Soldier loses leg in Afghan bomb blast - but told he cannot claim benefits
9:01am Wednesday 26th September 2012 in News
Soldier loses leg in Afghan bomb blast - but told he cannot claim benefits
A HERO marine, who was severely injured in an Afghanistan bomb blast, has condemned benefits staff who told him his prosthetic leg was as good as a real one.
Now Aaron Moon, who lost a leg and suffered multiple broken bones in the explosion, has been told that he is not disabled enough to claim benefits.
He has accused the government of turning its back on him after his benefits payments were withdrawn — and he is taking the government to a tribunal in an effort to win them back.
Mr Moon, of Madison Park, Westhoughton , was only two weeks into his first combat tour in February, 2009, when he suffered horrific injuries after the Viking armoured vehicle he was driving hit a roadside bomb while returning from a patrol in Lashkar Gah in Helmand Province.
The 25-year-old was blown through the door of the vehicle and was airlifted to Camp Bastion, where he was put in a medically-induced coma.
He woke up a week later in Birmingham’s Selly Oak Hospital, where he discovered his injuries included fractures to his shoulder, spine, pelvis, hip, heel and legs, a ruptured spleen, dislocated knees and a broken leg.
Doctors fought for a year to save his right leg, but in November, 2010, they were forced to amputate below the knee and he was medically discharged 12 months later.
Mr Moon has claimed £100 per week Disability Living Allowance (DLA) since May 2009, but in November 2011 he had to go for a work capability assessment and his benefits were later stopped.
He said: “The person doing the assessment, who I thought was a doctor but later found out was a nurse, read out my injuries — including the fact I’d had my leg amputated — before examining me.
“He asked me to point down with my left foot, then my right foot, and I said ‘I haven’t got a right foot’ and he said ‘oh right’.
“Then he said ‘can you move your toes?’ “I said I’ve no leg, and took it off to show him and he looked surprised.
“I was shocked. Even though he’d just read my notes out to me he didn’t seem to know what my injuries were.”
Mr Moon said he later received a letter explaining that his benefits were being stopped because the Department for Work and Pensions had “surmised he could walk 200 metres pain-free”.
He said: “I phoned them up to ask why they’d stopped it and a woman in the office said ‘a prosthetic leg is just as good as having your own leg.
“I asked her — did she have a leg missing? And if not, how could she say this to me?”
The former sportsman played rugby league for Leigh Centurions’ academy side, but joined the marines because he wanted a challenge, having been inspired by his grandfather’s Second World War exploits.
Now living alone, his girlfriend has to help him around the house and his only income is his military pension and the compensation he received for his injuries.
Mr Moon said he wants to work and would like to set up a property business with his girlfriend.
He now faces a tribunal at Bolton Magistrates Court in October, at which he will attempt to get his benefits reinstated.
He said: “I’ve fought for my country — and when I got back the government turns their back on me like this. It’s the principle.”
DLA is awarded to people who cannot walk, or have major problems walking or who struggle to care for themselves.
A DWP spokesman said it was changing the system so that injured veterans would not have to undergo continual assessments for their disabilities.
She said: “We owe the men and women who have served their country a huge debt of gratitude and will do everything we can to help them to find work and make sure they get all the benefits they are entitled to if they are injured.
"Cases like this show exactly why we need to reform the system. With millions of pounds in underpayments and overpayments we agree that people are not always getting the right levels of support.”
She said everyone has the right to appeal a decision.
Comments(55)
madmel2122
says...
