Universal Credit

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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 😓😓😓
The main UC number is free now, but it wasn’t when it was initially introduced! Calls cost something crazy like 30p per minute and if you’ve ever had to call them you’ll know you can wait anything up to an hour for them to answer!
And DWP did not change this to a freephone number out of the goodness of their heart a lot of campaigning went on to make this happen!
 
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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 say this in the most respectful way possible but your opinion is formulated from a point of privilege.

You’re in a position where you’re using this to “top up” your income rather than being heavily reliant on it and have been lucky in that you found the process straight forward.

There are a lot of social-economic factors in benefit claiming and I often find the people who need it/rely on it the most are the people least equipped to go through the application process. Some can’t read, struggle with reading, have difficulty on the phone, don’t have access to a phone and don’t have the luxury of trailing their kids to a phone box for an hour. The DWP are nothing short of a horror show and actually targeted for getting folk working. The delays in receiving UC can be utterly crippling to families and if it’s a main source of income paying back the advance they’ve been given could be the difference between a hot meal or not. I’ve seen far too many families having to make a choice between electricity and food and a lot of people turn their heads and try to believe Channel 5 that it’s all drunks and drug addicts because no one wants to believe the harsh reality of poverty in 2020.
 
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I say this in the most respectful way possible but your opinion is formulated from a point of privilege.

You’re in a position where you’re using this to “top up” your income rather than being heavily reliant on it and have been lucky in that you found the process straight forward.

There are a lot of social-economic factors in benefit claiming and I often find the people who need it/rely on it the most are the people least equipped to go through the application process. Some can’t read, struggle with reading, have difficulty on the phone, don’t have access to a phone and don’t have the luxury of trailing their kids to a phone box for an hour. The DWP are nothing short of a horror show and actually targeted for getting folk working. The delays in receiving UC can be utterly crippling to families and if it’s a main source of income paying back the advance they’ve been given could be the difference between a hot meal or not. I’ve seen far too many families having to make a choice between electricity and food and a lot of people turn their heads and try to believe Channel 5 that it’s all drunks and drug addicts because no one wants to believe the harsh reality of poverty in 2020.
This is 100% accurate!
 
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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!!
Exactly why we never bothered, it’s supposed to be there to help people but it’s really not, the amount of questions and forms and hoops to fill in are disgraceful, no idea how some people manage it. Then they want you to attend appointments. Hubs had spinal surgery and was basically bed bound...Yep you guessed it wanted him down job centre. Put a stop to it after that and ended up not bothering, I suspect that’s what they want!
 
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I’m on maternity and recently broken up with my boyfriend and currently looking for another job closer to me as my current job is too much money in taxi’s to go back to now I have a baby 😕 having to claim UC. Does anyone know how much I’ll get once my maternity has ended as a single mum to 1 baby. Also how many hours do you have to work to claim working tax credits. Sorry I’m all new to this I’m so stressed 😭
 
I’m on maternity and recently broken up with my boyfriend and currently looking for another job closer to me as my current job is too much money in taxi’s to go back to now I have a baby 😕 having to claim UC. Does anyone know how much I’ll get once my maternity has ended as a single mum to 1 baby. Also how many hours do you have to work to claim working tax credits. Sorry I’m all new to this I’m so stressed 😭
Tax credits would be part of your universal credit claim now. It’s called the child elemen. So how much you get would be determined by your other income, if that’s only going to be universal credit. You’ll receive the full child element.
You’ll also receive an element for yourself as well as help towards the cost of your rent (unless you own your property) it’ll all be paid as one payment.
As your child is just a baby you won’t be required to look for work yet so if you can afford to live on your payment you can have a bit more time off with the baby if that helps.
The child element is £277 per month. Your element depends on your age. Have a look here:-
Try not to stress, it is a horrible benefit. If you’re struggling go to your local CAB or Welfare Rights Team at your local authority, they might be able to help.
 
