Living On Welfare in the U.K.

powerline ^ | January 21, 2013 | John Hinderaker

[lowbridge]

Welfare has become a major political issue in the United Kingdom. During the 13 years when Labour was in power, it seems not to have occurred to most Britons that Labour’s open-door immigration policy, combined with the U.K.’s liberal welfare benefits, were likely to lead to abuse. Now, people are starting to notice.

The Sun, a tabloid published in London, is the U.K.’s largest-selling newspaper. It focuses mainly on soccer and celebrities, but its news coverage, to the extent it exists, can be entertaining. This story sounds like something out of The Onion, but it evidently is legitimate. The Sun interviewed Natalija Belova, a 33-year-old Lithuanian who has come to love the British welfare system:

A MIGRANT mum thanked the UK yesterday for letting her claim £14,500 a year in benefits.

Natalija Belova, 33, told The Sun how she spurns full-time work — yet can afford foreign holidays and buys designer clothes.

The Lithuanian said: “British benefits give me and my daughter a good life.”

She has milked soft-touch Britain for £50,000 in benefits and yesterday said: “I simply take what is given to me.”

Overjoyed Natalija told how she lives a life of luxury thanks to our “strange” system, declaring: “It’s important to have nice things and good holidays.”

[supremedoctrine]

“fell pregnant”—thanks for the explanation, which is news to me that it’s a Britishism. I think my confusion is still justified.....it’s a strange vernacular.

[Vanders9]

Well not everyone on these boards is American, so it might be of interest to them.

But the real reason, as the article says, is that Britain is America's canary at the coal mine. This is your future. Bank on it.

[Vanders9]

I dont blame her. She’s only taking what the system gives to her. The fault is the system itself, which is highly liable to abuse.