Poor Melvyn, my heart was absolutely breaking for him when the doctor came to assess him-- in fact all through the programme, he was trying so bloody hard and had a positive attitude-- but he got there in the end; he was deffo my favourite-- well done, Melvyn, all the nest for the future xxx
I want to adopt Melvyn. He is such a good human being. Rare today. Also what I took away is that ... each person should be looked at "What is best for this person?" Today, overwork and not enough time to give personal attention... has resulted in a "just put out the resumes" mentality. Employers are overwhelmed with them and just throw them out. Working with employers to find the right fit employee, is so important.
Wow, that Karen is a piece of work; she had the gall to say that she deserved the money over Craig, the young man in the wheelchair. That's pretty selfish, even though Craig was so willing to take any job that was offered to him. In the end, they were both labeled fit to work for sedentary employment. Craig was delighted for the chance and took it, while Karen grumbled quite vociferously (and with base language) that she could do nothing. She told her school chum, who was missing a hand and who worked at the shop for years, that she was "too tired" to even try to use the sewing machine. I guess she was afraid she might damage her ugly neon fake nails. She is what is wrong with the benefits system today
I was surprized by Karen, who obviously had worked hard in her life previously, she was told she could do a bit of work, and she took it as an insult rather than a generous benefit to her life. In 1949 she would have had little hope but to see if her son took her in. I am glad she has her benefits now, and I am sure it took a lot of effort before she got them, but I hope she can reflect and remember that work had benefits beyond money, and maybe she can find herself doing a bit more for herself or maybe her community center, so that she can steady off the worst that is yet to come from her illnesses, and her son can minimize his present efforts for her now. She has given me a push to move on with my own issues as I seek out opportunities for a new life and job from my good paying one that has done me well for many years.
also, some part time work, would boost her self confidence. Her anger and bad language is her form of self defense. Having severe RA and unable to walk, I find doing volunteer work a few afternoons a week makes me feel I'm contributing and yes it HURTS. But, my pride needs this. Take off the nails, and give typing on a computer a try? And help out a charity that needs some clerical help. She obviously doesn't want people to judge her, but she is judging herself. Even the smallest amount of work brings dignity to us all.
I was chuffed for Craig. I hope he's proud of himself and that he spoils himself a bit on payday. Karen couldn't work because she didn't want to. Her health problems would vastly improve if she did something about her obesity. It's hard to have sympathy for her type.
I'm not on her side at all but to make such a blanket statement when not knowing what caused her conditions is erroneous. You have no idea so please don't judge.
What was called "relief" used to be like this in the 1950s-1960. My father had to be institutionalized a few times when I was young. (Paranoid Schizophrenic). Relief was barely enough to live on. We had a rent controlled apartment so we had a place to live. My mother was a good cook and could make three meals out of one chicken. We ate a lot of soups and stews and she baked from scratch. The inspector could come to the home any time she wanted. She could inspect the closets and refrigerator. There was one embarrassing incident. My Aunt had dropped by to see my Mother and brought a Pepsi with her. There was some remaining so she left it. The Inspector saw it in the refrigerator and chewed my Mother out for it. When my Mother said she hadn't bought it the Inspector said that my Aunt should have brought something better like a container of milk. That was another part of it. You were supposed to get help from your family. Relief did not help us with clothing. I wore hand me downs from my Uncle who was three years older than me. I was 12 and growing and the situation was severe in that I had nothing to wear that fit. Some clothing was in need of repair. The pendulum has swung too far the other way. Now the recipients are allowed to have telephones, no inspections, revolving charge accounts, cars, etc. and nothing is really expected of them. It is now an occupation. I was fixing a woman's phone day and she told me she had grown up in this low rent government housing. Her Mother still lived there in another apartment and her daughter and her daughter had another apartment. That's four generations of women in three government apartments. I'll bet none has ever had a job and the little one won't either. We cannot survive with half the population on benefits as a nation. I'm glad I'll be passing soon and won't have to see the fall.
Robert Cuminale ...EXCELLENT POST, Mr.Robert....You can be MOST proud of the way you and your family have conducted themselves throughout, with a great deal of pride and integrity :)!!!
You're soooo right the biggest problem I see with the current system is parents who get benefits, in the long term are NOT setting the right example for their kids🙄. Thus generational welfare🤦 Too easy for able bodied ppl to be just plain lazy🤨. ALL parents should want better for their kids and show them the BENEFIT of EARNING your own money: self confidence and independence👍
Her nails and hair cost a fortune ! And ride blooming bus , why do they have cars ? If she lost a little weight she'd be well ! Her muscles have given in because she never uses it !
She's the type that blames everyone else for her problems when in truth her health conditions are her own fault due to her obesity. Only she can do something about that.
That's the problem people feel they're entitled to Benefits and it's the Governments fault, Imagine the riots and destruction if they went back to those strict rules lol
I was born in 1944 into poverty my mother got nothing nothing not a dime from anybody she worked to bring up 4 kids we just did the best we could and it was sad but we did it.
Honestly, I bet if Karen changed her diet, she would see improvements to her illnesses. Diabetes and arthritis can have symptoms minimized through certain diets. She's too young to give up on life.