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Tax credits would be part of your universal credit claim now. It’s called the child elemen. So how much you get would be determined by your other income, if that’s only going to be universal credit. You’ll receive the full child element.
You’ll also receive an element for yourself as well as help towards the cost of your rent (unless you own your property) it’ll all be paid as one payment.
As your child is just a baby you won’t be required to look for work yet so if you can afford to live on your payment you can have a bit more time off with the baby if that helps.
The child element is £277 per month. Your element depends on your age. Have a look here:-
Try not to stress, it is a horrible benefit. If you’re struggling go to your local CAB or Welfare Rights Team at your local authority, they might be able to help.
i live with my mum so I’d only be entitled to £500+ I’m 24, is that right? It’s so confusing. Thank you so much for your help x
 
i live with my mum so I’d only be entitled to £500+ I’m 24, is that right? It’s so confusing. Thank you so much for your help x
Yes that’s correct, you’d get £250 for yourself and £230 for your child. You’ll still receive your Child benefit too.
I’m glad you live with your mum, that’s one less thing to worry about.
Definitely look for an advice service in your area to help you apply and ensure you get the correct entitlement. That’s what I do for work, but like you I’m on maternity at the moment.
 
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I may be unpopular but here goes, Why do others think its right that if my partner lost his job I would be responsible for him and his bills?

I earn 21k a year, like most others I have debt of my own to pay but lets not forget about the private rent we have to pay as we cannot get a council house so that's £500 a month, the council tax at £120, gas & electric at £100, then a mobile contract at £50 that I am tied into, the internet that I am also tied into that he would need in order to find another job (£50), my car loan £150, road tax £15, Insurance £25. So far that's £1010.00 before I even consider petrol to and from work 5 days a week, food and debts I am paying off. Others think its acceptable to cover his bills too such as payments for his child £250, his car loan £170, his road tax, insurance ect ect.

Just because we choose to live together does not make me responsible for him financially!
 
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I may be unpopular but here goes, Why do others think its right that if my partner lost his job I would be responsible for him and his bills?

I earn 21k a year, like most others I have debt of my own to pay but lets not forget about the private rent we have to pay as we cannot get a council house so that's £500 a month, the council tax at £120, gas & electric at £100, then a mobile contract at £50 that I am tied into, the internet that I am also tied into that he would need in order to find another job (£50), my car loan £150, road tax £15, Insurance £25. So far that's £1010.00 before I even consider petrol to and from work 5 days a week, food and debts I am paying off. Others think its acceptable to cover his bills too such as payments for his child £250, his car loan £170, his road tax, insurance ect ect.

Just because we choose to live together does not make me responsible for him financially!
I agree with you wholeheartedly, it should not be your cross to bear... but on the other hand... should it be the government responsibility?

I’m insured to the hilt for every eventuality because my lifestyle is no-one else’s responsibility but my own.
 
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I agree with you wholeheartedly, it should not be your cross to bear... but on the other hand... should it be the government responsibility?

I’m insured to the hilt for every eventuality because my lifestyle is no-one else’s responsibility but my own.
I feel that, considering hes 35 and worked since he was 16 that yes it should be their responsibility, after all hes contributed all of his tax and NI over those years that's helped to keep all of the unemployed people warm in their houses day after day when we are the ones up and out the door every day working hard...and before anyone tries to police me I am NOT referring to EVERYONE who is unemployed, I understand there are MANY different reasons some CANNOT work, I am referring to those who CHOOSE not to work and never have, yes those are the ones who receive benefits, don't have to worry about their rent being paid and exempt or get a lower rate on other bills
 
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I feel that, considering hes 35 and worked since he was 16 that yes it should be their responsibility, after all hes contributed all of his tax and NI over those years that's helped to keep all of the unemployed people warm in their houses day after day when we are the ones up and out the door every day working hard...and before anyone tries to police me I am NOT referring to EVERYONE who is unemployed, I understand there are MANY different reasons some CANNOT work, I am referring to those who CHOOSE not to work and never have, yes those are the ones who receive benefits, don't have to worry about their rent being paid and exempt or get a lower rate on other bills
NI is used to fund NHS, State Pension, Unemployment benefits and Disability benefits so his contributions would come back to him in some way, shape or form. He’d be entitled to unemployment benefit/job seekers or whatever name they give it nowadays after redundancy.

