Jules,
You've discovered one of the main reasons many people 'hoodwink' the system in the UK when it comes to obtaining benefits. Of course, not all of us know everything about everything and in this instance you've fallen outta yer chair with a dropped jaw at finding out about this!
'Generally' speaking, the vast majority of the population 'knows' this and its still a minority albeit a growing and large minority who deliberatley defraud the system in order to gain personally.
Extreme examples are the stories you see in the paper of immigrants who dont speak a single word of english, who claim and get every benefit they can and use that money to live comfortably - the most shocking one was a 'person' of a certain religious denomination who landed in the UK and immediatley started raking in an astonishing £60,000 a year in benefits! obviously, not 'everyone' milks the system to that extent, and it's not only people from other countries/denominations that do it, plenty of home grown brits do it as well.
As everything is inter related, is it any wonder the taxpayer gets an even more raw deal as to fund the DSS we honest workers have to pay tax and be left with even less disposable income ? is it any wonder 90% of asylum seekers are actually bogus and are here to just milk the system?
my mum actually works for the DSS and is in the backoffice processing the claims that come through, and 'off record' and 'away' from work she's told us just how shocking it is at what people claim for and say and do for the 'handouts' from the government. In fact, there is or was a requirement for applications from a 'certain denomination' to go straight to the 'investigate for authenticity' department before any money was handed out !
They are trying to 'control' it, but with the vast number of claimaints and associated paperwork, doctors notes, proof of this that the other, the system is open to abuse.
lastly, from a landlords perspective, theres a hierarchy of renting to people. First and best choice is to get 'professional' tennants in, work history, credit and reference checks are easy to do, likelihood of getting rent paid is high, probability of stupid tennants is low.
second is those who are in employment, not so much professional type jobs but more the blue collar workers etc. In last place comes DSS tennants. These are people who are claiming benefits and as such, when they find a place to rent, they tell the DSS and they in turn pay the landlord directly the amount for the rent. Trouble is, many of the people are of a 'certain denomination/type' who frequently are associated with trouble and non payment and bogus claims etc etc. So whilst it's nice to know you'll ALWAYS get your rent from the council - the probability and liklihood of problems is very high, also if the claimant's situation changes and they need to be 're assessed' to their benefits, all payments stop to you as the landlord and it could be months before they're re approved and you get your money. I 'almost' had to approach the council to rent my place as a last resort, but I'm glad I didn't have to in the end - I did see one young 19-20 year old couple who did really seem very genuine see the place and I wouldn't have minded them being there, but he was turned down as he was only allowed to get a 1 bedroom place.
over all, the 'system' is good for those who are genuine, and ripe and open for abuse by everyone who thinks it's a free ride.
Give benefits to those who are genuine no problems with that, otherwise strip away benefits for those who are cheating and make them work just like everyone else or send them back to their respective countries quickly - simple.
Cheers! DtM! West London & Slough UK!
