No more free school meal vouchers?

[dottydotterson]

What do you think of the governments decision to end the free school meal vouchers for the summer? Do you agree or not?

DS1's sorry!

So do you account for all the single mothers

More context needed, all the single mothers I know and have known certainly havent been rolling in money, its a struggle and a struggle made harder by judgemental idiots who think the Mail is a factsheet and Channel 5 benefit programs are accurate documentaries but you cant fix stupid I guess

Fallsballs absolutely! So easy to attack women and children as opposed to bad fathers or an incompetent system!

[quote ToBBQorNotToBBQ]@lyralalala probably because I know people who are getting them that are full on taking the piss. Getting takeaways, a new foot spa and new playstation as they are saving money now as they get the vouchers (they said this not me and it's not just 1 person). Its great for the people that need them though.[/quote]
Every system has one or two piss takers. Every one. It doesn’t mean you scrap it for everyone.

Every workplace has a lazy prick that does the bare minimum - that doesn’t mean you cut the wages of everyone.

The issue with benefits is that there are always stories about people who abuse them. The press love a story about Tina, who has 10 children, abuses her benefits, has never worked, buys designer bags, buys the latest model phone, has expensive holidays abroad etc. This causes real anger in those who work (and those who receive benefits), but can’t ever afford this type of luxury. Unfortunately this then leads to people thinking that it is unfair that they have to subsidise those on benefits (get fsm etc.), when they themselves are genuinely struggling!

I was a bit surprised to hear the teenager on GMB and BBC this morning who has been the face of this campaign on TV talking about 'people who need these vouchers to stop them getting ready meals and junk food instead of healthy nutritious food'. He was emphasising the importance that people who get FSM vouchers can use them to get decent food. Ready meals and junk food can be more expensive than well balanced home cooked food.

@Sweetlikecoca
People work all week for NMW and don’t have much left over after bills. I can understand how some don’t bother going to work. I’ve looked at UC and it’s not a life of poverty like we are in a 3rd world Country. Some people live a better life than those who go to work

You know that the majority of UC claimants actually work, right? Full time? For NMW?

@Sweetlikecoca. So do you account for all the single mothers

Sorry, can you clarify this for me? Are you saying all single mothers are on benefits, living a better life than people who work?

Marcus Rashford deserves a knighthood for this

You’re not wrong there. Wise beyond his years. Ability to see through the bullshit. I feel like I’ve woken up in a better world this morning just knowing a young man like that is out there. I’m sure he’s not the only one. Standing ovation from me.

@Tootsie321

The issue with benefits is that there are always stories about people who abuse them. The press love a story about Tina, who has 10 children, abuses her benefits, has never worked, buys designer bags, buys the latest model phone, has expensive holidays abroad etc. This causes real anger in those who work (and those who receive benefits), but can’t ever afford this type of luxury. Unfortunately this then leads to people thinking that it is unfair that they have to subsidise those on benefits (get fsm etc.), when they themselves are genuinely struggling!

People need to be a bit smarter with their thinking then.

I read a story about a car mechanic who fiddles his taxes. Does that make all car mechanics tax fiddling scum? No, obviously not.

I read a story about a teacher being jailed for creating and distributing vile images of children. Does that make all teachers? Obviously not.

Yet somehow when people read sensationalist stories about benefit claimants they feel it’s acceptable to judge all by those standards.

@chomalungma

I was a bit surprised to hear the teenager on GMB and BBC this morning who has been the face of this campaign on TV talking about 'people who need these vouchers to stop them getting ready meals and junk food instead of healthy nutritious food'. He was emphasising the importance that people who get FSM vouchers can use them to get decent food. Ready meals and junk food can be more expensive than well balanced home cooked food.

