Page 5 | To be absolutely fking sick of Universal Credit

scorpiogirly · 2025-02-07T09:26:26+00:00

Posted a few days ago regarding being called in for an appointment after work messed my wages up. Went through all pay slips and could see the mistake, also could then see the basic pay per month which is over the AET. This is after increasing my hours. So I messaged the work coach and explained what happened and that going forward my pay would be over the AET and asked if I still needed to attend the meeting which is today. I was told yes as it was under last month. And we can discuss this apparently when I go in. Discuss what? Possible reasons work made the mistake? This is a work search appointment. For which there will be nothing to discuss or put in place as I will be over the AET. But no, let's still waste my time, their time and also taxpayers money. I just hate it. The way they make you jump through hoops in order to get the help you're entitled to. Just a rant really. Does anyone hate UC as much as me?

Original poster

scorpiogirly · 07/02/2025 17:40

They don't have an after school club there. She is waiting to start an art class though which is one day a week in the spring.

I'm also saying a 2 hour round trip to work there for 5 hours. Then of course fuel costs would go through the roof. It's bad enough now.

OP posts:

Porcuporpoise · 07/02/2025 17:37

scorpiogirly · 07/02/2025 17:34

This is the stupidity I'm talking about. See attached pic.

So if I were to find a job in which I'd have to travel up to 60 minutes, how the hell would I fit in 25 hours a week!?

My dd starts school at 9 so I'd get to work at 10. I'd have to leave at 2:15 to get to the school for 3:15. That's not even taking into account traffic.

Edited

Seriously? Could you just not use breakfast club and after school club like the rest of us?

Original poster

scorpiogirly · 07/02/2025 17:34

This is the stupidity I'm talking about. See attached pic.

So if I were to find a job in which I'd have to travel up to 60 minutes, how the hell would I fit in 25 hours a week!?

My dd starts school at 9 so I'd get to work at 10. I'd have to leave at 2:15 to get to the school for 3:15. That's not even taking into account traffic.

To be absolutely fking sick of Universal Credit

OP posts:

LakieLady · 07/02/2025 17:28

Some of the decisions they make are utterly illogical.

My DIL had 2 p/t jobs, one term-time only, the other year-round. Her earnings overall were well above the AET, but slightly (like £5 or something) below it in one or two assessment periods in the summer holidays. She got loads of hassle about finding another job.

The second year it happened, she got utterly fucked off with it, jacked in the term-time only job and increased her hours in the year-round job.

She earns less, gets more in UC, and they have to pay her childcare costs for 2 extra days pw in the school holidays. She's worse off, they're paying a fair bit more in UC, but hey, it ticks the right boxes so the DWP are happy.

CdcRuben · 07/02/2025 17:25

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thisfilmisboring123 · 07/02/2025 17:23

AlmostAJillSandwich · 07/02/2025 17:15

I got my migration notice Jan 21st to move from income related ESA (support group) to UC. Filled in and submitted the form same day. The "next steps" has stated since Jan 21st, that i'll receive a call in 2-3 days to double check and confirm all info in my claim is correct.
Needless to say, they haven't called. So i called them 2 days ago to make sure i've not been missed, "Blessing" was less than useless and just said "It says next step is we'll call, so just wait for it". She just looked at the same page on my to do list that i could look at myself, no further info. So i sent a follow up journal message stating what she said and asking if that was correct. 48 hours later, no reply.
Supposedly it will tell me on the 23rd of Feb how much i'll be receiving and will be paid 27th. I seriously doubt, given thery're almost closed for the day/week now, that they will call me, check my info, move to the next step of deciding if i need a work capability assessment, and if so, get that assessment done, look at it, and make a decision if i get LCWRA like i SHOULD as a transfer from ESA support group, in the space of 10 working days to then tell me on the 23rd (a sunday) what my entitlement is going to be. Of course ESA have paid me for the last time as my claim with them officially ended Tuesday just passed (as migration pays for 2 weeks post UC claim submission) so i'm now in Limbo, and if the 2-3 day timeframe for a call has now stretched to 2 weeks 6 days minimum if they don't call today, then how long will the rest of the supposed 5 week from claim to first payment process take?!

