Food banks

[Rachel8967]

Struggling to make ends meet with my current salary and am struggling to afford food with my energy bills and rent costs. I’m feeling really embarrassed. Has anyone accessed food banks? How do they work?

Getting an additional job isn’t an option. I already work full time in the NHS with antisocial hours. I could potentially get a different job but after putting in so many years at university and accumulating huge amounts of student debt I can’t believe I’m in this position :(.

It won't be a massive amount for student loans.
It is only 9% of the amount over the threshold. Depending when she finished her degree, the threshold might be over £27K. It really isn't massive at all.

You're right-in isolation, not massive. Combined with tax, NI and pension, at least £500 per month out of one's pay and you need a foodbank, it's massive.

Combined with tax, NI and pension, at least £500 per month out of one's pay and you need a foodbank

Or you access credit for a couple of years like all the other young professionals starting out. It is freely available because of the excellent salary you will shortly be earning.

Maybe OP already has accessed credit. Maybe OP can't get anymore as lenders are being careful currently.
OP shouldn't have to get into debt and/or use a foodbank to meet basic living needs.

Do you have a notice board at work? Advertise for donations for a food share maybe in the corner of a break room. Be specific, items including boxes of cereal, UHT milk, pasta, jars of sauce etc. Bring the help to where it's needed.

But you specifically said the OP would be paying a large whack in student loans and the truth is she won't be. She may only be paying £30 a month. The issue here is not her student loans and to say otherwise is unhelpful. She needs to be looking at her budget and making sure she is claiming what she is eligible for e.g. child benefit, uc help for childcare.

Op, ignore the judgemental replies. If you were a single mother on benefit with dc, you’d be getting nothing but sympathy. And no one would ever suggest it was a “budgeting problem”!
the cost of living increases affect all of us and whilst you may have the potential for high earnings in your future, that doesn’t help you now. None of us know your situation re: childcare, income and out goings, rent prices where you live etc. You must have worked, and still be working, so, so hard, to get where you are now. It would be awful for you to have to give it up. Traditional food banks need a referral (dcs school or your gp can refer you I think) but, like pps said, there are lots of community kitchens etc and make sure you are claiming all benefits that you may be entitled to. It’s a bloody awful situation to be in, but lots of us have been there. Good luck xxxx

I'm actually gobsmacked by this.

That's £400 a month more than I get, and I am in what's considered an unskilled occupation, in a non essential industry. It's ridiculous that the professions we need as a society are being treated like this.

Are you a single parent OP or have a partner? Could you apply for UC if you're renting and it's high you might qualify for something and same for childcare?

As a pp said, no one deserves to work ft and use a foodbank, but doctors, nurses, police officers, carers and fire service personnel? Way to go attracting people to these essential roles!

Contrary to everyone asking if you have a partner - if you're single you may also be eligible for single tax benefits. Depends how it works in England, we get that in Scotland.

I'm outraged that a junior doctor is dealing with this. Disgusted by this awful government.

Absolutely. Once you take out tax, insurance and pension you are down to £21k…

Then deduct parking, fees to practice, the need for transport due to the unsocial hours as not all areas run buses 24/7, rent, childcare costs etc.

Once you’ve factored everything in, for the 6 years spent in medical school accumulating huge debts it just isn’t worth it

Absolutely horrendous government. How will we retain doctors in this country if this is how we treat them?

Can we stop pretending that she’ll have a ton of money further down the line?

The ones taking it in are the ones with time and energy to study and diversify - ie men!

my sister gets paid more than a consultant and she’s a fucking bean counter at a toy factory.

I get paid the same as a junior doctor - don’t pay professional fees - and I have a very “low-touch” job.

there are gazillions on MN earning 6-figures for fannying about so it’s really quite insulting to suggest a junior doctor would be rolling in it. If she’s in the SE or a major city, her rent could well be on a par with her take home salary.

my sister gets paid more than a consultant and she’s a fucking bean counter at a toy factory.

Your sister is an accountant and she is paid a good six figure salary if she is earning more than a consultant.

The ones taking it in are the ones with time and energy to study and diversify - ie men!

Nope. I spent many years in NHS finance. The medical profession is more female every year, and they are very well paid. It is misleading to say otherwise.

there are gazillions on MN earning 6-figures for fannying about so it’s really quite insulting to suggest a junior doctor would be rolling in it.