Hard to know where the balance should be struck. The two episodes I've watched so far have demonstrated ways in which the "old system" was more helpful to keeping people productive and dignified. The family who learned how to run a home and keep it tidy in episode one - seemed to benefit from the special attention and instruction they received as per 1949 standards; as did the lovely man Craig with Spina Bifida in this episode who was given training opportunities as per 1949. Very sad to think that a capable, charming young man like Craig - as of 2013 - had been languishing for several years, eager to work but with no chances afforded him. Perhaps enforcing quotas is the right road for disabled people. Clearly devoting resources to someone like him is money well spent. I don't know what to say about Karen. I have serious arthritis myself and still work every day; but I cannot put myself in her shoes. Her condition may be much more severe than mine. Her bad attitude and defiance, though she knew she would be participating in a documentary, made her less sympathetic. The hard truth is that Karen would have had to find a way to support herself 70 years ago; like all of our parents and grandparents did - on either side of the Atlantic. While I agree that we need to take care of people who can't take care of themselves, we also need to make sure we don't steal their initiative and encourage complacency. No question we have been raised to have a higher sense of entitlement in post WWII western societies. Karen thinks because she worked for 20 years "she's done her part for England"? So the UK has to support her for the next 30 to 40 years? That kind of thinking seems to be more rampant in the UK than in the US. Difficult problem to solve.
Unfortunately the States have many of the same issues... Some ppl just make a "career" out of milking the system for everything they can get🙄... But you are held accountable for getting work BUT they do help with child care costs...IDK if the UK benefits does, but it is essential!! So they can be the example of the benefits work to their children!! So very little"generational welfare"
They should be drug tested and someone should be checking on how this money is being spent. A certain amount should go directly to the landlord for rent and utilities. If they make it harder, then most of these people will get jobs and stop having so many children.
Pensioners deserve what they get and more. Some of them are suffering after supporting the system by working. Karen, on the other hand, is harder for me to relate to since she is a walking encyclopedia of various illnesses. If she lost weight, diabetes, arthritis and high blood pressure could disappear. I respect Craig...the one with the real disability.
I really like Melvyn. He was a good sport about losing everything for the sake of the program. I totally understand Karen's anger. It appears she has Ankylosing spondylitis (A very painful arthritis and fusing of the spine and other peripheral joints.) and her pain isn't being adequately controlled. I also have AS and am no longer able to work, so I understand how she is feeling.I did wind up with the feeling that she felt she was entitled to benefits, and perhaps she is, but she made no effort to try. Craig really lucked out to get involved with this program. He ended up with a job offer out of it and I think that is the last thing he was expecting. I think they should absolutely go back to the 1949 rules. There are far too many families that have a bunch of babies and collect benefits for them, because that was behaviour taught to them by their parents.
I have A.S as well, and I really was happy to hear her say that you can't see the pain and suffering. Trust me, I had a gentleman actually park behind me at a bank so I couldn't get out, then proceed to come to my window and give me a verbal bashing how I shouldn't have stopped in a disabled spot, even though my permit is quite visible! All because, according to him, if I didn't have a wheelchair (yet), I wasn't entitled to park there. I'm usually a very positive, friendly person, but he literally just crushed me.. I had a fabulous job that I loved yet haven't been able to work for the past 8 years. I hate relying on disability being a single parent to 2 children I didn't have a choice. I cannot work even a bit unfortunately as my spine has completely fused together. I feel very badly for the participants, but I get the message they are trying to send out to others who may be using the system unjustly. I will say, here in Ontario Canada it is incredibly difficult to get any kind of benefits,(if you do, it is minimal) and for someone like me the physical tests, doctors to see and continual forms to fill out occur to this day.
***** I'm in BC and had little problem getting provincial disability benefits ($983/month). Why is it so hard in Ontario? I know how it feels to leave a job you loved, I did it 4 years ago. I'm lucky to have a PCP who prescribes adequate pain control or I'd be in real trouble. This disease sucks, doesn't it?
Massetgirl72 I'm not sure why it's so difficult but I've heard it from others here as well. I'm very pleased it wasn't for you. It's also maintaining it. I am constantly filling out forms, then having my doc do it, costing a fortune. I am also very happy for you that you have adequate pain control. I managed to luck out in that area too, thankfully! I feel as you do, I would be in severe trouble without that. Unfortunately I was also diagnosed with Crohns Disease so pls be careful and on the lookout for that as they can appear together. One disease is horrible enough, let alone two! Please take care of yourself, I hope you are able to enjoy life, you live in a beautiful province, I would love to live in BC! This condition is such a long road and it absolutely sucks! Take care! :) (sorry for the book here)
Triumph 1983 I can understand my cousin has sickle cell An ppl don’t believe her when she’s in pain . What’s wrong with ppl just because someone not crying doesn’t mean there not in pain
So Karen can afford to get her nails done and eat a lot of food, but she doesn’t want to work even part time? Entitled much? But it was great to see how happy and proud that Craig was getting his first job. Good for him!
I’m disabled. I have a pacemaker and scoliosis. I found employment that didn’t affect my health by working full time in an office. Karen can surely do the same. Being overweight is not an excuse.
with my bad back, I can hardly sit! I have had 2 knee replacements and one of those didn't work so I have to have it replaced.....I can't walk very well......in Canada you have to jump hoops to get sickness benefits and after a certain amount of weeks you are cut off...too bad, so sad.......
I have always worked in the US. I have diabetes and degenerative arthritis, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, Acid re flux, major gastric issues, Myopia and other issues that put me in bed several times a month, but I do not qualify for any assistance and continue to work. That women has a bad back and can not work. Come on!
If the money's inflation-adjusted, it might not be bad. The US minimum wage, when it was first instituted, works out to about $17 an hour now. Also, in 1949 Britain was still under wartime-style rationing. It was a very much poorer society than now.
