MNHQ here: are you a JAM ("Just About Managing")?

[FinnMumsnet]

Hello,

With the Chancellor's Autumn Statement coming up next Wednesday (23 November), rumours swirl that it will include measures targeted at a group the government has been calling "JAMs", or those "just about managing." There's some suggestion that this will include action on things like childcare subsidies, the cost of holiday flights and fuel duty. (For more, here's the Mirror, the Telegraph and the FT.)

We know from previous conversations that many MNers are having to work hard to make ends meet, and we'd love to hear your thoughts on whether you think you fall into this category, what action you'd like the government to take, and whether any of the proposed measures (though we don't have any more details we're afraid!) would make a difference to your lives.

Thanks,
MNHQ

Four day week..
www.theguardian.com/money/2013/feb/22/four-day-week-less-is-more
Says it all.

Rural broadband in the UK is an issue
but to say that the rest of the world has it better is just blinkered

Controversially, I don't really understand what is so bad about 2mbps. Apart from gaming or downloading long films, (films that can still be streamed) there is plenty that can get done at that speed. It is perfectly adequate for most consumers, though I appreciate it is probably a hindrance to animators, some web designers.
However, when it's so slow people can't even do basic emailing, that's undoubtedly a problem. Also that the limited range of providers in rural areas means people have to pay more for broadband and phone, because there is pretty much only BT.

Not interested in holiday fuel etc - that's a nonsense. The price of passports and a holiday abroad would still be out of reach for us - so that sounds like the usual fripperies.

How about really helping us out? Give us things like free school dinners if you get tax credit - we are still poorer than our unemployed neighbours. Winter fuel allowances. All those kind of things. I have coal fired central heating. Coal costs me £60 a month and I can only buy 4 bags. I used to be able to buy it by the tonne, but now have to buy by the bag and usually only have a week or less worth of a stockpile. The slightest unforeseen expense and we risk not having heating. Do something about that kind of situation. Give us extra money in winter when the temp drops below x degrees, same as the unemployed get. Basically, raising a family on minimum wage with tax credits, we are poorer than unemployed families as we don't get things like this which would make a huge difference to us.

Cheaper flights are of no interest. I couldn't afford £400 worth of passports even if I could afford the holidays. I'd rather be warm in winter and know I don't have to decide between food and heating.

The slightest unforeseen expense and we risk not having heating

This.

Never mind winter fuel allowance for wealthy OAPs, how about extending it to people on tax credits?

well we'll find out soon - but if the leaks are to be believed higher rate tax thresholds will rise so it'll be another budget for the well off really, while pretending to help the JAMs.

Cheaper flights?! I haven't had a holiday for 12 years and am raiding my savings (of almost that length of time) to have a 4 day break to visit my family in US in January (at the cheapest rate I could get).

I am JAM I guess, but it's hard work, I have to watch every penny I spend not to get into debt. I shop frugally at Aldi, sell on ebay, buy secondhand on ebay, and work overtime to make ends meet.

Not sure what the Government could or would do to help - maybe more tax breaks for part time employees on low incomes, take more people out of tax altogether.

I like John McDonnell's idea of universal income. It would avoid the administration of having to means test for benefits and allow people who are working potential to reduce my hours to increase childcare and care for elderly parents, knowing that there is a safety net.

Yes, subsidising holidays we can't afford anyway is very 'Let them eat cake.'

And a clue - if they do it - that they are no more clued up as to how real people live, than their old Etonian pals from last year.

Controversially, I don't really understand what is so bad about 2mbps.

The main problem with 2Mbps is that it's no use for working from home/VPN/Cloud etc. Which may sound like a very luxurious problem but in our case is the difference between my having a job and not having one (we have 35Mbps today apparently although it's meant to be about 70 so it's a good thing DH isn't also WFH today).

Improving internet speeds in rural areas increases employment and enterprise opportunities.

We've just go fibreoptic fast speed thingies in this very remote area (we have no mains sewers or gas mains and never will, so it is fairly... off grid).
Yet a relative who lives in a nearby city - still doesn't have it in his area and they've been told they won't get it for ages. His internet connectivity is shocking. So it's not just some rural areas, either.

Did I just here right? I walked into the room with radio news on. A Tory Twonk saying they want to change tax credits to 'incentivise' people already in work to seek more hours?

I'm trying not to raise my blood pressure because I may have heard wrong. But dear god, I've scrabbled around for all the over time possible and now there's no more. WTF

blindassassin1 - maybe its different where you live, but round here its very easy to get jobs. I know of several people who could easily increase their hours, but work the minimum to get the max amount in benefits. And whilst i totally understand they don't want to work, its a bit gauling for those of us subsidising them and having to listen to them moaning about lack of money. I'm guessing you are in the north and its different there?

We are a treadmill family like someone said further up rather than a JAM but i dont think these changes will make much difference. For example JAM's cant afford holidays abroad in my experience and going on a aeroplane is not a priority. The best system is n the last number of years that helped us was the tax credit system and they are getting rid of it. I dont think the Tories have the desire to do the things that will really help JAM's. Same old Tories

Dreamingofsun - i am in the Midlands and there is very little work going where i am

Joffrey - i live in a large town and our internet is awful.

dreamingofsun No I'm not in the North or the south east. The company I work for is just not giving out over time at the moment. They are playing it safe (but working us to death while we're there; no one would dare complain or take a day sick because we aren't paid for the first few days of illness).

There are other jobs around, but they are very badly paid. There is no childcare (and I meant that without exaggeration) and certainly nothing affordable for school holidays. I've done all the costs and it would mean not only not bringing home a wage but in debt to work. Ridiculous.

Also a proper living wage and ban zero hour contracts. Make PIP fairer as the categories dont work well enough for those with invisible conditions

rural my husband is deaf and just got turned down flat for PIP. I used to help people fill in DLA forms, and feel confident he'd have got DLA....

I should add - he is forced to work a 5 day week doing a minimum wage job that is damaging his hearing constantly. He was hoping for PIP so he could work one day less a week, because he will end up with no hearing whatsoever. So this thing of people on minimum wage jobs suddenly being incentivised to find yet another job.... obscene.

Simply give people on tax credits all the added benefits the unemployed get - extra fuel allowance, free school dinners.... How is that hard for them to figure out?

Well the news is hardly covering but there has been a horrific tax raid on small businesses through the changes in flat rate VAT
but the tabloid will not froth about it

I knew Hammond was a coward.

Pleased he's moving the budget date though - about time

www.gov.uk/government/publications/tackling-aggressive-abuse-of-the-vat-flat-rate-scheme-technical-note/tackling-aggressive-abuse-of-the-vat-flat-rate-scheme-technical-note

Enormous
I'm well aware of why they did it
but the way its been done is clobbering lots of legit businesses - because our current political "class" are clueless

Free dental treatment.
I'm paying the price for prioritising other things over my own dental care.

Housing is the massive issue. Generally if you bought your first house over around 12+ years ago you will be a lot better off than those either buying for the first time now or renting. Of course different areas have different housing markets but also different wages.

There are people that own lovely houses and pay a very low or no mortgage, while to rent the same place or to buy it new you would be paying £1,000s a month for the same thing. Crazy!

I see Hammonds the lesser of 2 evils and thank God osbornes crawled back into his hellholemansion.

But.....AFAIK STILL no extra funding or financilal help for disabled/carers of disabled/NHS?

and no going back on spare room tax for disabled purposes .