AIBU to be miffed about Chester Zoo?

Well they are also planning to drastically reduce benefits anyway, especially for the sick/disabled. Giving in one hand, and taking from the other.
That could be a whole different thread though.

Fingers crossed that people on benefits get free tv license soon.

Exactly.

My son is physically disabled and a wheelchair user.

It isn't fair that not all areas are typically wheelchair accessible such as paths, viewing areas etc and some areas such as with Chester zoo, the bat area, isn't accessible at all for wheelchair users so he'll miss out on seeing the bats completely.

Any adventure playgrounds, soft plays etc unless they are accessible which is unlikely would also be something my son will miss out on at a place like the zoo.

It isn't fair that he can't play football with his friends
It isn't fair that he can't run
It isn't fair that he's disabled.

People on universal credit does work though. I work over 40 hours a week but because of childcare and private rent being so high I qualify for UC top up. My rent had nearly doubled in the last 4 years. My childcare bill has doubled as the person who would help with childcare has passed away and the cost of living has gone up.

You can try and see if your able to claim some UC if you go on the online calculator it will tell you. Apparently there's a lot of people who could claim but don't realise they can. If your not entitled then be thankful your income is higher than a lot of people.

Also, I'm pretty sure the people claiming DLA for a disabled child would choose for their child to not have a disability if they could. It weird that your almost jealous or 'miffed' of that.

As for PIP, know someone on PIP who was a qualified pharmacist and ran their own pharmacy until they had a stroke. I'm pretty sure he's rather got to work than be stuck at home with a free zoo ticket.

It really isn't fun being on benefits. I had a benefits review a few months ago and had someone go through all my ins and outgoings. I'm pretty embarrassing being 36 and being asked why I sent a friend £14.50 a few months ths previously and why my sister sent me £20 for my daughters birthday. Hopefully we get the same 30 hours free childcare that England gets soon (I live in northern Ireland) so my childcare bill wouldn't be so expensive. Oce my son is 3 I will get 12.5 hours but that's it.

All the clubs they miss out on as well. Have to have someone stay with them for school holiday activities when mainstream children over 8 can be left. Miss out on school trips my DD often did even though she went to a SEN school because she required too much supervision. I even suggested I could go to support her but wasn’t allowed. Even when we do actually go somewhere. We have to take regular breaks sit down have a drink and often have to leave early. Must have been at least 10 times we’ve been on a day out when DD was blue lighted to hospital. As well as the injuries she has had from atomic drop seizures. It would sting a little less when it only cost £1. She has good months and bad months so when she’s having a good month then damm right we make the most of it while we can.

@DysmalRadius I didn't ask you anything so..

Not true.

If you own your home you get no help with the housing costs but if you rent you do. Two families with the exact same circumstances (salary, children etc) will not get the same if one is renting and one has a mortgage. Obviously the home owner will be better off eventually but it means people can feel resentment at schemes like this.

I was just answering your question. 🤷

Ha, yes. "Why are they getting free food when I have to buy mine?" Has to now not shop as much at Waitrose and get some bits from Lidl instead.
Some people can't even afford Lidl. But that must be their fault as they are getting their hair and nails done, and buying iPhones instead instead of food

So everyone that gets UC has a disabled child. 🙄 my response was in fact to a previous poster, who thought it was smug to mention that they booked tickets for Christmas Eve after reading about the £1 tickets, given that the thread was about someone who couldn’t afford to go to the zoo. 🙄

Oh and I have a disabled child and I don’t get UC. So bite me!

I’m just placemarking here for when OP returns once she finds out about foodbanks

Not by taking something away from the disabled person who may well have significantly higher costs for everything from laundry to clothing and food. Those with limited mobility often have extortionate heating bills etc - it's not just a cheap day at the zoo.

In your example, the 'squeezed middle' could save half their disposable income a month for two months and have £50 to spend in each month.

The person on DLA would have to save half their disposable income for seven months to pay full price and would have had just £15 a month to spend for each of those months. Is that the kind of fairness you're suggesting?

I know all about the costs that come with a disabled child, thanks very much. Its the other posters on here that grudge any help they get, not me. Especially extreme ablests like Greysofa, would rather our disabled children were locked away out of sight.. being able to claim any benefits that may help them.. God forbid!

It's 6 tickets per eligible household. All 6 (or however many booked) are meant to be from the eligible household, but that's nigh on impossible to police with children.

(I do know of someone who was checked at London zoo that all three adults were from the same address)

As the poster says, it would be a lovely experience for both of them. Disabilites come with millions of. Hidden costs and can be so isolating - allowing a child receiving DLA to take a friend/family member for a special day out seems like an amazing thing for a charity to offer. I bet they imagined it would be relatively uncontroversial... 🙄

Also free entry for a few weeks next year if you visit this month.

https://www.chesterzoo.org/explore-chester-zoo/universal-credit-tickets

It says you can book tickets for up to 6 people, so yes it seems your daughter could go. I hope they all have a fab time

6 tickets per eligible household.

@Watchoutfortheslowaraf why would your daughter get in on your nieces disability ticket??

But how would you assess that? We already have a comprehensive (albeit imperfect) system of assessment that determines when you are in a financial position that is untenable - it's called UC. If the zoo had to set their own threshold for what they consider 'poor enough to need help' then how will they assess who is eligible? And how would that assessment system be funded?

Not to mention that the OP is literally suggesting that the kids most in need of help should potentially not be able to visit the zoo at all so that her kids can go more often... 🤔

They do to an extent. There is dynamic pricing all year round and members can take guests for a reduced price this month.

I’m not on benefits and currently can’t afford Chester zoo, it’s very expensive and I don’t think it’s worth the cost so wouldn’t never buy full price tickets to go.

my sister gets dla for her daughters adhd - how many people can you take along with the ticket? Could my sister take my daughter or would that not be allowed? I know my niece would like to go with her cousin and my daughter would love it too

One of my most favourite places - so lucky to have grown up close by and more latterly visited with my kids when visiting my parents. It's a special place and whilst expensive it does need the money for all it does for its animals and conservation - it can't afford to spread it's charity too thinly and I'm glad that those who otherwise couldn't afford to go can actually do so.

If you live reasonably close to the zoo a season ticket it about 8 pounds a month for an adult Less than Netflix. Most middle income families can afford that.