to be worried about Universal Credit

[idiuntno57]

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.

Katie, on your screen have a look at the top you have a red dot next to your log out thingy

Katie - if you want to argue that people, without savings, should sign up to 36 months phone contracts (which apply to higher cost phones as the handset cost needs to be spread over a longer time), credit card debts etc, then go right ahead...

Anyhoo, as educational as this debate has been, I must retire for the evening as I am lucky enough to have a job to go to in the morning.
I hope tomorrow is a good day for everyone with a bit of luck thrown in.

stressy - make stuff up why dont cha!

faster have you worked out how long your savings would last if you were out of work tomorrow?

Where did I say that?

The point is, no one can judge anyone. They might have debt from lavish holidays and it might be from house repairs. But thats no ones business but their own.

This whole conversation started because someone said they couldnt understand why some people seemed to do well on benefits and I pointed out that it doesnt mean benefits are generous.

wannabe you said "To say that some people do well on benefits is assuming all claimants start from the same point.

If you lose your job you still have to service the phone contracts, the cc debt, the HP on one or maybe even two cars. Bills dont just magically disappear."

I said 'they dont just magically appear either'. people make choices to spend money they don't have, often on things they don't need. its the consumer economy.

I have read through almost every post on here and I have to say.. What a disappointing thread!

Very little description or discussion about what changes UC will bring except for a very monotonous conversation about monthly payments.

The whole thread just turned into a typical MN bun fight between the 'fiscal conservatives/benefit bashers' and the benefit worriers. Honestly so predictable, learned nothing and 30 minutes of my life that I won't get back.

You describe it for us then, williamina, since you're so disappointed in everyone else.

30 minutes of my life that I won't get back that's mumsnet...

TBH if I thought not using credit would be so controversial, I wouldn't have bothered. I personally think we need a much wider debate about wants v needs but clearly this is not the right audience.

booy - you don't want a sensible debate so I cannot be arsed to give you any information

I'm not trying to get all high and mighty but over 600 posts and barely anyone has talked about the difference between the current benefits system and UC.

MN might as well just have an ongoing daily thread called 'benefits?...' And people can just post their random comments.

Yes and thats their choice. But just because some people are seen to do well on benefits doesnt mean benefits are generous.

wiliamina MN isn't really factual though is it? it more emotionally driven.

Willamina

No one knows the full story about UC. A thread full of theories based on very little fact would be just as useless as this one.

wannabe - benefits aren't to service previous debts so anyone with previous debts is going to have trouble managing.

But there are a lot of facts about UC. And it would be good if sometimes a thread was based on some facts which might stop it getting so emotional and personal sometimes hence leading to a lot of jumping down each others throats.

Dont want to draw this out... just saying!

Oh fgs.

I am not talking about people with debt. I am talking about people with no debt and how they are perceived to be doing well.

ive just had a look online and they arent just putting everyone on monthly payments in a months time, they're phasing it in til 2017!!! that is a very long time away! you havent got to put much money away a week to be able to manage!

I agree - there is plenty of information about UC. And loads of people on this thread have started talking about totally different things such as debt. Or the bedroom tax.

UC is a very slow roll out. And I agree with whoever said that it would be great to see websites used to put people in touch with each other and share tips about budgeting/frutal living.

Most of the thread is just hysteria and prejudice.

wannabe - you were taking about people with debt!

you said "To say that some people do well on benefits is assuming all claimants start from the same point.

If you lose your job you still have to service the phone contracts, the cc debt, the HP on one or maybe even two cars. Bills dont just magically disappear."

you can pretend you weren't if you like!

Yes....and my point was that some people appear to be doing well because others have bills to pay from when they were working.

Whats hard to understand about that?

I don't think £46 a month is too much to expect somebody to pay towards their rent. It is a tiny amount compared to what others are struggling to pay.

£46 could be a lot of money to someone. And a night on the town to others. It's what it means as a proportion of your income.