Are you or do you know anyone in poverty?

[Rayn]

Just that really. We are by no means well off and manage payday to payday and might have to cut back on luxuries now and again but we are not in poverty.
However a family member recently mentioned something about going to a food bank and I was shocked. She has always seemed to be ok , rent paid, odd day out etc but nothing flash!

She is a single parent has always worked but due to universal credit and how it works is now having to go to a food bank. I just don't know how it has got to this? Not her fault by any means but FFS it's 2019!

I have a wide range of friends in different financial circumstances but when I think about it more and more are struggling.

With regards to family member we have offered her some money even though we can't really afford it but can't see her in this situation at Xmas.
I know it's in the news all the time about children in poverty but I never really thought about it affecting people who always seemed to manage ok.

Do you think people are too proud to admit they are in poverty. Genuine poverty where they have to go to food banks?

Just might be worth bearing in mind that people won't admit it as feel embarrassed even though it's not their fault. Just feel like I need to help more but don't know how!

yep, povvo here.

i’m 46 and disabled. i live in a bedsit, my income is ESA (support group), PIP and Housing Benefit. even though my home is tiny, the Local Housing Alllowance doesn’t cover my whole rent so i have to top up £80 a month.

i don’t drink or drug. i do smoke, but that’s going soon as i have a major surgery coming up.

my car broke down 3 weeks ago and i have no idea what i can do about it. my arthritis is currently so bad that it’s a real struggle to get to the local shop, where i flash my free money about buying pasta, muesli and electricity for my meter. my meter eats money to the tune of about £25 a week. £100 a month to heat a bedsit, and it doesn’t even heat the water - i have an even more expensive immersion heater if i want a bath.

until 2012 i had a successful career with lots of international travel. a nice house, DD was settled. and then i had a complete breakdown, and 7 years down the line i find myself choosing between food and heat. because, the cold makes my arthritis worse, which makes it harder to get anywhere.

i’m effectively housebound, in chronic pain and four jumpers.

but yeah, my diamond shoes pinch a bit, because skimming the public purse pays so incredibly well.

do i sound bitter? good. because i AM bitter. and hugely grateful for the food bank parcel i received this week.

I know I grew up in poverty, but to what extent I don't know. I was very sheltered.
I would also say we're currently on the cusp. While my husband has some savings, if anything happened with our UC those savings would be paying our rent for a few months. We get healthy start vouchers for the kids, so we don't have to pay for veg or milk but we have to pay for everything else. We meal plan to maximize the use of the food we have.

DM I'd also say is in poverty. 10k or more in debt, doesn't have a car, lives on site for her job (thankfully) but has a crap diet, and her priorities are all wrong. She's also a hoarder, pathological liar, and won't listen to any advise we give her to manage her money better. She impulse buys things she can't afford because she wants to have matching stuff in her home, or wants to replace perfectly good items because she's bored.. i need to rant I'm sorry

Exwife - Are you getting the severe disability premium on your ESA ? Just asking because there's no way you should be struggling that much with ESA, SDP and PIP even with the high heating bills ??

Exwife - Even on the lower rates of PIP you would be getting at least £259.40 a week ??

@Debwenn how old is your DD? Can you get the fruit/veg vouchers? As others have said, try to find your local food bank and speak to them in person - explain your situation. The people who run them generally do their utmost to help - our local food bank has also done a huge toy collection recently so they might be able to help with gifts for your daughter.
I know you might not think it but your daughter needs you more than she needs gifts - keep going, even if it's just for her.