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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

to be worried about Universal Credit

968 replies

idiuntno57 · 23/03/2013 20:21

I am in the lucky position of not needing to claim this but I am so worried about its implementation.

Its coming in in the Autumn and is going to be an online only, monthly, postdated payment. It will be paid to one adult in the family unit.

All well and did if you are god at managing your money, internet literate and in a stable relationship. But in the real world....

How are the most vulnerable in society going to have a chance with this?

Already the council tax changes are coming in and as far as I understand people are confused and shell shocked by it. UC is much bigger and no one is prepared.

OP posts:
BeerTricksPotter · 24/03/2013 16:28

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AnnabelKarma · 24/03/2013 16:28

There are jobs. They are few and far between and yes, it's very hard out there but SOME people are getting jobs, they are about. You may even have to move ( like most of the people we know have always had to )

Sitting down and saying, " O well, may as well get pregnant cos I'll never get a job anyway" is hardly a positive attitude and someone like that is unlikely to get one.

The problem for those of us who are not left wing is that we DO absolutely support the safety net of the system but we then struggle when people come along and admit to using it as a lifestyle choice. Surely even the most liberal of people can see why that smarts?

KatieScarlett2833 · 24/03/2013 16:28

The point is Annabel, society has no way of determining fecklessness as it is a value judgement and will differentiate between one persons opinion and another's.
And even if there were a method ( sorting hat?) where is the child in your rationale?
"Sorry kid, your mother is a scrounger, so no cash for you, get thyself into care?"
Which is even more expensive.

mam29 · 24/03/2013 16:29

I used to have night storage in one of old flats cost fortune as were on meter then and you really notice the power sucked up did washing at night.
we had no gas.

I need to chase agents again fire broke again, its freezing and have 3poorly kids.

brought hubby one of those snuggie blankets for xmas.

if anyone has farmfoods nearby please go to their website and sign up mailing list for vouchers giving 10%off. my local rag has leaftlet every month.

min spend £25-2.50 £50,£5 and £100 £10 can use multiple vouchers .

reason im farmfood lover is weights better than iceland
8pints milk for £1.60
2loaves hovis £1.60
got big bag maris pipers for £ 7.5kg.
onions 39p a bag
sugar 2 for £1.50 so 75p each.
frozen veg some 3 for 2.
frozen fish not always breaded stuff if just get plain frozen fish can make loads with it.

but im selective I couldent do whole shop in there.
When worked on estate in iceland some people did do all their shopping in there but was pizzas, conveiniance when its gone ist gone where as few staples can make more meals with.

I use pittas and tomato puree and cheese to make mini pizzas.

another thing is baked beans topped with mashed potatoes and grated cheese.

plain frozen fish little oil pour over passatta ot chipped tomatoes bake 15mins, then add sprinkling basic hersb was 17p and cheese makes tomatey cheesy cod.

i brought some fresh herbs from lidls other day 2 for 1.50 want to get big windwon pot as kitchen windowsills quite long and wide be lovley to have lots of fresh herbs.

Im really into making soups,

after roast chicken place carcass in pan top with hot water salt, veg chuck in some herbs and simmer down its shocking how much meat comes off i then use this for sandwiches,chicken, rissotto.

i get least 3meals out 1 bird.

cheap treats angel delight, jelly, tinned fruit, cake mixes.

even the supermarkets own brand packet mixes can be useful standby.

coffee i like anything if its gold.
although sainsburys basics coffee 49 surprisingly drinkable, sainsburys basic cereals yuck!Their pepper and herbs are 17p.
The wipes have shop up to over 50p now.

some basics going up and other places cheaper.
its about doing research and trying to outsmart them.

The new alids has opened next door to morrisions with lids other side, b&m round corner and soon to be new iceland. there small sainsburys and co-op on that street too so i like to do them all.
The other kids is opposite sainsburys I always do lidls fisrt then anything cant get get in sainsburys tends to work out well.

I have done online waitrose £50 free delivery
ocado £40min and can get 99p or free deliveries late slots at night been new customer with ocado few times and got £20 free shopping used different email adressses.

one year I earnt 300quid cashback from quicdo as we changed a few insurances.
if you go on quidoc theres free or low spend.

recntly sold i phone and have old nokia payg.

Got 6pack luxury toiliet roll in b&m yesterday for £1.29..
The kids dont mind value ketchup 42p in co-op.
or value squash.

I also hide and ration biscuits and crisps as they terrible at wanting it all so when its week before payday they come out of hiding.

