Who should be entitled to what ?

[Highlander]

Following on from elsewhere.

Karennina - you asked

"Why should someone not follow their dreams and overall happiness in life and if things go so badly wrong come back to the UK as a family still intact and use the "state" to get them back on their feet."

I would suggest that one of the reasons is a follows:

I am fully aware of that there are people who play the system and are given, amongst other things, houses. That is wrong.

But I am equally sure that the Local Authority has a very long list of young people who are looking for a home.

Are we really saying that someone who sells their property, accrues substantial equity and uses that to emigrate, should subsequently be able to come back and immediately go to the top of a housing list.  

[Scunner]

Too many questions in such a short post.

But to answer one or two, who goes to the top of a housing list? People returning to the UK, having sold their property and p***ed the proceeds up the wall living the life of a lord in the sun, then returned to the UK penniless go to the top of the housing list? I have never heard of that happening.

I get the feeling Karen's point was more "they help immigrants so why shouldn't Brits expect the same support" more than "this is what you can get if it all goes wrong abroad" - but maybe she'll confirm that (or not). As far as I know, your personal situation on arrival from Calis penniless is no different from your personal situation brought about by becoming penniless at a card night in Ipswich.

[Karennina]

Highlander I really do not know the answer to your question as to "who should be given what" in this country, I am merely stating that if things do go belly up for some people who try to change their lives for hopefully a better way of life for their families and worst case scenario it goes wrong why should they not be given some help to get their lives back on track,I am not saying for a moment they should be given any sort of priorty of going to the top of housing lists etc but it is a known fact in the past people from other countries have been able to arrive in Britain who have never worked here,never paid a penny in to the state and get given a house benefits etc, ok imigration laws seem to have tightened up of late but only because mistakes have been realised too much too late.  

[Karennina]

I am perfctly aware of the fact that I have ruffled more then a few feathers with my posts on this subject, my intentions have not at all meant to offend/upset anyone, maybe some other members could give their opinions thoughts as to what they think people should be given/ receive.
Myself I am off to bed as I have to sign on in the morning :)only joking folks:D I have a ten hour day looming tomorrow:(
ps is it still called signing on I have never actually done it, just thinking about the movie The Full Monty in what I think was called the dole que when they started jigging to Hot Stuff[|)]

[Highlander]

Karennina - you certainly have not offended and/or upset me in anyway.

I hope you sleep well and that your ten hour day goes as well as any ten hour day can.

I dare say we will exchange views again tomorrow.

[laffa]

Think this is one where we stand back from for fear of being politically correct, but one subject sprung to mind with me, re- housing, a friend of mine whose daughter was on a housing waiting list, her parents ,grandparents etc , always lived in the same area,was refused the house she was promised, because a foreign family had been given priority over her, she had been on the waiting list for seven years, the family in question , not even a month. her and her husband both work , but financially fall short for a mortgage, the family who got the house are on benefits, Great ! Britain.

[busybee]

When I was in my late 20's I moved back from Norfolk to Essex to be nearer my parents. There was a huge gap in house prices for these areas and we didnt have much equity in the property we had sold. My husband, I and 2 children slept in one room, my Mum in another and my poor Dad who had cancer, in another.  We lived like that for 6mths and were told that we would not be entitled to any sort of council property as we had moved from another area and had owned a property. Eventually we bought a house but we were virtually on the poverty line and it didnt go down too well when people from overseas were givien brand new council flats and houses.  I dont resent anyone being given a roof over their head but surely each case should be judged on its own merrits. I know this was back in the 80's but the system doesnt seemed to have moved forward.

[hubblebubbles]

I have personally known several people who came here spent all their money and then were rehoused on their return to UK so yes it can and does happen.

[Gorgeous_bird]

I'm very happy to be politically incorrect - My daughter works along with her partner, both low income earners and no way for them to get on the property ladder unless we sell up and donate a deposit, which by the way will not happen as we need to ensure that we are not a burden on the state in old age.  Does she go to the local council ? No she rents privately.......is she a state burden? No she is self sufficient. Why do people feel they are entitled to a council house, what is wrong with renting in the private sector? Also if we started making sure that those in council houses were entitled to one through out the period they are in one -so much the better. I know countless people in council houses who feel its their right and that once they are in it they are in it for life, regardless of whether they actually need one as personal circumstances change. The council housing stock relies on new houses being built rather than the houses being a means of getting people on their feet and moving on allowing new generations to have a house.

[Janice1971]

Well how about they check on what you have paid into the system, how much of a contribution have you made by working and then depending on that you may then receive some form of help.  If benefits and state housing/renting wasnt so readily available to benefit claimants then maybe the lazy sods would get off their backsides and join the real world and work!  They would have to wouldnt they, what alternative would they have?