Gents,
I am a little concerned that JediDude is getting a slightly hard time for asking a reasonable question. I too have been pondering the same issues of 'benefits' whilst undertaking full-time flying training.
As a current serving RAF ground crew bloke who is due to leave within the next year at the end of my agreed term (not PVR!), I have been paying what seems to me like a lot of tax for a lot of years. As such could I ask that the likes of Lucifer refrain from automatically viewing the receiving of state benefits as being the receiving of his taxes and consider the possibility that the individual might merely be 'taking back some of what they have already put in'.