Benefits and food banks - how would you word this?

[Sn1859]

Firstly, I want to apologise if I offend anyone, this is not my intention at all.

So earlier on tiktok I commented on a post about food banks saying that we shouldn’t need food banks with the benefits system we have. I didn’t mean people are raking it in and shouldn’t need to use f/bs but with the benefit system (not as it is, just as a whole) and how many people who can get benefits (not just not working but as a wage top up etc) you would think they wouldn’t be needed as the benefits system should work but it doesn’t. People are acting like I’ve just punched their Nan in the face so now I’m wondering how I could have worded it better so people got what I meant.

in my defence before people think I’m judging benefits on here too, I’m not. I’ve been on them 18 years whilst working and they have been shocking, keep moving the goalposts, not checking things when I’ve sent them in so I owe them money. It seems once you’re on they make it impossible to get off.
I do think in this day and age people shouldn’t be struggling for a meal. It’s ridiculous and it feels like we’re all going backwards instead of forwards.

Your third paragraph would have done.

I agree it’s shocking.

But this is what people voted for so we need to suck it up.

I get what you are saying but there will always be people who struggle to budget, there will always be unexpected costs that reduce the amount left for food. Unless there's much more support to allow people to save (though how do you make them) you need a safety net of some kind and the good thing about food banks is it's directed, means food is actually acquired, money could be spent on other things

Major issue is gas and electric prices, plus increase in rents. People are falling through safety nets.

Young people are really struggling if they are in private rent. They may need to top their rent up by a hundred pounds which will only leave them less than 200 a month for everything Inc utilities, food, phone, travel costs .

I run a food bank. I’d say, people’s incomes no longer cover their reasonable or even basic in some cases, cost of living. Food banks often find themselves having to step in to bridge the gap. Cf, recent Rowntree Foundation research.

I think you make a good point, but it is a little clumsily worded perhaps - maybe better stated as anywhere with a working benefit system should be able to support people without the need for extra support by charities or other agencies? But I notice on here that people will often skin read something and jump in with an emotional response. Or will completed ignore any nuance in order to be outraged. Could you post a clarification?

Well if you worded it like you did in your post here, it sounds like you are saying that benefits are sufficient to live on and anyone who also needs food banks is feckless / improvident / not managing their money properly.

I can tell from your subsequent posts that you actually meant to criticise the benefits system and say it’s not working properly but if all you posted is what’s in the second paragraph above, it comes across like you are having a go at benefit claimants so I can see why people might be upset.

What I mean is we shouldn’t need a food bank at all. I totally get why we have them, I’m not knocking them or anyone that uses them as they are a godsend but it’s just astonishing to me in this day and age that they’re needed at all.

The benefit system sucks, the weekly allowance they expect anyone to live on seems to be about the same amount of money per week as it was years ago yet everything else seems extortionate in comparison. You shouldn’t have to choose between feeding yourself and household bills.

What about single people who work full time, can't receive benefits, pay over £100 in fares to work a week, and try to rent at £1200 per month. Can't afford to live. Can't get to food banks because they're at work during the week, and live hand to mouth.

There are plenty of people in work who have had to resort to Foodbanks due to COL

I get your point that as a society we have fallen short that some people can't afford food certainly

But that shouldn’t be happening either. You shouldn’t have to live like that. The post was only about food banks because that was the topic of the video (well, someone who was abusing the food bank).

I think the people who run food banks would agree with you that we shouldn't need them. Please dont vote Tory next time.

I just want to say thanks to all of you for your input. I’ve decided not say anything on the subject going forward, it’s easier. I’ve deleted the comment on tiktok and will be asking for this post to be deleted shortly.

I didn’t last time. I voted Labour; not because I understood any of their policies or what they stood for, just to vote the Tories out.

I actually agree with this. The people that I see really struggling are in this category. It’s so sad.

Food banks will still be around when Labour get in.

Sometimes wording something can be difficult with these issues.

Would something along the lines of: it's awful that people need to resort to using a food bank in the UK in 2023. We need to invest in fixing our benefit system so no-one is ever in the position of relying on the generosity of strangers to eat" be closer?

It's hard on tiktok as you can't leave long posts.

I don't think food banks should be needed. But sadly they are being normalised and its due to the government the cost of food and all the other bills.

Its almost like a double edge sword. Food banks feed people who struggle. government don't need to do anything to fix the situation.

I think that was the problem. As I was trying to clarify my comment, I had to split it so it looked like I was hating on food banks when it’s more the benefit system/government.

Thank you, I think that would have been more sufficient than “we shouldn’t need to use foodbanks”! I think I need to start reading again, my brain is turning to mush!

I work full time, can’t afford to live and in past month have had to start using a food bank in my lunch break once a week, have worked all my life in a high pressure career, raised a child single-handedly with no support of any kind from her father, and held down a mortgage and for the first time ever I can’t afford food, fuck the Tories, they care for no one but their own and there are still plenty of greedy selfish elite in this country who will always vote for them

I hope things turn around for you soon @Raspberrymoon49! No one should have to live that way! It won’t be long until we have 80 year olds working 2 jobs just to live. It’s wrong!

Would take you all of 10 mins to do a bit of research on different party policies. I find it shocking that people don't make any effort inform and educate themselves, there is no excuse as everything is a few seconds away.

There are plenty of people that do the opposite and vote tory, they don't both to look into who they are voting for, they just have this idea that their life will be worse under Labour.

People sacrificed their lives so that people could have the vote and many people don't even bother.