Universal Credit

[Thetruth123]

I just wanted people’s input on universal credit. I’ve seen so many horror stories in the media but I am on it and have had nothing but an easy time! I work full time and get around £400 per month in UC. When I applied I was granted an advance. And recieved this within a few days yes paying it back at £90 per month was a struggle.

And this is where my opinion may be unpopular but...... if I wasn’t on UC and did just work full time and took a back loan a payday loan any form of credit I’d be expected to pay it back ! So just because I’m on UC why shouldn’t I pay it back. Secondly I have heard people criticising it’s paid monthly.
Well so is my wages just because it’s a benefit why should it be paid weekly or 2 weekly. Whatever the reason for claiming whether you are ill , a lone parent Etc etc people need to learn and be equipped with the tools to budget money for the month. We need to stop holding peoples hands!! So on tv where people are going months and months without money and their children are hungry and have no food where was their advance ? Why are they in this position? The media are quick to throw stones at UC but never divulge reasons why these people have not been paid.

Jobs have rules ie....start time , and punctuality so if they miss their appointments sorry that’s as good as not turning into work (obviously if there is a serious reason as to why they can not then that’s different)

The only thing I do disagree with is that people have to be able to access the internet I understand this is extremely difficult for a lot of people , and I also think the job center should be called benefits center because they don’t help u find a job it’s all benefits benefits!!!!
There should a separate division you are referred to for training / job support.

What’s people’s thoughts

 

[BettyCrocker]

I think it works for people who only need it to
Top up a low wage. I don’t think it works for those who are reliant on it completely or for those who are in serious social need (homeless/addicts/those with mental health issues) - I watched an episode of benefits Britain not too long ago and it was focused on UC in Hartlepool. Some of the people featured were just taking the piss but some were seriously poor souls who needed real help - not just financially but real social
Help. One guy was sanctioned and got no money, because he didn’t reply to a letter. But that’s because he had hardly any eye sight and didn’t have a phone in his (hell hole) flat so couldn’t phone them etc - it was hard to watch, he was having a breakdown in a phone box outside the job centre because no one in the job centre would see him as he didn’t have an appointment and they told him to phone the main UC phone number to book an appointment- but he had no money to use the phone box!

 

[Thetruth123]

I think it works for people who only need it to
Top up a low wage. I don’t think it works for those who are reliant on it completely or for those who are in serious social need (homeless/addicts/those with mental health issues) - I watched an episode of benefits Britain not too long ago and it was focused on UC in Hartlepool. Some of the people featured were just taking the piss but some were seriously poor souls who needed real help - not just financially but real social
Help. One guy was sanctioned and got no money, because he didn’t reply to a letter. But that’s because he had hardly any eye sight and didn’t have a phone in his (hell hole) flat so couldn’t phone them etc - it was hard to watch, he was having a breakdown in a phone box outside the job centre because no one in the job centre would see him as he didn’t have an appointment and they told him to phone the main UC phone number to book an appointment- but he had no money to use the phone box!

That is extremely distressing and hard to hear let alone watch but the main UC number is free!!!
So again just can’t help but feel the media feed into this and fabricate some not all of what we see

 

[Mercedes12]

Not so much UC but the introduction of PIP I think is awful, based on the below news story:

'My friend was found fit for work then he died - this has to stop'

Pictures of Stephen Smith shocked the nation - now his friend is warning that a change in government is desperately needed

www.liverpoolecho.co.uk

So sad and completely preventable

 

[midnightrose]

Not so much UC but the introduction of PIP I think is awful, based on the below news story:

'My friend was found fit for work then he died - this has to stop'

Pictures of Stephen Smith shocked the nation - now his friend is warning that a change in government is desperately needed

www.liverpoolecho.co.uk

So sad and completely preventable

That is so very upsetting. How can that happen in a developed country?

 

[Itsallaboutmememe]

I work but a few years ago had to claim uc too
new job low wage due to no hours
i did one extra hour one week so I got a letter saying it had all stopped and I couldn’t claim anymore-my rent was due and I had zero cash to pay it
plus they made it so hard with appointment-I’d get them but I was at work which forced me to play ‘ring the right person to change it’
i gave up,changed jobs and haven’t bothered since
we need a safety net for genuine claims but uc isn’t it-it’s unworkable

 

[Princesspinky]

I claim universal credit as a single parent. When my ex left I was sick with worry about what this was going to entail (not having had to claim anything before) and also I felt a little ashamed that I had to. I work 18 hours per week and my income is topped up by universal credit.
Thank goodness I have not had any problems , my only slight criticism is how it runs a month behind. So on a month where the last week of the month is split and my working weekly hours differ slightly , one month I'm up in my wages the following I'm down ..... The universal credit for the "down" month doesn't luck in till the following month - if that makes sense . But I just have to budget for that and get on with it .

 

[annanuttall]

When I was last unemployed we went through the entire assessment - husband and I as I couldn't claim it just for myself, only to then be told I wouldn't get anything as my husband is paid too much and would be able to support me. Waste of my bloody time!!

 

[Lovelylavenderface]

When I was last unemployed we went through the entire assessment - husband and I as I couldn't claim it just for myself, only to then be told I wouldn't get anything as my husband is paid too much and would be able to support me. Waste of my bloody time!!

In 2020 you’re not entitled to money to support yourself oh no your partner is supposed to pay for you, wtf? Benefits shouldn’t work that way! They just want people not to claim any money it’s so obvious.

