Would You Work For Minimum Wage Or Claim Benefits?

[WBA123]

Regardless of my present age of almost 61 or whether I was a youngster again I would take a minimum wage job in a heartbeat rather than be out of work.

As I stated on another thread I started work on Youth Opportunities Scheme type money at £18.60 per week in 1978.

I just wanted to work, I always wanted to work.

I don’t understand the mindset of people who don’t.

Work always usually leads to a better opportunity.

There is a massive financial difference between working and claiming benefits though. A quick google tells me you get about £77 per week JSA. Maybe you get more on Universal Credit and other benefits. But lets say by claiming you get £500 per month for arguments sake.

If you got a job working for £9 per hour for 38 hours per week, you'd take home £1368 pre tax. And you wouldn't be paying much tax on that as the first £12k per year is tax free. Lets say £100 tax, it means you would be better off by about £750 per month roughly working full time compared to claiming benefits. Your household is £1500+ better off if you are with a partner who is also working.

But if I got the same claiming benefits than what I took home now, then yes I'd absolutely do that. Why work if you don't have to? The truth is though, I can't see how anyone can think its financially beneficial not to work in this country - although some probably do.