Here's a little story that will warm the cockles of your hearts and is of some relevance.
We currently rent out rooms in my deceased parents' house in London. One of the occupants is a single Polish mother who has never worked in the UK and whose ex-husband (father of first child) and the other father of her second child are nowhere to be seen (think they are back in Poland) and not making any financial contribution towards her nor the children. The council pay for her (extremely reasonable) rent, and other allowances for her and her children to live reasonably comfortably. Any little jobs she has for the neighbours - bit of cleaning now and again are not declared, and she can afford to smoke about 20 cigs a day.
She recently told one of her friends in Poland (who was struggling to bring up her own single parent children) that she should come to the UK since we are so generous with our social care.
Thought you'd like my little anecdote