Melvin reminds me of Winnie the Pooh, soft spoken old man and kind hearted. and obviously someone who had clear mind. Craig is a very noble person, he clearly only needs a job, he had got nothing to loose, but he kept trying. am so sorry for the lady, Karen, if only she tried harder, she could've fought for herselves.
Im in the U.S. I hurt my back 4 yrs ago cant work because of pain and nerve damage in my leg i cant walk or sit for more than 30 mins. The pain pills i take are so strong they put me to sleep. Anyway ive been denied govt disability 3 times but i have a court case coming up that could change that. I was lucky though i paid monthly for disability insuranc ethrough a private company and they pay 60% of what i was making before i got hurt. I couldnt imagine not making anything my family wolod probably be homeless. I would love to go back to work. My surgeon told me after my 5 th surgery they couldnt do anything to help unless some one invented something new to help me.
This series is really something else. I don’t understand how people could ever make it with the rules they have to follow. It makes me feel sad for them.
Hmmmm.... she can't supposedly move her hands and fingers, but she can pay and get her nails done so long! That costs money that is unnecessary when on benefits!
Check out the nails on Karen. She makes too much money if she can have nails like that. She surely does not miss a meal. nice car she has too. And those braids were not cheap.
Melvin doesn't need residential care, he's sharp minded, he's not an invalid, he just doesn't have enough to live in. Nobody will ever put me in a care home, ever.
this is like the flat im living in allways knocking on my door unexpectedly without any notice and making excuses up why they need to come in, they always say they're just coming in to check something the water heater or thermostat, and I can tell they're coming in when I'm not home snooping through things cuz I noticed stuff moved., the maintenance guy lives on the property so he told the office that I was in my pajamas check in the mail one Saturday morning and I got a warning of eviction, oh and also for putting a chair outside and sitting in it. it makes you feel like you don't have any respect , freedom, or privacy .
I know how to live super cheap. When I've had to it's not difficult. You have to cook from scratch, buy foods only on the day old and specials. Bananas, lots of bananas. Cheap grocery stores. If you need clothes or furniture buy from the salvation army or Goodwill besides for shoes, socks, and underwear. I find so much cool shit way better quality furniture and things for cheap or even free. People don't know what they have.
I love Melvyn's emotional reaction to getting his watch back, 😭♥️sometimes even the lonely need help, he looked happy at the home. Craig, good on you mate, didn't let his disability get in the way of finding a job.😄♥️👏 Karen pissed me off, she didn't even try to see if there was anything she could do, ok pulling, lifting hurts, but come on, she was just so negative. I don't think she wanted to, quite happy just getting benefits bemoaning she is more needy than the others. 😡
It's the same problem in the US. Instead of allowing folks to live on welfare , only for a short time, the government has made it a way of life for the poor to live off hard working taxpayers.
This is crazy....these people have put in their time for working..like the lady said go after the young that refuse to work and are having children on the system!
I live in the US and I have always contributed to my company's 401K and saved for investments. Didn't Melvin and Karen do that. Don't companies in the U.K. Offer 401K's? Just asking.
Let's see if I have this right. Can a person or family collect benefits for a continual amount of time? In the U.S., 5 years is the limit. There, a person with 4 children and a spouse gets 450 pounds a week? Someone said that that would be 650 dollars in the U.S. Then there is a housing counsel? I saw a video where a guy went back to Romania and brought back his wife and 5 children, with no home lined up. He schlepted them around from place to place for a few days until the counsel provided a 4 bedroom house. Imagine that.
That's what I was wondering. Makes me mad I didn't emigrate to England when I was young! Lol. I always worked because I've always assumed government assistance was a dead end street. But you can live pretty good in England on the dole.
not really, you cant ever save more than 6000 so you are always poor, you cant buy anything or go anywhere half decent, its hard to find a decent flat as landlords hate unemployed people, council flats are always in the worst areas no one else wants to live, and are not given out like sweets, theres waiting lists and bidding systems, everyone gives you bad attitude if you are on benefits, so its embarassing at times, no one wants to date you as youre considered a loser, you lose confidence and self esteem and the days are boring without purpose, people tend to then eat shit watching shit on tv and start a descent into depression and obesity, all while its pissing with rain frequently lol
+bloomoggi , people must want to "date" people on benefits, since many have kids (while on the dole). Some of the council flats are in very nice areas . There's an English show about a real estate agent that just deals with people on benefits. They frequently have paying neighbors, with good jobs. Many of those ao benefits have flat screens & playstations. One guy on the show was planing to go on holiday, with his parents, to Cuba. Ijs
a lot of my comment was from my personal experience on benefits in manchester England,, people have kids with other people in their situation, often in very insecure, uncomitted relationships the incidence of a council flat being in a "nice" área is most often because the area has become gentrified for some reason. usually if its nearer a city centre. yes you can find estate agents. and sympathetic landlords but they are in the tiny minority, as when i needed to move, so many adverts for flats said "NO DSS" which means no one on benefits wanted. thingd like a tv and playstations can get found second hand or at pawn shops. or be stolen goods, who knows..as for going to cuba, i suppose his parents helped a lot with that, i dont know his story. i now live in Spain and work as a teacher and its all behind me lol
I know this is so random, but I would love to visit Spain someday, especially the northern part near Guernica where my grandfather use to live. ^_^ How is it in Spain these days? How is the education system over there? I'm so sorry about these questions. I prefer answers from the people who live and deal with the things in the actual country, rather than rely on textbook material for information. Thank you for sharing your experience.
here in the US we have the welfare recipients who quite a few of them somehow afford IPhones, laptops, get their nails done weekly, and have more clothing than I ever had my whole life, I guess that kind of problem is everywhere, but a pensioner like Melvyn earned his right and Craig being disabled also. I agree about Karen, we have lots of "Karens" here.
thatcher government reduced the number of companies - thus employment - thus taxes , hence unemployment increased . Thatcher "reduce public spending" - they did that 40 years on public still has no money to spend
The system should be set up that's when you're on welfare or on Section 8 you don't want to stay there they make it too easy for people to stay on that and never come off..
