The winter of discontent 2021? Food, energy, transport, jobs, housing etc

[lasttime]

Tbh it is a bit unfair that people who are in similar situations but on the old welfare system either didn't get anything or got £500 in comparison to those on UC getting an additional £1500ish over 18 months. There's a court case from 2 people on ESA about it, I don't think you're able to claim UC while on ESA but not 100% sure

You're right, it's one or the other which is the dwps argument from what I've just read, they basically said if people thought they'd be better off on UC then they should of switched from jsa, esa etc to UC

 

[Loopylips]

I will be really hit hard. Single parent on £40k had a car, still struggling but managed etc Covid hit. Lost job, care engine blew up. No car no job. Mum has passed away and ex partner not around nor sending money for two teenagers. I managed to get another job after lockdown but was let go when the second one started. I’m overqualified for some jobs I’m applying for I’ve gone for less money and I’m still not getting anywhere because I’ve now been out of work for over a year and a half. I literally cried last week when my daughter bent over in school and her trousers split because the universal credit doesn’t cover everything and it was an expense I can’t afford. I’ve cancelled sky, my phone is now pay as you go, I don’t smoke, don’t drink, (not that you are less entitled if you do) I have one pair of trainers and one pair of jeans that fit as haven’t bought myself anything since March 2020. I’ve sold my jewellery. I’m not sleeping at night worrying about Christmas and my 13 years olds birthday in November. I feel like a failure and can feel I’m losing myself trying to feed my kids and get them what they need never mind what they want.

£20 is nothing to Some but everything to others I feel so ashamed that humans can begrudge it to people who need it. I need it and I really will be swapping heat for food and going without. It’s criminal to give and then take back. I live in the borough for the highest council tax and council tax support doesn’t even cover it. I owe thousands to Thames water as it’s a bill I can’t afford. I pay gas and electricity which will increase. I’m dying to work and applying and applying. Food going up. THESE BASTARDS DONT EVEN PAY FOR THEIR HOMES AND BREAKFAST FFS I did (as a taxpayer since I was 16 years old until 2020)!

sorry to be so negative but this is reality for a lot of people not just me and I know some have it worse so you just get on with it somehow but this is going to kill people and I don’t know how our government can get away with it?!

I honestly felt every single word you wrote there. I wish I could help you - even replace your daughters trousers. I really hope you have luck with the job search soon.

 

[ChampagneBox]

My Mum has fallen into the trap of panic buying She's gone out and bought a frozen turkey crown "just in case" we can't get our normal turkey. Here's the catch.... there's no room in her freezer so it's got to go in mine! 1. I don't eat meat. 2. I think it's ridiculous. If you've bought a turkey crown just use it 3. When I asked what she's gonna do with the crown if she manages to get her normal turkey she said "I guess we'll live off turkey sandwiches for a couple of weeks"

Okay this is such a wholesome mum thing to do

 

[under the ivy]

I will be really hit hard. Single parent on £40k had a car, still struggling but managed etc Covid hit. Lost job, care engine blew up. No car no job. Mum has passed away and ex partner not around nor sending money for two teenagers. I managed to get another job after lockdown but was let go when the second one started. I’m overqualified for some jobs I’m applying for I’ve gone for less money and I’m still not getting anywhere because I’ve now been out of work for over a year and a half. I literally cried last week when my daughter bent over in school and her trousers split because the universal credit doesn’t cover everything and it was an expense I can’t afford. I’ve cancelled sky, my phone is now pay as you go, I don’t smoke, don’t drink, (not that you are less entitled if you do) I have one pair of trainers and one pair of jeans that fit as haven’t bought myself anything since March 2020. I’ve sold my jewellery. I’m not sleeping at night worrying about Christmas and my 13 years olds birthday in November. I feel like a failure and can feel I’m losing myself trying to feed my kids and get them what they need never mind what they want.

£20 is nothing to Some but everything to others I feel so ashamed that humans can begrudge it to people who need it. I need it and I really will be swapping heat for food and going without. It’s criminal to give and then take back. I live in the borough for the highest council tax and council tax support doesn’t even cover it. I owe thousands to Thames water as it’s a bill I can’t afford. I pay gas and electricity which will increase. I’m dying to work and applying and applying. Food going up. THESE BASTARDS DONT EVEN PAY FOR THEIR HOMES AND BREAKFAST FFS I did (as a taxpayer since I was 16 years old until 2020)!

sorry to be so negative but this is reality for a lot of people not just me and I know some have it worse so you just get on with it somehow but this is going to kill people and I don’t know how our government can get away with it?!

