REGARDING the family living on £220 a week ("Monotony and struggle of a poor family's life", February 5). In 1995, at the age of 56, I was made redundant after 30 years working at the railway.
I spent almost two years on the dole, the last six months on Job Seekers' Allowance. Because my wife works full time and we had no dependants my allowance finished at the end of that six months. At 58 years old I took a part-time job cleaning up on two estates at £4.13 an hour.
Six years later I retired without reaching £5 an hour.
Young families today get far more help than we ever did. Most smoke, enjoy a few beers and have satellite TV. Some even run a car. They won't do dirty jobs or low paid jobs because it would affect their benefits. Try doing without cigs, booze and satellite TV, then the children would have fresh veg, meat and warm clothing for winter.
R P Woodward,
Key Way,
Fulford, York.
Updated: 12:04 Wednesday, February 09, 2005
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