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Original poster

To think this is a big problem with the universal credit system

110 replies

gingercatsparky · 26/09/2021 22:14

After a talk with my friend I feel the universal credit system discourages people from working harder. My friend has recently split from her DH, she works 15 hours a week and has a dd in school. She was discussing what to do financially and said that her friend told her that if she works only one more hour a week she gets universal credit. So it's not worth her upping her hours even more although she would be perfectly capable of working full time. Surely, that is the wrong way round? More money for working part-time. She continues working few hours and doing coffees etc on her days off where others are forced to work full time?

OP posts:

Original poster

gingercatsparky · 27/09/2021 20:11

@timesachangin

I'd be sitting down with her in front of "entitledto" helping her work out how to best support her current lifestyle while she gets back on her feet, taking as much of the financial burden off of herself as possible. I wouldn't be making suggestions about how she should be downsizing, moving her kids, working longer hours.

Gets back on her feet, financial burden. Why do does it sound like she has a financial burden it needs to get back on her feet? She's made the decision to split up.

OP posts:

timesachangin · 27/09/2021 20:15

It's still an upsetting and unstable time.

genericuserneeded · 27/09/2021 20:46

You don’t know the circumstances around their split though. The financial burden may have been her choice, but the trade off could be her improved physical/mental health without him.

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CiaoForNiao · 27/09/2021 20:49

@timesachangin

Christ. I'm glad none of my friends have ever been so patronising as to think they need to sit down with me and look at "entitled to" to work out my finances.

genericuserneeded · 27/09/2021 20:50

Also the UC system is there to support you when you need it. It seems like she/her ex haven’t been reliant on UC in the past - do you really begrudge her being supported by the government for a few months of her life?

timesachangin · 27/09/2021 20:59

@CiaoForNiao I meant if they asked. And as in, that's what I'd do as in contrast to what OP has done.

Original poster

gingercatsparky · 27/09/2021 21:04

@genericuserneeded

You don’t know the circumstances around their split though. The financial burden may have been her choice, but the trade off could be her improved physical/mental health without him.

Are you addressing me? I know all the ins and outs of at all. Like I said I have been very supportive. She's very open with me about it all. I have not passed what she's told me to anyone else.

Would it be a few months though? Just because she's entitled to it does it mean you take it when you don't need it so you can work PT with no financial struggles at all.

OP posts:

CiaoForNiao · 27/09/2021 21:12

[quote timesachangin]@CiaoForNiao I meant if they asked. And as in, that's what I'd do as in contrast to what OP has done. [/quote]
Ah that's fair enough. Sorry. I can be a bit touchy about the subject.

timesachangin · 27/09/2021 21:21

@CiaoForNiao no worry at all 😊

Porridgealert · 27/09/2021 22:23

@timesachangin

It doesn't seem she needs any help in making her life better. If by working 16 hrs, she's receiving the same money as if she's working 40 hrs, I'd be consulting her on how I get on that scheme. I wouldn't mind just doing two days a week.

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