I think definitely media portrayal and general negative stereotypes affect all welfare claimants. Certainly it is a big part of it. I know when I was opposed to the threat of an unnecessary visit to my home (for being honest!), I was told there are many people who get away with things, such as cheating. So it is true the perceptions of DWP and welfare staff is based on these negative stereotypes. I think all claimants suffer from these unfortunate negative perceptions and affects them. It is a very good point to make, as it is the reality. In fact, I don’t think they understand how much these negative stereotypes do affect people who need to claim, it is devastating and horrible. I have also encountered enormous stereotyping from others which affected me greatly. It was really bad and had a massive affect on me, it was very nasty indeed. That is bullying and totally unacceptable, and I believe is a form of hatred towards anyone who is dependent on welfare.
How can such attitudes ever help people trying to get work! It is already bad enough not working and being left out the workforce without those horrible hateful societal attitudes. These negative attributions don’t help anyone. Also the system itself is at fault. How do cheats get away it anyway? What measures do they have to just cut them off? Why are people out of work so long that always worked before? Did they get no genuine help or support to find work, or maybe they were bullied also over it — such as what happens on “back to work” programs? I think looking critically at the overall system as well as negative societal stereotypes is important, as these are all contributory factors. The fact is the system has failed thousands of people and continues to do so, in even worse ways. If someone is constantly treated as a lazy dosser scamming the system (regardless of how genuine, hardworking and conscientious they might be) that can’t be good for their mental health or overall wellbeing, and it can’t be good for finding work — so it’s a very vicious cycle.
When you turn 55 you should be able to apply for NHS pension but you would lose out a lot, as early retirement incurs a loss. I am 58 soon and have a very small pension from NHS (as I only contributed for few years and opted out of the scheme, which wasn’t very wise). I applied in 2021 for the pension, when I was around 55. You are lucky to have worked in a profession for 32 years and at least look at those who didn’t work or never worked and how their lives must be. I started working when I was very young, around 13 or so, part-time in a shop, then later during school and afterward in various roles before I emirgrated. Then contributed and worked in UK for almost 20 years, so potentially I can get a pension when I reach state pension age. It’s only since returning here that things took a very downward spiral and the “system” never helped me, so I did lots of courses and kept applying for jobs but the longer out of the work the harder it was to get, and now I face ageism, as well as having to cope with hatred towards me for not working. I don’t want the money at all from them, I would give it up in a heartbeat if I could but know I need it to live, pay bills, etc. It’s not that people on welfare “want” the money, what they want is a job that pays and to be included in the workforce in some way like others, otherwise it’s inequality. But bullying welfare recipients, demeaning, insulting, and humiliating them, calling them lazy, etc, is just hateful and does a lot of harm. I’ve seen lots of that on social media when the trolls gang up on the unemployed, yet they probably hate their jobs and are horrible to people because they have to work in jobs they hate and maybe bullied in, so they bully those not working instead. Real nasty stuff. The reality is people can’t live on fresh air, and if they don’t work and can’t find a job, they need money, even if they don’t want welfare money, and in many ways money from welfare isn’t “good” money, as it’s not earned and although it’s necessary, it’s not the same as it being good. Money can sometimes do more harm than good. If the money was “good” (ie) taxpayers money, then why would there be such horrible attitudes towards those claiming it. The attitudes come from people working and paying their taxes, which in itself is good but that doesn’t translate to welfare recepients being treated with respect and dignity like workers. They only pay their taxes as they have to but begrudge every penny they pay. That doesn’t mean they have any right to mistreat those who are getting welfare. Paying taxes is a legal requirement but bullying and harassing individuals getting welfare often goes undetected on the radar — it’s seen as justifiable but it’s illegal or should be to do that.
