AIBU to be miffed about Chester Zoo?

Indeed.

My parents who divorced years ago are both pensioners.

My Mum still has to work as is still paying off her mortgage and has no savings.

My Dad owns his house outright and has 100k savings.

My Dad receives the winter fuel allowance as his only income is state pension and a small amount from private pensions.

My Mum is not entitled as earns over the threshold because she HAS to work.

Being eligible for benefits used to be because you needed them, not because you are 'entitled' which many people are who are not struggling for money.

Oh for goodness sake. Use your brain. This isn’t about zoo tickets. It isn’t about your personal circumstances, with a disabled son. Try to see and appreciate a bigger picture out of your bubble. More people than YOU and YOURS are struggling. They also need help. They are receiving nothing. You too need to show some empathy in the same way you wish to receive it.

A mortgage is only stable if you pay back your loan every month. If you don’t, your house will be repossessed by the bank. Lower-middle income families, receiving no benefits may well be struggling to pay their mortgages (hence no treats for their children).

There is a bigger picture of growing poverty out there. Recognise that it isn't just the traditional groups which need sympathy and support.

Tell you what, I'll trade you my son's disability for the cheap zoo tickets. Deal? Didn't think so.

Despicable.

I am of the same opinion about you. I guess it would be a dull forum if everyone felt the same.

UC is an in work benefit propping up working families many of whom are single mothers left to bear the cost whilst the maintenance system lets non resident parents get away with paying nothing or not much. Many working families paying high childcare costs and high rents. I get a small amount of UC but live 2.5hrs drive away from chester zoo so the diesel cost would be unaffordable this time of year.

The Zoo clearly needs the customers at this time of year so that’s why they will be running the offer. People who can afford the zoo will prefer to go in better weather. The working poor and disabled may only be able to afford to go under this offer in very cold weather.

Omg you can't seriously still not get it...? I despair of the ignorance shown on this thread.

And I stand by my opinion that many people who don’t receive a massive salary or income support are also struggling and not living a life of luxury. They struggle without recognition!

Lucky them. There are many people who don’t receive income support who can only dream of affording such lovely trips for their families. They would appreciate it too.

They have housing instability in that a landlord could sell up. It's not financial instability.

And I was on UC for a few months as a renter when I was off sick from work.

It wasn't a nightmare. I got it very quickly and it stopped immediately when they must have accessed my bank accounts or my employers records because they seemed to know I was back in full-time work and no longer eligible. I didn't tell them, it just stopped.

So you have a family member with a disability? I complete agree you are entitled to everything you can get and, no, you are not lucky. Again, I feel the issue is with those who have no disabilities within the family but are claiming support. They are lucky to get benefits and extra top ups.

But by not owning a home they have financial instability. I’m not sure if that’s something to be envious of?

its hard to begrudge people a day out when they are on UC.

if you’ve never been on UC, it’s a nightmare of bureaucracy every month to inform them of your earnings etc.

I think people are doing this. Not good for the economy, is it? We need cash cows, not more people draining dwindling reserves.

There has to be a threshold though unfortunately. I still stand by my opinion that the majority on UC are struggling and are not living some life of luxury as you are imagining.

You put math’s instead of maths.

Not true.

Many people are entitled to UC because they don't own a home or have DC in nursery.

People with a mortgage and no DC aren't entitled.

Judging by MN, a lot of high-earners are entitled to UC and the additional benefits like free school meals, Zoo trips etc

This isn’t actually true. You have to tick the boxes to get high amounts of UC. So if you get lots of UC, you generally have to rent to get housing benefit which doesn’t pay the full rent, just a proportion and then you don’t have the stability of a mortgage. It tapers off so the more you earn the less you receive in UC. There’s a lot of disinformation about UC.
being able to visit expensive attractions for £1 is an amazing thing for people who could never dream of affording the entry.

This isn’t actually true. You have to tick the boxes to get high amounts of UC. So if you get lots of UC, you generally have to rent to get housing benefit which doesn’t pay the full rent, just a proportion and then you don’t have the stability of a mortgage. It tapers off so the more you earn the less you receive in UC. There’s a lot of disinformation about UC.
being able to visit expensive attractions for £1 is an amazing thing for people who could never dream of affording the entry.

This isn’t actually true. You have to tick the boxes to get high amounts of UC. So if you get lots of UC, you generally have to rent to get housing benefit which doesn’t pay the full rent, just a proportion and then you don’t have the stability of a mortgage. It tapers off so the more you earn the less you receive in UC. There’s a lot of disinformation about UC.
being able to visit expensive attractions for £1 is an amazing thing for people who could never dream of affording the entry.

This isn’t actually true. You have to tick the boxes to get high amounts of UC. So if you get lots of UC, you generally have to rent to get housing benefit which doesn’t pay the full rent, just a proportion and then you don’t have the stability of a mortgage. It tapers off so the more you earn the less you receive in UC. There’s a lot of disinformation about UC.
being able to visit expensive attractions for £1 is an amazing thing for people who could never dream of affording the entry.

This isn’t actually true. You have to tick the boxes to get high amounts of UC. So if you get lots of UC, you generally have to rent to get housing benefit which doesn’t pay the full rent, just a proportion and then you don’t have the stability of a mortgage. It tapers off so the more you earn the less you receive in UC. There’s a lot of disinformation about UC.
being able to visit expensive attractions for £1 is an amazing thing for people who could never dream of affording the entry.

This isn’t actually true. You have to tick the boxes to get high amounts of UC. So if you get lots of UC, you generally have to rent to get housing benefit which doesn’t pay the full rent, just a proportion and then you don’t have the stability of a mortgage. It tapers off so the more you earn the less you receive in UC. There’s a lot of disinformation about UC.
being able to visit expensive attractions for £1 is an amazing thing for people who could never dream of affording the entry.

This isn’t actually true. You have to tick the boxes to get high amounts of UC. So if you get lots of UC, you generally have to rent to get housing benefit which doesn’t pay the full rent, just a proportion and then you don’t have the stability of a mortgage. It tapers off so the more you earn the less you receive in UC. There’s a lot of disinformation about UC.
being able to visit expensive attractions for £1 is an amazing thing for people who could never dream of affording the entry.

There are a few places that do the £1 entry to UC claimants. The Tower of London, the V&A, Kew plus others. It’s an amazing scheme and offers very expensive places entry to people who could not ordinarily afford it.

Am I lucky? Currently can't work more than a shift a week as my son is autistic and can't manage more than a few hours at nursery. Grateful for the £150 off energy costs and zoo tickets but we still don't get help with the mortgage etc. Also don't get help with dentist or free school meals.