Everything is going up MORE for people that go to work every day. Benefit claimers get an increase of 3.1%. Workers get more Tax rises.
The only fair way is to cut benefits at the same rate as taxing the worker that pays 50% over the odds on petrol to get to work everyday. It’s about time people were told that’s it. We have had enough of supporting you. In covid lockdowns you were given and extra £20 per week or a pay rise of over £1K. Whilst I had to pay every bill on 80% of my normal pay! Stop abusing the workers for a change. Give us a f’ing break
It’s a concern for sure, the numbers make for grim reading. Especially for those on universal credit or old job seekers, where the money is paltry as it is.
The only advice that can be given is to look for income support schemes.
If you can, get off a prepayment meter (more expensive) and onto a fixed supply – but this usually needs you to be out of debt.
Some water companies will offer you a capped water rate, in wales I believe it’s called the HelpU tariff, if you have an income benefit, a disability or both, you can claim for a capped rate of water bills. It’s not much, but a cap on the water bill could save you some money if you need it for disability purposes or if you have children (though, I think water companies offer discounts for households with children anyway? They used to some ten years ago, I assume they still do?)
The internet, if you’re not in the lowest plan, then switch to the lowest/cheapest plan, but I imagine most people will be on that already.
There’s nothing I can think of that can be done with gas or electric, but some companies have a helpline open for support if you have financial issues; octopus for example, ask you to get in touch. I don’t know if they’ll reduce the prices or whatever but it’s always worth trying to ask if they can do anything to help. The worse that can happen is they say no.
In short, when you’re already on the breadline, any real term decrease in spending power is disastrous.
This article doesn’t tell us anything we don’t already know but it does highlight that urgent action is needed. Not that I’m hopeful about that…
This is disasterous.
Living standards are decreasing significantly.
Poor people in our society will unfortunately have to cut back on some stuff.
This could be never putting on heating, owning a phone, owning a TV, possibly even an Internet connection. Literally quality of living and possibly things taken for granted that we have taken as normal will not be normal for some now.
It sucks. Given all these huge costs increasing some stuff will not be able to be owned anymore.
If you’re on a deficit with just paying bills and buying literally nothing I’m not sure where to go next. Maybe working 6 days a week or 7 days a week. If you’re unable to work, I’ve got no idea where to start =(
I wonder how many of the people worst effected will either still vote Conservative or not vote at all.
The problem for the Conservative government is the vast numbers of working people whose pay is paltry, some so low they have to claim benefits to survive. It’s actually going to get much worse.
Mass poverty in the UK was thought consigned to the past, it’s uncertain what will be the outcome. Mass protests?
Some companies have a benefits package for broadband. BT do and it’s much cheaper you just need to prove you get benefits.
“Can’t they just sell some shares, or ask their parents to release some money from their trust fund?”
Tories somewhere, probably. And Kirstie Allsopp.
As a country we do far more to support people who are in low paid jobs, or are unable to work. Many countries including within Europe and the US do far less to support people than we do in the UK.
However in those countries the responsibility lays with the families of those individuals to support each other.
Maybe as a society and culture we need to rely less on government and more on family to support each other.
People who cannot afford to look after themselves and have brought children into the misery as well. Sometimes people fall on hard times, but too often in this country people bring children into situations they shouldn’t and expect the taxpayer to foot the bill.
That all being said, it’s too late now and these people need help especially when children are involved.
Surely the idea of benefits is that they are at least subsistence level money. If the cost of everything goes up, then benefits need to go up as well, otherwise they are *below* subsistence level.
Its easy you just get a job.
Once you have a job you don’t need to claim benefits to be poor.
The best thing you can do to fight this if you are employed: ***join a trade union.***
Workers have the power to negotiate better salaries and conditions if they unify. Legally, you cannot be discriminated against for your choice to join a trade union.
A (not by any means comprehensive) list of unions you can join:
I’ve had long long term mental health issues and am trying to become independant next year
How the fuck am I supposed to survive?
If only it didn’t cost half a million quid for a average house, people would be able to get by.
I fear that alot of people will be looking to down size and reduce living costs in every way possible.
Still at least the bankers are getting a nice bit from rising interest rates, and all the people who invested in property.
The rest of us have to have beans on toast every night in a stone cold house 👍
If things go up how to UC people afford things? Impossible. The trap begins all over again.
Rent, council tax, gas and electric bills have all gone up. I cancelled Sky TV, Amazon Prime and managed to lower my broadband and mobile bills, but my total outgoings are still higher than last year. Had a payrise at work, but it’s below inflation and doesn’t add much to my my income. I don’t think people can go on like this, if it happens next year I’ll have to reduce my monthly savings. But not everyone will have that option.
17 comments
Everything is going up MORE for people that go to work every day. Benefit claimers get an increase of 3.1%. Workers get more Tax rises.
