Please or to access all these features

AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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:
Thread gallery
5
BananaPeels · 20/04/2026 08:11

holidaysoff · 20/04/2026 08:08

No, there aren’t 😂

There absolutely are. It is a known way to game the system. It might be less than 1% perhaps of the claimants but of course it’s a great way to never have to look for work. If you think there aren’t people deliberately gaming the system then you are wrong and it completely tarnishes those who genuinely need help.

DotAndCarryOne2 · 20/04/2026 08:10

holidaysoff · 20/04/2026 08:08

No, there aren’t 😂

I know at least three who have exactly this mindset.

DotAndCarryOne2 · 20/04/2026 08:09

Chocaholick · 20/04/2026 07:46

I’m not ‘punching down’. I am a sincere believer in the welfare state. I’m proud we are not like the USA, and I’m happy for taxpayers money to support the most vulnerable.

But the ‘most vulnerable’ are not able bodied people who spend their days very lucidly and happily chatting away on internet forums, every day for many years, with absolute consistency, while claiming to be unable to do any work at all. Put to a vote the majority would agree with me, they just don’t feel able to say it.

Why do you think that disabled people unable to work shouldn’t take part in internet forums - or is that a thinly veiled dig at @XenoBitch for having the audacity to have an opinion you don’t agree with ? Because you can take part online doesn’t mean you can work.

Disability is complex and varied, and every single effort to get more disabled people into work to date omits one very important detail. Where are the employers who will take on someone with a proven disability, who has been out of work for years and who they perceive as likely unable to achieve the same productivity as their peers ?

Where is the campaign to enlighten employers ? Where are the financial incentives to encourage them to give the disabled person the chance they need ? Where are the intensive training courses and support to help the long term unemployed disabled people who are nothing like job ready ? There isn’t any of that. Just conditionality that most will be unable to comply with, so they end up worse off because of sanctions. Unless and until we approach this with more compassion and understanding nothing will change, and disabled people will continue to be the low hanging fruit when it comes to welfare cuts.

holidaysoff · 20/04/2026 08:08

BananaPeels · 20/04/2026 08:07

there are a lot of women who have a baby every 3 years so they never have to work. That might be a very minor part of the pie but it does need to be stopped.

Edited

No, there aren’t 😂

holidaysoff · 20/04/2026 08:08

BananaPeels · 20/04/2026 08:04

Isn’t that the fault of of the government spreading the net too broadly in terms of disability.

I am 1000% behind people who are physically not able to work getting helps the state should throw their arms around them to give them all the support needed. But the fact remains now that there are mostly mental health conditions now which are falling into the net of disability and we just can’t afford it as a nation to cover all these conditions. That is a value judgment but a simple, objective, judgment that there isn’t the cash!

so people get angry with anyone disabled as everyone is grouped together.

But mental health can be, and is, disabling. Why is it always that people come down hardest on disability benefits (12.2% of welfare expenditure) before the pension? 20% of people on disability benefits are also in work, and receive the benefits as a means to support them to continue working.

Furthermore 38% of universal credit claimants are in work. Why are we, yet again, coming after the vulnerable and lowest paid in society?

Chocaholick · 20/04/2026 08:07

holidaysoff · 20/04/2026 08:01

Ah, so even though the majority of pensioners swan about on holidays and golfing and gardening, and are plenty able to work, you’d rather go after those who are disabled and can’t work. Because you see yourself as better than them because you’re disabled and can? What a nasty, nasty attitude.

…and browsing/chatting online Wink

BananaPeels · 20/04/2026 08:07

DotAndCarryOne2 · 20/04/2026 07:53

Who are the people sitting around becoming unemployable ? Anyone on out of work benefits, including certain sickness benefits has to comply with mandatory job seeking activities and engage with a work coach or benefit is sanctioned. The only people who aren’t compelled to look for work are those with caring duties and the sick and disabled who have been through a work capability assessment and been found unable to work. Are these the people you think we should be hounding back to work ?

there are a lot of women who have a baby every 3 years so they never have to work. That might be a very minor part of the pie but it does need to be stopped.

