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?

What a great scheme.

Oh, I have. No point just whinging on Mumsnet.

arent you lucky you are over the threshold to receive it.

Yes it literally is about that. If you're jealous of people getting free zoo tickets, then do what I said and claim universal credit. Simple.

Go on, admit that you are lucky! You get a wage and a benefit top up. Why is it so hard for you to say those words? I know plenty of people who would really like their wages to be topped up to allow for some luxuries.

It really isn’t about the zoo tickets. But if that’s your way of ignoring the bigger picture, you are welcome to fixate on them.

It is a good scheme. It’s just a shame it isn’t helping some parents who receive no other benefits and are also struggling to provide days out for their families - the no longer ‘just managing’.

I get the feeling it scares a lot of people to accept that the group who can’t manage is getting bigger.

Why can't you? I don't consider having such pitiful wages that I need a uc top up as luck, no.

The bigger picture of what? People on lower incomes getting discounts, like I said if that's so great then go ahead and claim uc. But you wont will you, because you know higher wages amount to more than uc and discounts.

I am glad to hear it!

How would that work, take your payslip to Chester Zoo to evidence you earn less than “x” amount?

They’re offering it to people on low/no income, the most deprived groups. I’m not sure what else you can ask for.

This jealousy of people who have the least is so baffling.

It's just not that simple any more though.
The inconsistencies in the system mean that some people on benefits have a very high disposable income while others (still in modest homes, still often with health and other challenges) have far less to live on even though they aren't able to claim any benefits. Or maybe aren't quite as skilled at persuading people they have a unique type of anxiety that means they can't work but can go clubbing 3x a week.

The system is leaving a bunch of people squeezed on all sides but without help and we need to have compassion for those people too.

I appreciate that, but we have a measurable way of establishing who in society has the highest need and people in receipt of benefits fall into that.

We can’t just start taking it case by case, based on how much disposable income someone has when you take their outgoings etc into account, because that’s not universally measurable.

The way of measuring it is who gets paid the least, and therefore requires a top up, who receives other means tested benefits, who claims disability related benefit.

The lowest paid and most vulnerable are the most in need, if you’re not in that category, you may not be well enough but you’re not the worst off, and there’s a difference.

Actually this isn't about me.

But based on the applications I see there is very little correlation between need and receipt of benefits. Many on benefits have greater disposable income that those working who don't get benefits.
And there are wild inconsistencies in who gets disability benefits.

I award grants based on actual need and more often than not those receiving benefits don't qualify because they clearly have the means to afford not just "needs" but plenty of "wants".

I can't find the post but someone a few pages ago was saying that someone could get PIP for ADHD, work full time and qualify for these discounted trips to Chester zoo.

To qualify for PIP you have to be severely disabled. To qualify for PIP when you have ADHD you have to be either very severely affected by it or have other conditions as well like autism. People who have adhd severely enough to get PIP are very unlikely to work full time. Some do, but they will need a lot of support.

I recieve UC and work FT, I struggle every single month.
I wonder if there is a similar scheme in Scotland as my 4 year old hasn't been to a zoo as I have no way of affording it

Scotland has £7 tickets to Edinburgh zoo and £7 tickets to Highland Wildlife Park amongst a few other things.

Universal Credit Days Out from £1 (2025 + UK map)

But they really don’t have the least when all things are considered. They may have had the least initially, then benefits are added, so they get more - at this point probably more than many workers who don’t get top ups. And then they get extras thrown in on top - like tickets to attractions or discounted travel.

It really isn’t the group of people who are claiming UC who are struggling the most right now. There is a support system set up for them already and it is working quite nicely.

But people on UC are different with different circumstances. Some are absolutely still struggling despite receiving UC.

Because you could have pitiful wages and no top up. The combination of your wage plus the top up equates to what is probably more than many other workers are receiving. You are supported; many people are not.

Of course and I wish they weren’t struggling. But it is also awful to get no help and there are many who are struggling who are getting nothing.

Which is always going to be the case because with a financial limit which most benefits have, people are always going to miss out. Unless UC is given to everyone or we introduce a universal income benefit, that will never change.

Exactly this.
In the charity I work for it is rarely the people getting benefits that I assess as actually being in need. Most people with benefits who apply to us have a very decent disposable income and if they are in difficulty it is usually because they aren't bothering to budget. (Vast expenditure on takeaways days out and frittering on Costa trips etc )

The real struggle and need is those who maybe aren't as good at gaming the PIP system so are struggling with real ill health /disability but no support. Or who are just above the threshold for benefits but squeezed for the bone by price rises and high taxation and the absolute lack of support for people in their financial bracket.

If I’m being obtuse here then I apologise, however that makes no sense to me.

If I was working full time, on NMW, and single mother to my existing 9 year old - I would get a top up. I’d still get a top up if I was earning £29k - I didn’t check any higher than that. I intentionally left out that he qualifies for disability benefit when I was doing the calculation.

I wouldn’t, if I didn’t have him.

It is obvious that someone with a child needs more than someone who doesn’t have one.

It is obvious that if I wasn’t doing the calculation on single parenthood - the other adult in my house should be working.

It is obvious that if you have a part time job and need more money, work more - unless you have reason not to, like a disabled child/disability yourself.

It’s also obvious that if you’re not on NMW, you’re not the worst paid, and therefore not the “worst off.”

I think the real issue is perhaps that people don’t like that those top ups bring low earners in line with that they earn in their better paid salary. That’s just aimless envy in my view.

If those people with real ill health qualify for PIP, they really ought to apply for it.

Its not as simple.as that and you know it. There are lots of types of ill health that are hard to get PIP with. And some people are just much more comfortable exaggerating than others

I looked at a grant application a couple of months ago where there applicant got PIP for anxiety. It didn't seem to stop him travelling abroad regularly or going out clubbing though

Quite the contrary, I know how difficult it is to apply for disability benefit because my son receives it.

That’s why I find these constant assertions about a million clubbing anxiety victims equal parts hilarious and boring.

There are people who manage to cheat the system, for sure, but the idea it’s a widespread problem is ridiculous. The forms themselves are enough to put most people off.

Like I said, if someone is in ill health and would qualify for PIP as a result of that, their best bet is filling in the arduous forms and claiming it.

There seems to be wild inconsistency in who gets it and who doesn't .
But I can't tally the paperwork I am seeing which shows these people living very full lives despite their "anxiety" or similar with the idea that they are profoundly disabled. The only conclusion is that some people absolutely are gaming the system. While others who need help can't access it.

Hence why any sensible charity doesn't have "in receipt of benefits" as a blanket gateway criteria /,cut off. Because it simply isn't that straightforward