7 out of ten children in poverty

[Gilead]

Come from families where at least on parent is employed. 40% of UC claimants are working families BUT Sunak blames those on Welfare for inflation and he wants to cut benefits by at least £1000 per annum.
AIBU to think that the Tories are trying to create a two tier state?

In poverty. Drives me potty that we can’t go back and correct!

So what’s the plan then when’s the revolution ?

The gap between the have and have nots is just so wide right now, it's horrific.

These days, the thing that plays pretty much the biggest part in determining your life chances is not whether you're bright or capable, but whether your parents own property, and how much you stand to inherit.

We already have a tiered state, there’s no need for the tories to try and create one.

I also think the point made by another poster on here recently is relevant to your OP - it doesn’t make sense to focus on the fact that 40% of claimants are working families when they are still significantly under employed.

If 7 out of 10 children in poverty only have one working parent, why isn’t the other parent employed? The reasons for that matter.

Yep

The reasons for under employment could be there is only one parent, the types of jobs available are the type of zero hours contracts that employers love, health issues that make working full time hard, low educational attainment because we cant all be average or above, availability of childcare, cost of childcare, special needs within the family, caring responsibilities for older parents.

Sunak blames those on Welfare for inflation and he wants to cut benefits by at least £1000 per annum

Jesus Fucking Christ. The Tories have not even completed their last attempt at welfare "reform" and that was a total mess.

Fuck

Ffs why is he cutting welfare? You need to look at the reasons why something isn't working not cut more that isn't going to help anyone except backlog the courts with evictions

Zero hour contracts contribute to this mess you can't budget if you don't know your hours you can't arrange childcare without knowing your hours (all childcare in my area needs to be booked a month in advance) plus that needs to be paid for in advance too

I don't think cutting welfare/benefits is the way forward, but I can see his approach.
The UK welfare bill is very high, and everywhere you go businesses are reporting a lack of staff and advertising.

Which makes no sense, lots of jobs that can't be filled and lots of people that can't find a job???

I agree with a poster above, zero hour contracts need to be done away with, make jobs more attractive and secure.

It's carrot and stick, govt like stick

Where is this statistic from? Even the JRF, with its somewhat controversial definition of “poverty”, only claims that it affects a third of children in the UK.

I think he's got the right idea. We both work full time, never ever get any hand outs and do not qualify for any benefits or any other one off handouts the government come up with occasionally. We do qualify for child benefit but save this and tend to give back to charity each month anyway. We struggle through life at times paying every bill, a large mortgage and nursery bills. Paying for qualifications out of our own pockets to better our situation to earn more money to provide more for our own family. Sometimes it irks when some families end up with more left at the end of the month because they get benefits and a lot of help with stuff such as housing, free meals, food banks etc when not always truly in need (we've all met them!) But I don't begrudge those who are truly in need. I do think those that are truly in need of benefits could do more to better their situations such as making use of free courses and qualifications etc that are open to those on UC and other benefits in order to get into better paid more. Perhaps he's trying to push those that can work to motivate themselves to achieve more and provide more for their families themselves. Anyway I'm sure I'll get berated for this but just my 2p. For what it's worth I don't agree with a lot the tories have done recently and will be hard pushed to vote for them again come the next general election but the welfare state does need addressing as too many people just idly sit by and stay on benefits forever without ever considering how they could better their own situation.

We've always had a two tier society. Or multi tier to be honest.

*better paid work.

And my last sentence was so long but just my musings!

How can you say you struggle but can afford to save your child benefit?

Rents are probably going to need to be tackled sooner or later.
Energy bills can't keep going up ... But when you see the insanity in rents you wonder whether they will and we'll end up with energy benefits as well as housing benefit.

Whilst not ever going to happen putting the UK's four hundred quids into renewable energy sources owned directly by the government.

I think the OP is saying that seven in ten children in poverty have at least one parent in work. (Not that seven in ten children are in poverty, which may be how you read it?) Child Poverty Action Group found this a few years ago, I don't know if there's anything more recent. cpag.org.uk/news-blogs/news-listings/child-poverty-working-families-rise

Well as long as wealthy Tory voting pensioners are ok, fuck the rest of society (society doesn't exist anyway).

I wouldn't be surprised if it came out years later that the tories are trying to kill off some of the population.

During covid the elderly dying in great numbers seemed like a pro for population rates.

The NHS in tatters, people dying from things that could have been prevented had they been able to get an appointment.

Obesity rising and the war on drugs conveniently forgotten about. More likely to die young... that's a plus!

Rising energy bills, well at least the lonely old ladies will freeze this winter. Win again.

What about hungry children?
Pollution levels, just build more houses and cram as many into it as possible.
fast food and convenience food being the inly thing people can afford. Most families don't have a garden or fireplace to be able to curb the costs.

We don't have council houses anymore (barely any) so even renting a home is unaffordable meaning people are living in crap conditions.

Overall it feels like a good part of the population is being pushed down and weakened.
I really wouldn't be surprised if it came out there was a plan to kill us off. At least some of us.

@GurningGolfer could you explain how cutting benefits by £20 quid a week will help?

If only one parent works what's wrong with the other one going out to work evenings/weekends? That what I and many acquaintances had to do when the kids were young. No UC top ups , no 30 hours free childcare. Yes we went to work to feed and clothe our children

These days, the thing that plays pretty much the biggest part in determining your life chances is not whether you're bright or capable, but whether your parents own property, and how much you stand to inherit.

I agree with this, sad times.

Being in a position to save is a huge privilege

This is a good read about the state of the economy today for ordinary people. I empathise with the irritation of lower middle class people - very much, I am one and share the frustrations - but let’s face it work is hardly worth doing now with the pay v costs ratios. We have all been impoverished, and costs are still going up.

www.opendemocracy.net/en/oureconomy/uk-cost-of-living-crisis-what-caused-tackle-housing-wealth/

I've struggled at times with all the huge bills like any normal family, have dipped into savings and then put back in when I can. Worked hard to get promotions and spent money in doing so. Just being a responsible adult I guess, I don't drink or smoke, have sky TV, expensive phones etc it's all about the right priorities. I dont understand why some people plead poverty and 'can't afford to feed their kids' yet have all the above. It needs tackling. Maybe the 20 quid a week will stop some smoking or gambling or wasting money in mcds or Costa etc or maybe it'll be the straw that breaks the camels back and encourages them to retrain . I dont know but something needs doing - people are far too reliant on the state these days and calling for change - make your own change.