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?

Ah, well done for working all that out. I fear it will fall on deaf ears amid the foot stomping and declarations of unfairness.

Also it was absolutely dead today. So Im not sure many families are taking up the offer. At most exhibits we were the only people stood there. We were pretty much walking round on our own.

Reconsider who they define as ‘in need’ to include a wider group.

Benefits are an easy way to prove that though.
How would you prove someone is in need if they have not been recognised via the benefit system that they are?

Most adults wouldn’t go without kids though. I recently took my family to the zoo, the vast majority had young children.

So they introduce their own system, and how do people demonstrate their need? Are Chester zoo supposed to do affordability assessments?

So we carry on with a system where the same people receive lots of help and a growing number of people are struggling and receive nothing.

That’s fair.

Speak for yourself. Zoos are not just for kids. Personally I would rather go during term time when there are less kids.

It really isn’t. It’s about people receiving benefits, help with housing, help with utility bills, free school meals, help with transport and lots of special deals whilst others (whose basic income are much the same) get nothing and are therefore struggling financially. The tickets to the zoo are just one example of the imbalance.

What is stopping you giving up work and going on UC yourself if you think it is so lucrative.
I am on UC and I don't even recognise half the help you are on about.

and how would they do that?

They are a zoo, not the government.

Great. I’m glad it works out better for the zoo then.

However, as I keep stating, it really isn’t about the tickets to the zoo. It’s about attitudes to those who are struggling financially and receive no help as the focus is always on the same group of people.

Quite right. I did enjoy the maths and the commitment to working it out though.

If the government did this, the other groups and charities would follow.

Do you resent the fact that more people need help?

So you think the income threshold to receive UC should be higher?

and the people who would just miss out? They would claim it's unfair too.

If there's a cut off, there will always be people who just miss out and always people who claim it's unfair. That isn't going to solve anything.

So you don’t value the help you get from universal credit? I don’t think it is lucrative but it would be valued by many who don’t receive it and are finding it hard to make ends meet.

Yes, the people who receive help are lucky, aren’t they?

I am grateful that there is a welfare system that means I have a roof over my head and I can pay my bills and eat. But I am finding it hard but don't get more money because the cost of everything is going up. I just have to cut back on things and budget better.

Me either.

Currently, no one on UC is eligible for free school meals unless their income is below £7,400 a year. This will change from next September to be fair but it does seem to be assumed that everyone on UC with school aged children are eligible for free school meals when that has never been the case until September 2026.

Honestly, I am also happy there is a system to support those in need. But it isn’t catching all those who ARE in need right now. Those people have also cut back and looked at their budgets. They aren’t spending money left, right and centre. They don’t have any left over and they know there won’t be any help from anyone or anything else,

My child is disabled. I don't feel particularly lucky.

I'd much rather have a healthy child and not need to claim UC. Maybe some people should be more thankful for what they do have, such as healthy children.

I'd give anything for that.

Reconsider who they define as ‘in need’ to include a wider group.

That would require charities, funders, grant awards and the likes to reconsider their parameters.

Not the zoo. They don't set these parameters - they just allow the scheme to run because it has benefits for them.

How do you suggest a zoo - who tbh are likely to know so little about benefits they won't even be able to tell between people on ESA who are entitled to the scheme (IR) and people who technically aren't (CB) - work out the parameters of a wider group? Where do they draw the line? And where does that line go without another chat like this one insisting they should be having a wider group still?

UC is not given because the cost of everything is going up.
It is given to single parents, people who are too sick/disabled to work, people who are between jobs and are looking for work, and people on low incomes (who have kids.... single childless people get told to get a better job).
If you are not in any of those groups, you wont get UC. You will have to increase your income in other ways, be that getting a better job or working more hours, or moving somewhere cheaper.
Having a big mortgage and living beyond your means is not 'in need'.

Sorry, this was to @BustopherPonsonbyJones