AIBU?
I know this will be contentious - cost of living rise
qualitychat · 31/08/2022 19:57
My mum is a pensioner and gets Disability Benefit and Mobility Benefit and Pension Credit. She receives almost what I get in a month. She is moaning about the Government not doing enough about the cost of gas and electricity, which I agree with. The thing is they have said that people on benefits and pension credit will be given lump sums towards their bills. I am a middle earner and so is my husband. We will likely get nothing. Do you not think it will be the ordinary working families who will be squeezed the most if something is not done?
Am I being unreasonable?
AIBUYou have one vote. All votes are anonymous.
Rosscameasdoody · 31/08/2022 21:11
GeorgeorRuth · 31/08/2022 20:44
DH is disabled and pension age, he is getting frailer so I looked into what I could get if I stopped working ft ( retail so low waged) . The amount wouldn't have covered my outgoings let alone the fuel price hikes. I'm just going to have to hope his memory doesn't deteriorate too quickly, I need to work.
Those saying benefits is shedloads are talking bull. If someone is 'loaded' they aren't solely on benefits.
Typical, turn people on each other to deflect from the real issues.
Yep, it’s called divide and rule. While we’re sniping at each other we’re leaving rich people to enjoy their luxuries. Tories are masterful at it - as evidenced by the nastiness on threads like these.
Cyw2018 · 31/08/2022 21:11
caringcarer · 31/08/2022 20:18
If Truss is leader she is saying tax cuts is way to go by raising base level at which people have to pay tax. ATM it is set at £12500 free pay before tax kicks in. I don't know what level she may raise it to but £14000 would be good. This way all those working benefit. Those on benefits already had a hand out and are getting another one end of September. Disabled are getting £150, not sure why they did not get same amount as those on UC or PC. Carers nothing.
I've never understood why the tax threshold doesn't align to minimum wage (full time hours). If the Minimum wage level is decided based on the minimum living wage then why would someone earning the minimum living wage be able to afford to contribute tax. Also why tax these people and then give it back as UC.
FictionalCharacter · 31/08/2022 21:12
CredibilityProblem · 31/08/2022 20:05
In general, people with disabilities and older people are more likely to need to use their heating than working age people with no disabilities. So even with the same income it would be reasonable for the government to give her more support.
Also in general, working age people may have more opportunities to work extra hours to increase their income or ask for a pay rise than disabled pensioners.
Some working people can work extra hours or ask for pay rises, but many can’t. I work in the public sector, my hours are fixed and any overtime I do is unpaid. Annual pay awards are negotiated nationally, we can’t ask for a pay rise. And the days of asking for more money and getting it are surely long gone with the economy the way it is now.
Rosscameasdoody · 31/08/2022 21:13
idonotmind · 31/08/2022 21:00
Of course some boomers won't be affected even if their energy costs double. Because they are not paying for childcare costs, transportation, food, etc.
They have fewer outgoings.
I get the whole 'I've worked hard, i deserve it' argument.
But they didn't work hard enough because we're fucked now with the energy/rising costs. Only our grandparents worked hard enough to make it comfortable for the boomers.
Energy and rising costs isn’t the fault of the boomers not working hard enough. It’s the fault of greedy energy producers cashing in on higher prices which the market conveniently blames on Ukraine so it can gouge consumers.
maddiemookins16mum · 31/08/2022 21:14
My colleague (and dear friend) at work, single, no kids, rents a one bedroom flat. Takes home 1480 a month. I’ve sat with her 3 lunchtimes on the trot, helping her see if we can jiggle her budget. After all bills/rent are paid, she currently has £162 left a month for food, petrol and, well just having a life. This is before the increase in her utilities. She is entitled to nothing, yet another colleague will get help as she gets top up benefits as ‘can only work’ limited hours as she won’t pay for childcare.
ASDstruggles · 31/08/2022 21:16
I think the problem young families in particular have in the UK is that you can do all you were supposed to do (study hard, get good jobs etc) but then the cost of housing and childcare is so high you find yourself scrabbling around just to survive.
It shouldn’t be this way. That’s not what you were sold when you were a kid and started studying hard. That’s why people will emigrate. The mainly older Tory voting daily mail readers don’t seem to recognise there is even an issue. Just eat fewer avocados…
Rosscameasdoody · 31/08/2022 21:20
FictionalCharacter · 31/08/2022 21:12
Some working people can work extra hours or ask for pay rises, but many can’t. I work in the public sector, my hours are fixed and any overtime I do is unpaid. Annual pay awards are negotiated nationally, we can’t ask for a pay rise. And the days of asking for more money and getting it are surely long gone with the economy the way it is now.
CredibilityProblem · 31/08/2022 20:05
In general, people with disabilities and older people are more likely to need to use their heating than working age people with no disabilities. So even with the same income it would be reasonable for the government to give her more support.
Also in general, working age people may have more opportunities to work extra hours to increase their income or ask for a pay rise than disabled pensioners.