I wish the Tories and CEO of energy companies could read this. I’m so sorry. My heart goes out to you x

 

[Jc456]

I will be really hit hard. Single parent on £40k had a car, still struggling but managed etc Covid hit. Lost job, care engine blew up. No car no job. Mum has passed away and ex partner not around nor sending money for two teenagers. I managed to get another job after lockdown but was let go when the second one started. I’m overqualified for some jobs I’m applying for I’ve gone for less money and I’m still not getting anywhere because I’ve now been out of work for over a year and a half. I literally cried last week when my daughter bent over in school and her trousers split because the universal credit doesn’t cover everything and it was an expense I can’t afford. I’ve cancelled sky, my phone is now pay as you go, I don’t smoke, don’t drink, (not that you are less entitled if you do) I have one pair of trainers and one pair of jeans that fit as haven’t bought myself anything since March 2020. I’ve sold my jewellery. I’m not sleeping at night worrying about Christmas and my 13 years olds birthday in November. I feel like a failure and can feel I’m losing myself trying to feed my kids and get them what they need never mind what they want.

£20 is nothing to Some but everything to others I feel so ashamed that humans can begrudge it to people who need it. I need it and I really will be swapping heat for food and going without. It’s criminal to give and then take back. I live in the borough for the highest council tax and council tax support doesn’t even cover it. I owe thousands to Thames water as it’s a bill I can’t afford. I pay gas and electricity which will increase. I’m dying to work and applying and applying. Food going up. THESE BASTARDS DONT EVEN PAY FOR THEIR HOMES AND BREAKFAST FFS I did (as a taxpayer since I was 16 years old until 2020)!

sorry to be so negative but this is reality for a lot of people not just me and I know some have it worse so you just get on with it somehow but this is going to kill people and I don’t know how our government can get away with it?!

Have you spoken with Thames water? South West water have a water sure scheme where if your on a low income you can get a discount, there's also a fund to help if you're struggling. xx
eta Apply for payment matching | Account and billing | Help | Thames Water
WaterHelp and WaterSure | Account and billing | Help | Thames Water

 

[Moanyoldwoman]

Have you spoken with Thames water? South West water have a water sure scheme where if your on a low income you can get a discount, there's also a fund to help if you're struggling. xx

yes they refused me lol joke isn’t it. I pay them £15 a month towards the debt and they will have to accept that for now. They can’t legally cut me off and if they send bailiffs around to my house there is nothing of value to take. When I eventually get working again I will set up a payment plan with them but I don’t have enough money to get through the month. I go food bank, shop at aldi, buy reduced items and some months I just make it through but when I get unexpected events that cost it throws everything off.

did you see that MP moaning that living off £82k a year as an MP is “Grim”. They have no clue it’s madness.

we need someone revolutionary with money and followers and for people to vote. I know nothing will be perfect but this is scary what they are doing to people. People who make them rich. Nurses, cleaners, everyone. I don’t begrudge anyone who is on benefits even the “lazy” ones. It’s not a good life it’s just a life that’s accustomed to and made the best of but it’s a stressful life. Not everyone had parents behind them, some people struggle with confidence, motivation, support. Have no education. And don’t get me started on the up to 70%after school club fees because it’s crap and then pay school dinners on top because you lose that and many people I know are actually worse off working. Theres something wrong with the system if you are worse off working. I couldn’t have worked if it weren’t for my neighbour taking my kids in for free until I got home. I could go on and on.


seriously though....and I’m not very clued up with politics I always vote labour even though I don’t really trust them either. I’d rather have Green Party have a go than tories.

is there no way to bring down the current government and vote someone else in. If they are a government we elected them why can’t be un-elect them for all the wrongs they are doing and allowing? or doesn’t it work like that?

 

[Warpaint]

I’m sick of seeing snarky comments on social media about the government stopping the ‘extra’ £20 a week universal credit and I don’t even claim UC. People going “well it WAS only temporary” and “finally Boris sticking to his word” as if he’s doing the nation some great favour or something. They don’t seem to realise that a lot of people getting that £20 were working people on a low wage, not everyone claiming benefits is choosing not to work. The cost of living is going up and up yet people are in support of this move? Are people actually that thick? The disdain for people on benefits hasn’t changed in over 20 years.

All that poverty porn that was shown in the early 2010's didn't help either. People seemed to lap it up and not realise the people on the shows were carefully chosen to get the biggest reaction possible. Also with the infamous 'Benefits street' most of them were duped to what the nature of documentary was. Thankfully all those types of shows have died off now.

