#the uk sucks

[https-murdock]

i literally can’t stop having panic attacks today they’re constant - feel free to send any asks today i’m gonna try distract myself with some writing <3

[tottwriter]

So I'm disabled, right? We all know this. Anyway, what THAT means is that I get welfare to help me, you know...live.

And, in its great wisdom, the UK in recent years decided that, instead of having heaps of different forms of government welfare which all need to be applied for and often overlap/interact in the function they serve, it would be much more sensible to have ONE welfare payment, and just give people different amounts depending on which components they qualify for. They called this "Universal Credit".

Now, I have to say. In principle? This is a good idea! But despite the similarity in name, you should 100% NOT confuse it with the concept of a Universal Basic Income (which is a Very Good Idea, fucking hell can we not just do that instead??), because let me tell you. Universal it fucking ain't.

I'm going through the process of "migrating" to the new system at the moment, and in reading up on the thing, man. It's so fucked up.

First of all, you cannot apply if you have more than £16,000 in savings. Which...okay. I could kinda see the logic in that. But that's a point against "Universal" already, right? And before you say "Oh but Tott, 'Universal' in this context obviously means that it's the one-and-only benefit, right?" - Well, no. There are actually other benefits which it doesn't replace, such as Child Benefit and PIP (A disability thing, if you don't know, don't ask. It's too fucking depressing).

Secondly. Savings in the bank are counted against you, right? And if you have any more than £6k in the bank, you have your monthly payments docked by a percentage of your savings until you fall below the threshold again. But if you own a house, equity held in property is not counted against you. You're potentially free to claim the full amount.

And this is just...it's so fucked up, right? If you own your house, that's fine! You won't be penalised for needing the UC payments to live - which is because half of the benefits being merged into it used to be paid out to working families, to cover how appallingly low our wages are. It would have been an economic apocalypse to count equity. Half the country would have been homeless overnight.

Meanwhile, those who are renting are just...fucked. You can't save up money for a mortgage deposit, even though you could claim UC to cover a mortgage, because you'd have to save more for the deposit than the threshold allows. Any time you save, you'll just have your income docked. So you're trapped in rental accommodation unless you get a windfall, or somehow start earning enough that you don't need the UC. And in the UK, most jobs don't pay a living wage, so most families do need UC. That's why they called it "Universal Credit" instead of "Universal Welfare", by the way. They had to make it sound good to all the Conservatives who are scared of "welfare" even though most of them rely on it too.

So just. Yeah. I'm really angry right now at how entirely fucked up this "benefit" is (In the UK, people use the word "benefits" synonymously with "welfare", which is ironic given they're among the least generous in the entire developed world), but obviously I can't do anything about it because hey. I should just be grateful, right? I live off benefits, woo, what a life! Clearly I have it easy!

Yeah. No home security, and if I balance the books and start to save money, despite the pittance which is my lot, my reward is that they fucking penalise me for it. And yes, this is an old Tory policy which has been carried over into the new Labour government, but I hardly think it's a top priority for anyone to change.

There's a saying among disability campaigners: The cruelty is the point. Shit like this just reminds me how true it really is.

[xxx-ang3l-w1th-a-sh0tgun-xxx]

UK weather is insane

5 minutes ago it was almost 30°c, hot, humid, horrible

now it's raining

and there's thunder

there's literally a yellow weather warning for thunderstorms

wtf is wrong with this country

also it's still hot. it's just wet now too

[useless-englandfacts]

uk journalists having to report through gritted teeth that there were no riots last night as thousands of anti-racist protesters significantly outnumbered the racist rioters across the country

[upgradebitch]

i want to go outside and get high but i did that a few days ago and got into some kind of staredown with a fox and i’m anxious already

[lostinfic]

"I really, really loved working with Holliday Grainger who played my sister on The Borgias. It was like we didn't have to act when we were together, we were just talking and I was moved, and there was no work to do. Easiest job I ever had."

- François Arnaud when asked about his favourite acting partner (25/11/2024) (source)

[winter-seance]

Broadchurch (2013-17) Episode 2.01

[charrchan]

I'd love to make some rc9gn merch to sell but I know the fandom is tiny. I could maybe do a preorder type thing? Acrylic charms and/or acrylic stands since I can order low quantities of those.

If anyone is interested tho please let me know 👀

[m0ose-idiot]

The US version of Ghosts is generally (mumble mumble mumble) but credit where credit is due, introducing a ghost snail and calling it "escarghost" was a good call 🐌👻🤍🐌

[dozydawn]

[beinghymen]

Something I just noticed about my blorbo Hal Yorke is that every time he smiles, he looks surprised. Like he's forgotten that smiling was something he could do, and he's suddenly remembered.

[dumbbitchawards]

[echoesofwisdomcountup]

Would you support king Charles dying on Tears of the Kingdom release date?

Still 6 days remaining. Yes, yes I would. I mean Elizabeth died right before Nintendo dropped the name for Tears of the Kingdom so it would be the height of comedy for Charles to kick it on the release date. Tears of the Kingdom but its tears of joy that he's gone. Like to charge, reblog to cast.

[variousqueerthings]

take a look at your local area for who to vote for to get the tories out + if you don't want to vote for labour, if you're safe to go elsewhere (such as lib dems or green)

and remember to look up your local MPs!

[ghstgirl]

do any other fat girls feel not feminine enough, or like they have more masculine energy even when all dolled up?

like sometimes i feel like i’m not allowed to say it feels like i’m being used only for my body without getting some look simply because i’m fat.

[legit9thlunaticwarrior]

rest easy viv