Anyone watching Skint Britain on C4?

[Encyclo]

Just watching it now. God it’s depressing. That Mum whose cancer has come back is very worrying, she’s just ignoring the appointment letter.

Then there’s the partially blind guy on £5 a month.

Is anyone else watching this? What a cycle to be in.

[justforthisnewname]

Just watched this on catch up - heart wrenching The poor blind guy. One of the participants said that he believed the way they were being treated with benefits (deductions, sanctioning etc) they were effectively trying to kill them all off. Having watched his programme it would be hard not to agree with that statement. There were people STARVING. That just should not be happening.

[MrsSiba]

On tonight's episode I have just seen someone go out and get his dog to kill a rabbit for his dinner. Then the gf is seen taking its head off, feeding that to the dog and skinning it. The background music and the way it was shown seemed a bit like they were taking the piss, laughing at him. All a bit weird, like it was shown as it makes good TV. 🤔

[Encyclo]

Yeah it felt like they were showing us exhibits in a zoo rather than real people at some points.

That scene with David wailing and crying in the telephone box was horrific. Then trying to feed himself for the weekend on a loan of £2.50 from his Dad.

I was shocked at level of his poverty. It was like something out of Les Miserables.

[MrsSiba]

Scary to think that is happening. Makes you count your blessings.

[Virgo1958]

Did find it slightly annoying when the lady was on the phone for more money for a high protein diet and constantly smoking. Give up the cigarettes!

[justforthisnewname]

Watched episode 2 and it has not got better - the people are absolutely desperate. Several have turned to crime - to be fair it is hardly surprising having 10p a day to live on! How is this allowed to happen?

[WhentheRabbitsWentWild]

Does it not occur to you, Virgo, nicotine addiction is just the same as any other one . Also, its probably the only damn joy they have in their lives !
So easy to judge what you have not lived (assuming you have never had to rely on benefits) . Give them some slack .

[PrincessScarlett]

I watched this last night and I must admit I had little understanding of the desperate situations people are in. Obviously I know that people are poor but a lot of the "benefits" programmes previously have shown benefit recipients as scroungers and thieving off hard working tax payers. Universal credit has a lot to answer for. Fancy giving addicts a whole months worth of money and expecting them to budget for the month when they have been so badly failed by the education system they don't even know how to get through one day to the next. And refusing to pay direct to the landlords just seems ridiculous and setting these people up to fail.

There must be hundreds of thousands of Colins up and down the country and because he's a single man he'll be bottom of the list for help. I almost cried when the universal credit phone line hung up on him.

This country is in a massive crisis with no council housing anymore and now the landlords who thought renting to benefit recipients was easy money are refusing to rent to anyone on universal credit.

I thought the programme was a very eye opening and shocking example of the MPs being totally out of touch with the poorest and uneducated of society.

[PrincessDaff]

I watched this last night and found it very upsetting. Its horrible knowing that there are people being left to live like this!

I must admit I was prepared to watch it and think these people aren't helping themselves but someone on there said 'its like putting them under a blanket and nailing the blanket down so they have nowhere to go', and that's true. Once in that situation there is no way out for them.

[Whisky2014]

That was terrible when the UC guy hung up on him. I hope that's investigated.

I felt sorry for some and not sorry for others.
For example, the girl buying crap from the charity shop. She can't manage to do the UC application herself...There's charities which can help with that. And if she can faff about in charity shops and putting up tents I'm not sure why she can't work?

Then there was the daughter who'd moved back home because shed fallen behind with rent arrears. Except the real story was she knew exactly what she was doing, moved in and from day 1 never paid a penny.
Then obv struggled to get a new house for her kids. She said she needed her kids back so she could get money. How about work! She sees her kids as the means to get benefits and that is wrong. She is clearly fit and able to work.

I felt sorry for her mum though, she has been I'll, can't work...what do they expect her to do? £10 left after paying bills, how is she expected to live off that?

[QuiQuaiQuod]

agree with you Whisky.
That guy David was the one that got me most.

I'm on benefits as I'm disabled plus a full time carer for my disabled DC. We really struggle.

I just wonder how people who have never worked can afford big dogs all the time. and have money for booze/fags/drugs yet then say they have no food. I know everyone needs a little treat or something to get them through life but still.
and yes, some looked like they could work. there ARE jobs out there, just some people don't want to do them (the same ones that moan about ''bloody foreigners coming here taking our jobs'').
Id love to have a cat or a small dog, especially for DC but I cant even afford a fish! (I'm on a PAYG for the computer and have a basic phone not an I- phone or whatever theyre called, how can these people afford them, and intwernet use?

I know I'm sounding really judgy, I know people like these, and I know we are struggling, I'm not trying to sound holier than thou, but I priorotise the money we get (what pittance we get)- rent/food/bills, then whats left over I manage to put 'something aside, even if its a couple of ppounds, in a jar for emergencies.

Also, if these people are starving, aren't there food banks there?

agree though, the councils/government are a bunch of F* who couldn't care less.

[Roomba]

You absolutely need internet access to even put a claim in for UC. Then you have to check/update your Journal frequently, upload sick notes, report change of circumstances, view appointments and so on. The minimum to access the internet would be a PAYG smartphone, Local libraries may have computers but may cost ££ to get to, computers may be in use already or there may not be a local library.

To access a food bank you need a referral form, you can't just walk in even if there is one nearby. My local food bank will give 5 days worth of food - the limit is 5 times in 6 months. I'm very grateful they helped me when I needed it, don't get me wrong, but a when a 'meal' is a tin of tomato soup you'll still be hungry even if you don't starve. I got one onion in a parcel once, that's the sole item of fresh produce they had. And 5x5 days of food won't last the nine weeks I had to wait for UC (with 2 kids to feed too).

Yes, many of these benefit recipients don't spend their money as wisely as you or I might. But many have significant difficulties with budgeting, addictions, debts - give them their entire rent payment and unemployment benefit all in one go straight into their account and many will struggle to cope sensibly. Plus often when people are skint they take any small pleasures they can while they can get them.