Annoyed with it all!

[plinkyblonk]

So my partner and I are I would say average earners, so earn too much for help but not enought to ride the storm and have little impact. I was part time until recently but went full time so we could have a wee bit more money to go on holiday, do the house up etc etc. However the way things are the extra earns have pretty much been soaked up with the rise in mortgages, food costs etc. Feel like we are back to how much we had left before going full-time. Granted we are in a better position than if I were part time but just feel disheartened with it all that so many people who are working and should be reaping the rewards for the work they are doing are now working just to survive. I'm sure I'm not the only one feeling the same?

I see where you're coming from,but in those cases I think the solution would be to make people aware of the UC levels so they can apply when they become eligible rather than struggling when some benefits are available. Once that's done,we can have the conversation about how little people are expecting to live on. I'd so much prefer people to get a living wage from a full time job so UC was unnecessary.

Because of everyone went on benefits, there’d be no one to pay for them 🙄.

I doubt that is the reason @Idratherbepaddleboarding , and you know it.

This is literally me!
I feel you... your not alone. Not that that makes it feel any better haha.

Hi, yes was the debt comment you made I think I was interested in, the context makes more sense now and sorry you've had a bad time: but unfortunately from day to day practically, the asset value of a property/vehicle has to be taken into account with DROs,but I agree COVID was awful and affected people differently, though part of why the CoL, and specifically inflation, has been getting worse is all the debt we made trying to finance the covid response. Hope things get better for you soon 👍

Ok then, because we have more self respect! It’s true though no tax payer=no benefits. And no I’m not talking about in work benefits, everyone should get a living wage I’m talking about those that are paid to drop their kids at school and go back to bed.

Thank you, appreciate it.
It's just tough times! But, got to keep going! Just wishing there was a little more help for those of us who work full time and contribute fully to society when times are tough. But, it's life !

Because we like to earn what I own... ?

Ok then, because we have more self respect! It’s true though no tax payer=no benefits. And no I’m not talking about in work benefits, everyone should get a living wage I’m talking about those that are paid to drop their kids at school and go back to bed.

And none of this has anything to do with the fact that it was implied (basically stated) that those living on benefits are living better than everyone else, who are working.

So, good for you. That does not mean that those who are on benefits are sitting in clover, and having so much more than people who are working, does it!!

Absolutely agree: if the NMW/"living wage" actually WAS a living wage ,then the uplift to all wages would make it so much better,and then "in work benefits" could get in the bin for full time workers (obviously still would be needed for people unable to work full time for ill health/any situations beyond their control )

Did we touch a nerve here LadyKenya?

No, Why would you think that?@Bunsandtophats . I just find it laughable that people would keep saying that people who are not working, and claiming benefits are somehow faring off financially better than people who are working.

But they are.... And they have something more than money....time

So, good for you. That does not mean that those who are on benefits are sitting in clover, and having so much more than people who are working, does it!!

@LadyKenya it certainly is, good for me and for society as a whole. But I fail to see where I've stated that they do?
*But, for some stats. My pay was raised 9.7% in April. Benefits have been raised 10.1%, on-top of that, many recipients have received 3 cost of living payments, (so far) where as I've received none. During lockdown, people on benefits received Additional money while those of us working if lucky enough to get furlough made a loss of 10% moving up to 40% with no additional help.
Most people on benefits get given council tax reductions where mines just risen 4.4%. Most people on benefits get help towards their rent, my mortgage has just increased 4.5%... I could go on. I'm penalised because I work for a living.

However - I never made a comment on people who claim benefits before this reply. I simply stated that I wasn't able to access benefits despite barely keeping afloat. *

However, I could argue that I know 3 people who don't work, who've used their cost of living payments to go on holiday this year. I know another 2 who've booked 3 day festivals... nether of which are luxuries myself or my husband can afford who both work full time.

They may have more time@Bunsandtophats , but that may be about all they may have, compared to people who work. All that talk about wine, and clothes is petty.

So you mean either those on disability benefits or the 4% on benefits who are fit for work who don't want to work?

Ok@Minnierose11 , it was not you who did make previous comments. Those people that you know who received the cost of living payments are deciding what to do with their money, the same way you choose what to do with yours. Living on benefits does not take away the ability to prioritise.

@LadyKenya during a cost of living crisis, I wouldn't say a holiday or a festival is a priority. The purpose of those additional payments was to help people put food on the tables and help heat their homes. Necessities not luxuries. During lockdown I had to get myself into debt to afford such things.. despite working all my life.

I'm by no means saying all on benefits live that way, I have family members who are unable to work due to disabilities and I'm thankful for the benefit system in their circumstances however, their is ALOT of abuse in the system which rubs people up the wrong way daily and therefore they'll always be a stereotype surrounding it. Sad but true ...
the minority ruin it for the majority.

Yes there may be some people who abuse the system@Minnierose11 . The point I was making though is that they are not doing so much better than people who work. I have known some people on benefits, and I would not say that they are doing financially better at all. If anything they will never own their own homes, things like that. It just seems to me that people will look at people on benefits like they should not have anything at all, I mean a bottle of wine for goodness sake.

Yip I have family members who have just bought a ps5. Also have the latest adidas/nike range. If you genuinely can't work then fair play but many I know can and play the system. One I know gets rent, council tax paid for plus about £900 in to their hand tax free. Pretty much what I get in to my hand after tax it does grate a little, when I have the extra stress of school runs then racing work etc. And I work because I love my job and want to feel like I've achieved something.

@LadyKenya I think the point that commenter was making is that when she works full time and can't herself afford a bottle of wine, or a night out. Yet those who are in receipt of benefits can afford such luxuries then somethings got to give. And I have to say, I whole heartedly agree...

When working people received help toward their electricity bills it was credited directly to their supplier and deducted off the bills, I never touched our bank accounts and therefore their was no option but to spend it on what it was intended for. And rightly so.. so why can't the same be done for those on benefits I wonder? Food vouchers (excluding alcohol and fags), credit to their electricity supplier, rent subsidies paid directly to their landlord.

Surely you can see just from that small list of examples see why people have this opinion of those on benefit..

Some people have those opinions about people on benefits@Minnierose11 , not all, thankfully. Should people, just because they are not working be treated in such a fashion. Food vouchers? So that everyone in the queue at Tesco's knows that they do not work, and receive benefits. Even children on free meals at school are spared things like that you know. There is a reason for that.

@Minnierose11 yes this is exactly what I mean. We’re being nagged for a night out yet out of your group of 6, including 5 full time workers, only 1 can afford to drink all weekend. Meanwhile I’m going to work with an empty stomach because I can’t afford to feed us all 😡.

pride? A work ethic?