In the UK for the past few years, the government have been doing something called the Household Support Fund. The government gives a grant to each council in the country and the council chooses how to distribute the fund amongst its poorest residents. Twice a year, people on a low income can apply and get a grant towards their living expenses. For the first few years my local council gave £150 to everyone below a certain income threshold, and you could spend it on whatever you needed. It was a real lifeline. This year, for the first payment, they dropped it down to £100 which was a blow, but still something. I was really counting on getting that payment again in the second half of this year.

The government also usually gives a winter fuel allowance to old age pensioners, to keep them warm through the winter. However the government got rid of this recently (for some, or all pensioners, I'm not sure which) which means a lot of old people now can't afford to keep themselves warm through the winter.

So, my local council has decided to give its household fund only to local old age pensioners now, to help keep them warm through the winter. I understand and accept that the pensioners need this help. However this means the rest of us low income/no income/disabled have been left with absolutely nothing. Some of us were really counting on receiving that money. That was going to be my only income for I don't know how long! It's especially important for people who've had their benefits stopped as you don't need to be in receipt of benefits to claim it.

Why do they give with one hand and take away with another? And right before Christmas too. It just feels like very day in life there is some new unexpected horrible surprise or problem to deal with.