Knut Ragnar Hegseth Bakke put a face to poverty in NRK’s ’The Debate’, but it’s gotten worse: – I can’t stand so much stress, says the 51-year-old.
The disabled Brumunddøl met Labor and Inclusion Minister Marte Mjøs Persen (AP) at Fredrik Solvang’s ‘Debatten’ on Tuesday.
There he told the minister what it was like to be out of money in the account when the fixed expenses, food and electricity were paid.
– I do my best every month to shoot and transform what I need and don’t need, Knut Ragnar Hegseth Bakke tells VG.
His mother was the only one who found out he was going to be on TV.
– If I didn’t succeed, it would have been incredibly embarrassing. Afterward, Mom was incredibly proud, both because I stood up and because she knows what I struggled with.
He lost his roommate
Bakke had to give up his job at the central office of Taxi Innlandet and received disability benefits nearly three years ago. Tono, the twelve-year-old companion, died this summer.
He has been suffering from anxiety, depression and heart problems for many years.
As disability benefits, she receives unpaid NOK 18,748, including housing benefit. He eats mainly sausages and gets food from the Salvation Army one day a month.
The 51-year-old believes higher social security and lower taxes could help those who have less. He also believes that those in need of emergency help shouldn’t have interviews with Nav.
In the clip below you can see presenter Fredrik Solvang who was clearly moved during a previous broadcast about poverty:
– It hurts to hear
After “The Debate”, many have contacted him and told of their own poverty.
– They talk about encounters with Nav and how difficult it is to get by with little. It hurts to hear. I am an emotional person, it gets to the root of my heart.
Bakke says many people come with statements of support.
– They think it was difficult of me to stand up, says Brumunddølen.
In “The Debate”, he is shown to have NOK 9.99 in his account.
– Someone stole my money. Not much, but enough to last until Christmas.
Ribs on Christmas Eve
The 51-year-old says he’s not so Christmassy, that he used to work on Christmas Eve and actually thinks New Years is a worse day for someone who sits alone.
– Because then I know that everyone else is having fun. I fear it more.
– But now at least you don’t have to eat sausages on Christmas Eve?
– We have a shop here in Brumunddal where you can buy ready-made ribs. I want to buy some. Now I don’t have to ask my mother for money.
Bakke believes that the crowns handed to him will go towards the purchase of “Nille glasses”. The ones he had just smoked and he needs to watch the screen.
The Minister for Employment and Inclusion has indicated in the ‘debate’ that he may be entitled to some pay rise from Nav.
– I think it’s a bit strange, I spoke to Nav two or three times and asked if there are any other rights I might have. The answer is that it isn’t.
Luxury to visit mother
– What do you have no money for?
– Luxury, which for me would be taking a taxi to Brumunddal and visiting my mother. I struggle with social anxiety and can’t get on the bus.
– Do you see a way out of the accident?
– Oh yes. Otherwise I would have lost, so the point would have been lost, if I didn’t have faith that I could step off the edge and fall.
The 51-year-old explains that his personal finances will be different when he pays off the consumer loans he has refinanced.
– Then I will be released 2,500 NOK per month. It will take a few years. But I think this is the way out. And then I no longer have to take out short-term loans.
