“I think it's more the governments fault for allowing this but then you could ask if you had 10 million would you feel the need to claim money? There's been some more Euromillions news this morning with a young couple from Nottingham winning £45million jackpot on Tuesday's draw. I'm more of an Irish Lottery http://tinyurl.com/8xjn5sh fan myself, the jackpots are lower but the odds of winning are much better so I guess I'd rather win something than nothing at all.”

“Hello Phil

Just me being a little over zealous perhaps. You are a gentleman Sir.”

“Hi Smith1980 - Your right on both points, it is my opinion and I am sorry if I came across as being that. I can assure you I am quite opposite to that description.”

“That is your personal choice philstag. I'm not sure it is wise or appropriate for you to set yourself up as moral guardian - it comes across as a little pompous and self righteous.”

“Excellent question Mr Lawrenson. Put like that, I am finding it hard to define a difference.
Let me see - I have paid into the system so would expect to receive my pension when I need it. I have paid into the system so would expect to receive disability allowance if I needed it. However by the time I get of age I certainly wouldn't have anywhere near that amount.
However if I had £10 million in the bank.......why would I claim? I just couldn't do it.”

“Phil, applying the same argument do you consider it morally wrong for people who have paid in to the State scheme to claim their pension if they have savings that they worked hard for and did without to amass or is it just lottery winners ? The tax system is designed to recover money from those who work or have worked, or have money, to fund state expenditure, although I accept that mobility and attendance components are not subject to tax. It is easy to make moral decisions for others but more difficult to put them into personal practice.”

“I understand that they are not doing anything wrong by claiming this. But honestly, with 10.2million in the bank, isn't it bit immoral to still claim?
With the economic struggle this country is having, surely it would have been the decent thing to stop claiming so that the money can go to other causes.
It is a bit disheartening to know that the money that the government take out of my kitty is then being put into the kitty of somebody who has £10m in the bank.
And NeilT this is not another "attack the disabled story". This is more like a story of moral values.”

“"facemenow" I agree with you that people are fully within their rights to claim the benefits that they are legally entitled to claim and receive and this is what Parliament intended when they introduced the legislation. To those proposing that means should be taken into account, have you any idea how much it would cost and how much bureaucracy it would create if the entire benefits system was means tested ? Equally have you any concept of how much hardship it would create. It would be be grossly negligent to allow law to be influenced by random surges of public envy or their misunderstanding of Benefits legislation. I do not dispute that the present complex system requires revision but not because of the odd case that attracts the media attention.”

“If they are entitled to it why shouldn't they accept it. Instead of pointing the finger at one couple why not attack the people who make the rules on benefits.”

“Smith 1980

Question marks follow questions and exclamation marks are used to emphasise a statement. My comment was half and half.

I'd call you a p***k, but I assume that would be an inappropriate use of an asterisk?????!!!!!”