Forum Topic

Ukranians and food banks.

It is being reported that host families are finding it hard to feed their refugees, and they are going to foodbanks what a disgrace. We have taken very few refugees compared to Germany. We have been less generous eg food allowence in Germany £516 per person per month, plus £180 for clothes at the begining. I did not realise our allowence, considerably less than Germany's is per household not person. A friend of mine took in a mother and daughter but only gets one allowence. He had to organise the girls education, no help from the goverment.

Nicholas Beard ● 1170d16 Comments

Goes a lot deeper than the gig economy. Thats generally unskilled labour and cheap labour. It affects highly specialised and skilled labour forced into a corner.

Raymond Havelock ● 1167d

I thought that this why the Tory Government wanted to encourage self employment ie the "gig economy" so that employees had no entitlements including pension rights to say nothing of union representation.

David Burke ● 1167d

Very few self employed occupations that can operate as cash in hand nowadays. Even our window cleaner has a Sum-Up device to take card payment and issues a receipt.Most pay full Tax and NI but do have to pay all overheads, insurances and all the stuff that an employer takes care of.  There are no safety nets. No duty of care, but many are forced to work this way rather than want to work this way. And it's not just basic manual jobs or casual jobs.Primarily, customers don't have cash and only want to pay by card.Many occupations only employ self employed if registered as a Limited Company.And in London a huge amount are hired on self employed short term contracts to avoid holiday pay, sick benefits and not qualify for redundancy pay. And of course, employer Tax and NI contributions are avoided.These are often high skill high quality jobs but employers use a series of loopholes and if HMRC intervene the loser is always the individual. They simply get dropped like a stone.Then theres the debacle of woefully useless self employed pensions which has not been addressed by successive governments for nearly 40 years since being identified as an "area in need of urgent reform" by Jim Callaghans government.

Raymond Havelock ● 1168d

“This is even more so with self- employed or very small business operators for who there are very few safety nets and yet pay Full Tax and NI.”But it is also true that many of these self-employed or small business operators are cash in hand businesses and manage to avoid paying tax on most of their earnings. However, I agree, that homeowners are penalised when it comes to benefits and council help compared to those in Council Housing who may earn very high salaries. Hence you often see Chelsea Tractors parked outside council properties!!

Steve Taylor ● 1168d

'It is interesting that you have had a couple of refugees in your food bank in Ealing and would be helpful to know why they have had to resort to a food bank if they are being sponsored?'We do try to chat to clients, although we've been very busy lately, with numbers double what they were in the autumn. We try to find out if they need additional help, such as talking to the lawyer who comes in each week, but we if they don't want to talk about their troubles then we can't press them.

Susan Kelly ● 1168d

It's very true that those who have the least are often the most generous - even if what they have is very modest. But it is also frustrating that so many who have lived here all their working lives and are adversely affected by recent issues from Covid through to the leap in living costs, the many who have lost their incomes or are baling out their businesses and those who are incapacitated from short term illness are being completely refused any benefits often based on a shortfall in NI payments during the first year of the Covid lockdown.Yet people who have paid no NI at all get just about every benefit available.Why are people who are also struggling or having to live off their life savings who have paid in for 35-40 years and have only a short dip from unforeseen circumstances not of their own doing be locked out?Very annoying that Council offers of help on Council Tax are all hot air and subject to means testing and holding of assets and only applies to those who qualify for other benefits.In the real word a home owner can actually be on a far lower income than a council home tenant and equally affected by Covid or the cost of living crisis. This is even more so with self- employed or very small business operators for who there are very few safety nets and yet pay Full Tax and NI.  I have many lifelong friends who live and lived in Council Houses and facts who earn a great deal more than me but worked in 'Priority sectors' which are deemed low income.  Except thats usually the starting grades and not what you earn if you are good, reliable and move up the grades.Which I have to say has always been true of all of them.

Raymond Havelock ● 1169d

“ And yet it is often those who have little who are the most generous.”I agree. However, they should not offer such generosity if they can’t afford it and then have to resort to food banks. ( I am merely responding to the original post which alleges as such and I have no idea if it is true or not) It is interesting that you have had a couple of refugees in your food bank in Ealing and would be helpful to know why they have had to resort to a food bank if they are being sponsored?

Steve Taylor ● 1169d

'The government certainly isn’t wanting hosts who have to rely on food banks to feed the refugees that people offered to house, feed and clothe!! ' And yet it is often those who have little who are the most generous. The widow's mite etc.I volunteer at Acton Food Bank. We've only had a couple of Ukrainian refugees in so far.

Susan Kelly ● 1169d

That’s right. I think the £350 hasn’t always been immediately forthcoming because the government is specifically looking for sponsors / hosts who are financially very secure and probably don’t even need to claim the £350 per month. The government certainly isn’t wanting hosts who have to rely on food banks to feed the refugees that people offered to house, feed and clothe!!

Steve Taylor ● 1169d

From what I understand, in England at least, the £350 monthly has not always been immediately forthcoming. And there are also Ukrainian refugees who are not sponsored but have accommodation and no financial support. Incidentally - the sum given to adult Ukrainian refugees in Germany is the same amount as the allowance for underemployed or unemployed in Germany. Not just for food - living costs, which is something very different!

Sue Rowe ● 1169d

'On top of that there is council tax and home insurance so if you are a single occupant and have space then you get hit for that too.'I'm sure I remember reading that single householders taking in a refugee would NOT lose their Council Tax discount.

Susan Kelly ● 1170d

Looking at the weblink you provided it states:“ You will want to be certain that you are in a secure position to offer a stable home to someone who needs it. You have the option to receive a monthly payment of £350 for up to 12 months,”From what I gather the government is specifically looking for sponsors / hosts who are financially very secure and probably don’t even need to claim the £350 per month.  Hence something has gone very wrong with the Council check system if they have approved some sponsors who are allegedly now having to resort to food banks to feed the refugees. The Council hasn’t done its job properly and has not adhered to government stipulations.

Steve Taylor ● 1170d

Looking at the weblink you provided it states:“ You will want to be certain that you are in a secure position to offer a stable home to someone who needs it. You have the option to receive a monthly payment of £350 for up to 12 months,”From what I gather the government is specifically looking for sponsors / hosts who are financially very secure and probably don’t even need to claim the £350 per month.  Hence something has gone very wrong with the Council check system if they have approved some sponsors who are allegedly now having to resort to food banks to feed the refugees. The Council hasn’t done its job properly and has not adhered to government stipulations.

Steve Taylor ● 1170d

Ukranians are eligible for Housing Benefit, Pension Credit, Personal Independence Payment, Child Disability Living Allowance and Carers Allowance, and Attendance Allowance. Contributions-based Employment and Support Allowance (ESA), and Jobseekers Allowance (JSA) are also available for those Ukrainians who meet the criteria. https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/welcome-a-guide-for-ukrainians-arriving-in-the-uk

BRIGITTE FAUBERT ● 1170d

That's not just food but heating and hot water and electricity etc.  It all adds up and the payments are based on pre increases in costs.On top of that there is council tax and home insurance so if you are a single occupant and have space then you get hit for that too.Some authorities are also doing inspections as though it is a rental property so everything has to meet regulations and be certificated.So it's certainly possible that it will cost you to do such a decent thing.

Raymond Havelock ● 1170d

£516 per month for food per person is a HUGE amount.  What are they eating; caviar?  £180 for clothes as a one off first payment seems about right.  I guess I spend about double that in a year. I suppose it depends on how often they get clothing allowances.

Steve Taylor ● 1170d