To wonder on the future of generous welfare in the UK

[happybug1234]

It seems increasingly obvious that many middle-income families are becoming frustrated at how squeezed they are financially, while at the same time seeing people on universal credit receive a growing range of subsidies and support — £1 attraction tickets on days out, a 6% rise in benefits this financial year, childcare costs reclaimable through Universal Credit, housing benefit, and so on. I see thread after thread on this on this site and also increasing momentum in the media on this issue (income cliff edges etc)

In my own extended family, 1 unemployed parent with the other on min wage, in social housing appear to have more holidays and more disposable income than we do, despite us both working full time with a household income of around £95k. Once childcare, mortgage, insurances, commuting and tax are taken into account, we 100% have a lower level of disposable income than they do as they do not have any of these work related costs and their rent is paid. They have recently gone on a 2 week holiday whilst the most we can ever afford is 1 week.

Quite a few teachers in my friendship circle are declining promotion opportunities or TLR because the extra pay often doesn’t feel worth the additional stress once tax, pension contributions and childcare costs are factored in. Instead, some are putting more effort into private tutoring, which is tax free cash in hand.

What is stopping the government from addressing this as people seek to be responding accordingly in their behaviour!

People do realise that the government aren't subsidising these £1 tickets right?

The attractions themselves have realised that footfall generates revenue, the whole purpose is to get more people through the door, if 99 people are paying full price and 1 is paying a cheaper rate they are still earning more revenue than if only 99 people visited.

When people think they are getting something heavily discounted psychologically they are more likely to feel like they have more money to spend in the cafe or gift shop, it's a win win for the attraction.

Nope, no children so no UC

"Outings are luxuries for most people. Not it seems for those on UC who can go in for £1.'

You would deny a defenceless child a day out? Really?!

The country is absolutely fucked and not because of the government or money spent on people not starving.

Nasty, uneducated people are going to just hand it to Reform and then will not know what has hit them.

Don’t be so bloody ridiculous. That poster is saying they want things to be fair. By your stupid logic you’re denying children of low earners not on benefits a day out???

It’s not that I resent everything families on UC get in principle, it’s the fact that families not on UC are all assumed to be ‘rich/broad shouldered’’ by the government when in fact we often have no more disposable income left than families on UC.

Yet they’re ’poor, vulnerable and sad’ and you’re ’rich and capable of paying taxes’.

The snotty, arrogant, entitled attitude toward workers on here from benefit claimants is hideous and probably why they don’t want to ‘provide’ for them anymore

This. If you don't work, you can't expect the same lifestyle as someone that does. If someone is on £50/100k. Their money isn't yours to have access to. It is THEIR money. They aren't rich. Make your own money.

Actually, the snotty, arrogant and entitled posts have been coming from people who resent paying tax. And even calling someone who was on UC and still working as not really working because they have a "hobby job".
And you are the one were relentlessly attacking someone on benefits and had posts deleted. You have been the worse for it on here.

Of course people realise, despite the far left annoying assuming everyone not on the far left is just stupid and ‘doesn’t understand things’ my point is that it all contributes to breeding resentment. They see the government taxing them to the hilt while it ‘affords’ to give ever more perks to those on benefits then constantly goes on about ‘child poverty’ leading these organisations to jump on the bandwagon as a virtue signalling exercise. A good example of organisations that have got it right are the scouts and the national trust, fees/membership prices that recognise that many families with children on benefits or not need low prices, for example the membership for one parent and up to 10 children is only 70p a month more than for an individual and doesn’t depend on any benefit entitlement

Hopefully the kids on benefits are learning that they aren’t worthless, and deserve good things despite having no money.

I’m originally from a less developed country where the gap between rich and poor is incredibly stark. I think poorer children deserve nice experiences despite their parents’ lack of privilege, don’t you think? The UK is a much better place for people without economic privilege, and I think that’s something to be proud of. But clearly your politics do not align with mine.

But the people paying for the 'nice things' for others, often can't afford them for their own children. That is the reality.

I don't think working people resent paying tax, they resent it going to the lazy un deserved. (Not you btw!) The ones working 16hrs etc or just not atall, or those having multiple children with no income to support it.

And exactly this is what is wrong with the UK today. I was working full time when my kids were little and paying higher rate tax to so people like you could 'enjoy your kids.'

I either did that or the mortgage didn't get paid - but I hope that you have a lovely time at the expense of other mums with small children!

The poster getting attacked on here works 16 hours when she does not have to work at all according to the UC rules. Yet she has been berated for it.

Commitments for UC if you have a child under 3 is just writing CVs etc and the occasional meeting with a work coach. You are not expected to look for work, or have a job. This is on the Gov website that anyone can look up.
The people most vitriolic and vocal about UC tend to not know how it works or what the rules are. They just attack people claiming.

Where were your kids when you were working?

What position are you in personally to judge working people?

Why though? Most people have relatives who would take them in rather than see them on the street.

I don’t want benefits to end, I just want the conditions to massively tighten up. If you’re well enough to commit crime and browse the internet all day, you’re well enough to work.

Likewise!

Are you saying these parents are shit? Why are kids staying in these households if they are so dire then?

Nowhere else to send them

Honestly I cannot for the life of me work out where people get their UC jealousy from UNLESS its the well people who pretend they are disabled getting huge payments. I work full time (60 hours a week) and when my profit meets just minimum wage for 36 hours my UC entitlement, with 3 kids, is £1600pm.... it only just covers my rent.
I dont resent pensioners living a good life but let's face it a pension is £240pw so hardly huge amounts and I dont resent disabled people getting their significantly higher living expenses covered so the only problem with the welfare bill is people who aren't disabled abusing the system and people who have just moved to the country being housed and fed like they're on an all inclusive holiday.

At a private nursery and this was pre the paid childcare days. I hated every minute and the resentment was one of the many nails in the coffin of my marriage, my husband earnt a lot less than me and had very little opportunity to progress. The only saving grace is that I was building up a decent teacher's pension in those years.

But l'll never get those years back and it sticks in the craw rather when others think it's ok to do the bare minimum while others support them through welfare!

If i could work more i would but cant.

I don’t resent paying tax. I resent it being used being paid to people who could work more to support themselves more but can’t be arsed. That’s what everyone which a brain resents.