Benefit busters

She reminds me a bit of Marjorie Dawes taking FatFighters.

Ah yes that's exactly it. I was trying to place her.

Oh my good god, this is so not going to encourage people to go to programme centres. i know people who do this job and do it without patronising- this woman wouldnt last 2 seconds in nuneaton ?

Eek at the total of benefits paid is greater than all the income tax paid ?

And the woman who has over 75k debt and thinks the top TV package on virgin is an essential!

I was shocked too Zoay, and to cry over the virgin tv package!

I think the concept is a good idea but she would drive me mad!

Its like an episode of the office ?

It would be interesting to know why the 75k debt woman hasn't declared herself bankrupt.

I cringed at her with Dawn "is it just the one glass of wine?" oh god.

Obviously the £75k debt woman's small child needed the massive TV.

I went for a job with them a few years ago (in that office) I now know why I didn't get the job I'm not patronising enough!

These are lone parents, i really hope none of my lone parents are watching or they will not want to go to the equivelant course we offer, this woman is bonkers!

the lady with the £75k debt has probably never had help to deal with it, often people with that much debt will try to sort it themselves which is how it gets so bad. if she went somewhere like cab they would help her ad, would probably advise bankruptcy.

the thing annoying me is all these ladies would get lots of additional help if they went to work- the lady on the low wage would get tax credits, that hasnt been mentioned once.

hmm im thinking i really shouldnt have watched this!

That woman is a patronising ***- if I were on a course with her, I would walk off!

This is a genius programme! Does anyone remember League of Gentlemen on BBC2? It reminds me of the Job Centre sketch on that

[View:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Chm34KJB_w:550:0]

Wahhhhh loving the choices of luxury fishfinger brands that are on offer to the employed! Oh, to afford Bird's Eye fishfingers!

Omg. i am hating this program. i am a lone parent and im desperate to get a job. im actually looking right now. its not as easy as to get a job at mcdonalds. there is a reason young kids get jobs there. they either live with thier parents or are in a house share so not alot of bills to pay. i need a job that will pay all my bills and child care and i refuse to work all hours JUST to pay for child care. why should i put the kids into child care for nothing at the end of it. it really makes me mad. i have been to college and tried to further my education so i could get a better job. and i have sent out lots of CV's.

its not that easy! grr

Fliss we'd said she was like Pauline!

We did a taste test on fish fingers the other week (how exciting is my life) we tried Birdseye omega 3 ones Vs Lidl own brand and the Lidl ones won.

I've been watching and I find it odd that they have not been told that they would be entitled to help with childcare through their tax credits. Until my partner moved in I was getting help with my childcare costs.

I'm hoping that they have edited the show to make the woman come across as really patronising. My advisor when I was claiming was really helpful and compasionate to my situation I doubt I would have listened if she was anything like this woman.

To be fair, they weren't going to put a timid one on. it's a tv program as well as rl. She is a patronising cow, but she got results. They have a job at the end of it.

Musette- child care help is great but only 80% is paid. so we still have to find the extra 20% i have done it before when i was living with the ex who was working and i was working part time.

i have sat down with alot of people and worked out that the only way i will be better off and able to go back to work is if i live with someone who is also bringing in a wage.

They would get working tax and also help with childcare if doing 16+ hours, im guessing the lady who was worse off has other benefits such as carers in payment or has a mortgage rather than rent to pay as its unusual for them to be worse off.

Sorry, wandered off to paint my nails.

I thought the woman was really patronising, and also reminded me of Pauline from League of Gentleman. I think people will kick off with her in the future weeks. This week she had a bunch of timid women, wait until she gets some bloke in older than her who 'doesn't want some kid telling him what to do'.

LP, how do you know you didn't see me, as I'm sure I saw you. What were you doing in this fair land anyway?

I know that you still have to find the 20% as I did it for just over a year & a half as I only work part time myself and the school holidays almost made me think that it wasn't worth it.

I should have typed a longer post lol. I just found it stange that they were not shown that when on a low income that they were still entitled to help with Housing Benefit, Council Tax Benefit, the child care costs, tax credits and working tax credit. Obviously I know that everyones benefit is different and some may not be better off. But from speaking to a friend just recently she was actually surprised to find out that she was still entitled to help with her rent etc as that was what was putting her off from trying to find a job. As on minimum wage she simply is simply not able to pay all her outgoings let alone childcare.

Anyhow I shall stop waffling and return to my lurking...?

Sounds like a good weekend was had. I love the pub at Marsden rock but you get dive bombed by bloody seagulls whenever I've been.

And a sandwich. Come on now, LP, don't forget the sandwich ?

It has been interesting reading this thread as I commented to H whilst watching it that she was some kind of horror hybrid of Marjorie Dawes and David Brent.

What a horribly condescending woman but fabulous (if cringeworthy) TV viewing. I love the way she really thinks she is responsible for getting to the bottom of all their social problems. Errrrr, no love, it's your job to refer them to a professional who actually knows what they are doing, surely?