXinteresting how the UK has more people refusing to work because they got bad mental health, yet the Syrian parents that lost their child are back in work the week after or taking up arms.

[@dean6816]

@@lapetusX Diazapam is an awful drug! I was on it for 2 years and only really worked for a couple of months on the prescribed dose!! It was hell coming off!!!

[@joanne6]

Piss poor misleading reporting as usual , painting those as work shy and scroungers . How about some real journalism on mp’s expenses getting paid over 70k per annum and claiming subsidies such as food, travel , and heating expenses all at the expense of the taxpayer . Perhaps if we made it less lucrative for mp’s we may possibly get some decent honest politicians with integrity, instead of picking on and blaming the weakest in society .There is no reporting of those that have chronic illness are repeatedly assessed and have to jump through hoops providing sufficient medical evidence so as to keep a safety net in place 😢

[@DDyes]

Or if MPs were poorly paid then we'd end up with even worse MPs...

[@joanne6]

@ I totally agree with you . I found it absolutely sickening. They even have the nerve to call themselves investigative journalists 😡 they obviously don’t have any family members directly impacted by ill health otherwise they would be reporting such tripe 🥲

[@mmcc5846]

You know Fraser Nelson is a member of the Tory party that's according to Wikipedia

[@JaguarZewFlow]

@@joanne6 Are they really calling them investigative journalists 😅? They should call them selfs "manipulative, never made as journalists."

[@hamdiyamurtala4326]

Why is it ok for MPS to claim expenses from buying a tissue to heating their houses but we the people don’t get anything when we are just managing through working countless hours. Why don’t the government generalise some of the benefits ie prescription medicine, school meals, bus and train tickets?????

[@MaryCatherineBuckle]

People are getting depressed because they see no way out of poverty, buying a house cost a fortune then all the bills to pay, not much to look foreward to

[@OghamTheBold]

Gran's home was £1,ooo with a rose garden lawns hedges vegetable garden trees greenhouse long tarmac drive garage

[@ciarandevaney385]

Post traumatic stress disorder

[@jam99]

TV used to be more inspirational and much better for mental health than it is now; we used to be allowed to have comedy and satire. Social media and all news services are now appalling for mental health.

[@ZodiacVoodoo23]

The punitive nature of the benefits system does nothing to alleviate mental health issues.

[@OghamTheBold]

Sanctioning over 1,000,000 to no food - no doctor has ever prescribed that (well not after 1940s)

[@jason_samosa]

Ah yes nice. Let’s go after people on benefits before we deal with tax loopholes for corporations, the super rich, and the royal family.

[@silvydrd6108]

Exactly, it feels like a distraction.

[@GloriaHoulihan]

People are not going to be fooled into blaming sick people anymore. Do something about the cost of living and transport to work.

[@ErasmusOfRotterdamSays]

If wages and jobs are so bad, that some people allegedly abuse a safety net meant for disabled people. Maybe tells you that wages and jobs in the UK might not be that great for a lot people. So how about raising wages so people actually want to work and don't feel like serfs forced to work and being payed with "table scraps from the floor".

[@amazer747]

It is a Catch 22: Wages rise, therefore employers costs rise, therefore prices rise, and the benefits have to rise to keep up with inflation. It is not only claimants in a trap, the government and taxpayers are trapped as well.

[@abstractdrumz]

@@amazer747 Cutting benefits puts prices up, actually. Think about it, the benefits system is a huge government subsidy for landlords, supermarkets, clothes shops, energy companies etc. People on benefits aren't hiding all their money under the mattress, they spend it, because they have to otherwise they can't survive. Raising wages does not raise prices. Low wages means less disposable income which means less people spending money on consumer products and spending less on essentials. The result of this is that companies get less profits so they raise their prices to compensate, they also cut their workforce to lower their wage bill. It's a vicious circle. The best way to get growth is to raise wages so that people can actually afford to buy things, this will allow companies to actually make and sell more products, therefore make more profits which means they can lower their prices and employ more people. The idea that higher wages means higher prices is a myth.

£26000 a year for that business in about £19,000 take home, roughly £18500. people get 1600 a month on the sick with no going to work expenses. makes sense not to take that job..

[@alexs6770]

Ellie Interesting comment. I felt like that's what the 57 Yr old who was running up that ladder after saying he has problems with his knees was doing. Struggling financially so tried to get more money by saying he was very ill.

[@richardbaker1413]

What about the large influx of immigrants into the country and the fact that lots of them are happy to work for low wages.

[@john_mega]

Poor Fraser. Private education, Christian seminary, well paid jobs in the Telegraph and Spectator. Appearance fees on BBC and now Channel 4. How ever does he get by?

[@Qincable]

Who s Frazer lol

[@vvwalker7261]

Attack the argument, not the person

[@victoriavelvet3689]

Benefits street mark 2. Fraser Nelson has no interest in helping the people who need help in our society.

[@CannabisIsMedicineUK]

Exactly.. Shame on Channel 4 for profiling disability benefit claimants as workshy.

