Food Banks and Poverty- was Nye right?

So does massive corruption in the financial and business sector, but that sort of news is often consigned to the back pages of the business news - as happened recently. Government ineptitude, such as has just occurred with the publication of private addresses and other information of those who received honours, is suggested will cost the government, via taxpayers, millions of pounds in compensation.

I mentioned benefit fraud in my post because I know benefit fraud happens. But if you properly read my post, I also mentioned the importance of benefits to those in need. I wrote a balanced post, you chose to focus only on one thing in the post.

So if we consider all benefits, the largest of which is the State Pension, as 100% what proportion of that is benefit fraud? Because if it is, say 25%, then we should be spending 25% of our time discussing it not 50% in order that fraud and necessity are treated equally. 50/50 would not be a balance. How much time should we be spending worrying about benefit fraud?

Growstuff: you are, by your own account, in difficult circumstances. However, it doesn’t mean that others do not have a valid viewpoint looking inwards. I too have had many hard times, such as when pregnant with my second child we had no money for the electric key meter - so my husband went and did an odd job for someone and earned £3. We grew vegetables in our garden (and the pinched the odd turnip and parsnip from nearby fields) ate rabbit and free game. I took in ironing and did other odd jobs as I could whilst my children were small and returned to work full time ( as I could at tha time demand a higher salary than my husband) when the youngest started school. He changed jobs and took reduced hours to be there when the children came home from school. We had no holidays for 11 years and only Sun holidays for a few years after. We did everything we could to work our way into a secure position and after 28 years have achieved that. I still work full time, I volunteer in the community, my husband still works 6 days a week in two jobs, we still grow food and still save carefully. Both children have been in continual work since leaving education and now both earn slightly above average salaries. They do not expect the bank of mum and dad. Other than child benefit nothing has ever been claimed from the state. I say that with gratitude for good fortune smiling upon us, not in righteousness.
However, it would have been easy to have taken a different path by not taking responsibility and doing all we could to improve our lot.
That’s why I support those that can work being strongly encouraged to do so.

grannyA, this was great news to hear but it not help that is avaliable nationwide. It maybe available to say people living around Bristol centre (don't know if it is) but how about the people living in my town, 16 miles away and having to pay bus fares to access it. Sadly this needs funding and where would that come from?

Growstuff, I’ve just returned from a country walk to find your posts addressed to me. I do know benefit fraud occurs and in reality I expect you know too. If you believe there is no benefit fraud, perhaps you could supply evidence of that.
As I stated before, I wrote a well balanced post. I mentioned the need for benefits and I mentioned benefit fraud. If you don’t like the negative side of the balance, I suggest the problem is yours. There is a need for benefits for people who are unable to work and for people who have unfortunately fallen on difficult times ie being made redundant. There is also benefit fraud, it exists.

Please share more if you feel able. I find your posts so inspiring grannyactivist. So interesting.

Tooting29
I can tell stories of lives turned around and the key factor for all of them is a voluntary agency that addresses housing, medical, safety, budgeting and social needs (amongst others), acts as an advocate and liaises with all the necessary statutory agencies for a period of at least two years.

For example: Client 1 - long term rough sleeper:
Worked in factories until the age of fifty. Partner, mother, then father all died in quick succession immediately prior to client becoming redundant. Client accrued funeral debts that he was unable to furnish and was evicted due to rent arrears. Now has no home, no benefits, unpayable debts and is severely depressed. Became homeless and began to drink. After 10 years of rough sleeping he is extremely ill and after being bullied and assaulted (very small emaciated man) he moves to a safer town. Local voluntary agency spends 4 months getting to know him and become trusted. The agency then works with local council and DWP to get client supported housing. Agency works with the man 2 or 3 times weekly for two years, then once weekly for a further year. During this period they offer budgeting help, ensure bills are paid, medical treatment is accessed etc. Four years after arriving in the town the client is sustaining his tenancy, has paid off debts (with help from agency applying for grants), is healthier and is now volunteering in the community.

With sustained support for a minimum of up to two years I believe almost everyone can be rehabilitated (the exception being people with enduring, untreated mental illness) and become useful members of society. I believe it because I see it happening all the time. People who have had tragic childhoods that then lead to dysfunctional adulthood can have their lives turned around if the appropriate help is offered for a significant period of time.

Unfortunately there are very, very few charities that can offer the wrap-around care that is needed unless they receive government funding.

JE, You post away but never , ever answer any questions. Nonetheless, I will have a try....Do you know anybody who has applied for UC?

Have you or any of your family recently tried to find a job and support themselves.

Not in the same league as some people but my AS has an excellent degree, very smart appearance, very articulate and has a job which pays his rent and not much more. It isn't easy to find employment.

eloethan, I understand that Nietzsche quote to be talking about opinions that are hated (and not properly considered) rather than people.

sorey, meant to add this link:
www.eatright.org/food/vitamins-and-supplements/nutrient-rich-foods/are-canned-foods-nutritious-for-my-family

I've seen what they put in the food boxes too. It's probably OK for a few days, but nobody could live healthily on the contents. Too many carbs and no fresh (or even frozen) fruit and veg.
The first time I contributed to a food bank I put in fresh food but then was asked to retrieve it because only food with a 'shelf life' could be accepted.
So yes, it could be very 'samey' and carbohydrate heavy because that is the kind of food that will keep but there is always tinned fruit and tinned vegetables which can be donated and which are nutritious.

