To be very scared at the details of the Universal tax credit?

[Feminine]

I had no idea.

I've been away from the UK, and just saw the actual proposals/rules on another thread.

Its bad right?

I imagine there is another thread on this so if there is, sorry ...I can't find it! :)

The whole UC thing is confusing and scaring me! Earlier in the thread, something was copied and pasted from another thread. Where did the information come from originally? I have looked on the dwp website, and am even more confused! From skim reading that, I couldn't find anything about how many hours people will have to work, actually it says you have to be seeking work/take work/do workfare, which as I understand it is how the system works now if you are on JS?

Can I have a link please to the info originally quoted on the flat/house thread! Thanks.

AstridFlower, I read that the same. If someone earns £212 or more then they won't be expected to take extra work to get the UC.

What happens when sanctions are placed?

What does that mean exactly please? :)

Totem, that would be 35 hrs at min wage right? 848 pounds a month?

The reduction in tax credits for the over 50s is a huge issue which isn't being highlighted. They are too old for tax credits, too young for a pension. What are they supposed to do? I have a friend who is selling her belongings just to eat.

Is that single over 50s lady ?

So sorry about your friend :(

Sounds like here in the US!

It means you are fucked Feminine. AFAIK. It means your benefit is stopped/reduced for x amount of time and you're on a warning as such. No more help with rent run on, back to work grant and back to work bonus. I may be wrong, if I am, happy to be corrected.

She has a partner, they are both disabled. She has fibromyalgia and is in too much pain to work. It must be horrible for them both.

God froggy.

That is a dreadful situation...

Just another thought, if you are currently working 34 of the 35 hours required and are therefore liable for workfare, do you have to do 1 hour for workfare to make it up or is there a min amount and what if the workfare doesn't for around the paying job ?

The job centre staff are going to be tied up in knots with this one, could be mildly entertaining if it wasn't having such dreadful impact on people lives.

Oh I see lady I agree, how horrible.

I live amongst severe poverty in this part of the US, sounds like things are starting to become very similar :(

I am getting worried about our returning, although as we have lost everything here , I'd rather be at home.

Yep and the jc employees dont explain to you what they are doing either. You are asked to sign a form, not told exactly what it means and if you politely question it security will remove you.

If that's true Froggy, there's only one way the crime rate will go, and thats up, they'll still have to eat by whatever means necessary.

Sorry about your friend LadyS, that's awful

YesFeminine, there was a recent documentary on TV regarding the situation in parts of the US, i had no idea previously.

Another fantastic post Northern. These proposals are a mass of contradictions.

If I was a project-manager and suggested such bollocks I'd have been sacked a long time ago and quite rightly!

The JC employees won't have a clue, I recorded one once on my phone, fuck you'd have thought I planted a bomb in the place to see the reaction, the woman stood on her chair screaming.

Feminine, that's how I read it. That's the maximum any individual will be set.

It says on the document that as the minimum wage varies based on age, that the level will be personalised. An over 21's limit will be £212, the limit for 16-20 yr olds will be lower.

I think, for a lone parent with children age 5-12 the limit would be set at 24 hours X £6.08 i.e. about £144.

For couples it's more complicated.

Here's the dwp doc, it's a pdf file, you need Adobe or similar to open it: www.dwp.gov.uk/docs/ucpbn-11-conditionality-threshold.pdf

I think people need to ask more questions. It seems as though we think that a petition is enough and it's not.

I'm convinced the way forward is to create as much cash in hand work as possible for yourself.
I'll pay my taxes when they play fair too.

It is true unfortunately, if you dare to disagree you're seen as being difficult and hauled out no matter how polite you are.

Thanks so much Totem :)

Off to read up!

Oh they have already anticipated that Hes - hence the proposed tax breaks for people who can afford cleaners. Just like childminders, now only cleaners who have higher-earning partners will be able to afford to work for themselves unless they are able to earn £212 per week AFTER legitimate business expenses.

Unregulated-sex-industry it is then

Oh don't laugh, I know a single mum who was an escort and mid bonk somebody told her he worked for DWP and hope she was declaring her income.

well that would certainly kill the moment Heswall!

This page also has a lot of info about UC:

www.disabilityalliance.org/f55.htm