AIBU to be miffed about Chester Zoo?

[Stillinshock123]

I need a space to rant but then I welcome feedback and general common-sense.

Chester zoo have posted about £1 deal for those on benefits such as UC, DLA and PIP.

Now, I understand that for some this may be the only opportunity to attend the Zoo given their already ridiculously high prices.

However AIBU to be upset that yet again working families (full time not claiming parts of UC) don’t seem to benefit from much?

We attend the zoo only once a year because of how expensive it is.. so that’s a luxury. So no thanks, no support or discounts.

I emailed them about this, and they replied saying that it’s part of a charity scheme to give back to families who otherwise can’t afford it. But then.. why shouldn’t it be first come first serve?

I don't think those in that category are struggling as much as those on UC. Yes you are feeling the pinch but probably not as much.

So who is to blame here? Chester Zoo? The person on UC? The government?

When you have figured it out, direct your anger there.

It's ridiculous.

It means a working adult in receipt of PIP for ADHD gets to go to the zoo for virtually free.

And high-earners in receipt of UC due to rent and childcare costs get the same.

Stupid initiative.

Welfare benefits were designed for people struggling to live, not as a top-up for otherwise financially secure people.

What an odd thing to be jealous of.

As a disabled person I'm fed up of paying full price for things only to be able to do half of the attractions because it's not accessible. Except this information isn't always freely available. Or they claim on their website it's accessible but ignore those of us with disabilities that don't just affect our mobility.

I also don't understand why people are almost angry that children whose parents on low incomes can now afford to do these things because of discounted tickets

How do you know? Times are tough and very tough if you don’t receive any help and haven’t a massive income. You need to stop assuming that it is the same people who are feeling the pinch.

I’m not angry but I do think it is an important thing to discuss. I don’t blame people on UC for taking what is offered, although I am not sure why they need to be given more on top of state benefits. I am delighted it is being offered to people with disabilities. I don’t care if Chester Zoo see it as a way to tick boxes and get money in at a time when ticket sales are low. I think the government need to be very aware that the people who are struggling are those who haven’t traditionally asked for help or received anything but that they may need more help now. If the government don’t address this, there are going to be large numbers of resentful people who are struggling financially. The whole country has to deal with the repercussions of not dealing with this. I don’t think you can keep saying, ‘But they aren’t struggling as much…’. You don’t know and shouldn’t assume. Salaries have not gone up and prices have gone up - massively.

I am pretty sure you have more money than I do on UC otherwise you would be entitled to it.

This doesn’t affect me. But for those it does affect, you could get more in UC and your wage than they receive in their wage. Being on UC then opens up more benefits and discounts for you, including, but not limited to, £1 tickets to tourist attractions. This is what is upsetting so many people. Why are you so reluctant to accept that there are people who are worse off than you and they will be receiving nothing, despite working hard? You are actually relatively lucky (but it seems almost impossible for many who receive UC to admit this).

They could always reduce their hours to get UC if they really think it's that great

Am I lucky? Currently can't work more than a shift a week as my son is autistic and can't manage more than a few hours at nursery. Grateful for the £150 off energy costs and zoo tickets but we still don't get help with the mortgage etc. Also don't get help with dentist or free school meals.

There are a few places that do the £1 entry to UC claimants. The Tower of London, the V&A, Kew plus others. It’s an amazing scheme and offers very expensive places entry to people who could not ordinarily afford it.

This isn’t actually true. You have to tick the boxes to get high amounts of UC. So if you get lots of UC, you generally have to rent to get housing benefit which doesn’t pay the full rent, just a proportion and then you don’t have the stability of a mortgage. It tapers off so the more you earn the less you receive in UC. There’s a lot of disinformation about UC.
being able to visit expensive attractions for £1 is an amazing thing for people who could never dream of affording the entry.

This isn’t actually true. You have to tick the boxes to get high amounts of UC. So if you get lots of UC, you generally have to rent to get housing benefit which doesn’t pay the full rent, just a proportion and then you don’t have the stability of a mortgage. It tapers off so the more you earn the less you receive in UC. There’s a lot of disinformation about UC.
being able to visit expensive attractions for £1 is an amazing thing for people who could never dream of affording the entry.

This isn’t actually true. You have to tick the boxes to get high amounts of UC. So if you get lots of UC, you generally have to rent to get housing benefit which doesn’t pay the full rent, just a proportion and then you don’t have the stability of a mortgage. It tapers off so the more you earn the less you receive in UC. There’s a lot of disinformation about UC.
being able to visit expensive attractions for £1 is an amazing thing for people who could never dream of affording the entry.

This isn’t actually true. You have to tick the boxes to get high amounts of UC. So if you get lots of UC, you generally have to rent to get housing benefit which doesn’t pay the full rent, just a proportion and then you don’t have the stability of a mortgage. It tapers off so the more you earn the less you receive in UC. There’s a lot of disinformation about UC.
being able to visit expensive attractions for £1 is an amazing thing for people who could never dream of affording the entry.

This isn’t actually true. You have to tick the boxes to get high amounts of UC. So if you get lots of UC, you generally have to rent to get housing benefit which doesn’t pay the full rent, just a proportion and then you don’t have the stability of a mortgage. It tapers off so the more you earn the less you receive in UC. There’s a lot of disinformation about UC.
being able to visit expensive attractions for £1 is an amazing thing for people who could never dream of affording the entry.

This isn’t actually true. You have to tick the boxes to get high amounts of UC. So if you get lots of UC, you generally have to rent to get housing benefit which doesn’t pay the full rent, just a proportion and then you don’t have the stability of a mortgage. It tapers off so the more you earn the less you receive in UC. There’s a lot of disinformation about UC.
being able to visit expensive attractions for £1 is an amazing thing for people who could never dream of affording the entry.

This isn’t actually true. You have to tick the boxes to get high amounts of UC. So if you get lots of UC, you generally have to rent to get housing benefit which doesn’t pay the full rent, just a proportion and then you don’t have the stability of a mortgage. It tapers off so the more you earn the less you receive in UC. There’s a lot of disinformation about UC.
being able to visit expensive attractions for £1 is an amazing thing for people who could never dream of affording the entry.

Not true.

Many people are entitled to UC because they don't own a home or have DC in nursery.

People with a mortgage and no DC aren't entitled.

Judging by MN, a lot of high-earners are entitled to UC and the additional benefits like free school meals, Zoo trips etc

You put math’s instead of maths.

There has to be a threshold though unfortunately. I still stand by my opinion that the majority on UC are struggling and are not living some life of luxury as you are imagining.

I think people are doing this. Not good for the economy, is it? We need cash cows, not more people draining dwindling reserves.

But by not owning a home they have financial instability. I’m not sure if that’s something to be envious of?

its hard to begrudge people a day out when they are on UC.

if you’ve never been on UC, it’s a nightmare of bureaucracy every month to inform them of your earnings etc.

So you have a family member with a disability? I complete agree you are entitled to everything you can get and, no, you are not lucky. Again, I feel the issue is with those who have no disabilities within the family but are claiming support. They are lucky to get benefits and extra top ups.

They have housing instability in that a landlord could sell up. It's not financial instability.

And I was on UC for a few months as a renter when I was off sick from work.

It wasn't a nightmare. I got it very quickly and it stopped immediately when they must have accessed my bank accounts or my employers records because they seemed to know I was back in full-time work and no longer eligible. I didn't tell them, it just stopped.