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Original poster

To wonder why the UC savings threshold is £6,000?

856 replies

GiddyLurker · 18/04/2026 21:55

Why is the Universal Credit savings threshold set at £6,000? What’s the reasoning behind that number?

It feels quite specific and I just wondered whether there’s a particular logic or policy decision behind it?

OP posts:
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5
MsGreying · 19/04/2026 22:37

neilyoungismyhero · 18/04/2026 22:09

My husband and I have worked hard and diligently all our lives and maybe to our shame have never had 12k in our bank account.

Have you had regular holidays and new clothes/kitchen/car?

littleorangefox · 19/04/2026 22:35

XenoBitch · 19/04/2026 22:35

Ha, same. The only thing I get cheaper is council tax. Everything else is the same as... um, everyone else.

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Next time I go to Tesco I'm going to tell them I'm on UC to get the special prices.

XenoBitch · 19/04/2026 22:35

littleorangefox · 19/04/2026 22:33

Are you actually suggesting there are different rates for UC claimants for mortgages?? 😂 There isn't. Well, not the last time I checked anyway. I certainly don't receive one. Just as I don't receive any special rates for all of my other bills and outgoings. And I am FULLY aware of how much everything costs.

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Ha, same. The only thing I get cheaper is council tax. Everything else is the same as... um, everyone else.

littleorangefox · 19/04/2026 22:34

Chocaholick · 19/04/2026 22:32

  • Energy & Bills: £150 Warm Home Discount.
  • Travel: Jobcentre Plus Travel Discount Card (50% off train tickets).
  • Days Out: £1 tickets for
  • London Transport Museum
  • Kew Gardens
  • , and others.
  • Health: Free NHS prescriptions, dental care, and eye tests.
  • Council Tax: Up to £2,171 off via local council schemes.
  • Technology: Discounted "social tariffs" for broadband from providers like BT, Virgin Media, and Sky.
  • Food/Cost of Living: Potential one-off cost of living payments and grants for essentials
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I do not and have never received any of those. And prescriptions are free in Scotland for everyone anyway as are eye tests.

littleorangefox · 19/04/2026 22:33

Chocaholick · 19/04/2026 22:31

do the claimants here pay market rate rent or a mortgage? I would be interested to know but will leave it as an open question as they won’t respond or will say I’m ’being Mean’

Are you actually suggesting there are different rates for UC claimants for mortgages?? 😂 There isn't. Well, not the last time I checked anyway. I certainly don't receive one. Just as I don't receive any special rates for all of my other bills and outgoings. And I am FULLY aware of how much everything costs.

Chocaholick · 19/04/2026 22:32

littleorangefox · 19/04/2026 22:31

I'm not being childish at all.

Your link proves nothing.

It also doesn't show that people on UC who don't work are unaware of how much things cost. I'm still waiting for the proof of that.

Show quote history
  • Energy & Bills: £150 Warm Home Discount.
  • Travel: Jobcentre Plus Travel Discount Card (50% off train tickets).
  • Days Out: £1 tickets for
  • London Transport Museum
  • Kew Gardens
  • , and others.
  • Health: Free NHS prescriptions, dental care, and eye tests.
  • Council Tax: Up to £2,171 off via local council schemes.
  • Technology: Discounted "social tariffs" for broadband from providers like BT, Virgin Media, and Sky.
  • Food/Cost of Living: Potential one-off cost of living payments and grants for essentials
Chocaholick · 19/04/2026 22:31

do the claimants here pay market rate rent or a mortgage? I would be interested to know but will leave it as an open question as they won’t respond or will say I’m ’being Mean’

littleorangefox · 19/04/2026 22:31

Chocaholick · 19/04/2026 22:29

You’re just being childish because you’re confronted with facts that you know as well as I do, are damning.

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I'm not being childish at all.

Your link proves nothing.

It also doesn't show that people on UC who don't work are unaware of how much things cost. I'm still waiting for the proof of that.

XenoBitch · 19/04/2026 22:30

littleorangefox · 19/04/2026 22:28

I don't need to read some silly link to know that I, and most others, are fully aware of how much things cost because we pay them.

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Yep, there is no two tier pricing for people on UC and those who work (which can overlap anyway).

littleorangefox · 19/04/2026 22:30

XenoBitch · 19/04/2026 22:28

UC claims jumped up because of the migration from legacy benefits.
Where is the headline about ESA claims dropping to zero?

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Oh right so nothing actually relevant then 😂

And nothing to prove that people on UC who don't work are unaware of how much things cost either.

Funny that.

Chocaholick · 19/04/2026 22:29

littleorangefox · 19/04/2026 22:28

I don't need to read some silly link to know that I, and most others, are fully aware of how much things cost because we pay them.

Show quote history

You’re just being childish because you’re confronted with facts that you know as well as I do, are damning.

littleorangefox · 19/04/2026 22:28

Chocaholick · 19/04/2026 22:28

How convenient. Anything to avoid the actual figures eh!

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I don't need to read some silly link to know that I, and most others, are fully aware of how much things cost because we pay them.

