Page 34 | Irritated that families on UC get heavily discounted entry

happybug1234 · 2026-04-09T16:54:46+00:00

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.

littleorangefox · 09/04/2026 22:34

Thechaseison71 · 09/04/2026 22:29

I was meaning more of people in same circumstances. Like a single parent with 2 kids, working 16 hours a week. Rent same in both cases.

But one person works that extra hour a month and then earns too much for UC.

Therefore they end up worse off by working more

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But if that person worked one hour less they still wouldn't receive a huge UC payment. They would only be eligible for a few pounds of UC.

SpryTaupeTurtle · 09/04/2026 22:35

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Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

No one paid my rent when I owned my home as I have said more than once. Hth!

Kirbert2 · 09/04/2026 22:35

Sunglade · 09/04/2026 21:57

I think what a lot of people resent is the time. People who have neve had to or no longer work full time often forget how physically, mentally and emotionally draining it can be to hand over 5 full days of your life per week, often with a commute and other faff on top. We're reaching a point where the boost to your well-being of not working full time is outweighing the (often now very marginal) benefit of having slightly more income. This is one of the reasons why the younger generation is much less likely to be employed . I don't blame them, to be honest. I say this as someone who has been in work since before I left education, and full time ever since I left.

That's assuming that everyone on UC is just sat at home twiddling their thumbs.

Some are disabled, some have disabled children etc and their lives are still incredibly physically, mentally and emotionally draining. More so than when they worked.

RachelReevesFringe · 09/04/2026 22:35

DreamyJade · 09/04/2026 22:33

Oh for crying out loud, there’s no need to be so bloody nasty and twist what the poster has said repeatedly. She has £400 a month to live on AFTER her £380 rent is paid. I’m not sure why pp are pulling her apart and bullying her. You don’t need to be fucking Archimedes to work it out.

A single person on UC with no dependents gets £400 a month to live on (plus help towards rent, if renting). In most cases, they will have to pay a portion of rent out of the £400 (but not in this case). If they have children, they’ll get roughly £300 a month per child. It’s not the ridiculous £100k a year figure mentioned previously.

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And if they do not rent (as in have a mortgage), they will only get help with the interest. It is a loan and also wont kick in until you have been on UC for 3 months.

TracyLords · 09/04/2026 22:36

Coffeeandbooks88 · 09/04/2026 22:32

@SpryTaupeTurtle If you owned a flat you didn't live in I am surprised you were entitled to UC as it is counted as capital.

I don’t think that’s right: I understood that she owned a flat that she lived in, but it got demolished.

happened to my family: parents owned the flat (ex council), council got compulsory purchase order and paid parents a lot less than it was originally worth. Because the neighbourhood had went to shit over the last 5 years as they were planning to knock it down

Thechaseison71 · 09/04/2026 22:36

littleorangefox · 09/04/2026 22:34

But if that person worked one hour less they still wouldn't receive a huge UC payment. They would only be eligible for a few pounds of UC.

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Which would open the door to these discounts. As well as free school meals. Holiday clubs etc.

youalright · 09/04/2026 22:36

ChefsKisser · 09/04/2026 21:01

I agree OP. Most of those things you listed would be a once a year big treat and saved for. The fact that people on UC can attend for a few pounds is really depressing. We are relocating abroad partly because we are sick of subsidising what feels like everyone while struggling ourselves. Another high earner and NHS worker out of the system, I’m glad I won’t be there when it all implodes.

You probably get more benefits and discounts with your blue light card then most on uc get

DreamyJade · 09/04/2026 22:37

Coffeeandbooks88 · 09/04/2026 22:32

@SpryTaupeTurtle If you owned a flat you didn't live in I am surprised you were entitled to UC as it is counted as capital.

No it doesn’t count as capital, unless you rent it out. If you receive an income from it, it’s classed as income. If you live in it, it isn’t classed as capital.

PyongyangKipperbang · 09/04/2026 22:37

ChardonnaysBeastlyCat · 09/04/2026 22:33

No.

I have a question that PP does not like.

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No you have a very bad attitude that makes you look a) quite dim and b) envious of those that have less than you. Neither look good.

MNHQ

ImaniMumsnet · 09/04/2026 22:38

Hi everyone,

just poking our head round to remind everyone to please review out talk guidelines and keep these in mind when posting. If you spot a post that you think needs a look - please report it to us and we can take a look.

Sonato · 09/04/2026 22:38

youalright · 09/04/2026 22:36

You probably get more benefits and discounts with your blue light card then most on uc get

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Average blue light card holder earns 3k of discounts per year.

Ridiculous

SpryTaupeTurtle · 09/04/2026 22:38

Coffeeandbooks88 · 09/04/2026 22:32

@SpryTaupeTurtle If you owned a flat you didn't live in I am surprised you were entitled to UC as it is counted as capital.

I did live in it. Hth. I rented it for 22 years then I bought it and then my ex landlord demolished it. Suffering fuck. Where did I once say on this thread that I didn't live in my flat!

cadburyegg · 09/04/2026 22:39

Thechaseison71 · 09/04/2026 22:36

Which would open the door to these discounts. As well as free school meals. Holiday clubs etc.