But you’re not disabled or elderly are you ? It’s not rocket science - the mark of any society is how it looks after it’s sick, disabled and elderly. In the UK we’ve pretty much farmed out elderly care to private companies who gouge the elderly for care fees to the point where they have to sell everything they own before they get help - mainly to prop up those who can’t/won’t make their own provision and to satisfy shareholders. And we have a disability benefits system which is unfit for purpose and regularly denies benefit to people perfectly entitled to them costing the tax payer eye watering amounts in tribunal costs to get justice. Life isn’t fair, disabled, elderly or not.
rainbowmilk · 31/08/2022 21:21
maddiemookins16mum · 31/08/2022 21:14
My colleague (and dear friend) at work, single, no kids, rents a one bedroom flat. Takes home 1480 a month. I’ve sat with her 3 lunchtimes on the trot, helping her see if we can jiggle her budget. After all bills/rent are paid, she currently has £162 left a month for food, petrol and, well just having a life. This is before the increase in her utilities. She is entitled to nothing, yet another colleague will get help as she gets top up benefits as ‘can only work’ limited hours as she won’t pay for childcare.
This was me for years until I finally managed to get a job decent enough to get me on the property ladder. It’s not a vote winner to help out single people, despite the fact that they often tend to be the ones who are net contributors rather than net takers. People with families are only interested in people with families.
talkingdeadscot · 31/08/2022 21:21
gyurghle · 31/08/2022 21:03
And if they don't own a house they should give up their council place to a family who needs it. Is that the way it goes???
well that's a leap!
Not really, lots of threads about housing have the bright idea of older people in council places moving into small places to let families have their properties. If there aren't enough small places they should move to sheltered housing. I was just pointing out the many ways mumsnetters have solved the problem of boomers/pensioners/older people/tory voters clogging up the housing/benefits/pension/health systems in this country.
NameChangeLifeChange · 31/08/2022 21:21
ASDstruggles · 31/08/2022 21:16
I think the problem young families in particular have in the UK is that you can do all you were supposed to do (study hard, get good jobs etc) but then the cost of housing and childcare is so high you find yourself scrabbling around just to survive.
It shouldn’t be this way. That’s not what you were sold when you were a kid and started studying hard. That’s why people will emigrate. The mainly older Tory voting daily mail readers don’t seem to recognise there is even an issue. Just eat fewer avocados…
So true @ASDstruggles . The social contract is broken and people are seeing that their quality of life is significantly worse than the generation before them, exacerbated by Brexit which was ultimately voted for by the older generation. It’s depressing and sad.
Babyroobs · 31/08/2022 21:22
maddiemookins16mum · 31/08/2022 21:14
My colleague (and dear friend) at work, single, no kids, rents a one bedroom flat. Takes home 1480 a month. I’ve sat with her 3 lunchtimes on the trot, helping her see if we can jiggle her budget. After all bills/rent are paid, she currently has £162 left a month for food, petrol and, well just having a life. This is before the increase in her utilities. She is entitled to nothing, yet another colleague will get help as she gets top up benefits as ‘can only work’ limited hours as she won’t pay for childcare.
On that income she would definitely be entitled to help especially with 3 kids and rent to pay.
saveforthat · 31/08/2022 21:24
qualitychat · 31/08/2022 20:44
My mum has had these benefits since she was 50. She is not badly disabled, doesn't need a carer, doesn't walk with a stick or anything. She is at home more but that's because she's not out much. I can absolutely assure a previous poster that she does receive all these benefits. I will never receive anything like what she gets when I retire.
It's pretty shit to resent anything that your Mum gets and there's no way she has been getting her state pension since age 50. There is a really nasty theme to some threads recently based on resentment of what other people might have/can claim that you can't.
Rosscameasdoody · 31/08/2022 21:25
talkingdeadscot · 31/08/2022 21:21
Not really, lots of threads about housing have the bright idea of older people in council places moving into small places to let families have their properties. If there aren't enough small places they should move to sheltered housing. I was just pointing out the many ways mumsnetters have solved the problem of boomers/pensioners/older people/tory voters clogging up the housing/benefits/pension/health systems in this country.
gyurghle · 31/08/2022 21:03
And if they don't own a house they should give up their council place to a family who needs it. Is that the way it goes???
well that's a leap!
Sheltered housing is meant for those with extra needs/disabilities, so not really.
rainbowmilk · 31/08/2022 21:25
Babyroobs · 31/08/2022 21:22
On that income she would definitely be entitled to help especially with 3 kids and rent to pay.
maddiemookins16mum · 31/08/2022 21:14
My colleague (and dear friend) at work, single, no kids, rents a one bedroom flat. Takes home 1480 a month. I’ve sat with her 3 lunchtimes on the trot, helping her see if we can jiggle her budget. After all bills/rent are paid, she currently has £162 left a month for food, petrol and, well just having a life. This is before the increase in her utilities. She is entitled to nothing, yet another colleague will get help as she gets top up benefits as ‘can only work’ limited hours as she won’t pay for childcare.
She has no kids, not 3 kids. That’s why she’s not entitled to anything.
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