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 surprised recently by a thread where the person's income was much higher than I thought to be able to claim UC, it seems if you are renting you can earn quite a lot and still claim. I guess for people like that it's a bit of a blunt instrument as not everyone on UC is underprivileged, but I get the notion that it's making education and culture more widely accessible. I think we're all very lucky to have so many free museums

London housing costs then I presume.

Well, it's always an option for anyone who thinks it's a better deal than they're getting.

This x100. I am sick of universal credit bashing. The previous government set out to stigmatise the low paid as idle scroungers and it's worked a treat hasn't it? No one in their right mind chooses to be on it, it's a horrible punitive system and it's total bollocks that we are all better off than a double income professional household. Just be thankful for what you have instead of tearing yourself apart with jealousy because someone whose life fell out from under them gets a few quid off zoo tickets.

Get a boundless membership.

people on benefits are having their income subsided by the state because they can’t afford to live. They absolutely should not be able to afford luxuries. I am fully aware that some people claiming UC are also working, but the principle still applies. If you can’t afford to pay your own bills and keep a roof over your head so the government has to do it for you, what are you doing going out for a jolly up to the museum or the zoo?!

No it’s not the childrens fault, but their parents should be bearing that responsibility. I work, and I have to say no to a trip to the zoo because we can’t afford it. Why should it be different for parents who claim UC?

Children living in poverty will lose out on many opportunities, especially relating to exposure to and experience of culture. Such schemes as the one youre Scrooging about help to address this imbalance.

These schemes may also make the difference between a family being able to afford to travel into London and visit these attractions or not.

Bitterness is not an attractive quality, Ebenezer.

Are you just copying Jenrick's Reform tweet on this @happybug1234 ?

And do you know how discounts work?

Then quit work and live on UC, if you think it’s a great life. 🤷‍♀️

Companies are having their businesses subsidised by the State because they won't pay adequate wages.

Aren't these all private businesses?

So it's up to them where they do discounts and stuff

I don't understand why people are blaming the government

Do you actually believe that most people on UC “get their rent paid” though OP?
If they are lucky enough to be in social housing then maybe their housing allowance would cover it, but for the majority of people in private rented accommodation I doubt UC comes anywhere close - or at least ut doesn’t in my area.
I am a single parent, have worked all my life and now receive UC top ups. Even with maximum housing allowance for my area (£695 for a 2 bed requirement) a privately rented 2 bed flat is around £1300+ a month and competition for these is fierce - so it’s still a hefty amount of rent to find for someone with a single low household income 🤔

I'm on uc and pay full council tax, pay dental as don't have an NHS one and I got free prescriptions anyone as I have a medical exemption. I also live absolutely no where near London so am not getting free entry into anywhere. Not everyone on uc is getting what you think they are.

My best mate chooses to be on it. She’s living a life I could only dream off. I know there are lots of people on it who get fuck all, but don’t be naive enough to think that everyone claiming UC is struggling, because they really aren’t.

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.

I’m not on UC, but just to point out that people on UC don’t “get their rent paid”, they get some money towards their rent. Where I live the LHA rate is about 50% of market rents. They have to pay the rest themselves from the small amount they get to live on. Working people on UC also must contribute towards childcare. Social tariffs exist only for broadband, and in some areas they might get a reduction on their water bill. There are no social tariffs for gas/electricity.

Once bills and rent are paid, lots of people on UC have next to nothing to live on. I doubt that many could afford even a heavily-subsidised day out very often. If you begrudge a disadvantaged child the odd day out at the zoo, then shame on you.

I get why it can seem unfair but it’s also a bit about not leaving your weakest man behind as that strengthens the whole team. The reality is, dc brought up in families on benefits are more likely to end up on benefits themselves. Giving them access to rich cultural experiences is beneficial for all. Bored families with no money are also more likely to be disruptive influences in society. I think it’s about a bigger picture and increasing access to dc who would miss out. If you’re a hard working educated family, your dc are already winning the race in terms of role models and life experiences.

Once my mortgage and bills are paid, I barely have much left over either - welcome to reality !!! No benefits here, have to work overtime if I want any extra cash!!!!

'A mum with a professional career'
'Middle class/income families' ❓️❓️❓️🤔

We are a firmly middle class family comprising two parents, two kids, a mortgage, etc. 6 years ago, one of us parents developed a chronic, permanent health condition, and that person is considered no longer fit for work. The other parent has a 'professional' career. We receive UC and still have next to nothing left over.

You come across extremely judgemental and also clearly completely unaware of what it's actually like to be on benefits. Please don't glamorise something that, for most of us, provides the bare minimum. Contrary to popular belief, it's not something 99% of applicants would choose.

I don't know that we are allowed ro dictate to private companies who they should/shouldn't offer DISCOUNTED /NOT FREE entry to.
That's not how a free market economy works.

Imagine being so mean that you resent poor children getting to see the Tower of London...

You could always quit your job and go onto UC instead, then you'd get the discount.

Unless you'd rather not, for some reason?

If you resent children from lower income families getting access to zoos and cathedrals then you might want to reflect on yourself a little bit

People on UC do not "get their rent paid"

If they are entitled to the full housing element of UC, they get whatever the local rate for their area is. For example, the local rate for a 2 bed in my area is £747pcm, so that's what a person would get towards their rent if they had a two bed AND the DWP agreed they need a 2 bed.
A look on Rightmove shows that two bed properties within a 10 mile radius of where I live start at £950pcm. Thats for the lowest end places, tiny flats, no luxuries, no gardens.
Three beds are even worse. You get £897pcm and the cheapest 3 bed on Rightmove is currently £1350pcm. For a flat. Most private rents I know in three bed houses are paying around £1600.

So generally, people are still having to find several hundred they don't have to put towards their rent each month and then after years of paying it, they have NOTHING to show for it. No home of their own. Ever.

I'd chose your naice middle class lifestyle myself OP, and let people know benefits have a few discounts.

I also believe all children should be able to access educational days out.

Why is the government getting away with this

I can certainly see that if you earn just over the threshold for any help, things like this that you could never afford to take your children to could easily be a bit galling. I think people who act like they can’t understand that are being a bit disingenuous - plenty of people earning just over the threshold for help are struggling too, and would love to be able to take their children to these places.

But is it subsidised by the government? Is it something the gov is “getting away with”? I assume not, but could be wrong.

YABVU! Loads of people are on UC and work! My mum was on benefits when we were kids. She worked her backside off to ensure we had good options and choices in life. Myself and my siblings have all gone onto have good careers and no need for benefits (yet) and pay lots in tax. I am a huge supporter of the benefit system and think initiatives like the ones in your OP are fantastic for families on UC. All children deserve a decent start in life and opportunities like this are amazing!!

Are you talking about all people on benefits like carers, disabled people, single parents or just the long-term unemployed OP?