[Tom4784]

The growing dependency on food banks should never be presented as a good thing. It's a failure of the state that food banks are becoming a necessity for a lot of people.

[Christmas Dynasnow]

Originally Posted by Dezzy

The growing dependency on food banks should never be presented as a good thing. It's a failure of the state that food banks are becoming a necessity for a lot of people.

what about people who get enough money for food and then blow it on gambling, drink, fags etc?

Is that the fault of the state too?

Its far too simplistic to see all foodbank users as this innocent deserving underclass

[Tom4784]

Originally Posted by LeatherTrumpet

what about people who get enough money for food and then blow it on gambling, drink, fags etc?

Is that the fault of the state too?

Its far too simplistic to see all foodbank users as this innocent deserving underclass

You are trying too hard.

[Vicky.]

Originally Posted by LeatherTrumpet

what about people who get enough money for food and then blow it on gambling, drink, fags etc?

Just seen this...whilst of course, there are bad apples in any bunch and to deny some people spend wages/benefits on loads of unneeded stuff whilst claiming poverty would be ridiculous, people like this would be highly unlikely to get a referral. And a referral is needed, you can't just walk in and demand a food parcel.

We once had to use a foodbank, a few years back when I became ill and there was a 3 month delay in processing my ESA claim.

We had to give bank statements and such, to prove we had not just had income and spent it irresponsibly. We had to prove that cash we had got in the weeks prior had not been spent on stuff like drink. As I recall, we actually had a bit of a problem as we were on key/card gas and electric and there was 50 quid 'unaccounted for' and of course we did not have a receipt for the gas/electric we had topped up, as...why keep receipts once the credit is on? Local shop redid them for us as I live in a relatively small village and they knew us and remembered us topping up. But I am fairly sure we would not have got the referral had we not been able to provide that receipt

[Parmy]

Originally Posted by Vicky.

Just seen this...whilst of course, there are bad apples in any bunch and to deny some people spend wages/benefits on loads of unneeded stuff whilst claiming poverty would be ridiculous, people like this would be highly unlikely to get a referral. And a referral is needed, you can't just walk in and demand a food parcel.

We once had to use a foodbank, a few years back when I became ill and there was a 3 month delay in processing my ESA claim.

We had to give bank statements and such, to prove we had not just had income and spent it irresponsibly. We had to prove that cash we had got in the weeks prior had not been spent on stuff like drink. As I recall, we actually had a bit of a problem as we were on key/card gas and electric and there was 50 quid 'unaccounted for' and of course we did not have a receipt for the gas/electric we had topped up, as...why keep receipts once the credit is on? Local shop redid them for us as I live in a relatively small village and they knew us and remembered us topping up. But I am fairly sure we would not have got the referral had we not been able to provide that receipt

Yet a nurse in full time employment can get it....something dont add up.

[user104658]

Originally Posted by LeatherTrumpet

what about people who get enough money for food and then blow it on gambling, drink, fags etc?

Is that the fault of the state too?

Its far too simplistic to see all foodbank users as this innocent deserving underclass

Even if this was true (and it's only true for a tiny percentage)...

1) Gambling is declining, not increasing.

2) Smoking is declining, not increasing.

3) Drinking is at the same (albeit, too high) level that it has always been at. Not increasing.




So... while these vices might account for some food bank use, they cannot account for an increase in food bank use.

[Christmas Dynasnow]

Originally Posted by Toy Soldier

Even if this was true (and it's only true for a tiny percentage)...

1) Gambling is declining, not increasing.

2) Smoking is declining, not increasing.

3) Drinking is at the same (albeit, too high) level that it has always been at. Not increasing.




So... while these vices might account for some food bank use, they cannot account for an increase in food bank use.

Whilst that may be true and you do not provide evidence, is it true of the demographic we are discussing, my educated guess would be no.

[Vicky.]

Originally Posted by LeatherTrumpet

Whilst that may be true and you do not provide evidence, is it true of the demographic we are discussing, my educated guess would be no.

Maybe not. But its pretty irrelevant surely given that people who had spent a large amount of money on gambling, cigs or alcohol (or drugs though those weren't mentioned) would be unable to get a referal to begin with. And definitely not numerous referals, as some do seem to think its an ongoing thing, people spending beyond their means and then just going to foodbanks because they can. Infact our local one only allows one referal a YEAR.

Something I never understood though...while on this topic, is how smoking/drinking is more common among the poorer people than those better off. Both very expensive habits..

[Parmy]

Originally Posted by Dezzy

The growing dependency on food banks should never be presented as a good thing. It's a failure of the state that food banks are becoming a necessity for a lot of people.

Or an excuse for some