Ready meals and junk food is often much cheaper than buying fresh ingredients and vegetables. Especially when you can’t afford to buy in larger packet sizes. And especially when shops still have shortages of certain things

Ready meals and junk food is often much cheaper than buying fresh ingredients and vegetables

Often cheaper to cook (fuel poverty)
Facilities to cook (Some single mothers especially after leaving a DV shelter are more often than not housed in B&B's)
Ability to cook

I suppose that I've always grown up making my own food and cooking for DS and myself - often with limited money - but luckily always with access to a local supermarket. I haven't really ever looked at the cheap pizzas on offer in the local shop.

I do think ability to cook may be a factor - as well as things like facilities to cook and the cost of cooking. Fuel poverty is a real thing.

@Fallsballs Apologies, what I meant (and poorly explained) was that it’s possible for a single mother to appear to be better off than you might expect from UC because she has an ex partner who is paying an acceptable level of maintenance. Not because UC is so generous.

I don’t think she should be judged for receiving what is owed to her child by the other parent, nor do I think that she should receive less in benefits. That money is the child’s money.

Some people don’t seem to be happy unless they see those on benefits are living literally on the breadline with not a penny to be spent outside of the cheapest gruel.

I am appalled at the current CMS system and I am so sorry to all those with feckless exes who don’t take responsibility for their children, and I know they are plentiful. But some (mostly) men do pay what they should and that was what my post was about.

I have to say nearly all the single parents I know get nothing to approximately £5 a week per child for maintenance, and even that £5 depends upon if they choose to pay.
There are many tax dodgers, benefit fraudsters etc all living comfortably and removed from benefits bashing, misogyny and judgement.

Anybody can claim CSA (it’s actually not the best service). Weather you get your benefits or not YOU Can still claim. The criteria is not a single mother!

It’s NOTHING to do with that. It works both ways. Even if you receive Universal/TC.

Tootsie321
”The issue with benefits is that there are always stories about people who abuse them. The press love a story about Tina, who has 10 children, abuses her benefits, has never worked, buys designer bags, buys the latest model phone, has expensive holidays abroad etc. This causes real anger in those who work (and those who receive benefits), but can’t ever afford this type of luxury. Unfortunately this then leads to people thinking that it is unfair that they have to subsidise those on benefits (get fsm etc.), when they themselves are genuinely struggling!”

”People need to be a bit smarter with their thinking then.”

”Yet somehow when people read sensationalist stories about benefit claimants they feel it’s acceptable to judge all by those standards.”

@lyralalala Are you having another go at me? Just wondering if you are deliberately misunderstanding my posts?

The point I was getting at is that people read these newspaper articles and then do (unfairly) judge benefit claimants!

Newspapers don’t report on normal claimants, who get on with living on their benefits, as that doesn’t sell newspapers. Stories like Tina abusing benefits, get a reaction and does sells newspapers!
Reports where someone has starved and died, because they haven’t got enough to live on, also sells newspapers, whereas those who struggle on and manage within their income doesn’t sell newspapers!

Do I need to spell it out more clearly? The press are responsible for a lot of the anger people (other benefit claimants as well as working and the more well off people) feel over these type of articles, they aren’t interested in the people who are able to just get on with lives

@JustAnotherPoster00

So do you account for all the single mothers

More context needed, all the single mothers I know and have known certainly havent been rolling in money, its a struggle and a struggle made harder by judgemental idiots who think the Mail is a factsheet and Channel 5 benefit programs are accurate documentaries but you cant fix stupid I guess

I know that is what I was saying. I agree with you. I wasn’t suggesting they were

@Tootsie321

Tootsie321 ”The issue with benefits is that there are always stories about people who abuse them. The press love a story about Tina, who has 10 children, abuses her benefits, has never worked, buys designer bags, buys the latest model phone, has expensive holidays abroad etc. This causes real anger in those who work (and those who receive benefits), but can’t ever afford this type of luxury. Unfortunately this then leads to people thinking that it is unfair that they have to subsidise those on benefits (get fsm etc.), when they themselves are genuinely struggling!”

”People need to be a bit smarter with their thinking then.”

”Yet somehow when people read sensationalist stories about benefit claimants they feel it’s acceptable to judge all by those standards.”