ShanghaiDiva · 20/04/2026 08:06

Chocaholick · 20/04/2026 08:06

Righto

righto Indeed!

Chocaholick · 20/04/2026 08:06

youalright · 20/04/2026 08:05

You're always on here. Yours is one of the fe names I recognise when I see it. I don't know when you do work if you actually work because you seem to have a lot of time for someone with a full time job

Yeah I expected that reply. Anyway, work time!

Chocaholick · 20/04/2026 08:06

ShanghaiDiva · 20/04/2026 08:04

I recognise your name and you turn up frequently on the benefit threads which contradicts your assertion of not browsing every single day.

Righto

youalright · 20/04/2026 08:05

Chocaholick · 20/04/2026 07:57

I’m also disabled and you won’t catch me internet browsing every single day as I work and by the time I finish work, I’m exhausted and often spend hours in bed.

You have to rely on the evidence of your eyes and ears.

You're always on here. Yours is one of the fe names I recognise when I see it. I don't know when you do work if you actually work because you seem to have a lot of time for someone with a full time job

BananaPeels · 20/04/2026 08:04

DotAndCarryOne2 · 20/04/2026 07:47

The poster you’re quoting is disabled and isn’t ’choosing’ not to work. She can’t work because of her disability.

Disabled people come in for some of the worst criticism on benefit threads. They are treated as entitled fakers, who could work if they really wanted to but choose to drive around in ‘free cars’ having a lovely time taking the tax payer for a ride. Everyone on MN seemingly knows a faker who is more than happy to admit fraud.

The attitude is usually reflective of the rhetoric of whatever the government of the day, in order to influence public opinion so that they can slash the benefits of the most vulnerable with no opposition. And MN loves that, it swallows the narrative hook line and sinker with no critical thinking at all. There is little to no understanding of disability from those who have never experienced it themselves, or been a carer for someone disabled.

So forgive me if l don’t agree with your pov, which seems to be that benefit claimants should have no opinion and just accept the biased and ignorant judgement of those who are well off and have no realistic idea of what life on benefits is actually like. @youalright was perfectly correct in their assessment of those doing the moaning. A mortgage on a big house, a flash car, nanny’s for your kids, private schools all add up. Coming onto a benefit thread and moaning that a £100k salary ‘goes nowhere these days’ is obscene when there is so much inequality.

Isn’t that the fault of of the government spreading the net too broadly in terms of disability.

I am 1000% behind people who are physically not able to work getting helps the state should throw their arms around them to give them all the support needed. But the fact remains now that there are mostly mental health conditions now which are falling into the net of disability and we just can’t afford it as a nation to cover all these conditions. That is a value judgment but a simple, objective, judgment that there isn’t the cash!

so people get angry with anyone disabled as everyone is grouped together.

ShanghaiDiva · 20/04/2026 08:04

Chocaholick · 20/04/2026 07:57

I’m also disabled and you won’t catch me internet browsing every single day as I work and by the time I finish work, I’m exhausted and often spend hours in bed.

You have to rely on the evidence of your eyes and ears.

I recognise your name and you turn up frequently on the benefit threads which contradicts your assertion of not browsing every single day.

Kirbert2 · 20/04/2026 08:01

Chocaholick · 20/04/2026 07:57

I’m also disabled and you won’t catch me internet browsing every single day as I work and by the time I finish work, I’m exhausted and often spend hours in bed.

You have to rely on the evidence of your eyes and ears.

You spend enough time online for me to almost instantly recognise who you are on threads like this no matter what name you are under.

holidaysoff · 20/04/2026 08:01

Chocaholick · 20/04/2026 07:50

Exactly, for the first time ever other benefits are costing more than pensions. We have the equivalent of the entire population of Scotland on disability benefits. Some work but the majority do not.

Pensioners can’t work, they’re too old. It’s pointless going after pensions as they have zero chance of working and frankly many of them are coming towards their final few years of life. We have no choice but to address the workless population. It’s not just the enormous cost but the rate at which it is increasing. We can’t go on like this forever and the middle earners are quitting and lowering hours as it is - any more tax rises will see them dodge the cliff edge.