This is exactly why more and more people live off the government because we make it too easy for them to do that back then it was very hard so that if you worked you didn't want to go on welfare today people jump on welfare before they go to work that's the problem..
The company I work for would not hire any of them. They know how to use the loopholes in the law that Congress past get around it. And the insurance would not insure them cost to much to have them on the property so the insurance company controls who they are allowed to hire.
As for Karen "feeling pain every day"......I am a disabled military veteran.....I have arthritis in my hips, shoulders, and wrists. I also have a shattered L4 and L5 along with a bulging disc. I am also missing 1/4 of my right lung from chemical exposure.....you feel pain 24/7....live in my shoes...I have no sympathy for you because I take care of my 3 year old and 5 year old children, take care of my house, yard work and house repairs....not to mention working as well and not accepting any benefits or any welfare of any type and oh yes....I have been working since the age of 17. I am now half a century old now and still trucking on in pain 24/7.....I have no sympathy for you Karen.
First and foremost they need to make fathers be responsible for their children. If the father is underage his parents should pay. If these happens a lot of women can come off of welfare.
I feel sorry for Craig and Melvin. Craig just needed a little self-confidence and a helping hand. They really have been dealt a harder hand. Can't Karen pick up a potato? Bullshit. She's a bitch. Craig is in a wheelchair and wants to do whatever he can, even if he shouldn't. I've helped out elderly neighbors, sometimes it gets to be quite a bit. If they really need help I'll help them before I help myself.
I had to stop watching this documentsry and show off about how the system prey on the human' souls in exchange for some pounds. What a spectacle of humiliation is that about? Those who represent the beneffits 1949 are predators. I found little to no compassion nor respect for those who resource to the few pounds off these beneffits. What is sought in exchange is the soul of the vulnerables. I felt rage and had to stop watching it. Unberable sight of the dehumanisation of our civilized world. Shame, shame and much too much shame.
"No-one can agree about how to fix it." The story of parliament/congress/politician life. Sorry, but these guys can find money underneath a rock for the military and snobbish rich people, but they can't find money for the poor and disabled. >_> The US is worse... far worse. The priorities of people in power are messed up everywhere.
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1949 when people Worked And didn't fake illness. so they could be lazy. I blame the government. For making it too easy.
Poor Melvyn, my heart was absolutely breaking for him when the doctor came to assess him-- in fact all through the programme, he was trying so bloody hard and had a positive attitude-- but he got there in the end; he was deffo my favourite-- well done, Melvyn, all the nest for the future xxx
This was an truly eye opening program. There are a lot of things we can learn from 1949, both good and bad.
I want to adopt Melvyn. He is such a good human being. Rare today. Also what I took away is that ... each person should be looked at "What is best for this person?" Today, overwork and not enough time to give personal attention... has resulted in a "just put out the resumes" mentality. Employers are overwhelmed with them and just throw them out. Working with employers to find the right fit employee, is so important.
Wow, that Karen is a piece of work; she had the gall to say that she deserved the money over Craig, the young man in the wheelchair. That's pretty selfish, even though Craig was so willing to take any job that was offered to him. In the end, they were both labeled fit to work for sedentary employment. Craig was delighted for the chance and took it, while Karen grumbled quite vociferously (and with base language) that she could do nothing. She told her school chum, who was missing a hand and who worked at the shop for years, that she was "too tired" to even try to use the sewing machine. I guess she was afraid she might damage her ugly neon fake nails. She is what is wrong with the benefits system today
👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏
Craig was a superstar. So happy for him.
I was surprized by Karen, who obviously had worked hard in her life previously, she was told she could do a bit of work, and she took it as an insult rather than a generous benefit to her life. In 1949 she would have had little hope but to see if her son took her in. I am glad she has her benefits now, and I am sure it took a lot of effort before she got them, but I hope she can reflect and remember that work had benefits beyond money, and maybe she can find herself doing a bit more for herself or maybe her community center, so that she can steady off the worst that is yet to come from her illnesses, and her son can minimize his present efforts for her now. She has given me a push to move on with my own issues as I seek out opportunities for a new life and job from my good paying one that has done me well for many years.
also, some part time work, would boost her self confidence. Her anger and bad language is her form of self defense. Having severe RA and unable to walk, I find doing volunteer work a few afternoons a week makes me feel I'm contributing and yes it HURTS. But, my pride needs this. Take off the nails, and give typing on a computer a try? And help out a charity that needs some clerical help. She obviously doesn't want people to judge her, but she is judging herself. Even the smallest amount of work brings dignity to us all.
I was chuffed for Craig. I hope he's proud of himself and that he spoils himself a bit on payday. Karen couldn't work because she didn't want to. Her health problems would vastly improve if she did something about her obesity. It's hard to have sympathy for her type.
