I'd like to say it's not common here in Australia too Tim ... but it is.

Of course there are many jdubs in Oz who do have work however there are also those who will find whatever lurks and perks they can ... to avoid having to join the 'worldly' workforce. If that means full time employment benefits ... they'll welcome it with open arms. If it's a case of conjuring up some kind of disability ... conjuring will be the play of the day. If it's part-time of casual work so the 'pioneering' can be done ... then that's what they'll do. I know quite a few jdubs who have worked the welfare system to their own advantage ... and yet they run 'worldly' folk for doing the very same thing!

I have nothing against anyone for claiming benefits if the benefits are needed ... as only a few people out of however many thousands are true bludgers. However ... when the bludging is undertaken by people who constantly bleat about 'not being part of this wicked system' and 'not becoming involved in worldly pursuits' ... to the point that they've set themselves up so high on those high moral highchairs ............... THEN I get cross. If the WBTS truly wanted to keep itself apart from the rest of the world ... they should fund their own welfare system, provide jobs for their own people, house their own people etc. But of course it's too hard to do all that and it would require funding AND further education!

"Life is too short to spend with people who suck the happiness out of you!"