Thank you for all the comments from the Daily Mail readers page, it's alright looking down from Ivory Towers, at the less fortunate, but as in life,, what goes around, comes around, you should think ourselves very lucky at the position your in, not castigating the poor, disabled or single parents, do you want these disadvantaged people to wear sack cloth and ashes, so that they can be Identified at the food stations.

" black" - 3 Aug @ 18.49, Don't quite see your point.The people filling trolleys, buying lottery tickets etc. and getting into shiny cars are presumably the part of the population expected to help those less fortunate, who don't have money and thus can't fill a trolley, and therefore are unlikely to be at the supermarket!
I do however agree that there may be economies to be made by not smoking, drinking etc. though the argument will then return that they smoke because they are stressed due to no money ...........
I find it hard to understand how this country can give financial aid to other part of the world when apparently we have people without enough to eat and heat their homes in this country.
Actually giving food and heating vouchers isn't guaranteed to solve the problem as there is still the chance the goods could be resold and cash used for other things.There is no easy solution.

Its easy to bring up smoking,drinking and Sky but remember there but for the grace.......
Im alright Jack.

Bet they have Sky,and a mobile phone though

Lets get a few things straight. Been on benefits is not cushy compared to the life you have when working, but people can get used to it.
Somethings you do without, but benefits are not so low as to make the 'extras' impossible.

I do not believe that anyone on benefits is 'starving'.

There is no 'poverty crisis' just a silly headline. Like all systems, some people fall through the cracks, some people even look to fall through the cracks.

A few of the people using these services wont be eligible for benefits. This forum considers discussions about those people to be off limits, so you will have to work it out yourself.

@Steve Mc - You have my every sympathy. It must be horrendously difficult as it is to exist on your benefits - without having the baying, knuckle dragging brigade to contend with on top of it all. How and when did this ugly clamor to kick people who need a helping hand, creep into the psyche of some sections of society?

i agree with Ste he has got it right i know its not easy to get a good job but most you see on benefits smoke drink and have at least 1 dog plus some have loads of kids, people need to have some dignity for themselves and live decent lives

Everyone i know on benefits smoke and drink regularly. It is time the government handed out food , Gas and electric vouchers instead of fortnightly cash then this way the benefit payments are spent as intended. Perhaps if their choice of what they spend it on was taken away then they wouldnt get into this kind of trouble and decide they would be better off getting a job.

Well done in your smugness Steve A. Many, many people are one payslip from oblivion, I'm glad for you and yours that you seem not to be. I lost a low-wage job (it covered my bills and food MOST weeks) five weeks ago and I am staring into the abyss of poverty and smoking or drinking is the last thing on my mind. I've given both up to try to feed myself and pay what bills I can. To keep my daughter in fresh fruit and veg when she stays with me I will skip meals for days. So, spare a thought in your populist rant for those without the good fortune to be you.

Yes Steve, the benefits system IS supposed to provide enough money for people to live on. Unfortunately, it fails.