You’re a disgrace!
‘Too fat to work’ pair face calls for handouts to be slashed... and get an invite from Jeremy Kyle
A MOTHER and daughter who believe they are ‘too fat to work’ have been branded ‘disgraceful’ after claiming they are happy with their lifestyle.
Janice Manzur, 44, and her 25-yearold daughter Amber – who have a combined weight of 43 stone – receive more than £33,500 a year in handouts.
Yesterday, as the pair, from Kirkcaldy, Fife, faced calls for their benefits to be cut, it was confirmed they have been invited to appear on the Jeremy Kyle Show.
Scottish Tory welfare reform spokesman Alex Johnstone said: ‘Everyone appreciates there are those with genuine disability for whom work is impossible.
‘But people will look at certain individuals, who seem almost proud at claiming benefits because of their weight, and think that is unacceptable. If everyone had that attitude, there wouldn’t be an economy to fund these benefits.’
Miss Manzur, who is 17 stone and suffers from diabetes, claims a range of benefits each month, including £400 employment allowance, £ 85 disability allowance and £120 industrial injuries disablement benefit. Her £430 rent is paid for her and she picks up child tax credits and benefits.
Her mother, who weighs 26 stone and suffers from a number of health problems, receives £620 employment allowance and £320 disability allowance each month.
Her £300 rent is paid and she has £200 a month paid towards her mobility car. The Manzurs even have matching disability scooters. Yesterday it emerged that Mrs Manzur gave up her £40,000 a year j ob as a call centre manager because she was ‘too fat’.
One close family member, who asked not to be named, said: ‘I don’t want to be associated with them at all. Look at how much they claim. It’s ridiculous – it’s disgraceful.’
Responding to reports of the pair’s lifestyle, a mother of two from Edinburgh, who wished to remain anonymous, told how she was unable to get financial aid when her family needed it.
She said: ‘My husband was off work for over six months because he was extremely ill.
‘He had problems with depression and couldn’t face anything, but I had to force him back to work because we got no help.
‘ We had to use much of our savings and we are still feeling the burden. I think it’s appalling that these women get so much money because they are too obese to work. It’s not right. There are people who need help for just a little time and can’t get it. It’s disgusting.’
People also took to online forums and social media to comment on the Manzurs. Scattylady wrote: ‘This makes me so angry. They have put themselves in this situation.
‘My daughter has serious health needs and I can’t get help of any sort yet these people seem to get everything and want more. How does that work?’
Peter M said: ‘Disgusting individ- uals but we are to blame for allowing our politicians to support them financially.’ Another internet user, called Null, wrote: ‘Their benefits should be stopped until they lose weight and get a job.’
A member of staff on the Jeremy Kyle Show said: ‘We’ve sent them an initial Facebook message but we haven’t spoken to them. They aren’t going to be appearing on the show in the foreseeable future as we’ve not heard back from the people representing them.’