Not directed at your mate, but I agree that benefits seems to be treated nowerdays like it is the norm to just sign on and drink stella all day. I know lads who actually get mocked by mates for working!!! seriously, they consider you more of a mug for getting a job.

Then I know a few birds that use babies to upgrade their homes to something nicer. One actually got preggers to get a 3 bed and knew that she would be moved to a better area than what she was in - and she did!

My sister has two little lads and works full time - if she does 5 days she gets her childcare benefits slashed to sod all, if she work 4 days it is virtually all paid for - 900 a month!!!

Then this si the crazy bit, at work they want to promot her to another level, and she has had to ask that she doesn't get a pay rise, as if they give her a little payrise, she will actually loose out massively as she will need to pay for her kids to go to nursery.

Why is child care not FREE to mums who want to return to work full time and pay into society?

The misses mate was 7 quid a month better of if she stayed on the benefits than return to work!!! she is a proud person and returned to work despite being worse off, people like that should be rewarded IMO.