 

[SkankHunt42]

It's a step in the right direction, but some of it's edges need to be rounded off.

Thanks to the blare and brown governments millions got reliant on working part time on minimum wage jobs and were topped up to a teachers wage with working tax credits and housing benefit. meaning people could choose to not ever want to better themselves or get more hours as they would be no better off. This was allowed even when the children are teenagers and at school.

It needed to change as millions reliant on the state and the state borrowing more isn't sustainable. Not fair that employers and people on NMW are subed by tax payers.

However this might mean a whole generation are lost as they've had it so easy, and it will be slow painful system to reduce the easy benefits. But I agree it is an over correction and the system needs to be softened. But people that can work full time, should work full time.

In 2020 you’re not entitled to money to support yourself oh no your partner is supposed to pay for you, wtf? Benefits shouldn’t work that way! They just want people not to claim any money it’s so obvious.

But why should the tax payers support someone if they legally and financially tied to someone that earns a good wage?

 

[vodkandcokeplz]

When I was last unemployed we went through the entire assessment - husband and I as I couldn't claim it just for myself, only to then be told I wouldn't get anything as my husband is paid too much and would be able to support me. Waste of my bloody time!!

This happened to me when I was laid off in between jobs, because my partner earned too much. That’s his money not mine My boyfriend helped me out but I hated having to ask him for things, it was only for 4 weeks but still.

Imagine when this must happen to a man/woman with an abusive or controlling partner? They will get nothing, it’s not fair at all.

 

[annanuttall]

In 2020 you’re not entitled to money to support yourself oh no your partner is supposed to pay for you, wtf? Benefits shouldn’t work that way! They just want people not to claim any money it’s so obvious.

Sound like something out of 1950, doesn't it?

 

[Marmaladethecat]

I've recently had to claim UC as my marriage has broken down. I've never claimed anything before so this has been my only experience of the benefits system. There's a lot of hoops to jump through and I was ashamed with the seemingly endless proof of no earnings, childcare etc. I work but I'm self employed so my wage is very up and down. I too find it distressing that in 2020 the expectation to rely on your spouse is still there. My husband emptied the joint account so I really was stuck. Having to pay for childcare then waiting 4 weeks for 85% of it back has been really difficult. At the moment I honestly don't know if I'm going to be able to pay my bills and feed my 2 children

 

[Deepsigh2018]

What is a disgrace is employers not paying employees enough in wages for people to survive on.

Its also a shame that there are people who like to try and abuse the system which makes it harder for genuine people in need

 

[OnlyHereForTheLolz]

I agree that if your partner earns enough you should not get benefits. Social is there if you are in real need and if your partner don't want to help out while you are unemployed then you need to question the relationship.

As with everything there are people who genuinely fall through the cracks but then I feel Social services and local government should be held accountable for not helping

 

[Lonewolf]

I just wanted people’s input on universal credit. I’ve seen so many horror stories in the media but I am on it and have had nothing but an easy time! I work full time and get around £400 per month in UC. When I applied I was granted an advance. And recieved this within a few days yes paying it back at £90 per month was a struggle.

And this is where my opinion may be unpopular but...... if I wasn’t on UC and did just work full time and took a back loan a payday loan any form of credit I’d be expected to pay it back ! So just because I’m on UC why shouldn’t I pay it back. Secondly I have heard people criticising it’s paid monthly.
Well so is my wages just because it’s a benefit why should it be paid weekly or 2 weekly. Whatever the reason for claiming whether you are ill , a lone parent Etc etc people need to learn and be equipped with the tools to budget money for the month. We need to stop holding peoples hands!! So on tv where people are going months and months without money and their children are hungry and have no food where was their advance ? Why are they in this position? The media are quick to throw stones at UC but never divulge reasons why these people have not been paid.

Jobs have rules ie....start time , and punctuality so if they miss their appointments sorry that’s as good as not turning into work (obviously if there is a serious reason as to why they can not then that’s different)

The only thing I do disagree with is that people have to be able to access the internet I understand this is extremely difficult for a lot of people , and I also think the job center should be called benefits center because they don’t help u find a job it’s all benefits benefits!!!!
There should a separate division you are referred to for training / job support.

What’s people’s thoughts

I didn't think you could claim universal credit if you worked full time?

Sorry if I come across rude as I don't really know much about it but why would you need it if you worked full time?

 

[Thetruth123]

yea

I didn't think you could claim universal credit if you worked full time?

Sorry if I come across rude as I don't really know much about it but why would you need it if you worked full time?

h all depends on take home pay, unlike previous benefits where there was a 16 hour cap, this now includes working tax credit , hence why it’s now universal to all.

 

[Lonewolf]

yea

h all depends on take home pay, unlike previous benefits where there was a 16 hour cap, this now includes working tax credit , hence why it’s now universal to all.

Ooh thank you for explaining, it seems all very technical! So I could claim it even though I work full time too? I will have to look into this then if it's universal for all

 

[VelvetTears]

The whole assessment process is flawed as hell if you don't have a physical illness. Im lucky i have my parents to help me but they can't do it once they retire.

 

[Lovelylavenderface]

Oh also I went in it once in summer when I didn’t have a job as a student to find a summer job and they made it he’ll for me - they told me I had to volunteer full time hours every week in a charity shop to get my benefit just thought it was too much what they were asking, full time hours no exception for my anxiety either.