WHY is it that a mum and family of three young teenage girls, all with babes in arms, who have never worked a day in their lives, can collect £31,000 a year in benefits and live rent and council tax free while a 80-years-old, who receives a war pension, has to pay the full cost of everything.
Cyril Wagstaff was a 19-years-old serving his country in WW2 when he was injured in Normandy. For that knee injury what started as a ten bob a week pension has now risen to £130 a week - but because he receives that on top of his basic government pension he is forced to pay full rent of £51.55 a week for his Leigh home plus £800 a year in council tax. That in effect means he receives no war pension at all.
Churchill's words that our war heroes gave their yesterdays for our todays have certainly fallen on deaf ears.
The benefits system is a minefield, but there's something very wrong somewhere.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereComments are closed on this article