I'm not on her side at all but to make such a blanket statement when not knowing what caused her conditions is erroneous. You have no idea so please don't judge.
I cried at the end with Melvyn. Im glad they did that.
What was called "relief" used to be like this in the 1950s-1960.
My father had to be institutionalized a few times when I was young. (Paranoid Schizophrenic). Relief was barely enough to live on. We had a rent controlled apartment so we had a place to live. My mother was a good cook and could make three meals out of one chicken. We ate a lot of soups and stews and she baked from scratch.
The inspector could come to the home any time she wanted. She could inspect the closets and refrigerator. There was one embarrassing incident. My Aunt had dropped by to see my Mother and brought a Pepsi with her. There was some remaining so she left it. The Inspector saw it in the refrigerator and chewed my Mother out for it. When my Mother said she hadn't bought it the Inspector said that my Aunt should have brought something better like a container of milk.
That was another part of it. You were supposed to get help from your family. Relief did not help us with clothing. I wore hand me downs from my Uncle who was three years older than me. I was 12 and growing and the situation was severe in that I had nothing to wear that fit. Some clothing was in need of repair.
The pendulum has swung too far the other way. Now the recipients are allowed to have telephones, no inspections, revolving charge accounts, cars, etc. and nothing is really expected of them.
It is now an occupation. I was fixing a woman's phone day and she told me she had grown up in this low rent government housing. Her Mother still lived there in another apartment and her daughter and her daughter had another apartment. That's four generations of women in three government apartments. I'll bet none has ever had a job and the little one won't either.
We cannot survive with half the population on benefits as a nation. I'm glad I'll be passing soon and won't have to see the fall.
Robert Cuminale ...EXCELLENT POST, Mr.Robert....You can be MOST proud of the way you and your family have conducted themselves throughout, with a great deal of pride and integrity :)!!!
You're soooo right the biggest problem I see with the current system is parents who get benefits, in the long term are NOT setting the right example for their kids🙄. Thus generational welfare🤦 Too easy for able bodied ppl to be just plain lazy🤨. ALL parents should want better for their kids and show them the BENEFIT of EARNING your own money: self confidence and independence👍
I don't quite get Karen, didn't she sign up to be on this show?? Why is she complaining and defensive the whole time? YOU SIGNED UP FOR THIS. Wtf?
Her nails and hair cost a fortune ! And ride blooming bus , why do they have cars ? If she lost a little weight she'd be well ! Her muscles have given in because she never uses it !
Exactly my thoughts!! Wtf?? Lmao
She's the type that blames everyone else for her problems when in truth her health conditions are her own fault due to her obesity. Only she can do something about that.
Karen is just so “knackered” from sitting and watching someone with one hand work, yet can tolerate her nails and hair being done for hours. 🤔🙄
Cub I believe that your racist statement is foul. It also is inaccurate. Shameful to hear a statement like this in the 21st century.
That's the problem people feel they're entitled to Benefits and it's the Governments fault, Imagine the riots and destruction if they went back to those strict rules lol
That one lady is happy being on benefits. She has some issues but they aren't life altering.
Brandy B ...Goddamned right!!! She's just OBESE, lazy and totally mistakenly entitled!!!!!!!
omg Melvyn broke my heart
I was born in 1944 into poverty my mother got nothing nothing not a dime from anybody she worked to bring up 4 kids we just did the best we could and it was sad but we did it.
Alan Mirell ...Dang straight, Mr.Alan... Class and integrity will out..:)!!!
Honestly, I bet if Karen changed her diet, she would see improvements to her illnesses. Diabetes and arthritis can have symptoms minimized through certain diets. She's too young to give up on life.
Melvyn is such a Sweetie...
3 inch neon multi color stick on nails ...say it all
and the plaits (not cheap)
WHAT does it say????
LMFAO my younger sister can do that style don't act like that cost a large sum of money clearly you have no knowledge of a black woman hair@@Janlnz
Hard to know where the balance should be struck. The two episodes I've watched so far have demonstrated ways in which the "old system" was more helpful to keeping people productive and dignified. The family who learned how to run a home and keep it tidy in episode one - seemed to benefit from the special attention and instruction they received as per 1949 standards; as did the lovely man Craig with Spina Bifida in this episode who was given training opportunities as per 1949. Very sad to think that a capable, charming young man like Craig - as of 2013 - had been languishing for several years, eager to work but with no chances afforded him. Perhaps enforcing quotas is the right road for disabled people. Clearly devoting resources to someone like him is money well spent.
I don't know what to say about Karen. I have serious arthritis myself and still work every day; but I cannot put myself in her shoes. Her condition may be much more severe than mine. Her bad attitude and defiance, though she knew she would be participating in a documentary, made her less sympathetic. The hard truth is that Karen would have had to find a way to support herself 70 years ago; like all of our parents and grandparents did - on either side of the Atlantic. While I agree that we need to take care of people who can't take care of themselves, we also need to make sure we don't steal their initiative and encourage complacency. No question we have been raised to have a higher sense of entitlement in post WWII western societies. Karen thinks because she worked for 20 years "she's done her part for England"? So the UK has to support her for the next 30 to 40 years? That kind of thinking seems to be more rampant in the UK than in the US.
Difficult problem to solve.
Unfortunately the States have many of the same issues... Some ppl just make a "career" out of milking the system for everything they can get🙄... But you are held accountable for getting work BUT they do help with child care costs...IDK if the UK benefits does, but it is essential!! So they can be the example of the benefits work to their children!! So very little"generational welfare"
They should be drug tested and someone should be checking on how this money is being spent. A certain amount should go directly to the landlord for rent and utilities. If they make it harder, then most of these people will get jobs and stop having so many children.
