is that including his rent and council tax rebate/payment?

Does it matter, low income gets family credits. Take take home £600 a working man needs to earn £900. It should never be more rewarding not to work.
Benefits are designed to help those in need in bad times, I often see kids going without as parents drink,smoke and live on take aways. Benefits should mean diet is provided, clothes are provided, shelter etc we must stop paying them in cash when they choose not to work.

100% agree with this, they should be given vouchers for clothing & food etc so they can't go and get there flat screen TV's and booze!

We never went into the details but probably and although I don't know in this particular lads circumstances, it's possible that if he worked he'd have to pay CSA and/or court fines, and probably doesn't if on benefits, so to them thats seen as money saved.

But as Mo said the point is those who are capable of working but don't, shouldn't be better off than those who do actually work.

Not long ago I would have frowned at such comments. Nowadays I would agree with this. We should always have a safety net for people that hit hard times, and they should be helped as much as possible to get by and look for work. There is something wrong with the system when the excuse is "I am better off not working" money wise.

Also a footnote - That Union backed new leader of the Labour party will ensure I won't be voting for them again.