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.

Why was? Can you share?

How would stopping families on UC from having these experiences improve your life exactly?

What benefit would come from preventing children from having these opportunities vs them having such opportunities?

@YerMotherWasAHamster nope, single parent with 3 kids, in London, 3 kids.

I might have seen your point if we were talking about attractions like Alton towers or Lego land, but there’s educational benefit in all the places you mentioned. Every kid that lives in or around London should visit the places you listed.

Has the government nationalised theme parks? I've been off the news for too long.

Cutty sark have a 2 for 1 deal on if you travel with TfL.

there’s your discount.

https://www.daysoutguide.co.uk/cutty-sark

if you or one of your family is disabled then a carer goes in for free.

So you don't think people who work minimum wage jobs or are carers for their severely disabled children work hard 🙄

Most people on UC work, their rent is definitely not paid by UC!

Lol at anyone falling for this shite. Worded just the same as the last one.

I think they need to add these discounts to places up and down the country. London get everything

I’m sure it’s a total coincidence that the OP, who has no posting history on MN, turns up here to express concern about this issue on the same day Robert Jenrick of Reform decided to tweet about it.

I thought they were discounted. Is the government also allowing free entry.
Off to book a few free days out.

I get uc i work and i have a mortgage so my rent is definitely not paid

I have often wondered this but things may well of changed in twenty years regarding pension credit.
I dont received uc due to being self employed (maybe eligible but i cant be bothered worrying all year after i file everything that i may owe some).
Anyway i could be wrong but i dont know anyone who doesnt work on full benefits with disposable income , with all the bills, food etc there isnt enough to cover, my friend doesnt work due to severe ms and people have to gift her money sometimes, she gets pip too

As a carer @happybug1234 you will know that you are also entitled to FREE passes when you accompany those you care for. Which is great. But should we resent you?

why are more middle class/income people not up in arms about it!

This was where you jumped the shark.

I agree honestly...a friend transferred savings to family, went on UC and doesn't work and takes kids to the zoo, gymnastics, soft play, cinema, meals out etc every day of the week - I could never afford to do this with my kids even once or twice. Plus holiday food vouchers, free prescription, free after school clubs, free council tax, free dental...

I think instead of being annoyed at this, you should be annoyed at the companies who run these attractions and make them too expensive for lots of working people to visit with their children. Me and DH work full time and get no benefits - we are on about £60k between us. We can’t afford these attractions.

So quit, go on universal credit and enjoy your holidays and days out. Problem solved!

nope, I didn’t say that but at the same time, these are luxuries that shouldn’t just be given out for free to everyone. I grew up in a low income home and we got no hand outs. If you want to go, save up like everyone else.

Chatsworth House, Derbyshire, also has UC discount if anyone fancies it. (I used to work there. It's lovely, do go if you haven't.)

I've not read the whole thread but wanted to say - I'm a healthcare professional and my other half has two jobs, we receive UC and have used the discounted entry locally (not london). Despite working and getting UC top up, after rent/childcare/bills we very rarely have money spare to do days out so the discounted entry means my kids can visit museums on weekends and expand their knowledge.

The old trope of benefits scroungers on 5 star holidays is outdated - or we've missed a trick because we can't afford to renew passports, let alone swan off around the world with kids.

Just sharing this again so it doesn't get lost

Lots places do this now. Including the Tower of London! Marvellous stuff.

I work FT and always have. I get UC. My children will probably never know the stability of living in a property from which we can't be evicted (which has happened several times already, at no fault of our own). We've never been abroad and rarely have holidays except for visiting family and friends. We don't have a car, rarely get new clothes, have virtually no savings in case of emergency. We live reasonably comfortably otherwise in that we can pay our rent and have the food we need.

Cheap(er) days out are one of the few avenues of pleasure available to us and we're exceedingly fortunate compared to many, many others on UC. As another poster said, even with discounted tickets there are lots of other prohibitive costs like travel, food etc.

I hope UC discounted tickets mean that children who would otherwise have no access to the heritage, education and culture offered by these attractions are able to enjoy them at least sometimes.

I do understand your frustration OP as I hear it from family members as well but begrudging the most vulnerable people - and mostly children - these experiences is directing your frustration in the wrong places.

Don’t do it then OP, cut your hours and claim UC.
And to be honest, with such young children, you just don’t know how things will pan out financially.
I’m educated, middle class and was nearly mortgage free in my early 40s but then illness and an underfunded education system have meant I am now a single mum reliant on benefits.