If you are in the support group, you won’t have a health assessment. You’ll automatically be placed into lcwra.

Did you use the government gateway to verify your ID?

When you leave your journal message, are you leaving ‘a message for my work coach’?
You won’t have a work coach assigned to your claim so leave your journal message as ‘a payment’ in the drop down menu.

Hammy19 · 07/02/2025 17:22

AlmostAJillSandwich · 07/02/2025 17:15

I got my migration notice Jan 21st to move from income related ESA (support group) to UC. Filled in and submitted the form same day. The "next steps" has stated since Jan 21st, that i'll receive a call in 2-3 days to double check and confirm all info in my claim is correct.
Needless to say, they haven't called. So i called them 2 days ago to make sure i've not been missed, "Blessing" was less than useless and just said "It says next step is we'll call, so just wait for it". She just looked at the same page on my to do list that i could look at myself, no further info. So i sent a follow up journal message stating what she said and asking if that was correct. 48 hours later, no reply.
Supposedly it will tell me on the 23rd of Feb how much i'll be receiving and will be paid 27th. I seriously doubt, given thery're almost closed for the day/week now, that they will call me, check my info, move to the next step of deciding if i need a work capability assessment, and if so, get that assessment done, look at it, and make a decision if i get LCWRA like i SHOULD as a transfer from ESA support group, in the space of 10 working days to then tell me on the 23rd (a sunday) what my entitlement is going to be. Of course ESA have paid me for the last time as my claim with them officially ended Tuesday just passed (as migration pays for 2 weeks post UC claim submission) so i'm now in Limbo, and if the 2-3 day timeframe for a call has now stretched to 2 weeks 6 days minimum if they don't call today, then how long will the rest of the supposed 5 week from claim to first payment process take?!

The 5 weeks started on the day that you made your claim, that won't change regardless of how long it takes them to call you. I'd send a journal message asking your case manager to call you so you can check all is fine with your claim and then call again if you don't hear anything

Mimilamore · 07/02/2025 17:22

Not fit for purpose. Old model, doesn't work and is a waste of time and money

LakieLady · 07/02/2025 17:20

OnyourbarksGSG · 07/02/2025 16:54

Update to this, I got a message today. They have increased my payment but BUT despite being awarded disabled child element last month, my payment is still less than it private was as they have just removed my LCWRA and added back on my transitional protection, which has been eroded by my child’s disabled child element and at no point have they thought logically with their brain. It’s absolutely and totally AWFUL and now I’ve got to do a mandatory reconsideration as nobody is listening to me. Why would they just remove the LCWRA and adjust the tp without costing recent charges that may have occurred? It’s nonsensical.

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Please, make an appointment with CAB or other local advice agency that deals with welfare rights issues.

That all looks like the most god-awful mess.

IVFmumoftwo · 07/02/2025 17:17

Hammy19 · 07/02/2025 17:12

What's stopping you?

You might want to bear in mind first, though - I claim UC myself. I'm just grateful for it

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I don't think she said she isn't grateful?

gotmyknickersinatwist · 07/02/2025 17:17

EmeraldShamrock000 · 07/02/2025 09:54

It is an absolute joke.

It's designed to be helpful for low income families and just causes huge stress.

There is a similar payment in Ireland that is stress free in comparison,

The allocated weekly payment based on your wages stays consistent for the year.

If you go over hours, the following year payment will get reduced based on your wage.

Is that not just working tax credit? That's how it worked, and was one of the 'legacy' benefits that UC replaced.

LakieLady · 07/02/2025 17:16

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That's another area where there's no consistency. Some work coaches will accept that, another will insist you upload them to your UC account.

