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.

Something good happening for someone else isn't a punishment for you.
Taking it away from someone else won't make you happier.

No a salary is not a gesture.
Your friend will of also put more financially into becoming a consultant psychiatrist where as a McDonalds worker has no financial outlay

I would definitely feel happier walking into a zoo knowing I haven’t paid nearly £100 more than someone at the side of me for the same thing!!

To the best of my knowledge those tend to relate to specific sectors such as care that are known for poor pay and conditions. If those were addressed, there would probably be some improvement, but not everyone is physically able to do the work.

I take your point about taxation but I still maintain that low pay is the root cause of the problem. If wages were better, I don't think people would have turned against the needy in the way they have recently. I do realise a lot of businesses can't afford to pay more and still make a profit, but plenty can. And I strongly believe that as a country we need to stop being 'grateful' for our jobs when said jobs don't pay enough, and stop letting employers get away with underpaying. Instead of which too many people scapegoat the most vulnerable in society.

It'd pay if businesses stopped paying chicken feed.

Do you feel the same when someone gets in for free because they are a carer of a disabled person?

I’m All Right, Jack. Let’s all be airline pilots because who needs cleaners.
We do, of course, have both the deserving and the undeserving poor.

“Are there no prisons?” asked Scrooge.
“Plenty of prisons,” said the gentleman, laying down the pen again.
“And the Union workhouses?” demanded Scrooge. “Are they still in operation?”
“They are. Still,” returned the gentleman, “I wish I could say they were not.”
“The Treadmill and the Poor Law are in full vigour, then?” said Scrooge.
“Both very busy, sir.”
“Oh! I was afraid, from what you said at first, that something had occurred to stop them in their useful course,” said Scrooge. “I’m very glad to hear it.”

2026:

• Annual median, full-time employees: £39,039
• Annual median, part-time employees: £14,713
• Mean average salary, all employees: £40,269
• Median weekly pay, all employees: £642.50
• Median hourly pay, all employees: £18.00

Well no because that is completely different

And disabled people on UC?

so if they’re a carer claiming UC that’s ok? you dont mind them having it for £1?

but any other claimants, no go?

Depends how you’re distinguishing the two? Surely you’re not ignorant enough to suggest all disabled people don’t work?

No, but disability is a reason to be on UC. And some places offer discounts for being on PIP too.

On MN, UC = scrounger. When that is not true at all.

Disability is a reason, low income is a reason, unemployed is a reason… we know the reasons but unfortunately whoever makes these things aren’t going to say ‘all disabled and people in genuine need can for at a heavily discounted rate and those on UC that are unemployed don’t qualify’.

No, you’re not, but it’s the way of things now.

Generally speaking they stand a better chance of being able to save than those on UC.

Edited to add: But if you're on a low income, your employer is the one you should be pointing fingers at.

Like did you not pay attention at school?

This is such an insulting and downright strange assumption I don't even know where to start. Why on earth would you assume good school performance is some sort of guarantee of a high-paying job? And even if it was, people's aptitudes and talents vary. Some aren't capable of achieving as much as others, yes some will still succeed as per your examples, but by no means all.

'Paying attention' isn't some sort of golden ticket, nor is having worked hard at school/gone to uni, or even just being generally enterprising, unfortunately. You sound very naive about life.

I do think OP has a point. I don't think it's jealously it's more about the social inequality created by these companies. Families on top up benefits can have the a similar mounthly income as families working FT without benefits.

So being on benefits means that things like theme parks or Zoos are accessible to these families due to the discount. At the same time it's not accessible to families who do not receive the discount simply because they are not receiving benefits and are outpriced. It's a two tier system where working and being financially independent from the state comes with disadvantages created by said companies.

Good for you...

I have a long term health/disability which started in childhood and insurers would not cover me for income protection if I lost my job because of these pre- existing conditions. So life is not as simple as you seem yo think.

Same my condition is congenital

This shouldn't be a zero sum game.
I do wonder if the government should do something like a thank you pack - offers for days out, other discounts for families with both parents working over 39 hours a week and earning under a certain threshold.

It wouldn’t be much but it would show their contribution is valued and they are not just seen purely as cash cows funding everyone else.

also a bit more help and recognition for people who have paid in - ie a but more support for a set period of time if they lose their jobs or become ill.

it would even things up a little and possibly stop voting for Reform

But if peoples wages where as low as they make out they would be entitled to universal credit. How many times do we have threads where people on here are saying how poor they are on 100k a year people don't have a clue what poor is. Yes you can afford to take your child to the zoo on full time wages but instead people choose to live in unaffordable homes, have multiple cars on finance, have expensive mobile phone contracts, send their children to multiple different clubs and activities, pay for their children's university fees, put a significant amount in savings then moan they have no money people on uc don't live like this

I agree with the much higher payment for non claimants being unfair but I don’t think the division should be between person on benefits and not on benefits.
many countries that have high tourism generally charge their city residents much lower fee than non residents; say for London zoo all londoners (have to provide proof of address) pay £5 (doesn’t matter on benefits or not); non londoners living in UK is say £10 (again proof of address) and all non uk residents or people who can’t prove living in London or UK - £25 or whatever it is- numbers are just an example.

There is a cut off point for UC, so if you are £50.- above said income, you'll receive nothing beyond the basic child benefit... I don't think anyone in RL claims poverty on a 100k income, but as things are, someone on 30k is pretty much f*ed.

A thank you pack?
The thank you a working family gets is their salary.

London Zoo tickets cost £32 for adult and £22 for a child. To make it cheaper for London residents the prices for non residents would need to be even higher. Do you think there will be much of demand?