The only fair way is to cut benefits at the same rate as taxing the worker that pays 50% over the odds on petrol to get to work everyday. It’s about time people were told that’s it. We have had enough of supporting you. In covid lockdowns you were given and extra £20 per week or a pay rise of over £1K. Whilst I had to pay every bill on 80% of my normal pay! Stop abusing the workers for a change. Give us a f’ing break
It’s a concern for sure, the numbers make for grim reading. Especially for those on universal credit or old job seekers, where the money is paltry as it is.
The only advice that can be given is to look for income support schemes.
If you can, get off a prepayment meter (more expensive) and onto a fixed supply – but this usually needs you to be out of debt.
Some water companies will offer you a capped water rate, in wales I believe it’s called the HelpU tariff, if you have an income benefit, a disability or both, you can claim for a capped rate of water bills. It’s not much, but a cap on the water bill could save you some money if you need it for disability purposes or if you have children (though, I think water companies offer discounts for households with children anyway? They used to some ten years ago, I assume they still do?)
The internet, if you’re not in the lowest plan, then switch to the lowest/cheapest plan, but I imagine most people will be on that already.
There’s nothing I can think of that can be done with gas or electric, but some companies have a helpline open for support if you have financial issues; octopus for example, ask you to get in touch. I don’t know if they’ll reduce the prices or whatever but it’s always worth trying to ask if they can do anything to help. The worse that can happen is they say no.
In short, when you’re already on the breadline, any real term decrease in spending power is disastrous.
This article doesn’t tell us anything we don’t already know but it does highlight that urgent action is needed. Not that I’m hopeful about that…
This is disasterous.
Living standards are decreasing significantly.
Poor people in our society will unfortunately have to cut back on some stuff.
This could be never putting on heating, owning a phone, owning a TV, possibly even an Internet connection. Literally quality of living and possibly things taken for granted that we have taken as normal will not be normal for some now.
It sucks. Given all these huge costs increasing some stuff will not be able to be owned anymore.
If you’re on a deficit with just paying bills and buying literally nothing I’m not sure where to go next. Maybe working 6 days a week or 7 days a week. If you’re unable to work, I’ve got no idea where to start =(
I wonder how many of the people worst effected will either still vote Conservative or not vote at all.
The problem for the Conservative government is the vast numbers of working people whose pay is paltry, some so low they have to claim benefits to survive. It’s actually going to get much worse.
Mass poverty in the UK was thought consigned to the past, it’s uncertain what will be the outcome. Mass protests?
Some companies have a benefits package for broadband. BT do and it’s much cheaper you just need to prove you get benefits.
“Can’t they just sell some shares, or ask their parents to release some money from their trust fund?”
Tories somewhere, probably. And Kirstie Allsopp.
As a country we do far more to support people who are in low paid jobs, or are unable to work. Many countries including within Europe and the US do far less to support people than we do in the UK.
However in those countries the responsibility lays with the families of those individuals to support each other.
Maybe as a society and culture we need to rely less on government and more on family to support each other.
People who cannot afford to look after themselves and have brought children into the misery as well. Sometimes people fall on hard times, but too often in this country people bring children into situations they shouldn’t and expect the taxpayer to foot the bill.
That all being said, it’s too late now and these people need help especially when children are involved.
Surely the idea of benefits is that they are at least subsistence level money. If the cost of everything goes up, then benefits need to go up as well, otherwise they are *below* subsistence level.
Its easy you just get a job.
Once you have a job you don’t need to claim benefits to be poor.
The best thing you can do to fight this if you are employed: ***join a trade union.***
Workers have the power to negotiate better salaries and conditions if they unify. Legally, you cannot be discriminated against for your choice to join a trade union.
A (not by any means comprehensive) list of unions you can join:
* [RMT](https://www.rmt.org.uk/home/) – For railway and maritime workers.
* [ASLEF](https://aslef.org.uk/) – For train drivers
* [Unite the Union](https://www.unitetheunion.org/)
* [CWU](https://www.cwu.org/) – For people that work in communications jobs, i.e. tech support, telecoms, customer service, financial services, postal industry.
* [GMB](https://www.gmb.org.uk/)
* [FDA](https://www.fda.org.uk/) – For civil servants
* [BFAWU](https://www.bfawu.org/) – For people that work in the food industry
* [UNISON](https://www.unison.org.uk/) – For public sector workers
* [Napo](https://www.napo.org.uk/) – For probation staff
I’ve had long long term mental health issues and am trying to become independant next year
How the fuck am I supposed to survive?
If only it didn’t cost half a million quid for a average house, people would be able to get by.
I fear that alot of people will be looking to down size and reduce living costs in every way possible.
Still at least the bankers are getting a nice bit from rising interest rates, and all the people who invested in property.
The rest of us have to have beans on toast every night in a stone cold house 👍
If things go up how to UC people afford things? Impossible. The trap begins all over again.
Rent, council tax, gas and electric bills have all gone up. I cancelled Sky TV, Amazon Prime and managed to lower my broadband and mobile bills, but my total outgoings are still higher than last year. Had a payrise at work, but it’s below inflation and doesn’t add much to my my income. I don’t think people can go on like this, if it happens next year I’ll have to reduce my monthly savings. But not everyone will have that option.