AlmostAJillSandwich · 07/02/2025 17:15

I got my migration notice Jan 21st to move from income related ESA (support group) to UC. Filled in and submitted the form same day. The "next steps" has stated since Jan 21st, that i'll receive a call in 2-3 days to double check and confirm all info in my claim is correct.
Needless to say, they haven't called. So i called them 2 days ago to make sure i've not been missed, "Blessing" was less than useless and just said "It says next step is we'll call, so just wait for it". She just looked at the same page on my to do list that i could look at myself, no further info. So i sent a follow up journal message stating what she said and asking if that was correct. 48 hours later, no reply.
Supposedly it will tell me on the 23rd of Feb how much i'll be receiving and will be paid 27th. I seriously doubt, given thery're almost closed for the day/week now, that they will call me, check my info, move to the next step of deciding if i need a work capability assessment, and if so, get that assessment done, look at it, and make a decision if i get LCWRA like i SHOULD as a transfer from ESA support group, in the space of 10 working days to then tell me on the 23rd (a sunday) what my entitlement is going to be. Of course ESA have paid me for the last time as my claim with them officially ended Tuesday just passed (as migration pays for 2 weeks post UC claim submission) so i'm now in Limbo, and if the 2-3 day timeframe for a call has now stretched to 2 weeks 6 days minimum if they don't call today, then how long will the rest of the supposed 5 week from claim to first payment process take?!

80smonster · 07/02/2025 17:14

LouH1981 · 07/02/2025 16:11

It’s not running them down. I used to think the same as you until I found myself unexpectedly on it.
They set people up to fail. It sounds ludicrous but it’s absolutely true.

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People make identical posts about the NHS and schools. The root of these complaints is public services, who are funded by those who are net tax contributors. The answer to better funded services is fewer claimants and a greater number of net tax contributors, those who pay more tax than the value of services they withdraw from the system. If you are being inconvenienced and your prospects limited, you are absolutely entitled to find yourself a better paid job and withdraw entirely?

Hammy19 · 07/02/2025 17:12

JoyousGreyOrca · 07/02/2025 15:31

Wish I could tell you what I really think of you

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What's stopping you?

You might want to bear in mind first, though - I claim UC myself. I'm just grateful for it

Original poster

scorpiogirly · 07/02/2025 17:08

BreatheAndFocus · 07/02/2025 17:04

Yeah, I hate them. I’m working but just under their AETor whatever it’s called. I was fine until the gov put it up three times in a few months! Now I have to go in for UC appointments even though I have a job. They repeatedly make me UC appointments when I’m at work, and one ‘job coach’ had a real go at me when I said I couldn’t attend because I was at work. She was a right cow and also fucked up my sick note and then tried to blame me.

I’m grateful for the money, but it would be better if they focussed on people who were capable of work but not working. There are young people in their mid and late 20s who have never had a job. It would make more sense to focus on them than harass people who are actually working.

It was a huge jump too. From 743 to 892!

Are you looking at changing jobs or just going along with their appointments?

And yes I agree about focusing on those who don't work at all. Obviously excluding people with disabilities and caring responsibilities.

OP posts:

BreatheAndFocus · 07/02/2025 17:04

Yeah, I hate them. I’m working but just under their AETor whatever it’s called. I was fine until the gov put it up three times in a few months! Now I have to go in for UC appointments even though I have a job. They repeatedly make me UC appointments when I’m at work, and one ‘job coach’ had a real go at me when I said I couldn’t attend because I was at work. She was a right cow and also fucked up my sick note and then tried to blame me.

I’m grateful for the money, but it would be better if they focussed on people who were capable of work but not working. There are young people in their mid and late 20s who have never had a job. It would make more sense to focus on them than harass people who are actually working.

Original poster

scorpiogirly · 07/02/2025 17:02

It's the same here. I've worked properly since leaving school and through uni. I had a weelend job at 16. I'm 43 now. Never claimed anything. I reduced my hours because i had no choice. I had no idea I would end up as a single parent with no help from her dad and no close family available to help with anything.

OP posts:

scorpiogirly · 07/02/2025 16:56

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IVFmumoftwo · 07/02/2025 16:56

ChardonnaysBeastlyCat · 07/02/2025 16:49

No need.

I‘m already paying for your bills.

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Doubt it. You do pay for me to sit on my arse whilst my toddler is at nursery. Cheers. 👍🍸

Peachbubble · 07/02/2025 16:55

thisfilmisboring123 · 07/02/2025 16:50

Why would they need to apologise?