I don’t agree with a lot of the welfare system, especially those that abuse it and have had kids and taught them to rely on it too so yes, it is infuriating to see if you’re going through a tit patch but we can’t lessen another person’s sense of entitlement by having one of our own.

I would rather the money in the pot was saved so we have some sort of state pension (at the threatened grand old age of 75 when we’ve worked ourselves to the bone) than people getting a load of benefits after redundancy that they could easily have insured against.

Just my opinion and I know it’s a sensitive subject, I just see such a sense of entitlement in a lot of people but no understanding of the fact the pot isn’t infinite and if we give in one direction it’s taken from somewhere else (like the pension!) We’re lucky to have state welfare provisions at all. The pot itself would be a lot healthier if the government weren’t giving tax breaks to their pals but that’s another rant for a different day and I could be here for hours.
 
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Reading the guides you only need to claim together if you're "living together as if your married"

You might be asked to claim Universal Credit as a couple if you live in the same household and are:
  • married
  • civil partners
  • living together as if you’re married.

I agree that people married need to claim together as their partner should support them rather than tax payers.

But there is a grey area with people that are going out but not near marriage.

I would rather the money in the pot was saved so we have some sort of state pension (at the threatened grand old age of 75 when we’ve worked ourselves to the bone) than people getting a load of benefits after redundancy that they could easily have insured against.
There is no pot! The government pays out what it gets in to the current people and borrows to pay the rest.

Those insurance polices are often useless.

You can retire whenever you want, just don't expect tax payers to fund it. retiring at 60 and living for another 30 years paid for by tax payers was always gonna go tits up!
 
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NI is used to fund NHS, State Pension, Unemployment benefits and Disability benefits so his contributions would come back to him in some way, shape or form. He’d be entitled to unemployment benefit/job seekers or whatever name they give it nowadays after redundancy.

I don’t agree with a lot of the welfare system, especially those that abuse it and have had kids and taught them to rely on it too so yes, it is infuriating to see if you’re going through a tit patch but we can’t lessen another person’s sense of entitlement by having one of our own.

I would rather the money in the pot was saved so we have some sort of state pension (at the threatened grand old age of 75 when we’ve worked ourselves to the bone) than people getting a load of benefits after redundancy that they could easily have insured against.

Just my opinion and I know it’s a sensitive subject, I just see such a sense of entitlement in a lot of people but no understanding of the fact the pot isn’t infinite and if we give in one direction it’s taken from somewhere else (like the pension!) We’re lucky to have state welfare provisions at all. The pot itself would be a lot healthier if the government weren’t giving tax breaks to their pals but that’s another rant for a different day and I could be here for hours.

I am fortunate that hes not lost his job though. it was just a statement that I don't think its right I would cover all those bills if he did loose it.

I have accepted the fact we will prob never ever get a state pension and will have to rely what we put past ourselves and through our work. I have always said that those who work and contribute should be able to get help when its needed where as those who have never worked a day in their life out of choose should not, this would force a lot of those lazy sods back into work, I know not everyone will agree with me and we all have our different opinions. Like everyone else, inc yourself who works I think we work very hard for what we have so it angers me when people get hands outs and just expect it to keep on coming.

I have seen cases where they are actually hiving better on than people who work, inc me with the amount of "spare money" they have. anyway, its nice to have a chat about it instead of another person trying to push their opinions in your face and that's usually what happens lol
 
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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.
I'm fiercely independent and we both earn really well. If I was made redundant, I wouldn't expect the government to support me but my partner who earns enough to pay 40% income tax. I'd prefer a single mum in need to get the UC instead of me.
 
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What does 'living together as if you're married' mean? I have been with my partner for nearly 2 years, recently moved in with him because it's easier to find work where he lives. We are both working but earning below the living wage. He also gets ESA and PIP for some health issues he has. Not sure if we would need to do a couples claim?
 


Boris doesn't have a clue how the average person has to live and when his own party is telling him to keep it, that should tell him something. If he gets rid of the £20 for people and doesn't extend it to legacy benefits then he will soon find out how unpopular that will make him.
 
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