If you think it's bad in the UK

I am not surprised - many salaries have not risen for years and are clearly way way behind the rate  of inflation and increased cost of living. When I was working, the nationally recommended professional fees I could charge were set in 2004 - seven years on, they remain unchanged!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I agree with Flip and it is happening everywhere. I recently attended a conference in Spain organised by Caritas where it was pointed out the increase in the number of families seeking assistance not only in Spain but also throughout Europe. And they said that the new "poor" do not fill the ordinary profile. They start to see middle class families who, through unemployment or under employment, start to come to their centres asking for basic food items and general help.

especially in Italy where state benefits not as easy to get as in uk....difference is Italians have never been able to exploit the rules as most can in uk.....its what u know there.....