 

[under the ivy]

All that poverty porn that was shown in the early 2010's didn't help either. People seemed to lap it up and not realise the people on the shows were carefully chosen to get the biggest reaction possible. Also with the infamous 'Benefits street' most of them were duped to what the nature of documentary was. Thankfully all those types of shows have died off now.

Absolutely. Have you read Chavs - Owen Jones? Basically sums up the past decade under Tory rule & how the dominant right-wing media outlets have perpetuated those on benefits/working (or ‘under’) class as the enemy.

 

[Yel]

All that poverty porn that was shown in the early 2010's didn't help either.

The property porn never ended. Isn't the BBC daytime schedule always showing "investors" outbidding would be owner occupiers on properties and selling the dream that someone else can go out to work while you sit back and enjoy the fruits of their labour.

House prices should have crashed in 2008 but instead they stole from everyone with inflation, pumped loads of money in and kept interest rates on life support where they still are now. It's so broken but so many are too stupid to realise that a pile of bricks going up every month long term isn't in many people's benefit.

 

[Warpaint]

Absolutely. Have you read Chavs - Owen Jones? Basically sums up the past decade under Tory rule & how the dominant right-wing media outlets have perpetuated those on benefits/working (or ‘under’) class as the enemy.

I read it when it first came out I think. I found it interesting at the time. I remember it highlighting that the upper classes see the lower classes as almost a complete joke. They just live in a completely different world. Also about how it highlighted the difference between the portrayal of the Maddie McCann and Shannon Matthews cases

 

[GobShyte64]

yes they refused me lol joke isn’t it. I pay them £15 a month towards the debt and they will have to accept that for now. They can’t legally cut me off and if they send bailiffs around to my house there is nothing of value to take. When I eventually get working again I will set up a payment plan with them but I don’t have enough money to get through the month. I go food bank, shop at aldi, buy reduced items and some months I just make it through but when I get unexpected events that cost it throws everything off.

did you see that MP moaning that living off £82k a year as an MP is “Grim”. They have no clue it’s madness.

we need someone revolutionary with money and followers and for people to vote. I know nothing will be perfect but this is scary what they are doing to people. People who make them rich. Nurses, cleaners, everyone. I don’t begrudge anyone who is on benefits even the “lazy” ones. It’s not a good life it’s just a life that’s accustomed to and made the best of but it’s a stressful life. Not everyone had parents behind them, some people struggle with confidence, motivation, support. Have no education. And don’t get me started on the up to 70%after school club fees because it’s crap and then pay school dinners on top because you lose that and many people I know are actually worse off working. Theres something wrong with the system if you are worse off working. I couldn’t have worked if it weren’t for my neighbour taking my kids in for free until I got home. I could go on and on.


seriously though....and I’m not very clued up with politics I always vote labour even though I don’t really trust them either. I’d rather have Green Party have a go than tories.

is there no way to bring down the current government and vote someone else in. If they are a government we elected them why can’t be un-elect them for all the wrongs they are doing and allowing? or doesn’t it work like that?

its the Poverty trap. Your on benefits and u get your rent paid, council tax, and money to pay bills etc. you geta job and have to pay more rent, more council tax, prescriptions, school meals, nursery fees,wrap around care, etc so your no better off working than you was before unless your earning serious money.

and we cant all work these jobs that pay well. We need cleaners, bus drivers, sales assistants, etc. without them, everything grinds to a halt.

fudged either way.

 

[Couldlifeeverbesaneagain]

I genuinely feel like there has been a shift and we will end up in a situation with massive hyperinflation. People always think these things won't happen but it has before and our leaders are clearly no more intelligent than those that ended up in economic crisis before. This constant spew of prices going up really worries me, never mind those earning less. Britain is sitting on a mass of resources we could use and to be honest, I am fed up to death of all the climate change do gooders.

 

[Yel]

Stagflation seems to be term thrown around a lot recently. Does seem very likely.

The problems from the last recession weren't ever really fixed. I'm not sure furlough or bounceback loans have done any more than delay the inevitable and make the already pretty perfect storm even more perfect

 

[openbook1]

We got our energy bill today... $8 of natural gas usage.... yet the bill was $65 because of the transmission fees!!!!! Even when you use duck all you get robbed.

 

[IngressUK]

is there no way to bring down the current government and vote someone else in. If they are a government we elected them why can’t be un-elect them for all the wrongs they are doing and allowing? or doesn’t it work like that?

The problem is, to be replaced by who?

Neither Labour, the Conservatives, Lib Democrats, or Greens are competant enough to run a piss up in a Brewery, let alone the country.

 

[Yel]

New thread

The Winter of Discontent #2 Food, energy, transport, jobs, housing etc

New thread for everything food, energy, transport, jobs, housing related

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