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You are completely wrong. At the moment families are only eligible for FSM if they earn under £7400 a year. Most working families are not entitled. If you are jealous of people earning £7400 a year I don’t know what to say to you.

Sunglade · 09/04/2026 22:39

Kirbert2 · 09/04/2026 22:35

That's assuming that everyone on UC is just sat at home twiddling their thumbs.

Some are disabled, some have disabled children etc and their lives are still incredibly physically, mentally and emotionally draining. More so than when they worked.

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I know there are some people whose lives happen to be as hard or harder than working full time but the majority of UC claimants are not disabled and would be able to work if given the chance. I would concede though that in a lot of cases, especially depending on location, the jobs simply don't exist..

littleorangefox · 09/04/2026 22:39

Thechaseison71 · 09/04/2026 22:36

Which would open the door to these discounts. As well as free school meals. Holiday clubs etc.

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Yes in some areas people do receive certain things regardless of the amount of UC received. Although I have to say I personally have never received or heard of any other "perks" or discounts as a result of receiving UC. But I'm in Scotland and we already get free school meals, prescriptions, dental care and don't have holiday clubs in my area so not sure what other areas do really. I think perhaps Edinburgh zoo did a reduced ticket price for people on UC once.

SpryTaupeTurtle · 09/04/2026 22:39

Oh yes I'll be reporting because some of these posts have been beyond the pale

Kirbert2 · 09/04/2026 22:39

Wishingplenty · 09/04/2026 22:24

I agree with you word for word. I know a couple of people on uc that actively boast about how well off they are, and that they struggle to "sqaunder" all the benefits they get. Because once their bank account gets above a certain amount their benefits stop. It truly is wrong and sickening. I was thinking about taking my dd to the zoo for her birthday, however for a family it would cost £100+ for a day trip. Total extortion, why are benefit kids more worthy than kids from normal working homes? The real deprivation are not benefit kids because everything they do is heavily discounted and subsidised it's the children from normal working homes, they miss out the most, not many families can just throw £100 at a day out without a second thought. It is the free swimming passes that really get my back up. All children should get this period. Swimming is not a cheap thing to do, but it should be, purely because of the health and fitness benefits alone. Families on uc are handed an unlimited pass in a lucky bag, to add to all the other cheap privillages that they grab and demand. It truly is unjust and horrible. Well done you OP for calling it out, despite the hate and backlash you will inevitable get.

That must be unique to your area. I've never heard of lucky bags and/or free swimming passes for UC in my area.

Thechaseison71 · 09/04/2026 22:39

cadburyegg · 09/04/2026 22:39

You are completely wrong. At the moment families are only eligible for FSM if they earn under £7400 a year. Most working families are not entitled. If you are jealous of people earning £7400 a year I don’t know what to say to you.

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It's changing from Sept I believe .

Coffeeandbooks88 · 09/04/2026 22:40

TracyLords · 09/04/2026 22:36

I don’t think that’s right: I understood that she owned a flat that she lived in, but it got demolished.

happened to my family: parents owned the flat (ex council), council got compulsory purchase order and paid parents a lot less than it was originally worth. Because the neighbourhood had went to shit over the last 5 years as they were planning to knock it down

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Fair enough. It did read she was renting and had the empty flat as well.

SpryTaupeTurtle · 09/04/2026 22:40

Kirbert2 · 09/04/2026 22:39

That must be unique to your area. I've never heard of lucky bags and/or free swimming passes for UC in my area.

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Not in mine either. I have had more discounts for being a student than I ever have on UC

PyongyangKipperbang · 09/04/2026 22:41

DreamyJade · 09/04/2026 22:37

No it doesn’t count as capital, unless you rent it out. If you receive an income from it, it’s classed as income. If you live in it, it isn’t classed as capital.

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Correct, I live in my mortgage free home and claim UC as a carer for my parents. It is not considered capital as what I would get if I sold it would last less than two years if I paid private rent, given I wouldnt be able to get another mortgage, so long term I cost less.

Coffeeandbooks88 · 09/04/2026 22:42

cadburyegg · 09/04/2026 22:39

You are completely wrong. At the moment families are only eligible for FSM if they earn under £7400 a year. Most working families are not entitled. If you are jealous of people earning £7400 a year I don’t know what to say to you.

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So stupidly low. Why they thought that was right.

Sonato · 09/04/2026 22:42

Kirbert2 · 09/04/2026 22:39

That must be unique to your area. I've never heard of lucky bags and/or free swimming passes for UC in my area.

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Most councils offer significant concessions for gyms/pools to UC recipients

cadburyegg · 09/04/2026 22:43

Thechaseison71 · 09/04/2026 22:39

It's changing from Sept I believe .

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So you are talking about a total hypothetical situation and a system that you have absolutely no idea about.

Kirbert2 · 09/04/2026 22:43

Sunglade · 09/04/2026 22:39

I know there are some people whose lives happen to be as hard or harder than working full time but the majority of UC claimants are not disabled and would be able to work if given the chance. I would concede though that in a lot of cases, especially depending on location, the jobs simply don't exist..

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The point is that not everyone on UC is the same. Which too many people on this thread seem to forget.

As well as the fact that some people on UC also work, including full time.