The shocking truth about ‘Benefits Britain’ is … that people receiving benefits are people like us.

Too often, people who have lost their jobs, have a disability or become ill, or who are in low paid work, find that when politicians talk about benefits, they talk about things which say nothing to them about their lives.

Words and images about ‘skivers’ and ‘benefit lifestyles’ may win votes or persuade people to back cuts to welfare benefits, but they mislead the public and don’t capture the experiences or needs of ordinary families.

Join us in asking party leaders not to forget that when we talk about benefit claimants we’re talking about real people, real families, and real children. People like us.

Support Child Poverty Action Group’s ‘People Like Us’ campaign and call on the leaders of the main UK political parties to ensure their parties never forget that when we talk about people in receipt of benefits we’re talking about real people, real families, and real children.

Political rhetoric which seeks to score portray them as ‘skivers’ or pursuing a lifestyle on benefits is offensive, misleading and far removed from the needs of ordinary families who want a benefits system that helps them if they need it.

The current debate around social security is failing ordinary families and we need to remind politicians that when they talk about benefit claimants we’re talking about real people, real families and real children.

‘People like us’ launched with a letter to party leaders, asking them to listen to the real life stories of Jack, Maureen and Paul, which provide a sharp contrast to the picture normally portrayed in the UK media’s headlines.

In Scotland the campaign is supported by polling which found that the majority of people surveyed in Scotland reject the idea that the Coalition government understands the concerns of people on low and middle incomes.

The poll also found that only:

22 per cent of respondents surveyed in Scotland believe the social security system would provide them with adequate support if they lost their job;

32 per cent believe it would support them adequately were they to have a child;

and only 30 per cent believe it would support them adequately if they were to become ill or disabled.

It’s time to drop the inaccurate and misleading stereotypes and begin a sensible debate that will lead to policies that promote jobs, tackle low pay, promote affordable housing and help people with the costs of raising children.

The Child Poverty Action Group (CPAG) is the host organisation for the campaign to End Child Poverty – a coalition of 150 organisations from civic society including children’s charities, child welfare organisations, social justice groups, faith groups, trade unions and others, united in our vision of a UK free of child poverty.

What you can do:

Watch and share our film ‘It Could Be You’.

Sign our petition.

Share either or both onTwitter and join in the debate #peoplelikeus and #benefitfacts. Visit out Facebook page for campaign updates.