Irritated that families on UC get heavily discounted entry

[happybug1234]

feel very aggrieved this afternoon to find out that people on UC get heavily discounted entry to popular attractions:

London Zoo
London transport museum
science museum wonderlab
Cutty Sark
kew Gardens
St Paul’s cathedral

As a mum with a professional career, with both husband and I working full time, paying a mortgage, paying a fortune in childcare for 2 under 4’s I seriously despair! From experience of people I see around me, families on UC seem to have more disposable income than us as their rent is paid, have no childcare costs and all their costs subsidised on social tariffs etc.

why is the government getting away with this and why are more middle class/income people not up in arms about it! At the moment I can’t see how us working hard and being self sufficient has benefited us as a family.

You're right OP, people on benefits should stay inside out of sight and never have any fun. They should know their place. It's a travesty that underprivileged children are given the chance to experience fun days out, they don't deserve it at all.

🙄

Can’t you just feel fortunate @happybug1234 that you’re able to make choices? To have a paid off “forever” home at the end of your life?

can you not be happy without having to think of what others might be getting , and seeing that as a perceived advantage when you’re actually doing a lot better off than most?

Well, at least get your facts right before posting.

I will admit to being surprised when I discovered that these discounts existed.

That said, I am a single parent, 2 children, I work, and I recieve Universal Credit. I have childcare costs (because you know, I work....) I pay my mortgage, and I dont know what you mean by "social tariffs".

Sooo. Yes. Yabu.

I’m not sure that life on UC is quite the subsidised bed of roses implied here. Yes the rent is paid but once the kids are clothed and fed, bills paid and other sundry costs covered there isn’t much left.

please don’t forget that a lot of people who get UC also work.

Either way though I think anything that makes cultural experiences more accessible to everyone is good. It’s too easy for these things to become middle class days out and then so many children miss out.

Perhaps, because you’ll have a pension and your own home. This means you are more likely to be comfortable in old age and be able to leave your children an inheritance. Getting out of poverty is incredibly difficult for many reasons. Not everyone can be a professional or earn well.

I say this as someone who had a profession, but also has empathy.

I agree with OP. These are luxuries that you should work hard for, not be given for free.

I think what you're trying to say is "Chavvy scum on benefits don't need educational opportunities for their little brats, whereas my Tarquin would really get full benefit from this!" Personally, as a taxpayer, I quite like the idea of opening up these possibilities to the children of those on low income.

Be thankful for what you have. Comparison is the thief of joy.

I know, I take full advantage and all I had to do was get a degenerative illness with no cure that my only Dd inherited.
I was told in my 30s I'd never see 50, I'm my Dds only parent and I'm now 48.
What larks.

I'm middle class, I work, and I get UC, am I allowed a discount?

A lot of people on UC still work and work their asses off. Im glad a child could potentially get a nice experience their parents might have not been able to afford otherwise. A friend of mine is a single parent, not by choice, no child maintenance either. She works full time and she gets topped up by UC, she scrapes by.

Those in benefits will get pension credit to top them up and also my property will be used for care fees where as someone with no home will get theirs paid for. So at the end of the day no better off….

It’s a privilege to have a mortgage, to earn a middle income and to be middle class. Sounds like you can’t recognise this. But I hope that children from underprivileged backgrounds are kept from having fun so that you can feel better about your life.

Families on UC do have more disposable income, and more time to enjoy it. They also get access to cheaper healthcare, and if they have pets then cheaper care for them. Just wait for dynamic pricing on the supermarkets, people free 10.30am.on a Tuesday will get their shopping 30% cheaper than you.

As the OP has so kindly highlighted the scheme here is a list of some of the places who offer it (lots of adverts though unfortunately)

www.dayoutwiththekids.co.uk/hub/parenting/money-and-finance/our-top-pick-of-universal-credit-days-out-2026

It is not the government getting away with it!!! These are private companies who choose to offer discounts to people, who might not otherwise ever go. What has the government got to do with it? I expect you will next be posting outrage at English Heritage offering free entry to asylum seekers (Also nothing to do with the government, in case you cannot figure that out either).

Perhaps you should try living on UC for a while and realise how hard it is. Sadly, most families on UC can't afford any day trips or holidays, yet I expect you take these for granted.

I am a sponger pensioner getting free travel, plus getting concessions for some attractions- I only worked for 40 years as a teacher, bringing up 4 children and finding life a struggle at times, shouldn’t be allowed. Mind you, my GC get free travel in London too - outrageous!

People can work and get uc top up. I would not begrudge them a discount. Nor would I assume someone working a poorly paid job isnt working hard.

If employers would pay staff properly then we wouldn't have people in work needing top ups to survive.

London Zoo is not owned by the government. It is it’s own charity so presumably it can decide who goes in and at what price.

St Paul’s cathedral is equally not owned by the government unless you consider the Anglican Church the government. In addition if you go to a church service there worshippers go in for free.

What’s that got to do with those on benefits getting heavily subsidised experiences that your average person has to shell out for?