AIBU to feel annoyed about discounted attractions for benefit claimants?

[Sheldonsheher]

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-15721199/Benefit-claiming-families-UK-attractions-working-Brits.html

I know I’ll get slated as the origin is the daily fail but, but this kind of annoys me too! I mean as a single parent I don’t want to pay £60 to go to the zoo either.

I think YABU. Some of the hardest pressed families at the moment are those on low incomes who claim UC but both work full time. I think it's good schemes like this are around and can make it affordable for all parents to take their children out during school holidays etc.

I get that people who don't qualify may struggle to afford these trips at full price but I don't think that makes the scheme wrong - it maybe just needs expanding.

My DD is very lucky that I can afford to do things with her at full price but I would be grateful if I was on UC and had this available.

You know many working people claim UC because they don’t earn enough to live on?

You know when you’re using general terms like those claiming benefits it entails those claiming UC, those claiming child benefit, those receiving state pension and those in receipt of funded hours for childcare tax free childcare? I’m not in receipt of UC but still classed as claiming benefits as we benefit from tax free childcare.

I don’t want to pay £60 to go to the zoo either. Not because I disagree with them providing enrichment and educational activities to children of all backgrounds, not just the well off ones, but because I don’t really agree with the zoo. The good news is that the zoo doesn’t force me to buy £60 zoo tickets when I don’t want to. So if you don’t want to buy the £60 zoo tickets because it’s subsidising others (or any other reason), just don’t. There are plenty of other places you can visit.

I didn’t see the original article but did get a sponsored post about it from Robert Jenrick on FB. I find it interesting that Robert Jenrick is happy to take an enrichment activity away from working people claiming UC but not earn to live on. Yet he finds his MP salary of £93,904 not enough to live on and he needs support from several private donors of several thousand pounds each time to support his activities of being an MP.

https://www.parallelparliament.co.uk/mp/robert-jenrick/financial-disclosure

You’re absolutely correct, OP. Benefit claimants should be ankle tagged in case they approach a place where they might be intending to have fun.

What about those that earn their own money and receive benefits?

YANBU.

i cancelled our Family Annual Memberships to Chester Zoo, ages they pulled this stunt earlier this year.

What change are people opposed to, though? Private businesses can do what they like in terms of the prices they charge. If they stop offering discounts that will mean fewer people through the doors.

Do you live in london? If it makes you feel any better im on uc and still won't be able to take my kids to these places as can't afford the associated costs that come with it. We never really plan things for the holidays as obviously im working. If we get the odd day together we will do free activities which if you are in London there are a lot more available to you. We basically have park, garden and library

i guess the answer is everyone not to go if it’s too expensive. There never seems to be any offers anymore 2 for 1 etc and it’s a lot for a single parent you can’t even get family tickets etc. This is also a luxury item really and is that what benefits are for. If these organisations can support all these discounted tickets maybe they are overcharging.

If they earn enough to pay tax, they get the discounted rate

And get an electric shock if they laugh or buy the kids an ice lolly.

I'm fine with it and RJ is an arsehole.

If it bothers you that much why are you on this one with the same subject?

Glad you've thought it through.

So just make sure people paying top whack are those who have a child with a life limiting condition for example, who can't work because they're caring full time? Perfect.

Why would a private business offer benefit claimants massively reduced entry? When you're charging people £1 to enter it's hardly a money making exercise is it?

I imagine it's some sort of PR exercise that is designed to make them look benevolent. If it becomes clear that the public actually don't view it in this way then they could look at making the attractions more accessible to a broader range of people.

"I don't want guitar lessons!!!!"

Ricky Gervais

Thank you. I'm sure there are people who didn't know about this who are now aware

A private business can give discounts how they wish. That's what we've heard here.

It's not a new phenomenon though, it's just the daily mail (and RJ's) latest scapegoat. We've moved on from Motability cars.

Gosh, the Reform propaganda machine strikes again. It stalks these boards like something from War of the Worlds.

I visited a zoo with my kids and a friend in their 30s last week. She grew up in a family living off benefits. I found out there that she had never been to a zoo before and do had never seen lions, giraffes, zebras or any exotic animals before.

My family were not well off, my dad was a physio and my mum a secretary, but day trips were an ordinary part of my childhood I completely took for granted.

Even if you take emotion out of it, keeping children stuck at home in a small world because of the choices/circumstances of their parents does not encourage them to act differently or break the cycle of poverty.

People will probably spend a little bit of money once they are through the doors. It all adds up.

Ricky Gervais is a wanker, what's he got to do with my comment?

People are being a bit harsh here.

Being a single parent supporting a family on 1 income is shit, and I can understand why someone in that position who could very likely be treading water as much as people on UC are and say "hang on, that's not fair". Sometimes it's fine to just feel sorry for yourself.

But, it shouldn't be a race to the bottom. The answer is not to take help like this from people who need it, but to give it to a wider group of people.

Dickheads like Badenoch will never see it that way though.

I suppose I’m not objecting to benefit recipients paying so little but that I am expected to pay so much. And don’t get me started on the price of ice cream out. £6 and do you want sprinkles that will be £7. It’s all a bit much now.

Exactly this the same reason supermarkets sell their veg for 15p at Christmas it gets people through the door. It's how businesses work