9:53am Wed 26 Sep 12
macauley
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10:17am Wed 26 Sep 12
rostron
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10:33am Wed 26 Sep 12
JOHN HIGHAM
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11:14am Wed 26 Sep 12
.
steveG
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11:45am Wed 26 Sep 12
rostron
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12:06pm Wed 26 Sep 12
Leannemarie82
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12:35pm Wed 26 Sep 12
My family had a similar situation with my nan (R.I.P.) who got diagnosed with lung cancer- we got told she was to "well"
Aaron I'd like to thank you for serving this country, I do really hope you get the result you want!! :)
johnnyjackson
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12:57pm Wed 26 Sep 12
macauley
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4:01pm Wed 26 Sep 12
Phil from Smithills
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5:03pm Wed 26 Sep 12
Mind you. we do have to pay benefit payments to all those here from overseas, so savings must be made by ..us to pay for ...them.
Pensioners next, watch out.
SmoggyDiasboro
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5:07pm Wed 26 Sep 12
groovydad
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5:11pm Wed 26 Sep 12
Janch1
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5:12pm Wed 26 Sep 12
.
Messred
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5:25pm Wed 26 Sep 12
This is just typical of all that is Britain at the moment! We reward the lazy and the illegals.
People who work or have given are penalised every step of the way.
Aaron Moon a man who fought for his country, now has a life changing disability is not assisted by the governments benifit system at all.
I know a lady with alleged Asthma who can run 200m, she drives a porche, yet gets disability allowances and has a blue badge!
I know people from 20 years a go, from a pub I used to frequent, who all claimed benifits, income support, any benifit going, who still go to the same pub and are all quite capable of work, yet choose to smoke/drink their "allownces" every week, have houses paid for, food on the table, out drinking 3 nights a week and all becasue they are allowed to do so.
I digress!! It is a UTTER DISGRACE that Aaron has ad any benifit cut and it should be reinstated without fail!
Good luck with it all Aaron and for what it's worth Thank You for your sacrifice and honour when fighting this war in the name of Great Britan.
"GREAT" Britain!???
Shocking.
groovydad
says...
5:26pm Wed 26 Sep 12
Janch1 wrote:Spot on!
How disgusting is this? A man who has fought for his country denied benefits and put through an undignified ordeal to try and get them. Yet the lazy parasites sponging off the state, day in day out with no intention of ever working can claim disability benefit quite easily. Just carry a walking stick or put a collar on your neck and claim you can't work and then watch the money roll in. Yet the same scroungers can be seen propping up the bars around town, no neck collar or walking stick needed then is there? Miraculously "cured" of their "disability" until of course they want more money from the tax payer! Then back on goes the collar and out comes the stick! Mr Jackson & Steve G, shame on you. Your comments were very unfair.
.
groovydad
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5:28pm Wed 26 Sep 12
SmoggyDiasboro wrote:Yeah you are righy you are going to get a load of negatives here!..But that is all you have got right!..This guy has fought for this country yet how does it repay him?...He is Disabled wht do you think it means> DLA?
I'm going to get a string of negatives here, but surely most people appear to be missing the point. DLA is a benefit really for those who are incapable of any form of work. Whilst Mr Moon's circumstances are such that he deserves suitable recompense for his injries received in the service of his country, he does not, at first appearance, seem incapable of work. Let's not confuse the issue. Give him proper compensation, but not confuse the requirements of a particular welfare benefit
groovydad
says...
5:31pm Wed 26 Sep 12
Messred wrote:This country isn,t great anymore its been replaced with"Joke"...Why because politicians dont have a backbone!!!
"GREAT" Britain???
This is just typical of all that is Britain at the moment! We reward the lazy and the illegals.
People who work or have given are penalised every step of the way.
Aaron Moon a man who fought for his country, now has a life changing disability is not assisted by the governments benifit system at all.
I know a lady with alleged Asthma who can run 200m, she drives a porche, yet gets disability allowances and has a blue badge!
I know people from 20 years a go, from a pub I used to frequent, who all claimed benifits, income support, any benifit going, who still go to the same pub and are all quite capable of work, yet choose to smoke/drink their "allownces" every week, have houses paid for, food on the table, out drinking 3 nights a week and all becasue they are allowed to do so.
