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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To start a thread about the new uc and how it affects entitlement to tax credit.

200 replies

morethanpotatoprints · 09/10/2012 22:23

Just as the title suggests.

How many people actually know how this will affect their personal circumstances?
Millions of workers will be affected and so many people will lose out.
This is not welfare cuts for the unemployed its anybody not working for 35 hours earning the minimum wage.

OP posts:
MikeLitorisBites · 09/10/2012 22:26

I have no idea how it may effect us. Is there any online calculator type things?

PeppermintLatte · 09/10/2012 22:26

YANBU

i have read up a little on this but don't quite understand it, i keep seeing contradictions.

i am unsure how it wil affect my personal circumstances. i'm self employed and i work 18 hours, can't afford the childcare to work more hours. my earnings vary from week to week, but i'm yet to make more than £60 a week, so i'm very worried.

JeezyOrangePips · 09/10/2012 22:30

I know how it will affect me. My household income will drop by about a third.

I'm not panicking.

Yet.

Original poster
morethanpotatoprints · 09/10/2012 22:30

Peppermint.

It is going to affect the self employed quite drastically. I can't provide a link as computer/me is useless. Google your question and there is a very good explanation. Dh is self employed/small business and its not good for us. You may be better depending on your circs.

OP posts:
PeppermintLatte · 09/10/2012 22:34

morethanpotatoprints thanks for the info, i will google it. i do not like this government, they make me feel very uneasy. i am a very low earner anyway with this bloody economy and unfortunately tax credits are a god send and i rely on them.

Whitecherry · 09/10/2012 22:42

I asked at the jobcentre today..... Nobody knew much at all

Meglet · 09/10/2012 22:46

I know it will probably screw us over as I'm a LP working PT.

Original poster
morethanpotatoprints · 09/10/2012 22:46

I only know what I have read and heard on the news but I think many are not aware of the situation and how it will impact on their lives.
I understand p/t workers will be forced into finding work that adds up to 35 hours a week at the minimum wage.

OP posts:
OddBoots · 09/10/2012 22:47

I know this won't affect us directly as we have never claimed tax credits out of worry that they'd screw up and claim them all back from us and we don't earn anything close to enough to have child benefit removed.

It does all make me uneasy though - reducing benefits when there are enough well paid jobs is one thing, to do so in times of such high unemployment and with such a low minimum wage seems very unfair.

Debs75 · 09/10/2012 22:51

From what I think if you are a carer or your household has a disabled occupant then you are exempt.
Or is that the £500 per week cap thingie?

Anyway we are non-working as I am at college so DP is the main carer. Will they be able to force us to work in a minimum wage job and me give up college, and then Uni?

Whitecherry · 09/10/2012 22:53

Debs, depends. Is your DH not working?

Original poster
morethanpotatoprints · 09/10/2012 23:00

Debs. I'm sorry, I don't know either. I know people on jsa have to be looking for work for 35 hours and tax credits/new uc they have to work min of 5 hours.I think if you are claiming tax credits you fall into the uc system of 35 hours per week at the minimum wage.

OP posts:
perceptionreality · 09/10/2012 23:05

This government are pissing everyone off. How can David Cameron keep on saying that he intends to make work pay when it would appear this is not the case?

Can anyone also explain why the tories talk as if they are definitely going to win the next election?

OddBoots · 09/10/2012 23:07

It is so hard to get exact rules and facts, nothing sets it out clearly. Bits and bobs I have read lead me to think that at least one of a couple with children needs to be working full time or at least available for full time work and there are financial sanctions if this isn't the case, I've not seen anything about what happens if the other person is a student.

aufaniae · 09/10/2012 23:07

If you are working part-time or are self employed it could affect you greatly.

Here's a link explaining how UC could affect you if you're self-employed

Debs75 · 09/10/2012 23:08

No we are on Income Support as one dc is disabled so dp is carer and I am studying whilst he has the 2 youngest who are 2 and 4. When they are in school he is probably going to look for work if it will fit in with Uni and shifts

aufaniae · 09/10/2012 23:09

Here's another link, which explains "How Universal Credit Will Destroy Part-time Work"

Anonymumous · 09/10/2012 23:09

Perception, ALL parties talk as if they're going to win the next election. What do you suppose it would do for their chances if they shrugged their shoulders and said, "Ah well, we've got no chance, so we haven't bothered with a manifesto this time!"

Original poster
morethanpotatoprints · 09/10/2012 23:15

Mikelitoris Grin at nickname.

I haven't seen a calculator but know most who are worried are so about the 35 hours and min wage ruling. It appears that people working less than 35 hours will be badgered into finding more hours or be penalised.
There are several articles but they have conflicting reports. It depends if you are the mails "feckless" or the Guardians 1 million working.

OP posts:
aufaniae · 09/10/2012 23:15

The basics seem to be this. If you work part-time, and rely on Tax-Credits, Housing Benefit or any kind of benefit to make ends meet then you'll see some big changes.

You will not be eligible for full UC if you work between 5 and 35 hours, and don't earn more than the equivalent of 35-hours worth of minimun wage. This is an "incentive" to get you to look for more work, apparently.

The government will assume that people in part-time work should be looking for full-time jobs, and they will make you go to the job centre, along with the unemployed, to prove that you are looking for full time work.

The job centre will be able to set up interviews for you at 48 hours notice, which you must attend. Failure to attend (twice was it?) will mean a cut in UC for you.

If they find a job for you which has more hours or is better paid, you will have to take it or face cuts to your UC (even if the long term prospects are worse, or makes your journey much longer, or one of many other reasons you might like to stay in your current job).

Original poster
morethanpotatoprints · 09/10/2012 23:18

Thanks for the links folks, I have seen these but my stupid cusor is difficult even typing let alone trying to link. Oh well won't be able to afford a new one soon.

OP posts:
aufaniae · 09/10/2012 23:18

Within these plans is a shift, from seeing the minimum wage as something which an employer has a responsibility to pay you, to something which you have a responsibility to earn.

The Tories seem to think that by "incentivising" people (i.e. threatening them with poverty) they will all be able to find more work.

It totally fails to make any provision for the fact that there are not enough jobs, and so driving many people into poverty is built into this system.

CagneyNLacey · 09/10/2012 23:21

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.