Trisher, because my father was receiving invalidity benefit, it was the only income in our home apart from family allowance.
I received the absolute minimum grant to go to university. If I remember it was £90 a term, of which my mother demanded the majority of it.
Grant applications in Scotland were based on parental contribution, so the government deemed that as they were already supporting us, I was entitled only to the minimum grant and my parents were supposed to support me. It was laughable. Support me with what?
On the other hand my two friends, whose father was the managing director of a national company, living in a huge country house, both got the full grant, because their father got his accountant to cleverly fill in the applications. Damned already, too poor to need or afford an accountant. They were so smug about it.
I went to a grammar school, where the uniform and the supplier were prescribed. My mother got into terrible debt every year, trying to pay for it. If you tried to wear a cheaper item, you were sent to the headteacher for a rollicking!
I never got a clothing allowance, as again, the government were already deemed to be supporting us with a pittance.
I did get free school meals, what a shameful process that was.
Despite knowing this, the nuns asked for my lunch money every day and made me stand up in front of everyone to say I received free school meals. It was humiliating to say the least.
There certainly weren't free schools meals in the holidays.
Because of my father's ill health, the house had to be kept warm, one coal fire and a fortune spent on fuel. When my mother couldn't afford coal, she burnt anything she could find. Then it became a smokeless zone and nothing but the more expensive smokeless fuel was allowed.
There were wardens, checking for smoke coming from chimneys and if you were caught, a fine. (which of course you couldn't pay).
If my father had been alive nowadays, there would be all sorts of benefits available, including a carer's allowance, PIP, winter fuel allowance. Fortunately, we still have free prescriptions here in Scotland
My mother lost her career and a very good income, I don't think she would praise the welfare system post war.
I could go on and on...., but I'm getting so annoyed and upset at the memories this thread has awoken and I don't want to get into an argument.
Let's just agree to respect each other's post, without any animosity.