Pensioners deserve what they get and more. Some of them are suffering after supporting the system by working. Karen, on the other hand, is harder for me to relate to since she is a walking encyclopedia of various illnesses. If she lost weight, diabetes, arthritis and high blood pressure could disappear. I respect Craig...the one with the real disability.
I really like Melvyn. He was a good sport about losing everything for the sake of the program. I totally understand Karen's anger. It appears she has Ankylosing spondylitis (A very painful arthritis and fusing of the spine and other peripheral joints.) and her pain isn't being adequately controlled. I also have AS and am no longer able to work, so I understand how she is feeling.I did wind up with the feeling that she felt she was entitled to benefits, and perhaps she is, but she made no effort to try. Craig really lucked out to get involved with this program. He ended up with a job offer out of it and I think that is the last thing he was expecting. I think they should absolutely go back to the 1949 rules. There are far too many families that have a bunch of babies and collect benefits for them, because that was behaviour taught to them by their parents.
I have A.S as well, and I really was happy to hear her say that you can't see the pain and suffering. Trust me, I had a gentleman actually park behind me at a bank so I couldn't get out, then proceed to come to my window and give me a verbal bashing how I shouldn't have stopped in a disabled spot, even though my permit is quite visible! All because, according to him, if I didn't have a wheelchair (yet), I wasn't entitled to park there. I'm usually a very positive, friendly person, but he literally just crushed me.. I had a fabulous job that I loved yet haven't been able to work for the past 8 years. I hate relying on disability being a single parent to 2 children I didn't have a choice. I cannot work even a bit unfortunately as my spine has completely fused together. I feel very badly for the participants, but I get the message they are trying to send out to others who may be using the system unjustly. I will say, here in Ontario Canada it is incredibly difficult to get any kind of benefits,(if you do, it is minimal) and for someone like me the physical tests, doctors to see and continual forms to fill out occur to this day.
*****
I'm in BC and had little problem getting provincial disability benefits ($983/month). Why is it so hard in Ontario? I know how it feels to leave a job you loved, I did it 4 years ago. I'm lucky to have a PCP who prescribes adequate pain control or I'd be in real trouble. This disease sucks, doesn't it?
Massetgirl72 I'm not sure why it's so difficult but I've heard it from others here as well. I'm very pleased it wasn't for you. It's also maintaining it. I am constantly filling out forms, then having my doc do it, costing a fortune. I am also very happy for you that you have adequate pain control. I managed to luck out in that area too, thankfully! I feel as you do, I would be in severe trouble without that. Unfortunately I was also diagnosed with Crohns Disease so pls be careful and on the lookout for that as they can appear together. One disease is horrible enough, let alone two! Please take care of yourself, I hope you are able to enjoy life, you live in a beautiful province, I would love to live in BC! This condition is such a long road and it absolutely sucks! Take care! :) (sorry for the book here)
Karen is suffering from a condition called bullshititis.
Triumph 1983 I can understand my cousin has sickle cell An ppl don’t believe her when she’s in pain . What’s wrong with ppl just because someone not crying doesn’t mean there not in pain
Britain should take care of the elderly wtf!
So Karen can afford to get her nails done and eat a lot of food, but she doesn’t want to work even part time? Entitled much? But it was great to see how happy and proud that Craig was getting his first job. Good for him!
26:00 Those heart wrenching sobs. I lost it.
Oh man, I felt for Melvyn. His sobs were heart breaking.
I’m disabled. I have a pacemaker and scoliosis. I found employment that didn’t affect my health by working full time in an office. Karen can surely do the same. Being overweight is not an excuse.
I love Craig
with my bad back, I can hardly sit! I have had 2 knee replacements and one of those didn't work so I have to have it replaced.....I can't walk very well......in Canada you have to jump hoops to get sickness benefits and after a certain amount of weeks you are cut off...too bad, so sad.......
I have always worked in the US. I have diabetes and degenerative arthritis, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, Acid re flux, major gastric issues, Myopia and other issues that put me in bed several times a month, but I do not qualify for any assistance and continue to work. That women has a bad back and can not work. Come on!
Melvyn is a doll a hard workers and team player he deserves what he gets and he should.
Craig, so happy for you!
If the money's inflation-adjusted, it might not be bad. The US minimum wage, when it was first instituted, works out to about $17 an hour now.
Also, in 1949 Britain was still under wartime-style rationing. It was a very much poorer society than now.
Melvin reminds me of Winnie the Pooh, soft spoken old man and kind hearted. and obviously someone who had clear mind. Craig is a very noble person, he clearly only needs a job, he had got nothing to loose, but he kept trying.
am so sorry for the lady, Karen, if only she tried harder, she could've fought for herselves.
Jesus, Melvyn broke my heart..
They never do this with corporate welfare. We expect more morality from our poor than of our wealthy
Well done, Craig! 🎉
Im in the U.S. I hurt my back 4 yrs ago cant work because of pain and nerve damage in my leg i cant walk or sit for more than 30 mins. The pain pills i take are so strong they put me to sleep. Anyway ive been denied govt disability 3 times but i have a court case coming up that could change that. I was lucky though i paid monthly for disability insuranc ethrough a private company and they pay 60% of what i was making before i got hurt. I couldnt imagine not making anything my family wolod probably be homeless. I would love to go back to work. My surgeon told me after my 5 th surgery they couldnt do anything to help unless some one invented something new to help me.
