How far should we go to force unemployed people back into work? Tens of thousands of families on benefits have had their payments cut as part of a radical government policy. Out-of-work benefits used to be assessed on need, but now payments in most of the country are capped at £20,000 a year. Panorama follows parents who have lost hundreds of pounds a month and are struggling to keep their homes - knowing that to escape the benefit cap they will have to find a job.
Episode Discussion
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Just watched some more and it gets worse. I don't see why people can have kids and expect the rest of us to pay to look after them. I had two children and stopped because I wouldn't have been able to afford to keep any more and yet some of these families think it's their right to have as many as they want and the government (our taxes) will pay for them. It's all wrong. There will always be genuine cases of families falling on hard times and needing help but some are just a joke.
I am 20 minutes into watching last nights episode regarding the benefits cap. I can't believe the amounts of money that are given out in benefits to some families. Do they realise how this programme makes them look. £40 a week on cigs and booze, come one. Holidays, no. My husband worked and we did without all these things. His wages went on our mortgage, basic food, and utilities - NO extras. the house wasn't decorated - no money. the car had to go - couldn't afford to run it. Being given £29,000 to look after 4 children and she spends it all on them, surely part of looking after them is to keep a roof over their heads. I feel so angry I could scream. A lot of these families should be made to go on money managing classes.