NoXion
Craicy the Squirrel
People have a far more accurate picture than the DWP of whether they are genuinely in need or not. Their opinion of whether they are "deserving" or not may be totally different than the DWP.
Irrelevant. The DWP are the gatekeepers and they get to make the decision to award benefit or not. And as the billions in unpaid benefits proves, plenty of people who qualify are being left out. Having dealt with poorly trained DWP staff myself, and having heard from others who have made use of their services, I'm not convinced that's largely due to people thinking they don't deserve them. People can't eat pride.
For example, my partner could qualify for a number of benefits but would never apply for them as we would always support each other, if one was in need, rather than run to the government for aid. I have also supported my kids even though they could also claim benefits. It's just the right thing to do, in my opinion.
Well if you and your partner feel secure enough that you can do that, great for you. But the whole point of a having a social safety net is that it's not just about you.