I know of a number of benefit claimants (not well, but well enough to know something of their circumstances). Among other things:
Each of them has a mobile phone (far more up to date than the one I own).
Most of them run a car.
They nearly all manage to spend a bit of time down the pub and/or eating out.
They all have large TVs and most have Sky or cable.
At least two of them have enjoyed a holiday abroad in the last 12 months
I'm not saying that all benefit claimants are living the life of Riley. Similarly I do not believe that they all need the services of food banks. Yes there are occasions when benefits go awry and people are left without cash. But these instances seem to be infrequent.
It may well be that some benefits have been slightly reduced for various reasons. But this does not leave people destitute. As I said in an earlier post when I was a child there were few people poorer than my parents (who both worked). The difference is that they did not have the ability to adjust their spending by cutting down on luxuries (such as mobile phones, cars, eating out, drinking, TV subscriptions and holidays) - we did not have any luxuries. Furthermore, they did not have the opportunity to get food from a food bank because they did not exist. But we got by.
Food banks are used because they are there. If they were not there people would get by. This hysteria about benefit cuts needs to be put into perspective. It is not the case that people are dying in the gutter for want of food. `
This article explains that a number of people living on benefits manage to scrape together enough dosh for a break in Magaluf. Yes, I know it's the Daily Mail but I'm sure there's an element of truth to the story, if for no other reason I know of at least two people living on benefits who managed a foreign holiday.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2630868/Costa-del-Benefits-As-Benefits-Streets-White-Dee-parties-Magaluf-GUY-ADAMS-went-investigate-just-welfare-claimants-enjoy-sunshine-holidays-taxpayer.html
The benefits claimants I know of most certainly would not have been seen dead in Magaluf. Their destinations were a little less downmarket.