To wonder why benefits should rise in line with inflation when no job is?

[Bananil]

Massively struggling with food prices and absolutely no chance the heating is going on for a long time yet. DH and I work full time but have not had a pay rise since before the pandemic and wouldn’t ask for one as our industry has taken a real hit. I can’t think of any jobs that are expecting a pay rise in line with inflation so why do much fuss about making sure benefits do?

@The4teddybears what point are you attempting to make re EPC ratings? I am disabled and in private rented which is currently EPC rating E (one above illegal to rent out). The new guidelines are no use to me for another couple of years and might see me evicted altogether if it's too expensive to update. I have gone to bed in hat, scarf, jumper and gloves in winter for the past decade as can't afford to heat the place. I also don't know where people are getting figures like 39k from - if I received that I would be laughing.

@Scuttlingherbert
Because it shouldn't be a race to the bottom?

^Love this! best comment!

This. It's so depressing this even needs saying.

@Labraradabrador oh, I understand exactly what it is to be poor - truly poor in a way that very few in the uk ever experience. I also know what it takes to change your circumstances. There will be some for whom that is categorically not a possibility, but I also see a lot of excuses for not working more/harder. It really doesn’t mean a lifetime of toil, but knuckling down for a bit seems totally unacceptable to many here?

I know sharing this little tidbit of your past is supposed to paint in a better light, but knowing that you've seen the worse of poverty (and of course it had to be worse than everyone else's poverty!), but honestly, I think it makes your opinions sound even worse. If you're such a guru on 'knuckling' down, go tout yourself as an expert, write yourself a blog or air a podcast so you can patronisingly explain to all these people how they can work harder to overcome their laziness become as successful and compassionate as you. You'll make yourself a fortune, which of course will benefit all benefit claimants cos it will 'trickle down'

What you SHOULD be asking, OP, is why so many jobs aren't getting pay rises when the bosses and shareholders of those very same organisations are raking in millions if not billions in profits, dividends and bonuses. Many companies can clearly afford to pay their employees more but are CHOOSING not to. Get angry about that, rather than getting angry that some people on the breadline might get enough so they don't starve to death.

@happyinherts
exactly! Going to work is stressful, tiring and time-consuming, 40 hours per week. and plus commute time of 2 hours a day. only take home for £1400 per month.

@Devon01 exactly the kind of defeatist mentality I was referring to!

This is a classic case of
a) you thinking that you not needing to be on benefits is due to your own merit and hard work as opposed to at least one of wealth, reasonable health, luck of family upbringing and reasonable health of dependents.
b) what’s fair isn’t the same as what is right. If in order to avoid children starving we have to be unfair I think that’s a price worth paying
c) finally and most importantly - looking to the bottom of society rather than the top to see who is to blame for the fact you have had a real terms pay cut.

‘HALF of UK households receive benefits?’

People in paid work receive benefits because their pay is so low. In effect, the State - the tax payers - are subsidising the UK plc low wage economy.

Pensioners are in effect receiving benefits, as are the disabled & those who are full time carers.

@Sarah13xx someone I know disclosed how much they get to me the other day and this is after their rent has been paid for them through another scheme. No dependents. No car to run

And I'm sure this person who trusted you enough to share such information with no idea you'd be sharing it and slagging her off on MN really appreciates you as a good and loyal friend.

I bet if she did have dependants you'd be outraged that she dared to have kids and claim benefits, just as if she did have a car to run you'd be equally scandalised that such a benefit claimant was actually allowed to own/rent/hire a car.

💯

This is the answer.

OP move jobs and get a pay rise.

You are angry at the wrong people

@Queuesarasarah This is a classic case of
a) you thinking that you not needing to be on benefits is due to your own merit and hard work as opposed to at least one of wealth, reasonable health, luck of family upbringing and reasonable health of dependents.
b) what’s fair isn’t the same as what is right. If in order to avoid children starving we have to be unfair I think that’s a price worth paying
c) finally and most importantly - looking to the bottom of society rather than the top to see who is to blame for the fact you have had a real terms pay cut.

Exactly this

As a PP said- if you really can't put your heating on at all yet @Bananil due to poverty, you will be entitled to universal credit.

Exactly this.

Most people on benefits of working age are working. Many of the rest are disabled. Benefits are worth fuck all. Please take your anger at benefit claimants and redirect it at the system which leaves many of the working people poor and lets the government waste billions through their own stupidity and greed.

@Labraradabrador exactly the kind of defeatist mentality I was referring to!