The fact that many Mumsnetters seem to be on 6 figure salaries in no way changes the reality that doctors are well paid. A junior doctor in their foundation years is in the last years of their training and nobody has said they would be "rolling in it". But they are earning an average salary and will soon be earning a good salary which will steadily improve.

I get paid the same as a junior doctor - don’t pay professional fees - and I have a very “low-touch” job.

In five years time you may be earning the same while they will be earning much more. And by the way a "junior doctor" can earn anything from £30k to £100k or more, depending on their role and shifts.

My niece is a junior doctor in the SE and has been staying with us because we live near her latest post and she is can't afford to rent. Similar sounding salary and believe me £1,800 a month might sound ok but she pays nearly £100 a month on parking alone then loan repayments and professional fees leave her about £1,500pcm. If she were to rent she'd be looking at £900pcm+ for a very basic 1 bed. £600a month for all bills, food, fuel living expenses & she doesn't have children - no wonder the op is struggling. And yes in years to come she may we'll be earning well but right now she's struggling so little point telling her not to moan as she's be rolling in it at some point

I would definitely speak to someone at work about this see if there is any help - maybe parking costs (could you cycle? Bus?) or free lunches? check if you are entitled to UC or similar and yes, look for community larders.

I don't think earnings are particularly important here.

There can be many reasons why someone on paper may seem not to be in hardship but may need a food bank. It's supposed to be a short term fix to a temporary problem.

And it can be hard to access help when it's not really obvious you are struggling.

Anywhere taking self referrals seems the best bet. Is anyone aware of national food banks taking self referrals?

I don't think earnings are particularly important here.

I agree with @NoPrivateSpy above. For whatever reason, OP currently needs a food bank and the "you're rich compared to me" posts are unfair and unhelpful.

I contribute monthly to the Trussell Trust and would hate that someone felt they couldn't ask for help as they weren't "deserving" enough.

I’m on a similar income. I receive a small amount of UC and a big chunk of childcare paid for my little one ( big one grown up) .

what’s your housing situation?
I rent in London so it’s counted in my UC assessment .
If you’ve bought your home then you should pay interest only till your income increases.

I wish people would stop insinuating junior doctors earn well, and £29k is a good salary . That would just about cover the rent for a 3 bed house round here!

how old is the child / children? Because once childcare is off the budget it’s like a weight being lifted .
when I needed to use foodbanks I emailed the CAB or council and they emailed me a voucher thing on my phone. Was a godsend !
don’t feel bad about it , you’ll be surprised by the demographic . Lots of hard working ordinary folk.

Well said @TheYearOfSmallThings

I don't think earnings are particularly important here.

Well, they are, if you are finding out that there are people taking food from food banks who are earning more than you are, when you are donating to food banks despite money being tight and despite you making decisions about jobs, housing etc that make economic sense.

It’s really tough financially when children are small and they are at nursery but it does get easier once they get some free hours, and easier again once they go to school. Phone your local Citizen’s Advice and ask for a benefits check. They may refer you to a local food bank as well if you want it. £29K is not a huge salary if you’re on your own with children, but I would not give up your career if you possibly can.

@Kite22 - how is that helping the OP feel less embarrassed? I didn't know people gave to charity with a set of assessment criteria on how their donations should be used.

Really ? You think people on a really low income would choose to donate to a food bank each week so that people with a higher income than them can take the food that they might have used yourself ?

I wish I earned £29000 a year, me and my BF don't even get half that amount combined. Yeah it's not the most ludicrous salary but still, I'm shocked people need to rely on food banks that earn double the minimum wage. Im not criticising by the way, but it says a lot that people earning that amount have severe financial issues. It says a lot about how badly people on £13k wages must be struggling financially. I find the whole thing horrifying. People need to stick together and stop attacking others just because they are low paid and need UC to top up their money or are better paid than others. Same applies to disabled people as well. The situation in this country is really bad. Wages need to cover people's living costs which they obviously don't. It's sad one of the richest countries in the world.

@Kerrybemmy I'm not disputing you're not on a very low wage but how can 2 working adults earn less than £18k when a FT (37.5hr) week on the National living/minimum wage is c.£18k. one of you may have caring duties which would reduce the hours you can work but am I missing something? Not accusing you or lying genuinely curious how 2 people can be working and earn so little.