Suzie....I am aware of how hard it is for young people. I have four grandchildren, between the ages of 22 and 29. Two of them are going back to University to get more qualifications. Both are in long term partnerships. They both work to help keep themselves while they study. Neither of them have children, because they know that life would be hard for them and any children they might have. They don't want to be dependant on benefits, they want to have a good life and are prepared to work for it. They know that they cannot have it all.  My other granddaughter , aged 23, has just bought her first home with her partner. A very modest home, but they worked and saved for the deposit. She won't have a child for a few years because she doesn't want it to be brought up on benefits. How different life would be for them if they had irresponsibly had children without the means to keep them. And they know that things could change in the blink of an eye , so they want to work hard while they can. I agree that life can be very very hard for people these days, much harder than when we were young, but that is all the more reason to be responsible and not expect other people (the tax payer) to bail them out when they take on more responsibilities than they can manage.