To think that working people should get help too

[cantthinkofabetterusername]

I read today about another COL payment next year for people on benefits, pensioners etc. Now I completely agree that the most vulnerable in society need help and i don't begrudge them a penny. My AIBU is working people are struggling too! I work 30 hours a week, dp does 50 therefore we get no government help as we apparantley earn too much. In reality we're scraping by most months due to increasing bills and general cost of living, I'm aware I may come across as jealous, I'm not im just bloody frustrated that working people who don't get government help are seen by the government as not struggling

Working people do get help, I work 33.5 hours a week, hubby works 40. We get help. Probably because our wages are dog shit.

Most people who receive benefits are working, if wages are too low is it their fault? ( genuine question, not trying to provoke).

Over 40% of all claimants on UC are working. And a large % of those that aren't working are unable to work due to disability etc. In general the COL payments are subsidising low wages, not people sitting around doing nothing.

Yes, I know how you feel, OP. I work full time and don't get any help. If I had children I'd qualify for tax credits and so on, but working adult-only households don't qualify for any state help. I'm cold already (live up north) and I'm dreading January/February when the temperature will be dropping further. I don't mean that others who already get state help shouldn't get it, or even get more help, but I don't think it always goes far enough.

I understand your frustration as its us in the squeezed middle that dont get any support as we earn too much for government support but also still being hit by COL increases. It's easy to feel resentful and forgotten about but ultimately the impacts for us are that we cant have the lifestyle we want that we feel we should have on reasonable salaries which admittedly is shit but it's not the same as not eating to make sure the kids are fed.

You did get help. Everyone got 150 off their council tax and 400 off their bills.

Working people get benefits and help

2 FT wages coming in, £150 council tax rebate, £400 energy...

Yep. You DID get help.

Woolandwonder Not everyone got the £150 council tax rebate

Millions of people in work will be getting another cost of living payment, because their wages are too low to survive on without gov top up. Punch up not down op.

That's true, but the vast majority of people did, and that help wasn't limited to people 'on benefits ' which the OP is referring to.

Yes you do sound jealous.

No, everyone did not get £150 off their council tax bill, only those up to band D. (Our house is band E, but a not particularly lavish terraced townhouse!)

This is true. I'm grateful that I can feed my dd.

Don't bother OP, apparently on MN your expected to graft your fingers to the bone and if you work hard and earn a half decent salary you should be expected to pay through the nose in taxes get zero in return apart from a good feeling your having to help people who despise you for doing well and begrudge you not liking the fact you have to pay for them 🙄.

It’s not rocket science to realise that the people who are entitled to help are living on less than you hence being entitled to help.

I don’t get help, I cut back accordingly as everything rises. It is annoying to be working all hours to make ends meet but I think I’m lucky that I have a job, I’m able to work and that I don’t read the daily Mail

That's true, there will be some people who that unfortunately missed who would be in need of the money, but it wasn't limited to people on benefits/pensioners etc which the OP is referring to, and I'd guess the vast majority of people in council tax E and above are keeping their heads above water.

My house is Band E but worth much less than Band C rated houses further south. So no help there. But so glad people in much more expensive properties got help.

@Woolandwonder I wasn't referring to people 'on benefits' as in the people who work but get top ups, but yeah the people who absolutely can work but choose not to that's who I'm referring to.

Wouldn't mind if I was doing well!

Do you personally know any one like this? I don’t.

I know people who are too unwell to work and people who are carers but no one who chooses at as a way of life.

I know how you feel OP. I compare our lifestyle to that of my boomer parents and despite having similar careers we are rubbing pennies together at the end of the month with no savings while at our age they could afford two holidays a year and amazing quality of life. It’s hard to always try and focus on those worse off and not get envious of those better off and feel resentful that you’re working your arse off for what feels like very little. I’m trying to practice gratitude!

@TabithaTittlemouse unfortunately yes I do

My favourite ever post on Mumsnet🤣🤣

But yes OP the tax free allowance should have gone up even just a little bit.

@cantthinkofabetterusername Haha that's the point is it, apparently it's a race to the bottom. If your earning more than the next person your apparently rich no matter what your personal circumstances.