To be cheesed off with Universal Credit entry fees?

[MaturingCheeseball]

I know it’s been done before, but…

I thought I’d like to visit Chatsworth House with (teenage) dd. The cost is £33 each PLUS parking at £7.50. So £73.50.

Then I saw the universal credit/pension credit/pip etc price. THREE POUNDS. And free parking! So £6.00 for two adults (age 17+).

I do not have 12 times as much money as someone on these benefits. I doubt many people do. I’m not begrudging the disadvantaged a day out, but come on! The price differential is ludicrous.

When I saw the £73 price I just decided we couldn’t go, and so be it. But upon seeing the potential for a £6 entry, it made me feel mugged off.

Yes
Thats what I was responding to from a pp

No they aren't.

It is funded by charitable grants.

If the tickets can be sold so cheaply why is everyone not entitled to those prices?

UC and benefits were never intended to pay for jollies.

Taxes don’t fund Chatsworth House, London zoo or any of the other places on these schemes.

they are private businesses. Not tax payer funded initiatives (unless suddenly every business is tax payer funded…)

And where do the charities get their income?

Just under 40% of UC claimants are in any kind of work.

Misses the point.
They are businesses.
Yes.
so why can't everyone get a discount?

FFS !!

I don't think that is a reasonable answer.
A magic money tree?

Is a home-made picnic and nothing from the gift shop a definition of poverty these days then?

In reality there are a lot of people entitled to uc who have degrees and mortgages but are not earning enough money to make ends meet. Uc isn’t for those who are choosing not to work it is to help those in need. There are a few comments on this page from those who do not seem to understand that. Middle earners have always been penalised most because there is a fine line between making enough and struggling. Maybe the uc days out needs a cap depending on need. Those of us entitled to dla could not manage some of the days out you suggest.

Because to get charitable funding and charity status places need to show initiatives to encourage people that the funding sources target to come along. Various benefits are an easy tick box for the place to show they are doing that.

Chatsworth, in this example, are clearly using this to show (in part) they are trying to encourage disabled people to go as they’ve included PIP and DLA, which aren’t often included as they’re not means tested.

They are put up at low cost because they are a business tool, not actually a simple generous gesture.

YANBU

or ask companies to pay better wages then people can afford these days its odd no one makes threads demanding better pay ?

Because they would go out of business. These businesses provide discounted tickets to disadvantaged people to preserve their charitable status - and their funding, which is likely a lot more than the cost of the discounted tickets. They don’t do it out of the goodness of their hearts, it’s a business decision.

Because its only 2% of tickets that are available for this scheme.

UC and benefits are for whatever that claimants decide to spend them on. If someone can budget well and have some left over for taking their kid on a day out then good for them.

Because they don't want to give everyone a discount. Campaign to bring these private enterprises into public ownership, then you can have a little more say in how they operate. They may even just be cheaper if they don't try and make the big old profit.

I thought MN generally loved the private sector. Or is that just health and education?

ETA and housing

I’m not the one missing the point.

it doesn’t benefit the business to offer discounts to all.

Same as business who offer low cost adult & toddler deals don’t offer it in the school holidays.

Businesses make business decisions.

I only came across this recently at Whipsnade Zoo.
UC ticket price was £3.00!!

I was quite surprised and I admit a little jealous. I work full time and also do an evening job twice a week to keep my head above water. Maybe I am the stupid one and should work less to claim. Don't really know how it works. But I know it takes a lot to save for a zoo trip as it would be over £100 for us.

It makes no difference. Someone in receipt of benefits still pays £1 entry to Westminster Abbey, an adult not in receipt of benefits still pays £31. The discrepancy is huge. It’s not fair and it doesn’t matter how it’s funded.

Absolutely no point in reporting anyone as nothing whatsoever is done about it. Neighbour claims he can't leave his house because of bad anxiety so therefore cannot work (obviously never heard of work at home jobs). He leaves his house just about every day to go shopping, walk his dogs, meet his girlfriend and best of all to work cash in hand!!!

He has been doing that for 4 years and, yes I know that for a fact because he is an idiot who shows off about it and I know the person he does cash in hand work for. Not just a few hours a week but between 20 and 30 usually.

I have reported and reported and reported but nothing happens. He meanwhile carries on have at least 2 takeaways a week and paying £120 for a meal for him and his girlfriend, which he also likes to boast about

Why would i want to campaign for that?

I'd rather campaign for welfare reform.

As far as I am aware, once the youngest child is two your friend will need to be actively looking for work in order to be eligible to receive UC. She should have a job coach and should be applying for jobs each week and providing proof of her job searches.

Why is your answer to the private sector operating in any way it likes, reform of the public sector?

That is a massive difference in price! I am all for a reduced entry fee if you are on benefits, but not at joe Bloggs, who has to work, expense. The attraction itself should take the cut in the name of charity. Clearly in your example Joe Bloggs (you) is subsidising it.