Ah, so even though the majority of pensioners swan about on holidays and golfing and gardening, and are plenty able to work, you’d rather go after those who are disabled and can’t work. Because you see yourself as better than them because you’re disabled and can? What a nasty, nasty attitude.

Chocaholick · 20/04/2026 07:57

DotAndCarryOne2 · 20/04/2026 07:47

The poster you’re quoting is disabled and isn’t ’choosing’ not to work. She can’t work because of her disability.

Disabled people come in for some of the worst criticism on benefit threads. They are treated as entitled fakers, who could work if they really wanted to but choose to drive around in ‘free cars’ having a lovely time taking the tax payer for a ride. Everyone on MN seemingly knows a faker who is more than happy to admit fraud.

The attitude is usually reflective of the rhetoric of whatever the government of the day, in order to influence public opinion so that they can slash the benefits of the most vulnerable with no opposition. And MN loves that, it swallows the narrative hook line and sinker with no critical thinking at all. There is little to no understanding of disability from those who have never experienced it themselves, or been a carer for someone disabled.

So forgive me if l don’t agree with your pov, which seems to be that benefit claimants should have no opinion and just accept the biased and ignorant judgement of those who are well off and have no realistic idea of what life on benefits is actually like. @youalright was perfectly correct in their assessment of those doing the moaning. A mortgage on a big house, a flash car, nanny’s for your kids, private schools all add up. Coming onto a benefit thread and moaning that a £100k salary ‘goes nowhere these days’ is obscene when there is so much inequality.

I’m also disabled and you won’t catch me internet browsing every single day as I work and by the time I finish work, I’m exhausted and often spend hours in bed.

You have to rely on the evidence of your eyes and ears.

Kirbert2 · 20/04/2026 07:57

Chocaholick · 20/04/2026 07:55

the same medical professionals pilloried on here for getting it wrong or being inattentive all the time! Anyway, they’ll process is pro forma. They don’t decide who is and isn’t unwell enough, they follow a series of tick boxes.

They aren't perfect, no one is but I'm 99% sure they know more about someone's medical history and work capability than a random person on the internet.

Chocaholick · 20/04/2026 07:56

DotAndCarryOne2 · 20/04/2026 07:53

Who are the people sitting around becoming unemployable ? Anyone on out of work benefits, including certain sickness benefits has to comply with mandatory job seeking activities and engage with a work coach or benefit is sanctioned. The only people who aren’t compelled to look for work are those with caring duties and the sick and disabled who have been through a work capability assessment and been found unable to work. Are these the people you think we should be hounding back to work ?

There’s a whole Panorama documentary on this, I suggest you watch it.

ThingsAreNotWhatTheyWere · 20/04/2026 07:55

DotAndCarryOne2 · 20/04/2026 07:47

The poster you’re quoting is disabled and isn’t ’choosing’ not to work. She can’t work because of her disability.

Disabled people come in for some of the worst criticism on benefit threads. They are treated as entitled fakers, who could work if they really wanted to but choose to drive around in ‘free cars’ having a lovely time taking the tax payer for a ride. Everyone on MN seemingly knows a faker who is more than happy to admit fraud.

The attitude is usually reflective of the rhetoric of whatever the government of the day, in order to influence public opinion so that they can slash the benefits of the most vulnerable with no opposition. And MN loves that, it swallows the narrative hook line and sinker with no critical thinking at all. There is little to no understanding of disability from those who have never experienced it themselves, or been a carer for someone disabled.

So forgive me if l don’t agree with your pov, which seems to be that benefit claimants should have no opinion and just accept the biased and ignorant judgement of those who are well off and have no realistic idea of what life on benefits is actually like. @youalright was perfectly correct in their assessment of those doing the moaning. A mortgage on a big house, a flash car, nanny’s for your kids, private schools all add up. Coming onto a benefit thread and moaning that a £100k salary ‘goes nowhere these days’ is obscene when there is so much inequality.

