Controversial use of benefit money?

[1Ivebeenthinking]

Imagine an autistic person, unemployed, very little to no prospects of employment (due to systematic failures). They will avoid eating and make themselves ill, but it’s not AFRID because they will eventually eat, just not enough or often enough, and eating foods they don’t like make them feel ill, and results in their behaviour and mood being worse.

They will willingly eat more expensive, quality foods that are deemed as luxury like fresh fish, steak and berries as the texture and taste doesn’t bother them like cheaper versions do.
Do you think this autistic person has a legitimate reason for using their benefits to pay for more expensive foods? Will they be judged for this because people in work can’t afford it?

Wrong. I have a private pension which I took early (at 55) and claim Carer's Allowance. My husband claims a "not able to work" benefit (ESA) and PIP. We "swan off" on holiday now and again.

This. There is no law that says benefits have to be spent on a particular thing. It's nobody else's business.

No, you are not meant to do anything at all except mind your own business.

Being able to go on holiday does not mean someone can work.
And some people on things like PIP may live with a partner or spouse who is working, and they can afford to go on holiday. I know a few couples like that.

Thank you for agreeing with me. Like the way I've been seeing it is that if you work and you're on PIP, the PIP helps you cover the costs for your disability and then your income is your income.

But like if you don't work at ALL, the way I've seen it is that the money you get should cover just the essentials. Rent, food, heating and utilities bills. There's a limit to how working people can subsidise.

Being able to go on holiday does not mean someone can work.
And some people on things like PIP may live with a partner or spouse who is working, and they can afford to go on holiday. I know a few couples like that.

Exactly.

Well, in our case we have enough money coming in that we can save a little to go on holiday and for future care costs for my DH. This is because ESA (cont based) and PIP are not means tested, so my pension is disregarded. So you think we should only be allowed to afford the bare essentials?

We didn't know this was how things would end up. It could happen to you too.

Well. Obviously that's different. As their income isn't solely from state benefits.
Honestly I know it's anathema for some to acknowledges that no, people aren't unilaterally bleating... 'oh I'm happy to work myself into the ground and pay 90% of my income towards benefits...they are so much more deserving than me....😇'

Well. Obviously that's different. As their income isn't solely from state benefits

Ah, the old deserving and undeserving disabled trope rears its very ugly head.

Ah yes the old blackmailing and guilt tripping 'how dare you have an opinion that doesn't centre ME!!' raises its ugly head...

This thread was going so well and was really supportive of the OP.

Now the comments about "essentials only" are starting to trickle in.

What people spend their benefits money on has no impact on you.

Of course it doesn't but if people are vehemently stating how absolutely awful and detrimental to them work would be, yet their next post is dancing and shenanigans on the ibiza party yacht...

I know someone who has worked all his adult life and got his first passport at 62. He never could afford to go abroad so he just didn't.

Of course working people wonder how much subsidise the non working.

Disabled people, who may not be able to work, due to the nature of their disability, may still wish to travel, if it is an option. Sadly lots of people, just won't be able to, for lots of reasons. It is unbecoming to begrudge those that may do so occasionally, because they are deemed not to have put in a 9-5 to be able to do so.

No one on here has done that, so really no need to bring it up on this thread. It is just goady.

Unsurprisingly, I have never seen a post like that, I wonder why.

You have a right to enjoy fresh food like everyone else. Assuming you are deemed medically capable of decision-making, you also have the right to autonomy - which means that not only do you have the right to choose for yourself, but people are obliged to respect your choices.

I think the problem is that for every 100 legitimate people living on benefits who will save for years, or stick a holiday on a credit card that they will be paying off for years on end just to get a break from the dire reality or to simply give their kids a holiday like their friends get to shield them from the sadness, there will be 1 person who will find a way to bend the system and do something inappropriate which the Daily Mail will cling on to and all of a sudden everybody who is on benefits is being painted in a bad light. This is where people really need to use their heads more to separate reality from all the noise and find a balance in their views.

Even if they do not respect the OP's choices, they should at least keep their counsel.