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On the news today I saw that the amount of food parcels being given to the poorest people in Britain has risen a lot this year. This is because of the enonomic downturn, the cuts the Government has made, and rising prices. I feel very sorry for anyone in a bad situation, I have struggled myself - even having to sell a property I owned a few years ago because of huge debts and the letters from the creditors were getting more and more threatening all the time - but food parcels? That I can not understand, for one simple reason: we have the Welfare State.

I read this week a person will get ?58.00 a week on the dole - that is more than I was living on weekly from my earnings for the year building up to me having to sell my last home whilst trying to pay my vast monthly outings and service my debts (and failing to). Why are there food parcels, other than for rough sleepers, for example, who may get no Benefit? I don't understand it. Also, and I have always found this ironic, but people who are described by the press as being those who are struggling the most are the section of society that smokes and drinks the most. If people can find money to do that, how comes they (apparently) can't afford to eat?

I am not being nasty here about any section of society, I've been up against it myself, I am merely curious.

They waste their benefits on cigarettes and alcohol as Mr N Gallagher of Manchester once wrote....In my past life as a housing support worker you have to realise Stella and Sky TV, and smart mobile phones are far more important than food, rent or clothes. Plus they will blow ?7 on a small Domino's pizza instead of making a pan of soup or other filling foods.

The ignorance of some o here amazes me. Go back to your daily mail and keep your head up your arses.

Arnold, I always have, and always will, find it odd how ?8.00 on a load of beers and ?7.00 on a pack of fags can easily be paid for, yet food is apparently a struggle to afford. I agree with what you say. Some skint student eat for ?15.00 a week, and others could too if they wanted to.

Number 6, not sure I agree with what you say. If people will get ?58.00 a week on Benefit, how comes they cant afford to eat? Also, do you think seeing fags and beer as more of a priority than food is a good thing - and then expect to be taken seriously when they say they cant afford food?

A benefit is paid for someone to spend as they see fit. If we want them to spend it on certain things we should give them say a food ration book. I wouldn't deny a poor man a pint of his favourite ale once a week from his allowance.

People get child allowance but some will not spend it on the kids???


These are the rates I found for job seekers allowance and income based job seekers allowance.

Aged 16 - 24 ?53.45
Aged 25 or over ?67.50

Income-based Jobseeker's Allowance

The maximum weekly rates are:
Type of person Amount
Single people, aged under 25 ?53.45
Single people, aged 25 or over ?67.50
Couples and civil partnerships (both aged 18 or over) ?105.95
Lone parent (aged under 18) ?53.45
Lone parent (aged 18 or over) ?67.50

Do they get their rent and council tax paid for on top of these payments??? What about a mortgage?

Gusset, of course people can spend their Benefit however they want to, they just can not be expected to be taken seriously when they say they don't have enough food if they chose to spend it on something other than food. I mentioned earlier that skint students live on like ?15 per week. Someone can buy their food for 7 days, pay bills and have enough for a couple of pints of beer. I've done it, living on less than ?58.00 a week. You sometimes find yourself only having ?3 or ?4 to last 2-3 days at the end of a 7 day period, but you have your fridge full and your bills paid.

Yes, you do get your rent or mortgage paid on top of your Benefit. Most people on Benefit cost the State large amounts of money, and many of them deserve it as they genuinely can not get a job or they have something wrong with them therefore they can not work. The people I criticise are the ones who do it because it is fashionable within the area they live in to be on Benefit, basically in most inner city areas of London. Also this fashion amongst not very intelligent young women to copy what their mums, aunts and older sisters did - namely have a child/children very young - because you know the State will house you and keep you. These people I criticise, and they deserve criticism.

"but food parcels? That I can not understand, for one simple reason: we have the Welfare State. .......I read this week a person will get ?58.00 a week on the dole - that is more than I was living on weekly from my earnings "

Well, lets say someone under 25 gets ?54 a week and their rent paid. The rent will just get passed on to a landlord which will leave ?54 a week for food, electricity, gas, clothes, public transport, emergencies like visiting family in the event of illness etc etc.

That is just existence. It is not living. And because Britain is an unbelievably low wage country compared to many in western europe, people often are no better off whatsoever by working in a minimum wage job than they would be on the dole. It's the same hard, depressing existence.

When I lived in Copenhagen in the 80's even though Iwas doing a low paid job which most Danes wouldnt want to do, I was still able to save enough to buy a house back in the UK. Here that would be largely impossible.

In short, this is the sixth largest economy in the world but unfortunately, many people seem to have been brainwashed into believing that ?54 a week or a ?6 an hour minimum wage is acceptable.

It aint. And until significant numbers of people in this country get off their knees it will stay that way.

Cheers
D

Max your a saint. There is no way I could live on such a meagre amount of money. My gas electric water insurance would take most of that. What about transport costs to say job interviews stamps etc??? Bloody hell ?15 is all there is for food! It cannot be a lifestyle choice. Who wants to live in poverty??? It just doesn't make sense.

I remember hearing on the radio that food parcels you mention were for benefit claimants who were waiting for benefits to come through the system.

Interesting the list I found. Why is it that the government assume that a 24 year old can live for less than a 25 year old?

Quick calc for you all.

Housing benefit. FOC. Saves ?320 a household on average. It would take you over ?400 wages to clear this sum.
Band A Council Tax. ?100 a month, so at least ?125 to clear it.
This means the benefits are the equivalent of ?6300 a year before you add in free prescriptions, exam courses and other benefits. What is killing people is the robbin twats who sell us gas and electric. If you want the highest possible tarrif then install card meters and get dry bummed by Eon etc...and the fact that many people prefer a ?1 a can lager to a few pence worth of soup or tea / coffee plus few can actually cook any sort of wholesome dishes....

BTW I hate the DM an Express, Telegraph is best for sport, arts and finances..tally ho etc...