ymmv. depends on where you are as to what programs you can actually get into and be applicable for. the welfare queen myth is alive and well in today's society and there are so many cuts to government funding for disadvantaged people or those that actually need assistance that more often than not, it's 'do i pay my rent, bills, or food this month.' with rent being ridiculous in most places along with basic living bills and food on top of that, if you think food stamps just magically solve all that or that they'll just hand them to you because you asked, you are incredibly out of touch with the reality of the situation. and not everywhere has food stamps (canada, for one), and the uk's assistance program is a joke.
sometimes you just have a bad month. you know, that month were everything runs out and you need to get it all at once? or you got sick and had to get medicine and oops, well, sorry about that allergic reaction that made you have hives and sent you to the hospital. buy eighty bucks you don't have worth of meds. shit happens and there's more people i know that don't have savings for emergencies than that do. and it's not out of buying comics or figurines or going to conventions, it's just from not having anything left over after basic living.
not arguing that. some of the things i've seen set into play feel like it's just a passag way of punishing people for not being wealthy and that's kind of the exact opposite of why programs like that exist.
you were lucky, anon, people have been driven to their deaths by it
i do okay on uk disability assistance, but only because i don't smoke, drink, eat much, have a pet or a car or leave the house at all. and i only hang onto it reasonably unchallenged because i'm too fucked up to even speak to my family most of the time.
and yes, i'm here tainting up your dwrps. /twilight zone theme
Thank you for wording it better than I could. Government programs tend to be a joke and a slap in the face, and telling people to save up implies they even have the money to save.
i'm on regular assistance in canada and i'm constantly having well-meaning friends telling me about all these sales for things i need 'but it's only 100/200/300 dollars. you can just save up for it'. no, i really can't. i'm lucky if i can make what i get last for the duration of the month. when it's a five week month, good luck with that. i have enough to ensure i don't starve with nothing left over for things like movies or going out for the night or even hanging out at a coffee house. i buy my tea and drink it at home. why would i spend money to drink it out when i have it at home?
and god forbid i have one of those bad months (particularly over something medical) and try to ask for a crisis grant for groceries. 'did you go to the food bank? did you go to all the foodbanks? what about the churches? i don't believe you don't have food.' they make you feel like shit for even asking, then question you and pick at you until you'd rather just give up and go hungry for a week than be shamed into outlining all the programs you've tried to go to that either haven't had things you can have or had such a minor amount that it only lasted for that specific moment. food banks out here are a joke, especially if you're a single recipient and don't have dependents. here, have a potato and a carrot and a mystery can of something. now go away.
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(Anonymous) 2016-04-24 08:57 pm (UTC)(link)sometimes you just have a bad month. you know, that month were everything runs out and you need to get it all at once? or you got sick and had to get medicine and oops, well, sorry about that allergic reaction that made you have hives and sent you to the hospital. buy eighty bucks you don't have worth of meds. shit happens and there's more people i know that don't have savings for emergencies than that do. and it's not out of buying comics or figurines or going to conventions, it's just from not having anything left over after basic living.
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(Anonymous) 2016-04-24 09:45 pm (UTC)(link)the uk's assistance program is a fucking danger.
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(Anonymous) 2016-04-24 09:47 pm (UTC)(link)no subject
(Anonymous) 2016-04-24 11:15 pm (UTC)(link)no subject
(Anonymous) 2016-04-25 09:46 pm (UTC)(link)i do okay on uk disability assistance, but only because i don't smoke, drink, eat much, have a pet or a car or leave the house at all. and i only hang onto it reasonably unchallenged because i'm too fucked up to even speak to my family most of the time.
and yes, i'm here tainting up your dwrps. /twilight zone theme
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(Anonymous) 2016-04-25 05:12 pm (UTC)(link)no subject
(Anonymous) 2016-04-25 05:19 pm (UTC)(link)and god forbid i have one of those bad months (particularly over something medical) and try to ask for a crisis grant for groceries. 'did you go to the food bank? did you go to all the foodbanks? what about the churches? i don't believe you don't have food.' they make you feel like shit for even asking, then question you and pick at you until you'd rather just give up and go hungry for a week than be shamed into outlining all the programs you've tried to go to that either haven't had things you can have or had such a minor amount that it only lasted for that specific moment. food banks out here are a joke, especially if you're a single recipient and don't have dependents. here, have a potato and a carrot and a mystery can of something. now go away.