To wonder if anyone will be better off under universal credit?

[mumstonic]

Sorry another thread about Universal Credit?.

I've been trying to research this and from what I can see its? a very scary reform that will potentially penalise allot of working people. I'm interested to know if anyone will actually be better off under UC?

I've played about with this calculator and it appears that we may be benefit in some way. policyinpractice.co.uk/universal-credit/universal-credit-calculator/

Currently we do not qualify for TC or WTC as it is calculated on the previous years? earnings. This means, though our income has dropped considerably this year, we are still not entitled to anything other than job seekers for DP and my SMP. I estimate our annual income will be 50% less than previous years, but with the additional cost of having 2 DC's in nursery.

Under UC, our entitlement would be different as it takes into account current earnings. So next year I'll be back at work full time and hopefully DP will be working. Our childcare costs are likely to be greater than what DP could earn, but under UC it appears we may qualify for some help towards these costs (or is this wishful thinking?).

I may be jumping the gun, but does anyone have any insight into how they calculate entitlement? Is this calculator accurate or is it too early to say?

If a couple are both working 40 hours and each earn at above the minimum wage, does that mean they are not subject to conditionality?

Sorry so many questions, but I am interested to know who will actually benefit from these changes? We've heard so much about those that will lose out it would be interesting to see if anyone will actually be better off?

Of course no one will benefit and be better off on universal credit. Its not there to HELP people. Its there to stop people claiming benefits.

I suppose I'm just looking for the other side of the argument. The government talk about making things fair, surely there will be some people that benefit from the changes?

I don't think the aim of UC is to make some people better off (although it's not inconceivable that certain groups may be). I'm sure others will be worse off too.

The aim is to simplify the current messy multiple application system, make it more 'flexible' for those who aren't lucky enough to have fixed contracts and the thing I'm hoping for the most, to remove the benefit trap where it doesn't make financial sense to work.

mumstonic when the government talk about 'fair' they don't mean fair to people who need to claim benefits for whatever reason, they mean 'fair' to those people who work and pay taxes.

There may well be a few people who are unintentionally better off under the new system, but the intention is to make the majority of people worse off.

FolkGirl - I absolutely believe it should be fair to those that work and pay taxes. Yet I also agree that it should be fair to those that can't work due to circumstances and those in genuine need.

I'm just seeking to find the silver lining in all of this. Hopefully full time workers with childcare costs will be cut some slack?

I absolutely agree with you!

I just don't think that the government's definition of 'fair' would be the same as ours!

we are better off under UC

Fair is relative. To the full time worker who is being continually asked to pay more tax, UC certainly sounds fairer than the existing system.

To the person who is better off under UC it will also no doubt be fair.

To those who are offered a temporary/seasonal job but in the past wouldn't have taken it because it would take another 8-10 weeks for all the benefits to be processed again, to them it will be fairer.

To those who are worse off for whatever reason. To them it will be blatantly unfair.

That is very true niceguy2

I suppose there's the element of people who find the current system confusing and aren't claiming things they are entitled too, by rolling it all up in to one, then it stops those people missing out on things they could claim (and no, not everyone needing to claim benefits are educated, computer literate and aware of what benefits are avilable to them).

the goverment isnt introducing UC for the benefit of the people

they are doing it to save money and bring down figures

in 2yrs time once it's had time to kick in i think you will find many people in a worse position than now imo