YouGov poll shows just 46% of people think benefits claimants should have access to a phone, despite needing one to claim Universal Credit
“How can you afford that?” It’s a question I was often asked when I was on out-of-work benefits.
Every time I bought a new lipstick, got my nails done, got takeaway or anything else that was deemed a “treat”, I had people asking how I was buying it when I didn’t have a job. And the subtext was always there “You don’t deserve this”, “you’re wasting our money”.
In a new survey, YouGov put 35 expenses to the public and asked them who should be able to afford them, from just the richest in society to those on an “Average” salary, and minimum wage then if those on benefits deserved them. 76 per cent think everyone should be able to afford their utility bills, but that’s still 24 per cent who said people on out-of-work benefits don’t deserve electricity and water.
And that’s the best stat. 55 per cent said everyone should be able to have a TV. Just 51 per cent said everyone, including benefits claimants, should be able to afford to rent a house. The ones that really got me were who deserves technology. Only 57 per cent think everyone should have an internet connection in their house. 45 per cent think benefits claimants should be able to afford a basic phone and just 41 per cent think they should be allowed to buy a basic laptop. That’s not even a good or new one, just the bog standard cheapest.