Why Are Some Forced To Depend On Food Handouts In 'benefit Britain'?

[anotheoldgit]

On my visit to a supermarket today I saw shopping trolleys with notices on them asking for donations of items of food for the hungry of this country.

I cannot believe that in 2013 Britain there are people who have to depend on food handouts, especially when this country is supposed to be one of the richest in the world and taking into account the £billions we hand out freely to the rest of the world.

This is yet another time that I can say that I can never remember the time, even during the war, and pre Welfare State days, when I ever remember our local CO-OP appealing for persons to make donations of food for the hungry.

[ladyalex]

How bad would things have to be before you let someone else control what you had to eat ?

For me, pretty bad.
I am appalled that the Trussell Trust has to exist in Britain today, but am very glad that it does. Access to their food is strictly controlled as others have already said.
I'm happy to donate to them as I would never ever want to find myself without food or the means of getting it.

[sherrardk]

Five years ago we found ourselves being in the unenviable position or not having a pot to piss in. Benefits didn't kick in for around 12 weeks and we had to pay gas and electricity bills and eat using just child benefit money. To go to a food bank you have to be desperate for help. I would imagine that a lot of people on this site have (thankfully for them) never been desperate (hard up maybe, but not desperate).

[Sqad]

sherrardk.......that must have been terrible........but.......

\\\Five years ago we found ourselves being in the unenviable position or not having a pot to piss in\\\

How does one get in this position in the 21st century and after half a century of the Welfare State? It is not a criticism, but am just interested.

[B00]

She already explained sqad...

" Benefits didn't kick in for around 12 weeks and we had to pay gas and electricity bills and eat using just child benefit money. "

[ummmm]

//How does one get in this position in the 21st century and after half a century of the Welfare State? It is not a criticism, but am just interested.//

You're an intelligent man...think about it!!

Do you think someone who is skint turns up at the benefits office and is given a rake of cash?

[sherrardk]

Sqad, I've posted about it before. We started our own business (sold up, left our (well paid) jobs and bought a pub). We researched it thoroughly and it wasn't a decision taken lightly. However, things didn't work out and we ended up losing everything. We then had to apply for benefits but they are not instant. We couldn't pay the rent for some months so got evicted (even though we did eventually get housing benefit to pay it back). With a bad credit rating and no deposit it is really hard to rent somewhere (no housing association housing available - but we were offered accommodation 20 miles from the children's school in a hostel). We had no one to ask for help and knew no one in the area. We are lucky, we have managed to get back on our feet because we are resourceful people. It was a horrible time which made me really ill and I despair for people who are in that situation long term.

[ladyalex]

I rather suspect a lot of people do think that Ummmm.

Lucky them never to have either been totally skint or known anyone who has been.

[emmie]

i do, we always had Harvest Festivals, you must remember that, i remember asking my mother for goods to donate, to the poor in this country.

[emmie]

as i sat waiting to see someone at the job centre not so long ago, a woman asked the man on duty at the desk how she goes about claiming benefits for her nephew, the man said the nephew would have to work at least 6 full months with no breaks before being eligible, is that all i wondered.

[Sqad]

BOO...I wanted to know what happened BEFORE that......how she came to get into that state.

ummmm...that has nothing to do with what i wanted to know.......in "how did she get into that situation."

ladyalex......no, i have never been in need of any benefits.....so i have been lucky.

sherradk...\\.However, things didn't work out and we ended up losing everything.\\ Why didn't things work out?

[sherrardk]

Start of the recession happened coupled with bad summer weather.

[Sqad]

sherredk....OK