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

Oh read the thread, it's been explained so many times why letting people drop to zero would cost the taxpayer more in the long run.

Because you're saying a nurse's salary is automatically enough to live on - but this is not the case in all areas/situations. If you understood the cost of things, you'd understand this basic fact.

@BooneyBeautiful no I should’ve engaged my brain but thanks for explaining!

A lot of working people don't have anything like that in savings. Why should the people that don't work get an easier life

Agree if you have 6k pay for yourself. Stop bleeding a system that is for real needs

So if people on a quarter/half of what you earn can save why can't you. Let me guess a mortgage you can't afford, cars on finance, £50 mobile phone contracts, kids in multiple clubs, debt, new clothes every month, Starbucks on your way to work everyday, monthly hairdresser nail and brow appointments, Monjauro jabs, days out every weekend

It doesn't feel lucky when you are paying it several years later. My husband is in debt management so I was surprised we got it.

I wouldn't expect someone with £6k to need money from the government when more than half of the UK who work don't have £6k

There is reliable and there is £350 a month for a car thats a lot especially if there is no 2nd wage coming in. £32,073 is a starter wage for a newly qualified NHS nurse who is only working their hours and doing no bank shifts.

That isn’t an adult on a starter wage within the NHS that would be a couple of years experience.
you’re not seriously asking though why a healthcare professional with shifts that can start at 6 am and finish at 11 pm. Would need a reliable vehicle though are you?

Haha, ah that's ok. Yes I think people on UC should be allowed savings, but I think a reasonable threshold is prudent. All the people I know who receive UC live very modestly and it genuinely helps their circumstances, and I don't think they have much for saving left over either, if any.

Why on earth would a single adult only a low starter wage living alone have £350 car payments thats ridiculous
Edited to add it really pisses me of that nhs staff have to pay for parking that is so wrong.

£32k net wage of £2106 per month with 5% pension deductions

so if they

rent £1000
council tax £100
water £30
utilities £105
phone and broadband £40
car repayments £350
car insurance £50
fuel £50
parking nhs carpark £45
£1770

then grocery shopping can’t be more than £336 per month

not a lot left over on a below average wage

Well I've lived in England my whole life. I've worked all my teen and adult life, I've paid bills since being 16. So why on earth would I not understand living costs in the uk.

But this is what I don't understand so an average person on benefits gets say 15k a year. And are managing to save a bit of money even if its £20 a month. So why are couples with a joint income of say 70k a year not able to save anything. And before people say because they get their rent and ct paid etc a lot don't I have a mortgage and pay full council tax. What are people actually spending/ wasting all their money on i don't get it

Well in my friend's case they knew she was going on holiday- twice- as she had to get permission to be out of the country. More fool them for not thinking hmm how is she affording it.

"Savings" for UC includes all the money in your current bank account, including the money you just got paid by UC.

It's not "your normal current account plus £6k ring fenced off in another account that's untouchable".

If the limit was £1k you'd be kicked off constantly just for recieving your normal monthly payments.

They can ask to see your accounts at any time by way of spot checks.

I received an inheritance some years ago, so had to come off means-tested benefits. When I needed to claim again, I had to have receipts for absolutely everything, with the exception of the weekly food shop where I just had to give an average spend. They are very thorough and all my spending was checked by a Complex Decision Maker. In some instances, I also had to give reasons for a particular spend, such as why I had paid off my mortgage etc.

Sorry perhaps I misunderstood. Not that I have anywhere near £6k anyway to be fair! 😂

No, I didn't claim my state pension early. I claimed it last year at the age of 66. I probably should have explained that better in my post. For 20 years, I was in receipt of means-tested ESA (previously income support due to disability) and DLA. I still claim DLA now, plus my state pension.

Half the nursing staff at your local hospital are on universal credits
This narrative is ridiculous in 2026.
Sick of repeating myself, but
🙈

Wouldn't last them until the 1st of the month if there was a glitch in Universal Credit payments - such as if their salary came in on the Friday before the late summer Bank Holiday.

Wouldn't last if they had a job to start, what with having to pay childcare costs up front, get work suitable clothing and a travelcard.

Wouldn't last if work glitched on making a payment twice in a year, meaning the entire council tax fell due immediately.

Wouldn't last if the landlord issued an eviction notice or there was a fire in an adjoining flat, meaning they had to find another place to live, cover the rent, moving costs and council tax.

Wouldn't last if the DH dropped dead or ran off with somebody else before the bills went out.

Wouldn't last if the boiler set off the CO monitor alarms, meaning no hot water, no hob and no heating.

@DotAndCarryOne2 thanks for explaining,

How long will £1k last you?