Where does the money come from

Escapee · 03-01-2005, 16:35

I rushed back to my home town after work before christmas Thurs 23rd, to do some last minute christmas shopping. I work about an hour and a half away from home and was bursting to use the toilet when I got into town. I popped into my local pub to use the facilities, and felt very jealous as it was packed and in full swing at 17:30 hrs. I had to go to work on the friday morning (24th) and envied all these people who had obviously already broken up for christmas.

Two of the locals who are unemployed were in there, I have known these two for many years and often have a drink with them on the weekend. One asked if I was having a pint and I declined because I had the car and wanted to catch the shops before they closed. It did however make me wonder where the money comes from, I told them I would be in for a drink on boxing night and both of them were in having a good drink again, then again on new years eve one of them was in having a good session.
These guys are in at least on a friday or a saturday every week, and used to be in fairly regular when I used to go along for the pub quiz on a Thursday night a while back, I believe they also go to the pub in the day time.

One of them is 37, has no kids, never married but is still able to dress in fairly nice clothes and go out for a drink at least twice a week. I remember what a pityfull amount I was offered in benefits when I was made redundant, so I can only assume these guys are getting a lot more than that.
I wonder how these guys can eat, buy clothes, drink beer and pay bills on benefits. I know these guys fairly well and would be suprised if they go around robbing people for money, the one is simply too lazy to work and as far as I remember I dont recall him having a "real" job since he left school.

I mentioned this in work the following day (24th) and we were joking with the apprentice, we told him to get on benefits now or he will spend the rest of his life being a mug and working for a living.

I know there are people who genuinely cant work, I have an older friend who is incapable of working through ill health but I am also aware that he struggles to make ends meet, and certainly couldn't afford to go boozing a couple of nights a week.

How do these guys afford it?

I have a reasonably well paid job, but cant afford to go drinking as often as they do.

Chris W · 03-01-2005, 16:53

Quote:

How do these guys afford it?

crime? just a possibility not a definate answer....

**Russ** · 03-01-2005, 16:57

Perhaps they have an inheritance or something?

ikthius · 03-01-2005, 17:07

they might sell their bodies

ik

Ramrod · 03-01-2005, 17:08

Are they dealing?

Bifta · 03-01-2005, 17:08

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ramrod

Are they dealing?

That's probably covered under "crime" above

Escapee · 03-01-2005, 17:12

Quote:

Originally Posted by Russ D

Perhaps they have an inheritance or something?

I doubt it, I know the one guys father and he has never had a real job either.
I know one funny occassion when he bought a round for two women and himself and then dissapeared to the bank, leaving me to chat with them until he returned. Apparently he was skint, but the funny bit was he doesn't have a bank account.
That makes me think he probably has less stress than those of us who work for a living, we wonder if we are overdrawn, or how much we are overdrawn. He just dips his hand in his pocket to know.

I wasn't saying the guy/guys have plenty of money, but they seem to be able to enjoy themselves. I'm sure that if I was made redundant with two weeks redundancy money, I would be skint within two months and certainly wouldn't be able to afford to go to the pub at all! I just doubt if the system would pay me a fraction in benefits of what these guys are getting.

I do actually know a guy with an inheritance who doesn't work though, he inherited a number of rented properties in and around Cardiff, he blows 300 quid a go at least once a week in the casino. This guy is mid 30's and has never lifted his finger for a days work in his life.

He just makes me jealous though.

Edit: Definately not crime/dealing with these two guys.

aliferste · 03-01-2005, 17:19

Could possibly be off work with a mental health problem?

Escapee · 03-01-2005, 17:33

Quote:

Originally Posted by aliferste

Could possibly be off work with a mental health problem?

You may of hit the nail on the head with that one!

The one guy who I know more about, has been saying that he is a councillor for the "MIND" charity. Someone else in the pub says he is in fact a patient, but thats just gossip but more likely to be the truth.

That has also mde me think about someone else who I know who has not worked for over three years, he worked for a bank and is still being paid although off work through stress. his doctor wanted to sign him off the sick so he changed to another doctor.

I have suffered stress in the past, so I do appreciate the symptoms. But I would put my life savings on it that this guy is using it because he is just to lazy to work. I know it's very difficult to see stress in some people, I can still laugh and joke when I'm suffering badly but on the other hand I'm not he type to go running to the doctors for a note every five minutes.

Having also worked with a few poeple who have suffered stress, I have usually noticed genuine stress cases normally go un-noticed until the person breaks down without much warning. I recently went to the doctors about my psoriasis caused by stress, I only wanted some cream but he offered me a two week sick note. It was tempting, but then again I'm not someone who tries to get out of work.

Perhaps thats the answer for me, go to the doctors, get on the sick and I can go to the pub a bit more often.

03-01-2005, 18:13

Even if they were on the sick, they wont have been on the sick for 3 years and still have a job.
After 12 months they will be on statutory sick pay which is less than JSA I believe.
If they choose to spend their days in the pub, then they must be going without something.
When I was out of work and caring for my mother, I could easily spend all day saturday and a wednesday night in the pub, pay my credit card and run my car at the time. I didnt have to buy food, because my parents fed me. I didnt have rent or anything cos I lived with my parents.

The most likely way they are paying for this lifestyle is by committing benefit fraud. Work part time, claim dole, nothing at all to pay out and money coming in.
You know it makes sense.

Escapee · 03-01-2005, 18:24

Quote:

Originally Posted by timewarrior2001

Even if they were on the sick, they wont have been on the sick for 3 years and still have a job.
After 12 months they will be on statutory sick pay which is less than JSA I believe.
If they choose to spend their days in the pub, then they must be going without something.
When I was out of work and caring for my mother, I could easily spend all day saturday and a wednesday night in the pub, pay my credit card and run my car at the time. I didnt have to buy food, because my parents fed me. I didnt have rent or anything cos I lived with my parents.

The most likely way they are paying for this lifestyle is by committing benefit fraud. Work part time, claim dole, nothing at all to pay out and money coming in.
You know it makes sense.

Not always true in the case of sickness, I knwo a number of cases where people have been on long term sick. the bank is still paying the one guys wages after 3 years as far as I am still aware. I know they were a few months ago.

Also ntl have a history of paying people on long term sick, the longest I know is again as far as I know still currently being paid full salary by ntl. Or to put it correctly by ntl's insurance, the guy went sick after they changed his job title over 4 years ago. this situation may of changed but as far as I know he was getting full pay upto a few moths ago.

If there are any service/network techs from South Wales around they can confirm this is still the case!

Also ntl paid a number of employees for over 12 months sick that I am aware of, notably ones from a company that they bought out.

Ramrod · 03-01-2005, 18:32

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bifta

That's probably covered under "crime" above