The government allocates a tiny tiny amount for poor and disabled people, and when others lie and make fake claims, it's not like the government just takes that hit and says no problem, we'll cover it. They take it out on the people who have been honest on their forms, by adding many more layers of difficulty and red tape, requiring more proof and forms even from people who have never lied, and even lowering benefits for everybody.
Yes, the government SHOULD absolutely provide the basics for everyone, but we know that's not the reality we live in. We know they don't care and they use every opportunity to put less money into benefits for poor and disabled people.
No, I don't think anyone should be badly beating themselves up or feeling like CTB for lying, but nor should they be at the other extreme of laughing and bragging about how they lie and get "free money" (I've encountered plenty of those people) when there's disabled and impoverished people who don't get nearly as much as them, and don't find it a joke when they can't get enough food for the month.
If you have enough to get the basics like food, the kinds of things that you wouldn't feel okay telling someone to their face they should go without, don't contribute to them going without by knowingly lying on forms and claiming benefits you don't qualify for.
