I agree
I'm ambivalent about benefits (could claim them for some things, but I don't because I don't need to [and I don't pay anything for expensive medications and/or mental health professionals either]).

I believe people shouldn't spend money on certain things/might have fucked up priorities, but in the end people are either entitled to benefits or they are not and how they spend the money is ultimately up to them.

The worst thing about benefit systems in general seems to be the way that (not necessarily by design) some people can earn more by not working than working (I'd rather work than not work [and I've done some shitty jobs], but I'd probably feel differently if I had massive overheads [I don't] and the lower income from work v benefits would result in serious hardship).

/long post
( custard, Wed 26 Dec 2007, 20:45, archived)

You're right about earning more money not working
I had to drag myself out of that hole. If I worked, my rent would be literally all of my wages. I didn't know the reason I didn't pay rent in the hostel was housing benefit. When I found out, I got into work, then moved out and paid full rent out of my own pocket.
( Methylene Blue - electrohead, Wed 26 Dec 2007, 20:50, archived)