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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to think you can't claim to be homeless living in an airport if your income is £1400 a month

444 replies

dhdjdbrjrkbr · 07/02/2015 11:15

Strange DM story today, nothing adds up

www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2943251/Homeless-Heathrow-look-holiday-truth-middle-class-couple-living-airport-losing-500-000-home.html#article-2943251

OP posts:
rinabean · 07/02/2015 18:34

You're not homeless if you can afford a home with money to spare but you choose not to. The article clearly states that they are not disabled or mentally ill

Hamiltoes · 07/02/2015 18:45

I haven't read it but rent round here, like literally the ONLY available properties within a sixty mile radius, is about that amount.

Doesn't really matter when there is nothing tying them to "around here" though does it?

If I was homeless, unemployed, no family ties etc.. The last place I would go to is the most expensive city in the whole of the united kingdom. Hmm

Hamiltoes · 07/02/2015 18:51

Helpkeepmestrong I would, but I'm not an expert on PR, journalism and crisis management as is our dear Alan.

Why anyone who makes his bread money as a specialist in crisis management doesn't have a retirement sorted out earning £80,000 a year before he ends up sleeping in a airport is beyond me.

In fact, it's utter bullshite and I don't believe it.

helpmekeepstrong · 07/02/2015 18:55

Hamiltoes let's see if the 'story' goes quiet. Wink

splodgeses · 07/02/2015 18:56

This article really has my back up. It absolutely must be rubbish!

Our household and running costs are less than £1400, 2 adults and 2 dc (one under 1). So what if they can't afford what they think is their 'deserved' lifestyle?

Utter utter pillocks!

helpmekeepstrong · 07/02/2015 19:08

I am now housed and my weekly rent of £84 and council tax is paid through the kindness of housing benefit. I manage to pay my bills and living expenses on £289 a month. I still save a tiny amount for rainy days and drop a penny or two into 'the poor box' at the till.... and look here, I'm on the internet too! Lordy lord! What would I do with £1400 a month? King's ransom! Be flying out of Heathrow on that!

MadameJulienBaptiste · 07/02/2015 19:30

I'm not familiar with Heathrow, but at Manchester airport you barely get past the door without a boarding card and passport.

This article seems to imply that lots of people can just wander around all the terminals at Heathrow with suitcases, without having to show a boarding card???
That just can't be true.
Why haven't they bought a cheap flight to somewhere with cheap accommodation and low cost of living?

Viviennemary · 07/02/2015 19:39

Don't really believe they're allowed to spend nights at Heathrow on a regular basis. But I do think benefit rules means some people get little or no help. Why don't they get help. It's not very clear. Why don't they just move to an area where houseprices are cheaper.

fairgame · 07/02/2015 19:42

They don't get help because they haven't tried to claim anything. She is entitled to JSA but won't claim it. If they get a house they would probably get housing benefit.

fairgame · 07/02/2015 19:42

They don't get help because they haven't tried to claim anything. She is entitled to JSA but won't claim it. If they get a house they would probably get housing benefit.

fairgame · 07/02/2015 19:43

sorry didn't mean to post twice Blush

helpmekeepstrong · 07/02/2015 19:44

Viviennemary because they may not be 'real' and they have a Gofund standing now at some thousands.

helpmekeepstrong · 07/02/2015 19:48

Please, oh please go to the dinosaur lady thread..... made my night.

stubbornstains · 07/02/2015 19:49

I've never been to Manchester, but most airports have huge areas where anyone can wander around having the cash sucked out of them before they have to go through security and show boarding passes and ID.

Major terminals usually have a few sorry souls slumped in the seating all night- either through delayed flights, or having arrived on the last train and waiting to check in for an early flight (I've done it myself- it is horrible, but you don't get hassled by security).

Plus, LHR has five terminals, so I can imagine that if you took care to move around, and if you looked like naice middle class travellers, you could get away with it for quite some time.

Which doesn't mean that I don't think the rest of the article is exceedingly weird....Hmm

fairgame · 07/02/2015 19:50

Which one helpmekeepstrong?
There is the lady who says the never existed.
There is also a lady who claims she is a dinosaur and is upset at being told she doesn't exist.

It's been a weird few days on MN.

joanne1947 · 07/02/2015 19:54

I had a massive argument with my parents when I was a teenager and slept rough in bus shelters for two weeks until I got my pay at work, I then rented a room, not a flat, but one single room. I know that was 50 years ago but there are still rooms for rent at a cheap price, not nice rooms but a room with a fixed address and the possibility of sorting out life and moving upwards. I do think this Daily Mail story stinks of lies

coconutty · 07/02/2015 19:57

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

TheChandler · 07/02/2015 19:57

I bet they have some friend or relative they mainly live with, but once spent a night stuck at Heathrow waiting on a flight and decided to go for a meal there and did it again a few times. They could be hoping for publicity to generate a charity fund to buy them a house or something - its amazing how deluded some people can be, and a lot of their "situation" indicates they are very deluded.

The bit about her constantly turning down jobs I believe though - I know a few people like that, who constantly bemoan the fact they can't get a job and are desperately trying everything, and who apply for jobs all the time, but when they do actually get offered a job, turn it down because its too far away, or the hours are too long, or something.

But I do think this couple should be awarded the "BabyBoomers of the Year Award" or something, just for having failed to buy themselves a retirement home, mortgage-free, when he was 61, with £200,000 in cash.

Chunderella · 07/02/2015 19:58

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

fairgame · 07/02/2015 20:07

They could be hoping for publicity to generate a charity fund to buy them a house or something

I did wonder if they had seen the story about the disabled man in the north east that was mugged. His neighbour set up a funding page after he was too scared to go home and it raised over £300k. I wonder if they saw that and thought somebody might do the same for them. Unfortunately that poor man was a victim of crime, they are victims of their own stupidity/failure to help themselves.

helpmekeepstrong · 07/02/2015 20:12

I just looked at the DM story again and the fund was up to £5k I think.... can't be bothered to go back and verify. Think it was at £5k and she was in tears at people's generosity. Hmm

helpmekeepstrong · 07/02/2015 20:17

Maybe I should have done that... if I didn't live in fear of my life have to be anonymous. If you've got the chutzpa tho.......

soverylucky · 07/02/2015 20:25

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

NimpyWWindowmash · 07/02/2015 20:26

This story does not add up!

Fairylea · 07/02/2015 20:27

I'm not sure what I find more anger inducing... them saying they are broke and having an income only slightly less than we do (and we have a mortgage and 2 dc to support) or the stupid people who have donated to try to help them! Words fail me.