Live a life of luxury on the dole - BenefitScroungers get £30,000 a year in benefitsDAMNING new evidence last night proved it does not pay to work in Britain under Labour’s benefit bonanza regime. Official figures reveal that 20,000 households are handed more than £30,000 in benefits every year – more than the average working wage. A further 12,000 families – equivalent to the population of Nottingham – claim more than £20,000 a year in tax-free benefits.
Matthew Elliott, chief executive of the TaxPayers’ Alliance, said: “At a time when ordinary taxpayers are facing redundancy and repossession, and pensioners struggle on under £100 per week, this benefit bill is far too high. "It’s important there is a safety net for the vulnerable but the Government must do more to stop the abuse of taxpayers’ generosity and give people greater incentive to get back into work.”
Economist Ruth Lea said: “Frankly, it’s immoral. Many of these people are receiving more than the average wage.”
The Tories said the huge benefit totals meant many families collecting handouts were better off than households with somebody in work. A person in work would have to earn at least £27,000 before tax to receive £20,000 a year in take-home pay.But the average worker earns just over £25,000 a year, while half of full-time women workers are on less than £21,500 and one full-time worker in 10 earns less than £13,613.
Mr Grayling said: “It really is time the Government got a grip on Britain’s benefits culture.“It’s hardly surprising so many people live a life on benefits when in some cases it is possible to be paid as much money as someone in work on a typical average income.”
Analysis by the Daily Express reveals just how easy it is to clock up a big benefit payout. A family of two healthy non-working adults and two healthy children paying rent of £100 a week and a monthly council tax bill of £108 could collect more than £16,100 a year in benefits. That sum is made up of more than £4,700 in tax credits, £4,950 in Jobseeker’s Allowance, housing benefit of £5,214 and council tax benefit of £1,296. More children and a bigger house would mean an even larger annual payout. A single mother with four healthy children, paying the maximum rent allowed in an area such as west London could collect up to £32,638 a year.
The Ramonds and their nine kids
Ray and Tracey Ramond have been branded Britain's biggest beneficiaries from state handouts. The couple and their nine children hit the headlines three years ago when it emerged they received £39,000-a-year in benefits.
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Mr and Mrs Ramond were living in a three-bedroom house in Newcastle upon Tyne with their children Cherlynne, 13, Stacey, 12, Chantelle, 11, Nicky, ten, Susan, nine, Courtney, seven, Leigh, four, Tia, three, and 11-month-old Chardonnay.
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Mrs Ramond, then 36, said she could not work because she was a full-time carer for Stacey, who has Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, and her husband was off work with depression. She said: 'It's hard for us making ends meet, it really is. I try to cook healthy food for the kids and keep them looking presentable and the money just goes on food and clothes. Our two older children only want the best trainers because they're at school and don't want to get picked on so what can we do?'
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In an average week, Mrs Ramond said she spent £250 on food, £100 on clothes and nappies, £55 on gas and electricity and £150 paying off catalogue bills and a loan. The rest went on cigarettes, mobile phone bills and pocket money for the children. In all, the family received housing benefit, child benefit, child tax credit, carer's allowance and incapacity benefit.
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The Raymonds were last night unavailable for comment.
