I see the usual twatty replies from the folk who’ve no idea what it’s like to try survive (not live) on UC. I worked full time since being a literal child (used to illegally work for my Dad at his sports club glass collecting at 10 and then bar work when older pre-18), didn’t go to college as I had a taste for work, worked hard to earn and move my way up the ladder, was on uc anyway to top up wages, got Covid and became disabled, unable to work, in crippling pain, essentially had a breakdown because I went back to work too early and couldn’t cope, I had to medically retire and live off pip and UC. It’s honestly been traumatic to try survive off that, once I found a fiver on the street and thanked literal god because I couldn’t afford to feed the kids properly that week. Pip I had to apply for twice because the first time, despite medical evidence the assessor scored me 0 for everything, it’s completely dehumanising. One winter we had to tell the children the boiler had broke but actually we’d run out of oil and couldn’t afford anymore for until next month so no hot water and heating, used to sneak them in to the local everyone active for a swim and shower. That same winter we had to go round collecting wood for the fire. Had to go to food banks, had to be so strict with the kids-no treats, day out, shit food, dogs ate the cheapest crap imaginable, a friend referred us to a charity to donate Christmas presents for the kids one year because oh got made redundant and the award doesn’t react upfront so it would be almost two months without additional money. It’s honestly the most depressing and miserable thing and it’s always the ones saying people are living the comfortable life who have secure warm housing, that belongs to them with a severe case of the “whataboutism” who have no idea what it’s like and still have the gall to judge and whinge and call you a scum bag. People think your housing gets paid on top of your award but it doesn’t, it’s a component of. Plus, it’s never actually as much as your rent unless in social housing. I’m in North Yorkshire, average rent is £1k a month, housing element (for us at least) of the award is less than £500 leaving a significant short fall. The benefits don’t match up with what most people have to pay for, and it was only a few years ago it stopped being less than minimum wage equivalent. If this person you know gets all this stuff then it’s either on credit or she’s got an only fans or work on the side or something. I’m not saying there’s not people out there that play the system but those few do not make up the many, and the reality is that it’s tough. Maybe those with severely disabled children get extra and they are better at budgeting…and for all those who say “oh so and so says her kids have adhd” it’s not real or whatever, you have to have medical and professional evidence to claim (like with any benefit you have to provide evidence) and it’s simply not able to be faked, a body of professionals has to diagnose a child with a life long disability or other condition such as adhd and it takes years, this isn’t something you get in a five minute drs appointment and then ring up uc and demand more money. It’s a lengthy and complicated process. And what other “benefits” and discounts do we get please?! 🤣🤣 free school meals? All primary children now get them but the combined authority in NY for high school kids is £2.78 a day for school dinners, better than nothing yes, but a hot dinner (nutritionally balanced and filling) costs £3.50 and there’s no drink included. Up until recently there was no water fountain at school for free water. Broadband social tariffs (for any vulnerable person, elderly included not just benefits) aren’t fit for purpose, slowest speeds. Impossible to use if you’re working from home for example or applying for jobs. You can get free installation and a heat pump now I think but guess what, private landlords or at least the ones I’ve dealt with, have absolutely no desire for you even to paint the walls never mind keeping it warmer, so redundant scheme. Why it exists I don’t know 🤷🏻♀️ what else…oh warm home discount. Lovely stuff except if you aren’t on gas like many are it’s not convertible in to cash for oil so it’s pretty useless, doesn’t automatically go on to electric or anything like that as we found out. Watersure only exists if you have a medical condition and again, detailed evidence and application must be submitted. Don’t get free tv licence despite the rumours. Many of us hustle our backsides off doing things at home like buying and reselling or doing other things that are manageable around children and illness. It’s narrow minded to tar everyone with the same opinion of those on UC and honestly I beg of the others to stop believing everything you read on the internet or daily mail. I understand things are hard, I’ve used my “time off” wisely and have gone on an access course and now doing a degree (got student loan debt now like everyone else!) so that I can better myself and hopefully be a tax payer again. I do get that it’s hard for everyone, my best friend owns her own home and she’s not eligible for any help, so I understand it feels unfair, but instead of pointing fingers and feeling like you’re being hard done by the likes of me I hope you can see by replies that you are much better off in the sense you have a strong degree of security. We need to be mad at the politicians and billionaires that are making everything so difficult for us all. X