In certain circumstances, capital can be disregarded so they were probably just following procedures to and sure that wouldn’t apply.

Your friend declined, they closed the claim- what’s the problem?

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For not reading the detail of the journal entry that stated the large sum of money, which really would not have not been disregarded! And for time wasting!

OnyourbarksGSG · 07/02/2025 16:54

OnyourbarksGSG · 07/02/2025 10:00

If are an absurd disaster. When I migrated in June it was great. Got transitional protection and for 3 months everything was fine. Then I got approved for LCWRA and lost £200 a month as you can’t be a career AND get full LCWRA. TP doesn’t cover that. So I messaged them, why am I being penalised? Why wasn’t it made clear to me that I didn’t HAVE to apply for LCWRA, I could have just declared being a career and kept the same money? The journal robot said “ you need to go and make a retrospective change from X date” so i did. That was in early November. Since then I’ve lost my LCWRA. TP had not been restrictively applied. I’ve left 47 messages on my journal and nobody? Not my case handler, not my MP, not a divinity knows what is happening or why it’s taking so long. I made a formal complaint on the 30th December. They said it will be death with within 15 working days. And I’m still here being fobbed off “ez are trying our hardest and expect it will now take 15 an extra 15-20 working days”. Then I get a call from my useless case handler saying he’s leaving two days later and he’s got zero idea what’s happening but everyday I will given a a new case handler. He openly admired that he had not read any of my messages in full, just skim read the first sentence, even the payment message I sent saying “ URGENT PLEASE READ MESSAGE IN FULL”. My money UC went from £1607 to £748 including rent in November

At this point they owe me between £2000-3200 and I am just incredibly lucky that I get PIP and carers Allowance and have a credit card and understanding family. A week before Christmas I had £7 in the bank.

Update to this, I got a message today. They have increased my payment but BUT despite being awarded disabled child element last month, my payment is still less than it private was as they have just removed my LCWRA and added back on my transitional protection, which has been eroded by my child’s disabled child element and at no point have they thought logically with their brain. It’s absolutely and totally AWFUL and now I’ve got to do a mandatory reconsideration as nobody is listening to me. Why would they just remove the LCWRA and adjust the tp without costing recent charges that may have occurred? It’s nonsensical.

Beepbeepdash · 07/02/2025 16:52

People can be awful. I never claimed until a year ago. I went from living in a 6 figure household to being left with two children and absolutely zero help from their dad.

I nearly break myself every week trying to work around school, swimming, the constant illnesses. Without the universal credit top up we literally couldn’t afford to live. I didn’t expect this to be my life but my gosh the way people stereotype. So many circumstances leave people requiring support. Some people’s ignorance is vile.

I would never make judgements on anyone and their wealth. I have friends from all backgrounds (council houses to living in several million pound homes) and I do not think any of them better than others based on their income.

And yes universal credit can be utterly ridiculous. I get video calls as I live an hour from the nearest office but they call me whilst I’m at work to ask how work is going?! The whole thing is a massive tick boxing exercise. Surely if my income is consistent (which it is) there is not much else to say!

thisfilmisboring123 · 07/02/2025 16:50

Peachbubble · 07/02/2025 16:12

It's a case of UC staff having to justify their existence by creating unnecessary admin. My friend told them she'd inherited a sum of money which would take her over the UC threshold, so she wanted to close her claim immediately.

They insisted via her journal, that she attend an appointment to discuss how a large sum of money would affect her UC and whether she would be able to continue the claim - it was quite obvious she couldn't. She politely declined and said just close the claim, which they did eventually without a word of apology.

Why would they need to apologise?

In certain circumstances, capital can be disregarded so they were probably just following procedures to and sure that wouldn’t apply.

Your friend declined, they closed the claim- what’s the problem?

ChardonnaysBeastlyCat · 07/02/2025 16:49

TheWorminLabyrinth · 07/02/2025 15:01

Well, that's spectacularly helpful. I don't know why I hadn't thought of that. I assume you will be paying my bills for me then? Shall I send you my bank details?

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No need.

I‘m already paying for your bills.