To think saving on Universal Credit is extremely difficult?

This is another reason why I argue that UC rates should be significantly higher. Through work I see a lot of people like this. On paper they could be working, but in practice they're very unlikely to find an employer to take them on. So because they have some kind of disadvantage - undiagnosed ND, trauma, alcohol use, loss of confidence, this kind of thing - they're effectively punished by having to live in perpetual poverty. People can say all they like that "there's no excuse for any able bodied person not to work, blah blah blah" but that involves turning a big blind eye to the realities of life. Our supposedly "generous" benefits system leaves a lot of people to rot through no fault of their own.

Oh okay so it’s the rent paid + £400 she gets?

ETA: I still do agree £400 isn’t enough for a single person even after rent has been paid.

She gets her rent paid.

I read this right after I posted and this is the exact scenario I’m talking about. Where a single adult living alone will get peanuts especially if they own as Opposed to rent.

Does she own her house? Is that why she doesn’t get the housing element?

The amount varies greatly, I looked it up once and if I was to apply for it (single, no dependents) I’d get my rent paid £800 and then about £450 on top of that. 1250 isn’t very much even for a single person living alone with no dependents when most of that is for housing.

If I had a mortgage I believe I would not get the housing element so shockingly I’d only get £450 a month. I think that’s outrageous. Someone could have worked their whole life and then lose their job and they get a measly 450?

I think it should be like some Europeans countries where I believe people get paid something like 80% of their salary if they lose their job.

It is not easy for anyone right now. The job market is awful ATM.
I hope she finds something soon.

Yes she is and she's looking every day. Low skilled/experience and probably ND. It's not easy for her to find anything.

As said, UC pay rent, subsidise CT, free dental and eye care. I'm assuming you're a single young person so you won't get extras of child benefit, FSMs. So basically you will be given an amount on benefits as an adult and either looking for work or unable to work.

If you were working and paid a certain amount then UC will give you the same and more. The incentive is to get people into a job so you will be better off.

It sounds like she is on the very basic rate... about £400pm. Is she also having to look for work?

That pot sure empties quickly, when all you have to live on is £80pw.

One of my neighbours in her early 60s, claiming UC. She doesn't have enough money to eat after the third week. She doesn't go out or smoke or drink. It's not enough to live on, never mind save.

Cross posted with @PyongyangKipperbang there!

We are talking about things which all children get free there, not UC claimants. Just pointing out that all these ‘I subsidise other people with my tax’ types are perfectly happy to take child benefit and free prescriptions for their own under-16s themselves. If you read the thread a little further up, you’ll see what I mean.

I am pointing out that people who say "I am paying for your kids/you to get XYZ" that tax also pays for their kids to get what is given to all kids for free in the UK, such as prescriptions etc.

I am on the "dont slag off the poor" side, just for clarification!

ETA having re-read it, I can see that my post was ambiguous, and I apologise for that.

You dont, but if you have kids then they will because they are under 16.

For people like your child, and "luckily" me atm the new rules state that a higher rate will be paid. So currently the same rate as LCWRA if you fulfill ALL of the following criteria-

Your disability means you cannot work
Will last your whole life
Will not get better
Is officially diagnosed by a medical professional

I am currently applying for UC but did so before the 6th April and was already on Contributions ESA. And have been since 2014. So I believe for the moment my payment should stay the same. But I do meet the new criteria too.

One other new addition I hadn't realised is only 1 person in a couple is allowed to have the higher rate of LWCRA even if both meet the criteria. ( this doesn't apply to me but may be useful to others)

There is also guidance that an extra £158.78 p/m may be given if you were on limited capability for work before 3 April 2017. But I don't know why this might be.

As I posted above, facts are so horribly inconvenient to people like this.

How dare facts shatter their prejudices?!

I have proof that my ex tried to kill me, police records, the lot. But I dont qualify for legal aid for divorce because I own my house, I did apply. The fact that selling it would leave me as a bigger drain on the tax payer as after paying for the divorce and living on whats left by renting, I would need the housing element of UC is not taken into account. My home is a small terrace in a small East Midland town, I am talking less than £200k by quite a lot! I cant get another mortgage as I am a carer for my parents, which saves the state thousands per month.

True

They don't listen because it does not fit their narrative.

Its the fact people won't even listen after it being repeatedly explained maybe I should send them my dentist and optician bills since I apparently get them for free and they reckon their paying for me.

Ha, I hate being told I am getting savings in UC because it is £1 for 2 weeks in the winter for people on UC to enter Chester Zoo.

Honestly, it is not a real saving for me when I live nowhere near there, and do not have kids.

I saw some bullshit post on FB about how much people on UC "save" on things. Legal aid was one of them... like we are all constantly getting legal advice.

The lack of being able to read on this thread is unbelievable how many times has it been explained being on uc doesn't mean you suddenly get anything for free. Has it been explained 20/30 times

I get none of them

That's also not the case