@lyralalala Are you having another go at me? Just wondering if you are deliberately misunderstanding my posts?

The point I was getting at is that people read these newspaper articles and then do (unfairly) judge benefit claimants!

Newspapers don’t report on normal claimants, who get on with living on their benefits, as that doesn’t sell newspapers. Stories like Tina abusing benefits, get a reaction and does sells newspapers!
Reports where someone has starved and died, because they haven’t got enough to live on, also sells newspapers, whereas those who struggle on and manage within their income doesn’t sell newspapers!

Do I need to spell it out more clearly? The press are responsible for a lot of the anger people (other benefit claimants as well as working and the more well off people) feel over these type of articles, they aren’t interested in the people who are able to just get on with lives

I'm not having a go at you. I was replying to your post, as I have replied to multiple other people. It's a forum, people reply when you post...

Do I need to spell it out more clearly? The press are responsible for a lot of the anger people (other benefit claimants as well as working and the more well off people) feel over these type of articles, they aren’t interested in the people who are able to just get on with lives

No, people are responsible for their own stupidity at reading articles or watching programmes and allowing it to enable their judgemental attitudes when they know it's bullshit.

@Mrsemcgregor yep, that was me. I was on benefits for a while after leaving my ex. From the outside I probably did look like I was better off than people working full time and getting no help but it's because I get £500pm CM from my ex who is a higher rate tax payer. Maintenance isn't means tested. Also I don't own a car so I save money there.

I work now (still get working tax credits) and I'm not entitled to FSM for DS but if I was I would probably gift them to someone else, I don't need them due to the amount I receive in CM.

I am definitely the exception rather than the norm, I do not know anyone personally who receives the amount I do in maintenance and the other single parents I know do struggle.

@Sweetlikecoca

Anybody can claim CSA (it’s actually not the best service). Weather you get your benefits or not YOU Can still claim. The criteria is not a single mother!

It’s NOTHING to do with that. It works both ways. Even if you receive Universal/TC.

It's actually not the best service

That made me chuckle

@Mrsemcgregor your funny an acceptable amount what is that though? the poster a live is right I don’t know anybody either who receives that in CMS. It’s a long and stressful process to start it and depending if your ex has other kids the amounts split between all the kids it’s complex. But a lot of people will get a lot less than £500 a month.

I hear all sorts that people who are high earners self employed but ex doesn’t want to pay for his kids and fiddles earnings.

[quote Sweetlikecoca]@Mrsemcgregor your funny an acceptable amount what is that though? the poster a live is right I don’t know anybody either who receives that in CMS. It’s a long and stressful process to start it and depending if your ex has other kids the amounts split between all the kids it’s complex. But a lot of people will get a lot less than £500 a month.

I hear all sorts that people who are high earners self employed but ex doesn’t want to pay for his kids and fiddles earnings.[/quote]
I didn’t mention £500 or any monetary amount.

I’m not saying all single mothers get the correct amount of CMS, I’m saying that if someone appears to be living above the means of UC it could be because their children receive money from their fathers and not because UC is too generous. So people shouldn’t judge based on things they have no idea about.

I am in no way saying that all or most and even very many single mums get large amounts of money from absent fathers.

I know that some fathers fiddle their earnings, I even know of one father who intentionally doesn’t work and lives in poverty himself just to spite his ex. However I also know one father that pays a very fair amount in CM, my sisters ex.

Either way, my original point was that UC isn’t a life of luxury. Benefits claimants are NOT lucky and do not “have it easy” and no one should begrudge CHILDREN getting 6 extra weeks of free lunches this year.

Marcus Rashford deserves a knighthood for this

Honestly, do you believe that this was his idea? It's been a great PR exercise, that's for sure.

@AllesAusLiebe

Marcus Rashford deserves a knighthood for this

Honestly, do you believe that this was his idea? It's been a great PR exercise, that's for sure.

Why would it not be his idea?

In my experience a lot of the people who work in areas that target child poverty were children who lived in poverty.