Three times a year is not going to go very far, is it janxxx. no, I don't think many people are aware of that, I think that some believe people can just turn up at a food bank and receive.

Jennifer UC is also claimed as a top-up benefit for those in work, not just the unemployed or long-term sick.

I expect claimants are treated with suspicion because the Welfare employee is doing his or her job.

Experience would have told the staff to check everything - to ensure that the claimant is telling the truth.

The Welfare State has grown enormously over the years, and I often wonder just what percentage of the population is claiming some benefit or other.

Yes of course those in genuine need through no fault of their own should be helped, as they already are, but judging by the huge fuss over UC there must be an enormous number who rely on the State to live.

In a country with unemployment at it’s lowest level for decades, and a thriving economy, it’s impossible to believe that many on benefits can’t find work.

Interesting comment about Call the Midwife, as I find it a programme that highlights the dire need and poverty in late 1950s and early 1960s. Slum housing and home births with minimal pain relief, not to mention pre pill and women trapped in the home by a growing family. Dockers on uncertain work and wages. Unmarried mothers treated like outsiders. Not to mention ruthless landlords, protection rackets, back street abortionists, more stillbirths. Society has got fairer for most but unfortunately not for all. Boris says he wants to level up opportunities- well let's see how he fairs and judge him in 5 years time.

I've seen what they put in the food boxes too. It's probably OK for a few days, but nobody could live healthily on the contents. Too many carbs and no fresh (or even frozen) fruit and veg.

How did they afford it Jacks? Were they doing something illegal to supplement their benefits?

You obviously never visited me when I was ill and struggled to put food on the table for my children. I frequently sold bits of jewellery and some other stuff I'd been left by my grandmother, but couldn't have afforded to drink, smoke or have pets.

people who have never used a food bank are unaware your only allowed to use it three times a year, i was allowed to use it once and found the whole thing humiliating and embarrassing so i never went back,

Having worked as a District Nurse and a Health Visitor I came across many "poor" families who had their power cut off , complained they had no food and yet in many cases smoked heavily, drank heavily and also often had exotic pets especially fish which also cost them a fair amount. Their children often appeared to be second thoughts when it came to care and feeding!

It's very difficult to be a benefit "scrounger" now, especially since lifetime DLA ended and was replaced by PIP, and UC was introduced, forcing claimants of ESA onto it.

Particularly cruel though is the undrr-25 rate of UC. Cruel and arbitrary.

So how would you differentiate between the "scroungers" and those genuinely in need, maddyone?

From my own experience, the vast majority are in genuine need and many have serious issues, which make coping with life, including finding a job, difficult.

I felt into turning people feel as though they were scroungers (typo)

I'm sure you have evidence of that maddyone, but why do all genuine claimants have to be treated with suspicion, as though they are all criminals?

As I wrote before, I think it was about 2011/12. Before then, DWP staff would signpost claimants to other forms of help. Initially, I was sent for an interview with a job counsellor and on a course, specifically for middle-aged women. I was also given loads of information about setting up my own business and allocated a mentor to help with a business plan.

My first attempt didn't work out as well as I'd hoped, so I had to claim JSA again. There were fewer staff and most of them didn't seem very bright. They were just mindlessly following a script. I felt as though they were trying to catch me out.

I did what I had always intended to do, which was to set up my own business, but there was no help available, apart from ridiculous course run by Capita (I think) on how to write a CV. Doh!

Whereas the old regime was genuinely supportive, I felt it turned into turning people into feeling as though they were scroungers.

I had to apply for a minimum number of jobs every week, including those for which I was totally unsuited. I think I really annoyed my so-called advisor because I wrote to the DWP itself asking for a job as an advisor.

I had paid tax and NICs for years. As with any insurance system, I have no objection to checking the claim is genuine, but I do expect the scheme to pay up when the claim is genuine.

MaizieD, do you actually ever read a comment properly and absorb what has been written? I mentioned benefit fraud in my post because I know benefit fraud happens. But if you properly read my post, I also mentioned the importance of benefits to those in need. I wrote a balanced post, you chose to focus only on one thing in the post.

Some more Nietzsche quotes:

„Manchmal wollen Menschen die Wahrheit nicht hören, denn das würde ihre ganze Illusion zerstören.“

(Sometimes people don’t want to hear the truth because that would destroy their whole illusion.)

„Die Schlange, welche sich nicht häuten kann, geht zugrunde. Ebenso die Geister, welche man verhindert, ihre Meinungen zu wechseln; sie hören auf, Geist zu sein.“

(The snake which cannot cast its skin, dies. In the same way, the minds which are prevented from changing their opinions; they cease to be mind.)