I digress!! It is a UTTER DISGRACE that Aaron has ad any benifit cut and it should be reinstated without fail!
Good luck with it all Aaron and for what it's worth Thank You for your sacrifice and honour when fighting this war in the name of Great Britan.
"GREAT" Britain!???
Shocking.
Mulla89
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5:51pm Wed 26 Sep 12
andy_88
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7:24pm Wed 26 Sep 12
DISGRACE!!
Despicable Me
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7:47pm Wed 26 Sep 12
dougie kay
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8:49pm Wed 26 Sep 12
mc1986
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8:52pm Wed 26 Sep 12
Rememberscarborough
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8:55pm Wed 26 Sep 12
Beaverleader
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9:38pm Wed 26 Sep 12
lindlandl
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10:06pm Wed 26 Sep 12
Beaverleader wrote:If you and others know somebody making a false claim, Then you should report them with reasons why their claim is false.
This is an absolute disgrace, let's be truthful, we al know somebody driving a brand new car to Gala bingo each night that's claiming DLA and shouldnt be! It's not your condition that matters, it's how you fill the claim forms in and how you sell yourself to the medical panel. If you know how to twist the system then you will qualify for DLA. Give them blue plastic cars again and watch them run for the hills,
macauley
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11:19pm Wed 26 Sep 12
navywavegal
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11:52pm Wed 26 Sep 12
macauley
says...
12:55am Thu 27 Sep 12
navywavegal wrote:very true.
Morris said it could only happen in Britian oh how wrong there are a great number of vets here in the US that are not only disabled but have become homeless whilst trying to fight to get their disability to me it is disgusting that any disabled vet no matter which country they fought for is treated like this we ought to be ashamed of our countries at times like this when they let this happen.
NG Smith
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1:29am Thu 27 Sep 12
groovydad
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8:43am Thu 27 Sep 12
andy_88 wrote:Another commenter absolutelyspot on!
welcome to united kingdom where people who have done nothing for the country get everything and people who sacrifice so much get nothing. i don't care what type of benefit is being mentioned in this article Aaron Moon and hundreds if not thousands like him deserve at least what he would earn each year in the forces and then on top of that be able to have a job. he has thought for this country and payed a huge price. yet if your a Latvian baby machine who doesn't want to work you get £34,000 a year and a free house.
DISGRACE!!
groovydad
says...
8:45am Thu 27 Sep 12
Rememberscarborough wrote:Who says he wants to sit about doing nothing?...Read the story properly he wants to be self employed!!!
I'm confused. We've just spent a fortnight praising individuals for their bravery during the paralympics and some of them have far greater disabilities than Arron. I can't believe he wants to spend the rest of his life sat around just picking up a benefit payment each week. Surely the most important thing is to find Arron a job within the confines of his disabilities where he can contribute to society like the rest of us.
groovydad
says...
8:47am Thu 27 Sep 12
Beaverleader wrote:Now there is a brilliant idea!!!...Its true if you know how to play the system you will get lots of benefits!!!...Crazy.
This is an absolute disgrace, let's be truthful, we al know somebody driving a brand new car to Gala bingo each night that's claiming DLA and shouldnt be! It's not your condition that matters, it's how you fill the claim forms in and how you sell yourself to the medical panel. If you know how to twist the system then you will qualify for DLA. Give them blue plastic cars again and watch them run for the hills,
....and goes to show how clever these assesors are!!
Nibelung
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9:03am Thu 27 Sep 12
LucyHycuL
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10:08am Thu 27 Sep 12
SmoggyDiasboro wrote:No, it isn't - though that's a common misconception. DLA is a benefit to offset some of the additional costs associated with having a disability and is NOT just for those who are incapable of any form of work. In fact it's often needed to help a person with a disability find or continue work (e.g. to pay for specialist transport to enable them to get to work) and so avoid their having to claim other benefits. There are other benefits for those who are "incapable of any form of work", and Mr Moon wasn't claiming those.
