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

Also shouldn't the state pension gradually rise with inflation ? How long should it stay at 185 a week for ? Should it still be that in 30/40 years and be utterly worthless to those working hard today whol retire then ?

Yeah this is true

It is not beyond the wit of man, they administer pension credit already.

Its not all about whether you're working or not, but how much you earn. I work part time, DH works full time (not really well paid jobs but not MW level either) and we were entitled to both the COL payments as we have had an active UC claim, and also we can claim the majority of our childcare costs back through it too.To be honest, I was suprised we were entitled to what we were when we started claiming, and I think the threshold is quite high really.

@privacynotnow who said its not coming out of my pocket? Where have I said anywhere I claim benefits?

The money is not coming out of your pocket any more than it is mine and I don't hold these views at all , happy for people not to starve and freeze to death in a supposed civilized society

Pensioners will of course pay additional tax if eligible.

I am fine with basic pension rising in line with inflation.

It is blanket additional payments for heating costs to pensioners that I am not totally behind.

Oh we have a mind reader, so you know how much i pay in taxes each month?

My issue is not whether the lowest income group should be supported - they should and I would prefer to see more targeted support - but additional support for heating is going to all pensioners regardless of need.

Agree with this. I'm fed up of the Tories ignoring many generation's needs for the one that is most likely to vote for them. So blatant, and a bit desperate, but that's them.

It's sad this thread has become a race to the bottom like they all do. It distracts from the poor job our government has done.

I agree with the OP. Many people are affected by this, not just those who are on benefits (working or not working). Housing in my area is particularly expensive, so those who are above the threshold and cant claim benefits sink most of their earnings into rent. They are still struggling. They also have high childcare costs that wipe out one income too.

It's funny how high housing costs only become an issue when those with a mortgage are affected. Interesting. The Lib Dems proposal to help people with their mortgages this week with no mention about renters made me rage this week. I've dumped them in the Tory cupboard now. How are all three parties getting it so wrong? I haven't seen any good solutions from anyone yet.

Haha, so hypocritical. You assumed I was a benefit claimant but you jump down the throat os someone who made an assumption about you? As I said, pot kettle black

Yes it takes the piss

Op, these people really are in the minority. In a deprived area it may seem like a lot of people (which is actually becoming less) but statistically across the county it’s not many at all. The media and the Daily Fail will also have people believe it’s the majority of benefit claimants but it really isn’t.

we all know a few people that do laze around claiming everything they can but compare that with the amount of people who we brush shoulders with its very little.

the majority of benefit claimants are the working poor and the disabled. Personally, I’m happy for the few dossers to benefit from this if it means the majority of vulnerable claimants won’t freeze and starve. It’s not worth getting upset over them benefiting from this as the alternative would be horrendous for millions of people.

TBH I dont care in the lightest what you earn or what you claim, my only concern is providing for my own family and how much the goverment is squeezing me to pay for ungrateful sods.

So no you are irrelevant to me, please dont think I care in the slightest about you.

@carefulcalculator no this is true but I imagine it would take time , just look at the universal credit role out for example it's taken and will still take years . They need a quick solution due to the unprecedented quick rise in living costs so it is what it is

Much like the across the board help with energy

As an aside I'd be interested to know how many people who didn't need the money at all where to proud to " take a handout " and donated the money to a good cause

Benefit claimants clearly need the additional support, they are all on restricted incomes already.

YANBU!

No I meant I also pay taxes with no complaints about it ending up in the hands of some I fortunate peasants 😉

Well with out knowing how much each of us pays each month its pretty much irrelivant to say you pay taxes also. For all I know you may only pay £50 a month 😂

That sounds something like a politician, amazon or a tax avoider would say.

I am so bored of hearing about "the squeezed middle". Where do you all think the threshold should lie? I assume somewhere slightly above your household income?

Well I wish I did 😂
However the more tax equals a higher income so it's hard to feel to bad for people paying lots !!

Aww are your bored because your not the one being squeezed, how fortunate for you.

@fernfen this was sarcasm

My other posts should show I am clearly none of the above !!

So why are you commenting on how much people pay in tax? Obviously you are interested in how much people earn. You're just trying to stealth boast that you're a high earner and we should all bow down to you because you're in the higher tax bracket so you're obviously single-handedly paying everyone's rent and utility bills.
No need to reply, you've already stated quite publicly im irrelevant and not worthy of your engagement. I'll try not be too offended and will keeo my tears to a bare minimum ,