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.

Maybe people are friendlier with their friends and talk openly.... I know which ones of my friends are on benefits and which ones are not.

"Lucky enough to be disabled"

I hope that is sarcasm

Its free with a boundless membership

Perhaps some sort of controlled institution? Maybe like a workhouse?.

Well, OP, I suppose you'd better quit your job, sell your house and move into rented accommodation so you can claim UC and enjoy cheaper trips to the zoo. I'm sure you will be very comfortable on benefits, so don't hesitate.

Life's a bitch, ey?

Why is this always the response on these threads? So working people aren’t allowed to moan basically.

OP isn't saying this at all. Why can't they use their benefits/income to pay just as the rest of us do? This is an extra bonus on top of all the benefits they receive.

But there will be a whole category of children who still miss out as they don't qualify for uc but their family can't afford these places.

You obviously haven't seen the type of home thats "free"

@PeonyPatch you don't think anyone working a difficult or demanding job could be on UC?

And you think everyone on UC is uneducated?

Do you realise how big of a pension pot you need to take home £240 per week in retirement?!

Absolutely love all these posters going on about the luxury of these 'attractions'

"Hey kids we're off on a luxurious day out to an exciting attraction!"
"What Disneyland? Peppa Pig World?"
"No... St. Paul's Cathedral!!!!"

It is irritating though. We work hard to provide a nice life and can't afford to do big day trips any more. Who is offering to subsidise us so that those in the middle can enjoy these days out? No one.

The answer is not to move further towards an uncaring society, but work to lift everyone up.

Is that you Robert Jenrick? You posted the same winge on Fb this morning which was shown to me for some reason. Heaven forbid everyone should have access to these things .... Get a grip.

How very interesting...

Yes they will! I work for the DWP. You're only banned from claiming benefits for 3 months if you give up your job and as long as you don't spend your house money too quickly, they'll let you claim UC once it's down to 16k. Go for it!

We will make you apply for shitty jobs for 35 hours a week or sanction you btw. We are also highly unlikely to give you enough to cover your rent but we will send you a link to foodbanks when you realise that UC is fuck all money to live on!

But you have a nice life, by your own admission.

I understand what you are saying but the subsidies are offered to help ensure children can have these experiences. It's not about the adults.
I wouldn't trade places, having to claim UC must be rubbish.

Assuming you don't have much in the way of savings then if you don't have a lot of disposable income. Perhaps you could look into your own eligibility for UC.

The maximum childcare element is £1836.16 for 2 children. This equates to 85% of roughly £2160. Obviously it would be less if the total monthly bill was under £2160.

The couple element if one person is over 25 is £666.97

Child element for 2 (born after April 2017) is £607.88

That makes a total of £3111.01

With the work allowance for a claim without housing costs set at £710 this means that a couple could earn up to £6366.18 (after deductions not before) between them and still receive a UC payment. If there were housing costs or other elements on the claim they could earn quite a bit more and still qualify for UC.

So it really isn't just for low earners or those who don't work. Many people would find they were entitled to at least some UC if they actually looked into it.

Exactly this. And for this reason it’s not fair. Let me be clear, I am not jealous. I enjoy working, and I’m proud of how hard I work. I don’t want to go on benefits. But it’s the injustice of it that angers me. People on lower incomes can’t get absolutely everything free and subsidised. There needs to be a line drawn. That’s why we’re in a country where people are having kids by the state. It’s wrong. I’m not aiming this at people who have fallen on hard times. It’s those of us in middle incomes that are contributing to all of these taxes, and we get very, very little back!!! We deserve something in return for our hard work and sacrifice. I understand these are private companies and not government owned, but it’s the same principle. Why bother going to work?!

Get them on those big treadmill things, they could generate electricity, make themselves useful.

Hi OP @happybug1234
When my husband left out of the blue, leaving me with a nearly 2 year old and a 7 year old and my household income halved in one fail swoop, I claimed UC to help. Im a teacher by the way.

I was dealing with immense shock, heartbreak and subsequently ended up with PTSD. At that time I couldnt increase my hours as my youngest was so young and I was just not in the best headspace. I spent a good year getting myself better for my children before I could increase my hours.

I never in a million years would have thought that life would deal me that hand. I went from a situation like yours to a very different one very quickly.

My point is, dont count your chickens. You never know what's around the corner. Look at what you've got and enjoy it rather than looking back and being jealous.

I am glad I did not have friends like you judging me and my children for our "cheap days out" when I was at my lowesr point. You never know peoples circumstances. Be kind and enjoy your privileges, even people on UC are grafting if they have no incapability to work.

Op I agree, It takes the piss. I work full time, so does my husband but we have to pay £100+ to visit london zoo but everyone who is getting free handouts already get in for a few quid!