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.

I was with a friend today who was telling me about a Mum at her school (we both know) who works only part time as a Teacher (one child) and so therefore gets UC top up. The Dad isn’t in the picture but she gets a lot of financial help from family. Her son recently went on residential and she didn’t have pay a penny! How is this fair? It’s not only about the free / cheap days out there’s lots more too.
There are people that genuinely need it and I would never begrudge a child anything but the system is flawed and just not fair for working families who are just scraping by each month without luxuries.

So right I wish there were more threads on this.

So why bother working then? If we can all just either be unemployed or in low earning roles getting things for free?

I work in a school and it’s not true of ours…those that don’t work also struggle, as do some families that do work.

We have a charity within our school to help those living in poverty (some work, some don’t) to try to bridge the gap.

Interesting that your vitriol is aimed at the mum working in a professional job raising a child on her own, not the deadbeat dad.

Can you break that £4000 figure down? Which elements of UC does it include?
Which benefits other than UC do they receive?

How many of the adults on the claim have a disability or health condition which prevents them working (and are in receipt of other disability/health-related benefits or LCW/LCWRA) or do they have caring responsibilities for someone with a disability? Or how many of the children on the claim have a disability or health condition and are in receipt of another disability/health-related benefit?

Because unless one or more of these things apply, they would not be receiving £4000 a month in benefits when they don't work due to the benefit cap.

Getting what for free you are not listening to what people are saying. £1 to go to London zoo great how do you suggest anyone outside of London on low wages gets there

That would need to be very specific conditions because a normal al
UC claim for a patents and kids is very low indeed . Those that get a bit more either have a disability or a disabled child or maybe a lot of childcare costs ( as an example my colleague earns above 40k and gets UC to help soy childcare ) .
In 99% of other cases you are better working

Let me tell you now!
I'm on UC, having a 4 year old and health condition. My husband works full time. I rent privately, not eligible for council house, I don't get discounted council tax, I don't get discounted dentist or free prescriptions. I don't get discount for TFL either. We have no disposable income. Calculating food to get through the month. Yes I actually been to all those places you put down. Because my child deserve to see it and I would never be able to afforded it otherwise.

Yes OP. Let the povvos rot at home in the school holidays.
As for having a professional career. I too have a professional career and receive Universal Credit. I am a single parent to three teenagers due to unfortunately choosing a feckless Husband in my younger years. I work 40 hours a week and make a decent enough wage. I have a slight top up from UC as the CMS are so pathetic I wouldn't pay them in washers.
Shall I tell my youngest DC we need to stay at home in case our discount offends people?

Firstly, a lot of the attractions are discounted rather than free. That’s probably relative to their earnings.

I work because I enjoy my job and want to set an example for my children, I am fortunate enough not to qualify for UC.

Everyone’s reason for working is different - why do you work?

Just to add, it sounds like you earn substantially more than someone on UC, even if you do have to pay for a zoo visit. So there’s an incentive.

Errr, this is just an example. I’m sure there are plenty of other similar subsidised attractions elsewhere…

It’s a bit of a kick in the teeth if you’re working and can’t afford it though.
That’s why I say get yourself sorted, reduce your hours, get on benefits.

Teens working PT, students. People in-between jobs. Mums who were SAHM but want a bit of extra cash. People who are retired who want to do something to keep them active.

I believe that it's an individuals responsibility to look after themselves. If this isn't enough, find something else to do.

It the membership free too?

I looked there is absolutely nothing anywhere near where I live

Exactly. I was some of these categories… e.g. student and I didn’t expect subsidised trips to Kew Gardens, pah!!!! I lived in a grubby flat share and had to survive on part time job and a student loan that I now have to pay interest on.

The costs of things you buy are kept low by low wages ..do you advocate for living wages and only support companies who pay the living wage?

Do you think that you could never get sick and need state support?

So lower paid roles are only reserved for the young, the old and the mums.

WTF 😂

At the end of the day, there are lots of reasons why people end up on UC. Yes some will be spongers, but many will be people who are

• sick
• sick and could work if so many workplaces weren't anti-disabled employees
• trying to find employment and struggling
• spending lots of time looking after elderly/poorly relatives
• spending time looking after children, maybe those who are disabled and don't have proper, regular access to school because the education system is so messed up.
• working but for a low wage because their own needs or the needs of others they are caring for limits the type of work or hours they can do.

I don't begrudge a single one of these people free access to places which enrich their already difficult lives. I'd rather the odd lazy sponger got something they don't deserve, than someone who is genuinely trying their best and still struggling go without.

For info as a mum with a professional career, with both husband and I working full time, paying a high rent and having 3 children ( which when younger we did pay childcare for ourselves as not on UC then) I’m pleased about this. We get some UC but actually a lot of families who work do.

It’s not a race to the bottom.

No old castles or anything?

Likewise

You think your kids are penalised by not having sen?

Seriously. Would you really want to swop assuming your children can go to school, access their education, healthcare. Use their local Parks, clubs, you can use childcare and have a job.

Because you can have the SEN and the no education for 18 months snd a tribunal to get it. Having to give up your job, only paying interest only mortgage with no hope of changing that. No pension, no financial security, or ability to plan for future. No clue if you will ever be able to work again. No access to school, healthcare, childcare Because child is 'too complex'.

The delights of hours and hours and hours of admin to try to navigate the systems supposed to help you whilst caring solo for a complex needs child with no respite.

Its a barrel of laughs.

But yes your children are disadvantaged.

Agree as well.
No need for vulgarities when someone has a different opinion.