Hull family on £32k benefits want more
A FAMILY-of-12 from Hull have been dubbed Britain's biggest freeloaders - but today defended their £32,000 annual benefits.
Unemployed Harry and Tracey Crompton share their seven-bed house - two semis knocked into one - with their 10 children.
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The Cromptons
They survive entirely on benefits and growing their own food - and believe the state should provide them with more money.
Mrs Crompton, 40, said she is hurt when neighbours - who gave the family their uncomplimentary nickname - hurl insults.
She said: "I'm not satisfied with the benefits we get - I want more. I haven't been able to work because I've had to bring up the kids and Harry's got health problems.
"Every time I walk down the street, people shout 'scroungers'."
The family home in Skipwith Close, off 21st Avenue, in north Hull, comes complete with an orchard in their 270ft long garden.
Mrs Crompton says she sees the credit crunch - crippling millions of households - as an opportunity to 'cash in' on cut-price electrical items like TV and computer games for their children.
She said: "If the kids need something I go and get it. I rarely go without things either. If I need something like a new pair of shoes, then I'll get it."
The couple's children are: Michael, 20, Robin, 19, Matthew, 17, Sarah, 16, Samantha ,14, Harry Andrew, 12, Alex, 11, Kristian, nine, Jesse Lee, seven, and Joshua, six.
The family's weekly £120 rent is paid by housing benefit and they receive another £628 a week in income support, disability and carer's allowance and other payments.
Mr Crompton, 50, insists he is unable to work because of angina and irritable bowel syndrome.
His wife says the family do not have money worries, helped by the fact that they are "self sufficient".
She said: "We don't have money worries. We don't go without things and I think that's because we are self-sufficient. We grow our own food. I don't see why others should have money worries."
Despite the organic efforts, Mrs Crompton admits her £250 weekly shop usually comprises 50 packs of crisps and 10 litres of fizzy drinks.
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by Arthur, Ezzle Road, 'Ull
Sunday, November 23 2008, 11:23AM
“I think on the BNP thread someone was moaning about "leftie-bashing".
Well it's lefties who pay scroungers, con-artists, kiddy-fiddlers, criminals and scum of every shape and size lots in benefits, "rights" and bend over backwards to remove discipline, standards and destroy the decency in society. This story proves that point. It's the "liberal-leftie" system which is the cause. No wonder freeloaders "play the system" when it is so easy to fiddle and scrounge from. "New Labour"s policy is "keep working all you taxpaying mugs"!!!”
by Minerva, USA
Sunday, November 23 2008, 2:00AM
“I do not live in your country but here in the US we have similar situations. Somehow, people like this woman feel that the more babies they push out the more others owe them.
They feel babies=free money. Our governments have to make it clear to these freeloaders that this is not the case. I am all for helping people in need but people like her are over the top.
I would like to see assistance denied to anyone with more than two children with exceptions for emergencies for those who really do fall on hard times.
But the Cromptons have three older "children" two of whom could surely work full-time and help the family. They should not be receiving a penny from the government.
Giving rewards to people for breeding must be brought to an end.”
by Beth, USA
Saturday, November 22 2008, 4:48PM
“I am shocked that they want more money, they have three teens Michael, 20, Robin, 19, Matthew, 17 who can obviously go get work and help pay for things for the house and she can go to work during the hours that the kids are at work. She doesn't have to sit on her bum all day long and be a freeloader. They should be weaned off the money and by the end of this year, they should all be at work, working even if you have IBS which I do have and I bring extra undergarments to work so if I have an accident I can change. It does not prohibit going to work, you just have to work around it. And the extra food they grow in their garden, they can take it to the local farmers' market and sell it for extra funds but that means they would no longer be able to get money help from the government.”
by Jess, Hull
Sunday, November 02 2008, 12:16AM
“at hull-boi, yes my family are happy but we end up paying for people like these that can't be bothered to clean their house (according to Closer magazine) never mind go and get a job. This is disgusting, shame we can't all do this and just live off other people.”
by Rach, Hull
Saturday, November 01 2008, 11:39PM
“I was in school with one of the Crompton children and they are not very well brought up children. I was disgusted when I read this article, they actually earn more than my family and we are all working! They are the the biggest scrounger's ever!”