Karen is a malingerer. Melvyn’s story was touching. Go Craig!
Poor darling Melvin.My heart is broken for him. Lonely and elderly is such a sad combination.
I think the welfare system in the IK gives way more to clients than the US does
This series is really something else. I don’t understand how people could ever make it with the rules they have to follow. It makes me feel sad for them.
Hmmmm.... she can't supposedly move her hands and fingers, but she can pay and get her nails done so long! That costs money that is unnecessary when on benefits!
This is silly. You can live on 1949 wages or benefits if the economy went back to 1949 prices.
Values were different in that era and people on the whole weren't so greedy.
Check out the nails on Karen. She makes too much money if she can have nails like that. She surely does not miss a meal. nice car she has too. And those braids were not cheap.
Melvin doesn't need residential care, he's sharp minded, he's not an invalid, he just doesn't have enough to live in. Nobody will ever put me in a care home, ever.
She's so selfish. Give them hell Craig. I'm rooting for you!!
this is like the flat im living in allways knocking on my door unexpectedly without any notice and making excuses up why they need to come in, they always say they're just coming in to check something the water heater or thermostat, and I can tell they're coming in when I'm not home snooping through things cuz I noticed stuff moved., the maintenance guy lives on the property so he told the office that I was in my pajamas check in the mail one Saturday morning and I got a warning of eviction, oh and also for putting a chair outside and sitting in it. it makes you feel like you don't have any respect , freedom, or privacy .
Karen really, I from USA ..59 years old nd have the same, and I am legally blind in 1 eye and I still work full time.
I know how to live super cheap. When I've had to it's not difficult. You have to cook from scratch, buy foods only on the day old and specials. Bananas, lots of bananas. Cheap grocery stores. If you need clothes or furniture buy from the salvation army or Goodwill besides for shoes, socks, and underwear. I find so much cool shit way better quality furniture and things for cheap or even free. People don't know what they have.
I love Melvyn's emotional reaction to getting his watch back, 😭♥️sometimes even the lonely need help, he looked happy at the home. Craig, good on you mate, didn't let his disability get in the way of finding a job.😄♥️👏 Karen pissed me off, she didn't even try to see if there was anything she could do, ok pulling, lifting hurts, but come on, she was just so negative. I don't think she wanted to, quite happy just getting benefits bemoaning she is more needy than the others. 😡
It makes sense Craig would do better in 1949 - there was less competition for office jobs - even now it would be harder to get one.
It's the same problem in the US. Instead of allowing folks to live on welfare , only for a short time, the government has made it a way of life for the poor to live off hard working taxpayers.
I think Craig and Melvyn should be put together to live as roommates!! 😊❤
Bills shouldve been set back to 1949 prices as well
karen can get back to being fit for work if she lose the weight. being diabetic, back pain and joint pains are all due to overweight issues.
This is crazy....these people have put in their time for working..like the lady said go after the young that refuse to work and are having children on the system!
checked the numbers £7.40- 1949 equates to £254.74 - 2018
unemployment rate - high level £85 low rate £57
I live in the US and I have always contributed to my company's 401K and saved for investments. Didn't Melvin and Karen do that. Don't companies in the U.K. Offer 401K's? Just asking.
In Norway at least anything that is related to welfare is taken care of by the state.
Let's see if I have this right. Can a person or family collect benefits for a continual amount of time? In the U.S., 5 years is the limit. There, a person with 4 children and a spouse gets 450 pounds a week? Someone said that that would be 650 dollars in the U.S. Then there is a housing counsel? I saw a video where a guy went back to Romania and brought back his wife and 5 children, with no home lined up. He schlepted them around from place to place for a few days until the counsel provided a 4 bedroom house. Imagine that.
That's what I was wondering. Makes me mad I didn't emigrate to England when I was young! Lol. I always worked because I've always assumed government assistance was a dead end street. But you can live pretty good in England on the dole.
not really, you cant ever save more than 6000 so you are always poor, you cant buy anything or go anywhere half decent, its hard to find a decent flat as landlords hate unemployed people, council flats are always in the worst areas no one else wants to live, and are not given out like sweets, theres waiting lists and bidding systems, everyone gives you bad attitude if you are on benefits, so its embarassing at times, no one wants to date you as youre considered a loser, you lose confidence and self esteem and the days are boring without purpose, people tend to then eat shit watching shit on tv and start a descent into depression and obesity, all while its pissing with rain frequently lol
+bloomoggi , people must want to "date" people on benefits, since many have kids (while on the dole). Some of the council flats are in very nice areas . There's an English show about a real estate agent that just deals with people on benefits. They frequently have paying neighbors, with good jobs. Many of those ao benefits have flat screens & playstations. One guy on the show was planing to go on holiday, with his parents, to Cuba. Ijs
a lot of my comment was from my personal experience on benefits in manchester England,, people have kids with other people in their situation, often in very insecure, uncomitted relationships the incidence of a council flat being in a "nice" área is most often because the area has become gentrified for some reason. usually if its nearer a city centre. yes you can find estate agents. and sympathetic landlords but they are in the tiny minority, as when i needed to move, so many adverts for flats said "NO DSS" which means no one on benefits wanted. thingd like a tv and playstations can get found second hand or at pawn shops. or be stolen goods, who knows..as for going to cuba, i suppose his parents helped a lot with that, i dont know his story. i now live in Spain and work as a teacher and its all behind me lol
I know this is so random, but I would love to visit Spain someday, especially the northern part near Guernica where my grandfather use to live. ^_^ How is it in Spain these days? How is the education system over there? I'm so sorry about these questions. I prefer answers from the people who live and deal with the things in the actual country, rather than rely on textbook material for information. Thank you for sharing your experience.
