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?

That was just an example ... my point was there needs to be a better way to police it. The system is broken and full of people who know how to play it.

Another example being, job seekers.. they're told they have to apply to a certain amount of jobs etc/get interviews/be seen to be trying. They apply, get interviews, don't show and say they didn't get the job.
No follow up... and moneys handed over.
We live in a society were people don't want to work, and it's made all too easy for them. 60+ years ago there was no such thing as the welfare system and families had bigger families to care for.

Now we have people who choose to have more kids crying because child benefit is capped at 2 kids...
people who won't work over 16 hours because they'll loose benefits and it's more beneficial to be in receipt of them than to work longer hours...

Ok@Minnierose11 That is quite a lot going on that you have listed. The benefits system has been raked over by the Conservatives, and I highly doubt that they are giving people a higher standard of living on benefits, than those that are working, which was my original point. Admittedly I do not have first hand experience, but from what I have seen those who are working, are better off. The people that I see on benefits are living hand to mouth, just.

Completely get it!

I worked with a women who lives with her partner and his dad. She works, and all credit to her (although she recently left and it's clear she's going to go the same)
However, nether of them do. He stopped at 46 and claimed 'he's done his bit' and her partner has never worked a day in his life. She's openly told us he googles symptoms of depression and ptsd and goes to the doctors and has been continuously signed off for 20+ years. He's been getting these cost of living payments and brought himself a moped, doesn't even have a license?! On top of that, his dad has too. Previously brought a car, which was ceased people it was parked on a public road with no tax/not (waste of tax payers money again) and So within that household they've been gifted nearly £2,000. Both able to work, both choose not too and know how to play the system. Council house, rent paid, £30 council tax..

Why are people on mumsnet always so fast to punch down instead of up? You're complaining about a tiny percentage of people on benefits when you could instead be looking at the multi billionaire bosses paying pennies to workers or raising food prices beyond what people can afford.
It's easier to go after vulnerable people because that's what the media and society have taught you but it really does make you look awful.
I also do get paid to lie in bed but I make my kid walk himself to school. My neighbour is on benefits and she drinks 3 times a week or more! She also has so much debt that she can no longer borrow from anywhere but family and she usually ends up owing them at least £700 a month along with them buying her groceries.

Maybe do some research.
And that maybe the case from what you've seen, but from what I've seen, of those who I personally know on benefits, the vast majority of whom don't need it but abuse it, they are living more than comfortably without all these worry's working people are facing.
I however, working full time and my husband who does too, am living hand to mouth and pay check to pay check and defiantly don't have the luxury of prioritising holidays or festivals over my bills as you previously stated those on benefits do.

Can I ask, do you work?

Now it is the people faking ill health, and claiming disability benefits turn is it? I will leave you to it@Minnierose11 .

@LadyKenya there turn? Who do you think we've all been speaking about?

Not people on disability benefits. Because if you have that is even lower than I previously thought@Minnierose11 .

@LadyKenya

@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.

^^ during my conversation with you.. of which you agreed??

Or now are you trying to tell me that all that claim disability benefits are actually in need of it? Because I could name several that don't and indeed know how to play the system.

Or now are you trying to tell me that all that claim disability benefits are actually in need of it? Because I could name several that don't and indeed know how to play the system.

I do not think that would be a good idea, naming people. Of course there will be people who are willing to try to exploit any system. I highly doubt that their Doctors will just sign off falsehoods though. You only have to read the threads on here to see that it is not easy to get PIP etc....

@LadyKenya of course I'm not going to actually name individuals, I didn't mean that literally.

And I'd have to disagree, I know several signed off work who needn't be. I have an example above, if you know how to play the system, it's very easy. A quick google of symptoms ... a doctor can't call you a liar can they.
And Pip maybe not.. but I also know people who receive pip and work full time. I'm on about those who don't work and can! And know they can.
But I can see we are going to go round in circles with this.. so I'll bid you a good night.

what makes you think those on benefits are at no risk from becoming homeless??

I'm on benefits & a pension due to ill health. I thought that getting a 10.1% increase would mean I would have a bit more left after I have paid all my bills & the food shop, but I feel worse off now than I did before the increase. I've cut the shopping down to the bone, but my rent has gone up due to having to pay bedroom tax as ds has left home, my gas, electric, broadband, TV package have all increased, I can't see things getting better for me until I draw my state pension, but that is just over 9 years away.

@catskittens that isn't what that comment has said is it?
I've stated that those with mortgages won't be able to get a debt relief order because we have a mortgage without risk of loosing out homes, whereas those without can without risk of loosing their homes. That's in regards to being able to have a DRO and the implications that has, not in terms or keeping up with repayments and risk of homelessness is it.

I didn't really want this thread to go down the benefits route tbh. It was about average earners struggling and generally being fed up. I was agreeing that from the outside some on benefits seem like they aren't suffering, I'm sure like most group it's a minority but it doesn't help when your work work FT and juggling everything else and just getting by to see.

As much as I feel slightly better I'm not the only one feeling like I could weep everytime I let myself think about £ too much. It saddens me that so many are struggling.

You're not alone. So far we are doing OK with a good mortgage rate. I work a crazy amount at times doing freelance on top on a 4 day a week job. But the money doesn't go as far as it would have done even last year. Especially 2 years ago! So whole I'd hope we'd really be able to build saving it goes on maintaining the same lifestyle.

I know loads of people are in a much worse position so I'm lucky. But equally not far away from earning the most we've ever earned (and working incredibly hard to do so) but actually having a worse lifestyle. So if I'm feeling this on the comfortable end wtf are people struggling going through?

I wouldn't like to be on benefits right now unless you are in social housing. Local Housing Allowance does not cover the rent that landlords want to charge following mortgage hikes. People are being evicted left, right and centre. Families living in one room and absolutely nowhere to house them. I know this as I work in this field.
Its not easy for most people.
I'm doing a full time job, then I work evenings and weekends plus take annual leave to pick up extra shifts at sporting events.
I'm in my 50's and knackered but that's the price I'm having to pay to continue living comfortably because without the extra cash I'd be very miserable indeed.

I think we are in similar boat as everyone else, although I still consider ourselves lucky, because we are able to make some savings and save money towards energy bills. Husband is doing his postgraduate degree, so hopefully this will pay off at some point. What pisses me off is that we live away from family and everyone expects us to come visit, so flight charges etc. are on us. We just can't afford it anymore (because you end up spending the same amount of money as it was holiday- I suppose many people can't afford this luxury now) and I started saying no. All of the sudden everyone feels resentful. I feel like proper idiot for letting them taking the advantage of our money, annual leave etc. It was so fucking expensive to travel during COVID (tests, quarantine etc.) and we still did it, whilst they were taking it for granted. I am expecting my first baby now and said no more. I am also not going to run the extra mile to accomodate guests when they want to visit. I just can't afford it after making fool of myself in the past 6 years 😡Time to focus on my own family, especially that times are tough.

Yeah I think people should be more understanding especially now. I have friends who live 2 hrs away and I have driven a few times over turn last year and I've decided I'll meet them half way or I won't be going unless for birthdays! Special occasions. Can't afford the petrol all the time. Put your own oxygen mask on first so then you can help others 😊 although it'll be a, few years now before I can help anyone else haha