XenoBitch · 19/04/2026 22:28

littleorangefox · 19/04/2026 22:27

I'm not going to bother opening that link because it will prove nothing except your own ignorance.

Please do tell me how not being employed means someone would have no idea how much things like a mortgage, utilities, food, petrol, clothing, insurances etc etc etc are? They still cost the exact same as they do for those who work 😂

Show quote history

UC claims jumped up because of the migration from legacy benefits.
Where is the headline about ESA claims dropping to zero?

Chocaholick · 19/04/2026 22:28

littleorangefox · 19/04/2026 22:27

I'm not going to bother opening that link because it will prove nothing except your own ignorance.

Please do tell me how not being employed means someone would have no idea how much things like a mortgage, utilities, food, petrol, clothing, insurances etc etc etc are? They still cost the exact same as they do for those who work 😂

Show quote history

How convenient. Anything to avoid the actual figures eh!

littleorangefox · 19/04/2026 22:27

Chocaholick · 19/04/2026 22:23

https://news.sky.com/story/universal-credit-claimants-soar-by-over-a-million-in-a-year-new-figures-show-13468726

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I'm not going to bother opening that link because it will prove nothing except your own ignorance.

Please do tell me how not being employed means someone would have no idea how much things like a mortgage, utilities, food, petrol, clothing, insurances etc etc etc are? They still cost the exact same as they do for those who work 😂

XenoBitch · 19/04/2026 22:26

HarpieDuJour · 19/04/2026 22:23

If someone loses their job or becomes too ill to work, is it true that they won't get any help with their mortgage? So having some sort of savings would be the only way to prevent them losing their home?
This is a genuine question, I don't know because I don't have a mortgage and as a student I certainly have no savings left!

You can claim help with the interest payments on a mortgage on UC, but you need to have been claiming UC for 3 months before.. and it is a loan.
Sadly, people can and do lose homes when they go on UC.

littleorangefox · 19/04/2026 22:26

HarpieDuJour · 19/04/2026 22:23

If someone loses their job or becomes too ill to work, is it true that they won't get any help with their mortgage? So having some sort of savings would be the only way to prevent them losing their home?
This is a genuine question, I don't know because I don't have a mortgage and as a student I certainly have no savings left!

There is only one scheme available to help with mortgages on UC which is a loan towards the interest portion of the mortgage. It has to be paid back with interest added too. And there is certain criteria that has to be met. Most people don't use it.

HarpieDuJour · 19/04/2026 22:23

If someone loses their job or becomes too ill to work, is it true that they won't get any help with their mortgage? So having some sort of savings would be the only way to prevent them losing their home?
This is a genuine question, I don't know because I don't have a mortgage and as a student I certainly have no savings left!

Chocaholick · 19/04/2026 22:23

littleorangefox · 19/04/2026 22:21

But you talk about the 2 groups as if nobody on UC works. But that's because it fits your narrative.

Also, I am fully aware of how much things cost. My mortgage, bills and other outgoings are neither free nor subsided in any way.

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https://news.sky.com/story/universal-credit-claimants-soar-by-over-a-million-in-a-year-new-figures-show-13468726

littleorangefox · 19/04/2026 22:21

Chocaholick · 19/04/2026 22:19

The majority of people claiming UC do not work.

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But you talk about the 2 groups as if nobody on UC works. But that's because it fits your narrative.

Also, I am fully aware of how much things cost. My mortgage, bills and other outgoings are neither free nor subsided in any way.

Chocaholick · 19/04/2026 22:21

In particular I’m thinking rent/mortgage payments

XenoBitch · 19/04/2026 22:21

I know about current expenses and the cost of living because I have to pay them all too.
People on UC are not living in some bubble where they are immune to everything.

Chocaholick · 19/04/2026 22:19

littleorangefox · 19/04/2026 22:18

Do you just pretend not to be aware that "working people" and "benefit claimants" are not mutually exclusive despite being informed of this numerous times? Curious how someone holds down a job with such a low level of intelligence and reading comprehension tbh.

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The majority of people claiming UC do not work.

Chocaholick · 19/04/2026 22:19

An assumption reasonably made given anyone who has been out of work for 5+ years will have no idea about current expenses and cost of living.

littleorangefox · 19/04/2026 22:18

Chocaholick · 19/04/2026 22:13

While I commend you on your frugal living and living within your means, is it fair that working people should have to live like this whilst also funding others? The lifestyle you describe should apply to benefit claimants only, not working people.

The goodwill for the welfare state is rapidly vanishing. Reform and Restore both look poised to chop it down like a tree. Work isn’t paying. Working people are pissed all over on threads like these, made out to be petty bourgeois nimbys who should just shut up and pay and feel privileged to do so. I will never cease to be amazed by the breathtaking entitlement and arrogance of claimants on here who have the absolute nerve to look down on the people funding them and make snotty comments.

It shouldn’t be surprising. Whatever is coming next is going to be painful but necessary.

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Do you just pretend not to be aware that "working people" and "benefit claimants" are not mutually exclusive despite being informed of this numerous times? Curious how someone holds down a job with such a low level of intelligence and reading comprehension tbh.