I'm going to get a string of negatives here, but surely most people appear to be missing the point. DLA is a benefit really for those who are incapable of any form of work. Whilst Mr Moon's circumstances are such that he deserves suitable recompense for his injries received in the service of his country, he does not, at first appearance, seem incapable of work. Let's not confuse the issue. Give him proper compensation, but not confuse the requirements of a particular welfare benefit
Janch1
says...
10:42am Thu 27 Sep 12
macauley wrote:This is sadly true. On a trip to the USA a few years ago I saw vets sitting in the streets, homeless and genuinely extremely disabled. It is terrible in this day and age that those who give and have given so much are treated this way. Heartbreaking.
navywavegal wrote:very true.
Morris said it could only happen in Britian oh how wrong there are a great number of vets here in the US that are not only disabled but have become homeless whilst trying to fight to get their disability to me it is disgusting that any disabled vet no matter which country they fought for is treated like this we ought to be ashamed of our countries at times like this when they let this happen.
johnnyjackson
says...
11:11am Thu 27 Sep 12
johnnyjackson
says...
11:12am Thu 27 Sep 12
JOHN HIGHAM
says...
11:23am Thu 27 Sep 12
Janch1 wrote:What has the USA got to do with this at all ???????? NOTHING. We are not in the USA so what happens over there does not even come close to what those halfwits that are assessing people are doing.. I am sick of people shouting their mouth`s off about the USA if this country was run by the usa then YES.. This is about a MAN that has gone out and fought for his country and been injured "PERMANENTLY" and some inbred halfwit states he has another leg.... WHAT A JOKE
macauley wrote:This is sadly true. On a trip to the USA a few years ago I saw vets sitting in the streets, homeless and genuinely extremely disabled. It is terrible in this day and age that those who give and have given so much are treated this way. Heartbreaking.
navywavegal wrote:very true.
Morris said it could only happen in Britian oh how wrong there are a great number of vets here in the US that are not only disabled but have become homeless whilst trying to fight to get their disability to me it is disgusting that any disabled vet no matter which country they fought for is treated like this we ought to be ashamed of our countries at times like this when they let this happen.
Nibelung
says...
12:24pm Thu 27 Sep 12
JOHN HIGHAM wrote:Calm down you bloody weirdo.
Janch1 wrote:What has the USA got to do with this at all ???????? NOTHING. We are not in the USA so what happens over there does not even come close to what those halfwits that are assessing people are doing.. I am sick of people shouting their mouth`s off about the USA if this country was run by the usa then YES.. This is about a MAN that has gone out and fought for his country and been injured "PERMANENTLY" and some inbred halfwit states he has another leg.... WHAT A JOKE
macauley wrote:This is sadly true. On a trip to the USA a few years ago I saw vets sitting in the streets, homeless and genuinely extremely disabled. It is terrible in this day and age that those who give and have given so much are treated this way. Heartbreaking.
navywavegal wrote:very true.
Morris said it could only happen in Britian oh how wrong there are a great number of vets here in the US that are not only disabled but have become homeless whilst trying to fight to get their disability to me it is disgusting that any disabled vet no matter which country they fought for is treated like this we ought to be ashamed of our countries at times like this when they let this happen.
Nibelung
says...
12:24pm Thu 27 Sep 12
JOHN HIGHAM wrote:Calm down you bloody weirdo.
Janch1 wrote:What has the USA got to do with this at all ???????? NOTHING. We are not in the USA so what happens over there does not even come close to what those halfwits that are assessing people are doing.. I am sick of people shouting their mouth`s off about the USA if this country was run by the usa then YES.. This is about a MAN that has gone out and fought for his country and been injured "PERMANENTLY" and some inbred halfwit states he has another leg.... WHAT A JOKE
macauley wrote:This is sadly true. On a trip to the USA a few years ago I saw vets sitting in the streets, homeless and genuinely extremely disabled. It is terrible in this day and age that those who give and have given so much are treated this way. Heartbreaking.
navywavegal wrote:very true.