Melvyn OMG 😢😭 #hugging
Melvin tried hard, Craig wanted to work and there was Karen sure she couldn't work.
Craig is what it's all about. I'd give him a job if I had a company. I'd even make a job for him. He WANTS to work most dont.
here in the US we have the welfare recipients who quite a few of them somehow afford IPhones, laptops, get their nails done weekly, and have more clothing than I ever had my whole life, I guess that kind of problem is everywhere, but a pensioner like Melvyn earned his right and Craig being disabled also. I agree about Karen, we have lots of "Karens" here.
If Karen lost 200lbs she wouldn't be in so much psin
Go Craig.
My God!.. Britain is heartless... Taking the food out of the old man's fridge!.... You gotta be kidding.
Karen is so selfish; give me a break. She couldn't even be bothered to TRY. Mr Melvyn is such a sweet old gent, best of luck to both him and Craig.
thatcher government reduced the number of companies - thus employment - thus taxes , hence unemployment increased . Thatcher "reduce public spending" - they did that 40 years on public still has no money to spend
Cost of living went up so far that this is an impossible feat to try and making you look quite stupid.
Does Britain not sell vegetables or rice and beans?? I could eat for a dollar a day (cdn) if I had too!!!
The system should be set up that's when you're on welfare or on Section 8 you don't want to stay there they make it too easy for people to stay on that and never come off..
I feel sorry for Melvin 😔
This is exactly why more and more people live off the government because we make it too easy for them to do that back then it was very hard so that if you worked you didn't want to go on welfare today people jump on welfare before they go to work that's the problem..
The company I work for would not hire any of them. They know how to use the loopholes in the law that Congress past get around it. And the insurance would not insure them cost to much to have them on the property so the insurance company controls who they are allowed to hire.
Terribly depressing.
They did that in the US until the eighties
Nice to meet you Diabetes.
Craig 💕💕💕💕
That’s so sad :(
Every health concern Karen listed is linked to obesity
I disagree arthritis skinny people can get that too, genetic can play a bit in that.
What are they doing taking everything away from these people????
That’s the point of the show lol
Watch the beginning very carefully
As for Karen "feeling pain every day"......I am a disabled military veteran.....I have arthritis in my hips, shoulders, and wrists. I also have a shattered L4 and L5 along with a bulging disc. I am also missing 1/4 of my right lung from chemical exposure.....you feel pain 24/7....live in my shoes...I have no sympathy for you because I take care of my 3 year old and 5 year old children, take care of my house, yard work and house repairs....not to mention working as well and not accepting any benefits or any welfare of any type and oh yes....I have been working since the age of 17. I am now half a century old now and still trucking on in pain 24/7.....I have no sympathy for you Karen.
First and foremost they need to make fathers be responsible for their children. If the father is underage his parents should pay. If these happens a lot of women can come off of welfare.
i want to hug mylvene
Melvyn worked & contributed for 40 years. Pay him
Is Karen why people now say "Don't be a Karen" and "Okay, Karen?"
Nowadays a Lot of single mom with lots of kids they get more benefits, the more Kids you get more money....
Craig shown the finest character. The fat lady is a self entitled bag. Melvyn... God love him.
What a load. Did David Cameron executive produce this rubbish
You couldn't have jam butter??
I feel sorry for Craig and Melvin. Craig just needed a little self-confidence and a helping hand. They really have been dealt a harder hand. Can't Karen pick up a potato? Bullshit. She's a bitch. Craig is in a wheelchair and wants to do whatever he can, even if he shouldn't. I've helped out elderly neighbors, sometimes it gets to be quite a bit. If they really need help I'll help them before I help myself.
Karen seems to forget she agreed to do this and her behavior tells me she is exaggerating her disability or a lot of it is mental.
DAmm they didnt take away luxuries in the ither epi..They only took Karens car?
And they say whites are not on welfare😂
Funny, I always reed them opposit. That blacks are never on wellfare. Who says Whites arent?
Always with the race card. Pathetic :D
I had to stop watching this documentsry and show off about how the system prey on the human' souls in exchange for some pounds. What a spectacle of humiliation is that about? Those who represent the beneffits 1949 are predators. I found little to no compassion nor respect for those who resource to the few pounds off these beneffits. What is sought in exchange is the soul of the vulnerables. I felt rage and had to stop watching it. Unberable sight of the dehumanisation of our civilized world. Shame, shame and much too much shame.
maybe karen gets too much help. nice nails and hair.
Karen has lifestyle health issues.
So 1949 pay in 2013¿ EXPENSES....WHY DID THEY NOT PROP A 1949 STIRE AT LEASÞ,YOU CANT CGARGE 2013 RENT/PRICES ON A 1949 ECONMY ...LITTKE COOKED?
"No-one can agree about how to fix it." The story of parliament/congress/politician life. Sorry, but these guys can find money underneath a rock for the military and snobbish rich people, but they can't find money for the poor and disabled. >_> The US is worse... far worse. The priorities of people in power are messed up everywhere.
1949 when people Worked And didn't fake illness. so they could be lazy. I blame the government. For making it too easy.