to ask all the skint and struggling people: what would help you the most?

[dreamingbohemian]

I think it's clear that a lot of people are struggling right now. I'm on the thread about parents going without food and it's terrible what some people are going through.

It's also clear that there are a lot of judgmental attitudes, and that the government is not all that interested in tackling the problem.

But you can also see a lot of people are sympathetic and want to help, and are horrified that we are returning to a situation where people have to go without food.

There have been a number of good ideas on that thread, but I thought it might be good to start a new thread to not just talk about the problem, but about how we can all try to do something about it -- whether it's signing petitions, putting pressure on the government, or volunteering or donating in our local communities.

So AIBU to start by asking people who are struggling right now to talk about the top one or two things that would help them out the most? So that we are not focusing our attention on things that might not be the most helpful?

Or, on the flip side, is anyone engaged in anything right now that seems to be helping a lot of people?

I don't want to just be horrified, I want to do something...

I also found the other thread so depressing, not just because it highlighted how difficult life is for some but also the attitude that unless you have absolutely nothing then you are clearly just bad at prioritising.

I don't pretend to know what it is like to be in the positions some people are enduring and I am reluctant of offering trite platitudes but I sincerely hope things improve for those of you who are struggling.

Disability benefits are interesting - not too sure if I've got this right but the way I understand it is you're assessed at a fixed level re: how disabled you are. Whereas many disabled people could do some work some days but not others. Or a little light work sometimes and more demanding things on others.

Why assume that because you're disabled you're the same every day?

Sara I also found it hard. It's difficult to offer help without offending someone

Gossip I think stranded's response was pretty measured considering. I don't spend money on fags or booze either.

Personally what would really help (as others have said) is just for people to stop making comments which are thinly veiled ways of saying 'it's your fault you're poor, you're stupid, irresponsible etc. What's even better is this relatively simple step won't cost people a single penny yet should have a big impact on people's mental health and make society a nicer place.

If your on a low income you get benefit top ups. If you don't work you also get benefits. How can people be this poor that they can't afford some food?

My dad is on a low income and worked all his life , he gets some top ups. We were looking at pension credits the other day as he is coming up to the retirement age and if he had never worked a day in his life he would still get a reasonable income each week plus help with bills, mortgage/rent, council tax etc from the benefit system. therefore I fail to see how people can't afford a bit of food?

curtainrail I did overhear in my daughters school, the office offering to pay for another child's holiday scheme place, this was because the school had just received a bursary. I think it is just a case of parents letting the school know if they are struggling.

MNHQ can we have a face palm emoticon please?

rachy perhaps you should try reading the other thread

Another thing that would help is being able to compete for a jobs on an even playing field. I mean be judged on your ability to do the job rather than your address or the fact you are unemployed.

Someone posted on a thread that her company instructed them to automatically reject applications from the unemployed. I read a report a few years ago (it may have been the Hearald), companies in Edinburgh had admitted automatically rejecting applications from people whose address was on a local 'poor' estate.

Rejection for a job because someone is better suited will still get you down but at least it's fair which rejection based on prejudice isn't.

rachy RTFT. I'm not repeating myself but I have to say it is attitudes like yours that make our lives so much more unbearable.

No you don't. It's about getting wasted land used. I do know of shares where for example a young person has used an older infirms persons land and have given them some of the produce.

I'm pretty sure since it's been set up there are offers of help with tools etc
and if you do decide to give it a go if you want send me a pm as I have spare seeds (and tools) and know others who do too. In the past people have given me seeds. It's very share and share about

I fail to see how what I have posted is having a attitude. I have read other posts on here. I am talking about are we really a poor nation. Yes If say my dad went on full time benefits, his food wouldn't be luxurious but he wouldn't be starving. I can see if your middle, working and paying a big mortgage then lose your job then that is going to be difficult to buy food as benefits wise you don't get much but I am actually saying yes it isn't nice having to ask for food from a food bank but I'm also saying people don't need to feel judged. That's in relation to other posts that I have read on here.

Hi curtain,

It makes you think what is the point in working doesn't it? You get more if your not. Sad but that is the reality of what the labour government has done.

Very simply the biggest problem is that those who work / self employed and have a low income are worse off than those who are not in work. If you work, you lose most / all of housing and council tax benefit that you get if unemployed. You cannot get assistance with uniform / school dinners because you work and so it goes on. You also pay transport to get to work etc.
DH was made redundant and we received benefits for a short while and then he got a new job. We are now financially worse off than when he was redundant. `

Rachy - mind your balance up there on that high horse, it's a long way down.

The government need to listen to the little people as they have no understanding whatsoever.

Curtain - the school thing annoys me too. When ds2 goes to primary school I am going to suggest that each child brings in £1 per week or similar just for this purpose, then they do their trips according to the budget that they have. We live in a rural area, and many of the parents at the school are very well off and this appears to have skewed the judgement at the school when it somesto asking for money.

Rachy your more recent posts come across very differently to your first one :)

rachy Not everyone gets full benefits, you can get made redundant and get very little help from benefits. It's a fallacy to think that if you are made redundant that the government will help you get the basics. Please go and read the doing without food thread, people have posted figures. Then come back and tell us how we can't be doing without. Tell us where we are going so wrong. One more person thinking we are stupid isn't going to make that much difference.

Thanks for your second post delilah but your first post comes across a little differently to the second. :) Oh don't worry I have been off the horse and through the bush youll be pleased to know :) . Hope that makes you feel better now.

Hi hecub,

Yes I know. They won't give you a penny really. Thats why sometimes you think why bother working.

I'm glad someone started this thread. We are very fortunate to be comfortable and I have often thought about how I could help some families directly? But where to start? Does anyone remember the programme a while back when a wealthy family sponsored a family who were struggling? Something like that would be good.

I was wondering if the regs for entitlement for FSM should be widened; like someone said their DC don't qualify for FSM even though their income is quite low. Would that be much help?

If you're in London, you may be interested in a new Shelter campaign called Homes for London:

www.homesforlondon.org.uk/about

It's trying to reduce the cost and improve the quality of housing in London.

I particularly like the idea for setting up a new lettings service that would connect landlords and tenants directly and cut out estate agents.

Why won't the government regulate estate agents? They are parasites really, with their fees and charges, they make renting so much more expensive than it needs to be.