Morris said it could only happen in Britian oh how wrong there are a great number of vets here in the US that are not only disabled but have become homeless whilst trying to fight to get their disability to me it is disgusting that any disabled vet no matter which country they fought for is treated like this we ought to be ashamed of our countries at times like this when they let this happen.
groovydad
says...
1:04pm Thu 27 Sep 12
johnnyjackson wrote:Have to agree with you on that!...And at least you have the balls to apologise!..Its not always cut and dried as it seems!
Sorry for comment above, but everytime I hear about an injury in afghan/iraq, I ask myself the question, should we be there in the first place?
groovydad
says...
1:05pm Thu 27 Sep 12
Nibelung wrote:!Absolutely spot on pal
JOHN HIGHAM wrote:Calm down you bloody weirdo.
Janch1 wrote:What has the USA got to do with this at all ???????? NOTHING. We are not in the USA so what happens over there does not even come close to what those halfwits that are assessing people are doing.. I am sick of people shouting their mouth`s off about the USA if this country was run by the usa then YES.. This is about a MAN that has gone out and fought for his country and been injured "PERMANENTLY" and some inbred halfwit states he has another leg.... WHAT A JOKE
macauley wrote:This is sadly true. On a trip to the USA a few years ago I saw vets sitting in the streets, homeless and genuinely extremely disabled. It is terrible in this day and age that those who give and have given so much are treated this way. Heartbreaking.
navywavegal wrote:very true.
Morris said it could only happen in Britian oh how wrong there are a great number of vets here in the US that are not only disabled but have become homeless whilst trying to fight to get their disability to me it is disgusting that any disabled vet no matter which country they fought for is treated like this we ought to be ashamed of our countries at times like this when they let this happen.
gbrabs
says...
1:14pm Thu 27 Sep 12
More money for their mates and sod the plebs.
macauley
says...
1:22pm Thu 27 Sep 12
johnnyjackson wrote:plain and smple the answer is no.
Sorry for comment above, but everytime I hear about an injury in afghan/iraq, I ask myself the question, should we be there in the first place?
WelshWallace
says...
6:57pm Thu 27 Sep 12
SmoggyDiasboro
says...
8:44pm Thu 27 Sep 12
'but in November 2011 he had to go for a work capability assessment and his benefits were later stopped. '
that led me to believe it was work related.
Apologies all round if I misled
macauley
says...
8:46pm Thu 27 Sep 12
WelshWallace wrote:i feel another u turn coming on from this government who cant seem to get anything right.
Alot of comments seem to be mixing up DLA (disability living allowance) with incapacity benefit. DLA is a benefit paid to you if you have a disability regardless if you work or not. DLA is to help pay for the extra costs that come with living with a disability like adaptations or equipment for day to day tasks abled bodied people take for granted. You will find that most of the Paralympians are also in receipt of DLA. I am fully blind & things like DLA help me buy the special software to make my computer talk or basic equipment like a liquid leveler to make a hot drink. As of next year I wont be able to claim as under the new rules because being blind will not be classed as a disability because I can walk (regardless if into something) This is just a cost cutting exercise by the government to remove as many disabled people off these benefits while also misinforming people what the benefits actually are. So many disabled people will lose their jobs once this is removed also .
Nibelung
says...
10:05pm Thu 27 Sep 12
WelshWallace wrote:We are living in austere times but the government are picking on the weak, has there been any mention of cutting our foreign aid budget even though our government have invited many of them over here to claim benefits without asking anything of them and turning a blind eye to their crimes.
