How do the "Have Nots" get on in life?

I agree pp. She may have just started work and be waiting for her first salary, she may be temping or working part time.

My grandmother was in receipt of supplementary benefit ( in addition to her OAP) in the early 80# and didn’t have to sell everything but basic furniture - I can’t imagine what that would mean,

I also worked with CAB for the most of the 1980s and people were not having to sell other than basic furniture before getting SB

harrigran I did use to make home visits to claimants, back in the 70s, but I don't recall that anyone was told that they had to sell any of their belongings in order to be eligible to claim. Of course benefits were means tested to a nationwide scale but that was based solely on income and financial assets, not possessions. Possibly it had changed by the 1980s?

The Supplementary Benefit system remained in place all through the 1970s and most of the 80s until Income Suppprt was introduced in 1988. The selling of other than basic requirements last occurred I believe during the 30s

In the late 60's and early 70's claimants could still be given clothing grants, to supplement their dole.
It's much harsher now. It's not the case that in the 1980's people had to sell furniture before they were given benefits.
In the 1920's/30's when the mills were closed or on short time, my grandparents were told they'd to chop up their only piece of furniture to burn before they could be given poor relief. My grandfather told me in the 1970's, he'd never apply for anything ever again after that humiliation.

I often think none of us apreciate just how lucky we all are to live in the UK in the 20th & 21st centuries.

So we have people that are destitute in the U.K. and food banks are likely to run out of food at Christmas.

This thread ought to be included in the ashamed to be British thread.

I am surprised some bright spark in the Tory Party hasn’t come up with the idea of reopening workhouses

maryeliza54 Later than the 30s. In 1950 my grandfather was home and in bed for 14 months with terminal lung cancer. My grandmother applied for asistance. A woman visited, looked around the lvingroom, and told her that she didn't need two armchairs as her husband was never going to be up and sitting in one, so she should sell one.

‘Ere we go, ‘ere we go, ‘ere we go....

That was to whitewave btw?

Elegran I think many people forget how draconian means testing was!

One of my grandmother's sayings (on the weather or temperature) was "as cold as charity" to which she always added "and that is bloody cold . . ."

She knew all about workhouses, too, having ended up in the orphanage of one of them at the age of 12 when her mother died.

The comments that you have all made are heartfelt if not heartwarming.
I certainly do not have rose coloured glasses because my whole point was in trying to contrast attitudes and expectations then and now.
As I grew up, worked/married/had children/worked etc. the life ethos was you get out of life what you put into it.
I think that has changed for many today. This has nothing to do with priviledge/wealth/status...it is to do with a change in the way people think.
Sure, life is raw and hard today, and many struggle, and these people are to be helped and praised.
But what of those with a sense of entitlement?
Why can we hand out money to some who are content to just sit back and do nothing in society to earn it.
Whose idea was it to pay housing benefit to the claimant and not directly to the landlord?
Result...thousands thrown out of accomodation just because they spent it all. Why? They had a roof before.
In USA people in need receive food vouchers not cash so money goes where it is needed. Can we do that?

Well I said my bit way back on the thread and I don’t think all that was implied was to “contrast attitudes”.
All the “should they”’s of the OP make it clear that that is what you believe to be the case, otherwise a pointless rhetorical question.
OP makes a clear point that somehow backbones and upper lips were stiffer in the 50’s and 60’s and shoulders were to the wheel and noses to the grindstone .
No wonder so many older people complain of backache today
Sorry, grannysue but I want no part in this rose tinted view of a miserable post war era (when , if you recall, “SuperMac” was telling us “You never had it so good”) where renting was impossible if you were black or Irish, sex surprisingly did actually exist and back street abortionists flourished, the “never never” also flourished (the man with “the book”came round on a weekly basis) and the older generation denigrated the clothes, music and attitudes of the young.
Plus ça change,...

Times change ( sometimes for the better , but not in all cases) it was a good idea to open up a discussion grannysue though glad that you expected all sorts of replies ( it helps to think that way on GN.)
There are many social reasons for all the problems associated around poverty now, broken families due to divorce or unmarried couples splitting up, drug problems,
Mental health etc which never existed ( in such numbers) in the past.

The increase in serious mental health illnesses is caused by alcohol and drug addiction. Depression by shortage of money and to a degree envy stirred up by po,iticians

Perhaps different expectations play a part? All fuelled by constant exposure online/tv etc of 'celeb' lifestyles. The extremes of wealth too must contribute to feelings of grievance among those working hard long hours but not earning what would seem adequate recompense.
Am appalled by Elegrans account of her grandparents experience.

Food vouchers? Really? Maybe you would like the recipients to also wear a badge so that even more people know that they are 'unable to pay their rent'? Good grief.

What a good question Grannysue05

When I read the question I thought it would be about having compassion for people that had a bad start in life

But as I read your post it became evident that you were cheesed off with Lazy Lumps that may want something for nothing.

Ok so ...I agree there are Lazy Lumps that could do something, could do better BUT not all of the have nots are lazy lumps..

Please let me explain..

Who you grow up around effects you, you learn how to live, get on in life, from them because you know no better..

Yes it is not where you start it is where you finish and no there are no excuses if you are healthy and able to work and still fall in the have nots..

But it is soooo much easier for those that have had a good start in life, good sensible parents, loving caring parents, parents that are will and do guide their children and even a little financial help..there is no struggle to get somewhere to a certain point for people that have had a good start.. you have had a good example and so you do not have to spend ten years of your life learning the right way and not the wrong way to deal with things..

I have been around dis advantaged people, I worked as a Youth Worker for four years and saw first hand what really goes on in these peoples lives.

What I was pleasantly surprised about was that given the opportunity these youths would strive, given chances that they deserved as human being brought out the very best in these people, they needed guidance and someone to believe in them too if possible.

And so although I do agree with you in part, please do look at the bigger picture before making your judgment on the have nots.. I felt that if I offered you an insight it may help you understand better the world of the have nots ..

I would really like to know how envy is stirred up by any politician of any party. Genuinely.
Also, since when has extreme wealth of another person stirred up feelings of grievance ?
Are we such an emotionally poor society?

mental health problems are many and varied ,not all allied to drink and drugs .There are thousands of ex servicemen/women who struggle with PTSD without help from the government who sent them to fight in illegal wars.My ex SIL's best friend is one of those ,a young man who thought he was joining up to learn and have a career in sciences and who soon found that the promised university course didn't materialise he was sent to Afghanistan instead,When he came back he was unrecognisable from the wonderful young man who had left.He lost his wife ,his home and that dream of a career.He lived on the streets for a while because he didn't want the confines of walls and rules ...it took a very long time for him to get a part of his life back.There are sadly many like him.A recent survey on homeless in Glasgow showed that over 500 people who were given accommodation last year have returned to life on the streets ,some because there wasn't enough support...some because they felt the rules and regulations of support were hard to live with ,some who couldn't manage a budget and there are some who beg to supplement the small benefits they recieved and then gave up.It makes very sad reading.I am only grateful that none of my family have had to deal with this way of life.

There, but for fortune, go you or I.

"Whose idea was it to pay housing benefit to the claimant and not directly to the landlord?
Result...thousands thrown out of accomodation just because they spent it all. Why? They had a roof before."

DWP mistakes, causing delays in rent payment to a landlord, resulted in a relative of mine losing a tenancy.

Since then, she has been very happy that housing benefit is paid direct to her so she can make sure the rent is paid regularly and she can sort out any DWP mistakes without causing problems to the landlord.

It works both ways.