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Original poster

If food prices have risen by - what? 20% - and fuel is sky rocketing then tell me WHY...

340 replies

objectivity · 09/06/2008 10:55

...are those dependent on state benefits still subsisting on the same paltry weekly allowance?

As a lone parent I have been in work and out of work from time to time, sometimes supported by Tax Credits, other times dependent upon Income Support. The money never really stretches far enough, but how on EARTH are we supposed to survive if everything is now costing more.

An annual review isn't good enough. My weekly costs are rising and rising, from week to week pretty much, so if my allocated benefit is the minimum I need to live on in April, and prices have risen since then, how am I supposed to be surviving in June?

Anyone else REALLY struggling- more than ever?

OP posts:
posieparker · 09/06/2008 17:31

That was in your favour and I thought there were lots of good ideas. Fucking hell, it's alright to talk about how clever you are, how many degrees, what papers you've written, but mention in a thread that you have a little money or offer a fucking idea about how someone can economise and you must be such a bitch. Perhaps I shouldn't advise that woman who can't find any shoes because I have some, or how to lose weight because I'm slim.
Prejudice is prejudice, no matter how you look at it.

nailpolish · 09/06/2008 17:33

talking about money and how much you earn is so vulgar

posieparker · 09/06/2008 17:35

I don't earn it, connie mentioned it not me.
Time for a name change I guess.

Chequers · 09/06/2008 17:37

Message withdrawn

littlelapin · 09/06/2008 17:37

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

posieparker · 09/06/2008 17:39

It was a fucking joke.

conniedescending · 09/06/2008 17:39

Posie, you need to get over yourself.

conniedescending · 09/06/2008 17:41

and you mentioned it on another thread which is how I know! Think you've mentioned it alot actually..............

posieparker · 09/06/2008 17:44

I'm sorry it bothers you connie, it wouldn't bother me, certainly not enough to carry it accross threads. But then I'm quite happy and so I don't need to be so bitchy and undermining.

IllegallyBrunette · 09/06/2008 17:45

I am on benefits and starting to struggle a bit, especially with my food shop, but then I just try and shop around a bit and cut back on bits and bobs.

Just wanted to remind all those people who always tell others to get a job if they are struggling, it isn't always that easy. I have been job hunting for about 18mths and got absolutly nowhere.

LittleBella · 09/06/2008 17:47

So the consensus is that we as a society are happy to have people on benefits living on less than the minimum needed to survive, is it?

Because that was the point of the OP. Not that everyone employed should give her money, not that things aren't bad for working people, but that her benefits were assessed a year ago as being the bare minimum to survive and seeing as how everything has gone up in price, she's now living below the bare minimum.

And that's all right and she should fuck off because she's unemployed and doesn't have the right to whinge and really, everyone on benefits should get a job. In fact, why have benefits at all, if everyone should get a job?

Jesus this is the most intelligent site I've come across on the web, and you still get threads like this.

zippitippitoes · 09/06/2008 17:50

well nutty i think we can agree on the side that it can be hard to get a job for one reason or another

expatinscotland · 09/06/2008 17:51

Where's the money supposed to come from, though, LittleBella, as most people are already taxed to the hilt, and yes, OAPs pay tax on their retirement payouts.

zippitippitoes · 09/06/2008 17:55

the money is supposed to come from people generating income, producing goods etc which is not happening as much because we are entering a recession

BandofMothers · 09/06/2008 17:57

This country really is heading for disaster as far as this issue is concerned, for ALL people, not just people on benefits. We're f*ked really, aren't we???

And if people want to have a whinge then let them, crikey, some days I wonder how we'll manage if things go up any more. And yes we have sky and a pc on the internet, but as we can't afford to do anything else, you have to have SOMETHING to do, right??

LittleBella · 09/06/2008 17:58

The question isn't where the money is to come from (we all know we can afford to fund endless wars and that rich people pay nowhere near as much tax as the poor because of legal tax avoidance) it is is it OK for jobless people and their children to live below what the state needs is a minimum to survive.

If you're all happy with that, fine. I'm not. And I've got a job, so no particular axe to grind.

expatinscotland · 09/06/2008 17:59

But the question is where will the money come from, LB, because teh government's going to expect it to come from the little guy, not businesses or super rich people or themselves, but from people who are a paycheque away from skid row themselves.

LittleBella · 09/06/2008 18:02

True, so we can complain about the govt.

And say that because we're poor (and blimey, I'm poor, I'm legally defined as such) we're happy for those on benefits to live below survival rate.

We won't even think of changing society.

Oh God.

BandofMothers · 09/06/2008 18:02

I sometimes wonder why we don't just sell the car too, as we can't afford to run it much anymore and could save on the tax/insurance/mot etc, and esp petrol, but then DD1 couldn't go to her tap lesson and that's the only thing she has bless her. I would love her to have so much more...............

tiredemma · 09/06/2008 18:02

I hate this country.

zippitippitoes · 09/06/2008 18:04

well i think we are a lot better off here than most countries in the world to be honest

BandofMothers · 09/06/2008 18:05

TBH I consider the biggest luxury that we allow ourselves is that I am not working while the girls are little. We manage, just about, with a few luxuries, like beer and chocolate, and the internet I am very glad I can do that, but as soon as they are both in big school I will be back at work.

expatinscotland · 09/06/2008 18:07

I don't think anyone's happy with the situation, LB, but what to do?

I mean, it's all well and good to say 'change society', but how, other than voting nad writing to your MP?

I'm not happy to pay more tax because we really and truly can't afford to give anymore.

We just can't or we won't be able to live ourselves.

LittleBella · 09/06/2008 18:11

expat I'm not blaming you for not wanting/ being able to pay more tax.

Me neither.

But this thread was about whether we think it's OK for people to live below what the state deems is survival rate.

Survival rate. And in the main, we are talking about children. And we are one of the richest countries on the planet.

I believe that many working people can't afford to pay more taxes. I simply don't believe that as a country, we can't afford to ensure that people on benefits can't live at a level where they can survive. And it depresses me that a suggestion that they ought to be able to survive, is met with a chorus of indignation.

expatinscotland · 09/06/2008 18:13

i think the fuel and food costs would be the main concerns for such people, however, because if you are on Income Support or JSA, you get full housing and council tax benefit. perhaps i am wrong, though.

but for many working poor, there's the added problem of housing and council tax costs in addition to fuel and food.

so i think what people are getting at is that it's also not fair for the children of the working poor to live below survival level wages, too.

it's a tough situation all around.