Alot of comments seem to be mixing up DLA (disability living allowance) with incapacity benefit. DLA is a benefit paid to you if you have a disability regardless if you work or not. DLA is to help pay for the extra costs that come with living with a disability like adaptations or equipment for day to day tasks abled bodied people take for granted. You will find that most of the Paralympians are also in receipt of DLA. I am fully blind & things like DLA help me buy the special software to make my computer talk or basic equipment like a liquid leveler to make a hot drink. As of next year I wont be able to claim as under the new rules because being blind will not be classed as a disability because I can walk (regardless if into something) This is just a cost cutting exercise by the government to remove as many disabled people off these benefits while also misinforming people what the benefits actually are. So many disabled people will lose their jobs once this is removed also .
groovydad
says...
6:41am Fri 28 Sep 12
Nibelung wrote:Well said and also you didnt see any bankers being prosecuted for wrecking the economy!
WelshWallace wrote:We are living in austere times but the government are picking on the weak, has there been any mention of cutting our foreign aid budget even though our government have invited many of them over here to claim benefits without asking anything of them and turning a blind eye to their crimes.
Alot of comments seem to be mixing up DLA (disability living allowance) with incapacity benefit. DLA is a benefit paid to you if you have a disability regardless if you work or not. DLA is to help pay for the extra costs that come with living with a disability like adaptations or equipment for day to day tasks abled bodied people take for granted. You will find that most of the Paralympians are also in receipt of DLA. I am fully blind & things like DLA help me buy the special software to make my computer talk or basic equipment like a liquid leveler to make a hot drink. As of next year I wont be able to claim as under the new rules because being blind will not be classed as a disability because I can walk (regardless if into something) This is just a cost cutting exercise by the government to remove as many disabled people off these benefits while also misinforming people what the benefits actually are. So many disabled people will lose their jobs once this is removed also .
swager123
says...
3:26pm Sun 30 Sep 12
Beaverleader wrote:haha blue plastic cars !! remember them? they were absolute hidious lol...
This is an absolute disgrace, let's be truthful, we al know somebody driving a brand new car to Gala bingo each night that's claiming DLA and shouldnt be! It's not your condition that matters, it's how you fill the claim forms in and how you sell yourself to the medical panel. If you know how to twist the system then you will qualify for DLA. Give them blue plastic cars again and watch them run for the hills,
berushka
says...
12:14pm Mon 1 Oct 12
I hope he can live reasonably well, he deserves it for his sacrifice.
the comment by Andy88 has been reported as racist; why single out Latvians for your remark? is it because you know that if you had chosen a different hue of race, your comments would have been banned immediately? I doubt that there are more than 100 Latvians living in the UK, their home country is by far a better place to live.
watchmaker
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2:44pm Mon 1 Oct 12
Sparkiedog1
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4:36pm Tue 2 Oct 12
my stepson is in Afgahnistan at present and I just hope he is kept safe or we could be in the same position one day
Its time the military got its own benefits Department and allocation and make returning to civvy life after injury easier and more supported
with help for those who need extra support and easier to get and correct the correct benifits and carer support for their situiations.
fighting to recover and then fighting for financial support
should not be the norm in our own country
I agree with many others who say support our own first and any that should not get benefits lets punish them severly and make them pay it all back or leave the country willingly ( british or not I'm not racist)
davroduk1
says...
12:10am Mon 5 Nov 12
NG Smith wrote:You have just hit the nail on the head.
Appalling, but not an isolated incident. Before criticising Mr Moon, or suggesting that his funding was taken away to give to foreigners, consider: Every week, 32 of those found fit to work by ATOS die from their conditions. Last year, Vodaphone was excused a £5 billion tax bill, Goldman Sachs were let off £10 million in interest charges (after a failed tax scam) and Boots dodged £100 million by moving their head office to a broom cupboard in Switzerland. The rate of benefit fraud is 0.7%. The money is there, but we have a government that punishes the poor so that it can reward its friends in the city.
The poorest are an easy target, while the big city fat cats get away with dodging billions of pounds in tax.
rnorris says...
9:24am Wed 26 Sep 12