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Can I just say that Rogers post seriously confirms my point about the words we use: if people drawing their entitlements are seen by default as vulnerable/unfortunate/other that in itself promotes the idea of an underclass. I recognise that if someone has to draw benefits they are likely to be vulnerable (or something like that), or even just a bit down on their luck, but to perpetuate the idea of a sub-species on benefits is unhelpful and lacks dignity. Again, another good reason why many elders forgo their much-earned rights to benefits. I should add that my own experience is different - we have worked all our lives, even when the children were little (I worked nights and other jobs to fit in with family life), and only once tried to draw any benefits, on return from abroad, until my husband could find a job - which he did within 6 weeks because he is marketable and determined. We were unable to draw any benefits (which we sought with reluctance as a stopgap) because, well, so many reasons which discriminated against hard working temporarily unemployed professional people. So I entirely agree that the whole system needs to be reviewed and targetted better, with better inducements, better consequences and better management.