IneedAsockamnesty · 24/03/2013 16:30

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AnnabelKarma · 24/03/2013 16:30

And you are absolutely entitled to hold that view beertricks But please don't expect the Govt. nor others to agree with you.

lottieandmia · 24/03/2013 16:30

Annabel - if you genuinely believe that only well off people should have children then the result of that would be poorer old people who have nobody to look after them. The fact is that it always falls to children to look after their sick and aging parents. With no child(ren) to do this, who would pick up the tab? The state...

The argument that poor people shouldn't have children makes no sense quite apart from being fascist

starsandunicorns · 24/03/2013 16:33

Sadly its not just LLs that do that. We have a massive gas combi boiler with radaiaters but dont use the heating much (1st time for 2 hours on friday since Jan) due to the house having ill fitting windows and no insulation.

I live in a counicl flat above shops we been told we need cavity walling by counicl contracter. Great I thought till dp phoned up for a appt to get it.

We were tild counicl not doing it as shops to busy. The guy then said reckon it beacause the shops are privatly owned and they would benfit from it counicl has said no.
The guy was really sorry about it. So we chuck money away that we dont have as the rooms never get warm as it goes out the walls.

Yes I luckey that I live in a counicl flat and do count my blessings but my heart did sink a little. Its one of the reasons we work nights so go to work to get warm

AnnabelKarma · 24/03/2013 16:34

Where did I say that lottie? How do you extrapolate not choosing to have children when on benefits with only the rich being allowed to breed?

KatieScarlett2833 · 24/03/2013 16:34

Annabel, there are no jobs here as I have already stated.
Move???
How can someone on benefits do that? Do you think they can afford to uproot themselves when it costs money they don't have? When they are in social housing and will be deemed intentionally homeless if they give up their tenancy? Away from their support system? Taking their children away from GP's, etc. to get a mythical minimum wage job elsewhere? Really?

AnnabelKarma · 24/03/2013 16:37

Where do you live katie that there are absolutely no jobs? Shock

KatieScarlett2833 · 24/03/2013 16:38

None of your business, Annabel.

BeerTricksPotter · 24/03/2013 16:39

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Message withdrawn at poster's request.

KatieScarlett2833 · 24/03/2013 16:41

It is is an area of agreed EU deprivation, however.

ilovesooty · 24/03/2013 16:43

I'm sure some of my clients would be prepared to move if they could even get a stable roof over their head to start with.

KatieScarlett2833 · 24/03/2013 16:44

And I don't live there, I work there, just for clarity, you understand.

AnnabelKarma · 24/03/2013 16:46

And there are absolutely no jobs whatsoever, katie?

KatieScarlett2833 · 24/03/2013 16:47

As I said before, 250 applicants for a part time NMW job in Asda. Do keep up. Smile

lottieandmia · 24/03/2013 16:47

One thing about UC which has been swept under the carpet is that although you are exempt from the cap if you have a disabled child, you are not exempt when that child reaches adulthood if they continue to live with you. As someone who has a severely disabled daughter who will require 24 hour care for the rest of her life, this concerns me somewhat.

AnnabelKarma · 24/03/2013 16:48

Oh, so are there some jobs or no jobs? I'm confused.

ReturnOfEmeraldGreen · 24/03/2013 16:49

We know you are confused, Annabel. I am hoping you forget to vote, actually.

KatieScarlett2833 · 24/03/2013 16:50

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AnnabelKarma · 24/03/2013 16:50

Oh, I never forget to vote return, don't worry! Grin

starsandunicorns · 24/03/2013 16:50

Annabel I moved from rural to live between 2 massive citys

i have still yet to get a job its all temping which I do read my thread with regards to what I am going to on Monday.

Im not sat at home just waiting for a job to fall in my lap so i have 3 weeks of 20 hours a week on 6:50 a hour takeway pertol money 2 hour drive round trip emerancy tax. Im not left with a lot in the hope I get more hours or a perm job.

I top it up with extra work if i get some from my regular angency so in reality i could

get up at 7am monday leave drive to this new place work 4 four hours drive home be in work 22:00 till 06:30 (the job being on feet standing all night minus the 20 min breaks) go home shower put food in mouth shower then drive to new work home for 14:00 sleep if i get offered work tues night i be up at 20:30 to be at work for 21:40 to start work at 22:00 repeat

That is MY life Annabel for the next few weeks what to swap

AnnabelKarma · 24/03/2013 16:51

katie Grin

So there are jobs, then, yes or no? Grin

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