Well said! 👏

Chocaholick · 20/04/2026 07:55

Kirbert2 · 20/04/2026 07:52

I'm happy to leave that decision making to medical professionals who actually see them in person and know their medical history.

There's a reason why it isn't based on how they come across online no matter how many people would vote for it.

the same medical professionals pilloried on here for getting it wrong or being inattentive all the time! Anyway, they’ll process is pro forma. They don’t decide who is and isn’t unwell enough, they follow a series of tick boxes.

DotAndCarryOne2 · 20/04/2026 07:53

Chocaholick · 20/04/2026 07:48

Paying in isn’t a thing, you’re right. The economy is fluid, there are no savings pots where tax paid rests and waits for its payee to retire.

But we have far far far too many people out of work who should be working, and we are virtually paying people to sit around and become unemployable. This is something I see in real life very very very regularly. It’s not an opinion taken from a scandal rag.

Who are the people sitting around becoming unemployable ? Anyone on out of work benefits, including certain sickness benefits has to comply with mandatory job seeking activities and engage with a work coach or benefit is sanctioned. The only people who aren’t compelled to look for work are those with caring duties and the sick and disabled who have been through a work capability assessment and been found unable to work. Are these the people you think we should be hounding back to work ?

Kirbert2 · 20/04/2026 07:52

Chocaholick · 20/04/2026 07:46

I’m not ‘punching down’. I am a sincere believer in the welfare state. I’m proud we are not like the USA, and I’m happy for taxpayers money to support the most vulnerable.

But the ‘most vulnerable’ are not able bodied people who spend their days very lucidly and happily chatting away on internet forums, every day for many years, with absolute consistency, while claiming to be unable to do any work at all. Put to a vote the majority would agree with me, they just don’t feel able to say it.

I'm happy to leave that decision making to medical professionals who actually see them in person and know their medical history.

There's a reason why it isn't based on how they come across online no matter how many people would vote for it.

Chocaholick · 20/04/2026 07:50

holidaysoff · 20/04/2026 07:48

48% of state benefits go to pensioners and the triple lock is what has brought the benefits bill above income tax receipts.

But you’d rather go after disability benefits? Yes there may well be some people who could work, but in weeding out those few you’re also going to end up hurting people.

Exactly, for the first time ever other benefits are costing more than pensions. We have the equivalent of the entire population of Scotland on disability benefits. Some work but the majority do not.

Pensioners can’t work, they’re too old. It’s pointless going after pensions as they have zero chance of working and frankly many of them are coming towards their final few years of life. We have no choice but to address the workless population. It’s not just the enormous cost but the rate at which it is increasing. We can’t go on like this forever and the middle earners are quitting and lowering hours as it is - any more tax rises will see them dodge the cliff edge.

holidaysoff · 20/04/2026 07:48

Chocaholick · 20/04/2026 07:46

I’m not ‘punching down’. I am a sincere believer in the welfare state. I’m proud we are not like the USA, and I’m happy for taxpayers money to support the most vulnerable.

But the ‘most vulnerable’ are not able bodied people who spend their days very lucidly and happily chatting away on internet forums, every day for many years, with absolute consistency, while claiming to be unable to do any work at all. Put to a vote the majority would agree with me, they just don’t feel able to say it.

48% of state benefits go to pensioners and the triple lock is what has brought the benefits bill above income tax receipts.

But you’d rather go after disability benefits? Yes there may well be some people who could work, but in weeding out those few you’re also going to end up hurting people.

Chocaholick · 20/04/2026 07:48

holidaysoff · 20/04/2026 07:42

Well we just looked at the last ten years, over the course of his lifetime it’s likely even more! The point is “paying in” isn’t a thing. Everyone ends up taking more than they contribute unless they’re extraordinarily wealthy.

Paying in isn’t a thing, you’re right. The economy is fluid, there are no savings pots where tax paid rests and waits for its payee to retire.

But we have far far far too many people out of work who should be working, and we are virtually paying people to sit around and become unemployable. This is something I see in real life very very very regularly. It’s not an opinion taken from a scandal rag.