Please be kind enough to point out the bits of any of my posts on this thread that shows a defeatist mentality (a little copy and paste would be most helpful). I'm truly interested in how your mind is interpreting anything I've said in such a way, rather than just trying to speak out to say that the majority haven't been and aren't in such a position to fight their way out of homelessness and poverty. And if it can be classed as a defeatist mentality, then feel free to educate all these grasshoppers on how to fight their way out of the circumstances they've so selfishly and needlessly put themselves in.

There is no help towards a mortgage ( save for a loan that pays interest only). What are people meant to do who get less than £400 but have a mortgage double that?

So no, its nowhere near enough to live on.

someone I know disclosed how much they get to me the other day and this is after their rent has been paid for them through another scheme. No dependents. No car to run. No travel costs to get to work due to being on benefits. £2600 per month. I was astounded!

Me too since that works out at more than 30K and the benefits cap is 23K.

@Sarasandman That's why we go on strike. We have unions and we support one another. Benefits claimants don't have the option of striking, so need our support.

not many people can go on strike.
that's why op is saying they don't / won't get raise.
I know some people only get 1% raise last and this year. and some people even don't get raises.
who supports them?

Hi op.

I have a degree from Oxford University, I was fortunate by accident of birth to have had parents with professional careers that afforded us a relatively comfortable upbringing. this meant I could gone to a good school and when I struggled with maths gcse, my parents paid for a tutor. My parents paid for music lessons, and I was able to achieve top grades and get into university which is recognised enough that meant I walked into a good job on graduating.

i had a great career until I had children. One of them has a severe disability. I am unable to work due to having to meet my child’s needs.

I have gone from earning a great salary for a 40 hour week to being given a benefit of just £69.70 a week carer’s allowance. Gone was my chance to pay into a private pension, or anything else that comes from being able to work.

At one point, I would’ve agreed with you, until benefits became my life. I have my hair cut twice a year because I cannot afford to have it cut more often than that. In between times my friend cuts a straight line for me. I haven’t had new clothes since before covid. My shoes are all worn. There is no one else who could care for my child as my parents are now elderly pensioners, I’m exhausted from regular night waking and all the washing and hospital visits etc that I have to do. I can barely
afford fuel for my car.

I have met lots of people in the same boat as me. Every single penny literally counts, every price rise in the shops is a worry. I am not sure how we will cope this winter.

Back in my corporate world years, I know how much money is being made at the top. Wages are kept low. I’m sorry if you fail to see why the money I need to keep myself and my children from starving and dying isn’t fair when your wages don’t rise, but believe me it is a pretty shitty existence at the bottom when people are blaming me and others in similar circumstances.

Every one of us is only one or two life events from falling to the bottom of society. I sincerely hope that you never have to experience it too.

@StarbucksSmarterSister

@Sarah13xx

someone I know disclosed how much they get to me the other day and this is after their rent has been paid for them through another scheme. No dependents. No car to run. No travel costs to get to work due to being on benefits. £2600 per month. I was astounded!

Me too since that works out at more than 30K and the benefits cap is 23K

Pray tell, what exactly are these benefits are that takes then over the benefit cap? A breakdown please - I mean, you must know, you're both so knowledgeable and precise about the subject of these people's claims. What exactly does the £2600 per month or £30k pa consist of? I'm sure all the lazy out there will be dying to know how much more they can claim if £30k is being offered to the select (imaginary) few - might help them be confident enough to turn their heating on this winter

This is why we should be furious at a government that lets tax payers prop up large companies so that they can legally be allowed to pay their employees a pittance.

Don't waste your anger on those getting benefits, it should be employers taking the hit to pay better wages, not the tax payer.

OP yabvu and so naive

Benefits are a pittance. My friend ( single and childless with a mortgage) became disabled suddenly. She waited over 18 months for an assessment and in that time received less than £400 per month whilst being liable for a £800 mortgage nevermind actual living costs.

There was no help whatsoever and along with having to adjust to her disability she consequently lost her home after using up all her savings. She paid into the system for years . There is no safety net.

Benefit amounts are a disgrace and should absolutely increase with inflation....and then some!

Well said.

I have a similar story and had to give up a career in law to become a carer for for dc with complex needs. People are utterly clueless until it happens to them.

It's so sad and makes me angry that people feel they have to justify the reasons why they are in a position to have to (not want or choose to) claim benefits to the ignorant few on here. (Thankfully they are in the minority). There are some heartbreaking stories on this thread and for those of you who still feel they should be 'working harder', shame on you. If you're so angry and bitter about the situation, go join the tory party and campaign to get all benefits claimers put in a poor house or whatever you think is a suitable 'punishment', whilst giving all the millionaire bankers and business owners the right to give themselves ridiculous salaries and bonuses, the right to pay atrocious wages and offer zero hour contracts. Hope you never fall off your high horses