To think the cost of living payment should have been paid differently?

[muddlinthroughit]

Would like to think 99% of people have used it as it's meant, to help with food, fuel etc

However, on my socials today I have seen 1 person spend it on nails and 2 tattoos, and another on a PS5....

Not sure that's what it's meant for?

We have put ours aside for food and power and to help with Xmas

You should have gotten a big screen TV so you can bask in its glow and heat throughout winter.

Which Cost of Living payment is that, there's a few schemes available? Are the Govt paying out the 2nd benefits-related payment early as it's not scheduled until the end of this month?

As if you're going to spend it on luxury Christmas. Should the taxpayer be paying for you to have Christmas? Dis-gusting.

Oh wait, maybe it's not anyone's business what you spend it on.

"Eight million people on low incomes who receive certain benefits will start getting the second instalment of a targeted cost-of-living payment.

The £324 payment would be made directly into bank accounts between now and 23 November, the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) said.

Those who qualify via tax credits will receive it by the end of the month."
^bbc story

@Swampthing55 my electricity provider is EDF and the way they are processing it, is a payment to the bank account they take the DD from, so it was a credit to our bank account. I’ve obviously still got to pay the £175 pm direct debit (which used to be £85) 😫

I bought an 80 inch tv with the last payment.

I thought I would be more sensible this time.

I'll buy from a small, local dealer as well, I'm all for supporting up and coming entrepreneurs.

I adjust my budget to fit my monthly income, so I don’t rely on ‘surprise’ money such as rebates or whatever to pay my basic bills.
Therefore part of my CoL payment will go on treats for me and DD and part will be saved.

Surely the government's specific contribution to Xmas costs is the annual £10 bonus for people on certain benefits (which has remained at £10 since the 70s)?

Yanbu - there should be specific items that can be purchased via a voucher of thing. I think if someone attempts to use it to say buy a packet of biscuits then some sort of alarm should sound and other shoppers should be given giant foam hands to use to point at the offending person who's buying biscuits when in place of their mandated packet of gruel. I think they should also be given wrist bands in super markets so that everyone knows who they are and we can all ensure they stay on the right track. Anyway OP if you draft a letter to your MP post in on here for others to use as a template. I reckon by Christmas we can have this scheme rectified!

Yes and no. There are reasonable arguments about equitable distribution of the overall pot. But at the end of the day it is money to be spent as you see fit. We should not be nitpicking over minor transactions when you think about the bigger picture.

If people are spending it on Christmas, does that mean they think they didn't need as much help?

Not eligible. Don’t have a £650 sum to spend on anything today, let alone holidays or PS5s. I heard a mum at school talking about how she was going to spend her summer payment on a holiday. How lovely for her 😬

@VladmirsPoutine is spot on. Perhaps people with the wristbands could be made to go through some sort of airport style security check, where their shopping gets searched for prohibited biscuits?

🤣😂🤣

I already have a ps5, so I'm going to do my drugs off it!

People really need to learn to do poor right don't they OP?!

Of course you're clearly deserving of the luxury of Christmas but anyone else spending it on anything else is obviously undeserving.

I bought a new tattoo with mine, sat admiring it through the fag smoke and the change in the colours as I lift my arm to swill the can of cider while being dwarfed under the TV the same size as a football field.
🤷🏼‍♀️

Thanks Boots so OP is probably referring to the UC-related payment and not the £66 'power credit' that everyone with an electric bill receives; or most of OPs FB Friends are Pensioners who like getting their nails done and bugger the bills.

Similar to OP I appreciate my £66 power credit and have been tightening my belt to deal with the current conditions; very dissimilar to OP I don't have FB Friends and hardly concern myself with if any of my few RL friends get their 'nails done'.

Maybe you should get off of FB OP?

Well, if you ever been on benefits you should know that it's not a luxury. And to be honest I understand when people want to spend (part of it) as a little treat.

Great forward thinking there- spend the summer payment on the ps5 and the winter payment on drugs, you’re set the rest of the year!

I've just booked a 2 night Eurodisney break in January with mine......buzzing!!

Wish I could put the heating on too though... my Coke has all turned into mush from the damp. 😢