[@zky10]

Yep, seems like a hit piece on those claiming benefits, how is the media allowed to make such discrimination documentaries? I'm happy to pay a little more on my wages to help folks on benefits, it's totally un-British to kick a man while he's down shame on Fraser Nelson making a hit piece. Yesterday, it was letting granny freeze today the disabled this Gov is racing to the bottom. Unbelievable Liz Kandel sitting down with this guy seems kind of it all being orchestrated by the Gov and their mates in the media.

[@GoodKnight-mm4nv]

Nelson is just another soulless Tory boy😡

[@CannabisIsMedicineUK]

definitely.. there are so many patient groups they could have requested interviewees from.. people with genuine conditions that are too sick too work,@Smith-n7n

[@mrrolandlawrence]

yeh its ironic .... the poor, less well educated and vulnerable people are .... easier targets for cambridge educated elites to portray as lazy moochers.

[@AlissaSss23]

In my second last job, I was working 10-12 hours and commuting for extra 3 hours / day, during the pandemic I had to put up with bullying and ab*se, give up some of my holidays, and walk on eggshells daily, as my employer would throw daily tantrums, which flared my C-PTSD. I used to pay over £4.5k per year in taxes. During one tantrum my employer had, I got illegaly dismissed, and didn't get my holiday pay. I was out of work for 1 year, got diagnosed with ADHD (I also have long term depression and anxiety, PCOS, PMS, IBS, chronic back problems, anaemia and a few other health problems). NHS makes you wait maybe for 1 year to get 12 free therapy sessions. The waiting list is shocking, when you're considering ending it all and get zero support, might not be able to wait for one year???? Or even a month. The employees for their crisis line would tell you to make a cup of tea, watch a video, etc. Not great help. Having decent MH support, decent medical care and our rights respected in the workplace would keep people into work. The longer you spend at home hating yoyrself and feeling useless, the worse your MH gets, and the less cobfident you feel about being able to work, especially if you've been treated like a POS for a health condition or disability. In my last workplace, I witnessed staff members abusing small children and ither staff members with zero consequences, but i got pulled in a meeting for calling out a shouting, rude coworker when they threw a tantrum. I was promised minimal support for my disabilities, only to discover that no one bothered with half of it, and the second half was done badly and in bad faith.

[@Micaduduu]

Employers need to start being more flexible for example for people with low mobility! Some jobs can be done from home…. But employers want to drag people back into the office for no reason

[@kabanna]

Pay a decent wage then people wouldn't rely on benefits

[@kabanna]

The minimum wage isn't enough

[@paulkirton8945]

Due to the shortage of tradesmen,Plumbers and Sparks etc .Problem is kids drop out of apprenticeships. Get the skills to pay the bills.

[@fezaannazar4081]

How about reducing or completely eliminating the freebies, so that those who are able to work start working and paying their fair share ?

[@JasonE-xq9mx]

raising wages is an inflationary response - we need to cut costs instead for things like housing. But how is it fair that someone not working can earn £10k a year more than the average wage for the area. We need to help people get better and off benefits, but at the same time there are some that are taking advantage and its not clear what the balance is. If there was an easy answer to the problem it would already be happening

[@OghamTheBold]

Baby brother was _Northwest Engineering Trainee of the Year_ (me vomited daily due to stress of bad atmosphere of limited apprentice places) union got him full pay - he had a VW in days but he's still homeless after running his own firm with 10,000 customers 2008 destroyed (he was held back from any career progress in managed decline Manchester) - I only won the college Physics prize and did advance Maths a year early so 1984 they put me in a forced labour camp (all our family was depressed after BBC jailed our other brother who never saw the towers fall)

[@nurko23yum]

Two years looking for work I have applied to over 1500 jobs and only had two interviews and one of them hired me as temp for three months, I am not claiming any benefits never did but spending 9 months looking for work to work only three months it’s not worth so I don’t blame the people claiming anything they can, the country is broken.

[@danielfreeth9025]

If you have applied for that many jobs and not getting interviews im guessing your cv needs work or you are applying for jobs above your skill level. Do volunteer roles to get expirence or make yourself more employable with education

[@A24zz1]

You applied for 1500 jobs & you haven’t got one? Definitely need to sort your CV out or your applying for jobs you don’t have the skills for. Phone up & send CV to some work agencies in your area by email maybe 5 or 10. You should be getting offered multiple jobs within a couple days. Every time I’ve done this in a new area, I’ve been offered at least 10-20 jobs within the week even after telling them how much I want to earn.

[@nurko23yum]

@@A24zz1 My cv was done by a professional. I got my skill levels but all I get is one day of work here and then nothing for weeks. For this year I’ll have just over three months of work so at the end of the day what is better constantly looking for work and stressing about it or just claim whatever you can. There is not that much work as to what the government is shouting left right and centre.

[@louisehudson1915]

I'd like to know how illegalls here with no papers etc are doing security work even though it requires 10 checkable work history & who if they even have one paid for their SIA licence 🤔🤨😡

[@SithLordDavid]

It must be nice to sit at home and have other adults work to pay your bills. If a person is physically disabled, i am all about a society helping that person. However, most of these people with "mental health issues" can work.

[@danielcrane3648]

yea my neighbour sat at home allday watching netflix while me the mug is going work