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.

Low attainment amungst children on dinner tickets is usually down to low aspirations of there parents and the school not poverty because why is it that a child who lives with in a working household who parents who net less form working than they would do on benfits

The diffrenace is aspirations

That's great Happy in herts - but there is a huge link between being hungry, poss sleep-deprived because you're hungry and cold, and not doing well in school. It's undeniable. Even if your parents are doing their absolute best for you and your home life has a good routine etc etc....if you are not getting enough food, you aren't going to care about algebra.

If it works the way it did when Incapacity went to fortnightly for everyone then plenty of notice will be given and a loan will be offered to help you through the gap which will be repayable over 3 months or so

People on JSA or ESA get paid fortnightly not weekly so would have 2 weeks money to go 4 weeks (approx depending on the month)

Certain benefits are not included in UC so those claimants will not be affected (DLA, CB etc)

There is also a way that vulnerable people can continue on fortnightly payments but I don't know what its called

Benfits will be capped at 26k many working familes could only dream of such a income

If the chikdren of these familes who are on welafre to the tune of 26k which is what a graduate would expect to earn are not doing well then i would put money on it being down to the asprations of the parents

They'll be capped at £26k, but what's the average payout, and what is the average amount of outgoings for families on benefits?

Genuine question alert!

How does it work out that a working parent can be worse off in terms of the money they earn and receive than someone who doesn't work? If I could work full time at NMW, I would be £500 better off a month even after the childcare costs were taken out because of the wages and WTC bumping everything up. Is it just because I'm a single mum that I would be better off working? Or because I don't drive? If you compared two families with the same outgoing costs, the working family would always net more money surely?

I work in the system.
It's bad enough now.
Just because SOME claimants will be fine does not mean ALL will be.
DV victims?
The very vulnerable, most of whom have been kicked off ESA
Those that can't afford food, never mind Internet access.
The homeless?
Single people who can only claim JSA. How is £71 per week going to last for 4 weeks?
Did i mention the removal of crisis loans?
Spare a thought for those who will suffer. Because they are suffering now and it will get worse. And we all will be affected.

If you became disabled and couldnt work, would you want someone to look after you so you are feed and housed or not?

You would be disabled homeless and stave to death when the govenment pay 4bn in foren aid.

I haven't read all the posts as have just eaten lunch and don't want to give myself indigestion. But why oh why do all threads about benefits turn into slanging matches about sky tv and i phones. This isn't what the OP is about. This is exactly how the government plan to get away with leaving poor and sick people destitute. You people are playing right into their hands.

Also even if you didnt recieve aid you would have to still psy taxes.

minouminou i dont know but i know what they dont have to pay for

Dinner money which is about £40 a mounth

You cant get a maternity grant which i believeis £500

In london you will get 50% off oyster card

Most LA run a lesuire pass

Uniform grant

So those are a few out goings you dont have when your not working

Plus your rent paid

It's because you are a LP.
Families without children who can't claim CHB and CTC are fucked, basically.
And if you happen to be under 25, no WTC either.
So if you don't live with your parents ( many cant) have to private rent, pay partial council tax, heating and food out of about £71 per week for an extended period ( because jobs are do easily come by, hah!) you will be fucked having to survive for an additional period with no benefits.
Britain 2013

Under the new system, using that calculator that another poster linked to, we'd be a lot better off because at the moment we could claim a proportion of HB but we don't. Under the new system we'd get about £400 pm more than what we do now, with one of us in full time work.

But as the old adage goes, 'if its too good to be true it usually is'. I wonder how much paperwork and conditions are attached to how much they give you. Maybe the gov are hoping that working families will be put off by jumping through hoops and don't claim (as many are now with the TC system) and thus ideally reduce the benefit bill further.

on benefits, no sky, no iphone. I have applied for a free goat though.
.

Am worried about the wider issues of UC but personally not concerned about once a month payments as that's what I had in work. Not going to affect me for a while anyway.

Oh and the benefit cap too!
Saw a very vulnerable LP last week with 5 children. No way can she work. Her weekly benefits will reduce by £500 per month overnight.
Simply because she is in a private let costing mega bucks. She can't get a council house due to rent arrears.
Most worryingly, she did not understand what I was warning her about. Those kids will suffer and thee is fuck all she can do about it

To claim both parents need to be in work one for 37 hours and the other 24.

The one named to get uc will have to look for work, attend intreview, workfair and back to work intreview each week.

We will all be affected, yes.
Rich and poor. The rich will feel insecure and paranoid, and I can see a spate of intruder murders.

I feel more insecure now - I look at DS' scooter and think - that's £20 or more for someone who is desperate. Never used to think this.

Anyone who looks at benefits and thinks their "generosity" is the issue, you need to think again.

Benefits are set at the minimum required to live on and if that is more than NMW then surely the issue is with this government undermining NMW by allowing thousands of low skilled migrant workers into this country. By allowing companies to opt out of employing people by giving them a constant stream of workfare placements. By leaving the NMW at a ridiculous level instead of raising it to a living wage.

I have said it before, and I will say it again. Why are you all blaming theittle people who are scraping by on a pittance, instead of the high and mighty who actually have the power to change it??

TheSecondComing

We've always lived off one low wage plus working tax credit. Total of around £15K which is less than entitlement for free school meal entitlement. Had no housing costs as inherited home and just paid council tax

Considered ourself fortunate. I've now acquired full time work as son nearly 19 and entitlement to Child Beneft and Working Tax Credit ending. I've found no difficulty replacing these universal benefits with wages

So more children going into care for the govenment to finance completly.

Indeed. And more kids living in poverty. It's disgusting.

Katie- what on earth was she doing having five kids with no means to support them herself?

Happy, yes YOU are fortunate.
Factor in rent, being unable to work due to ill health or multiple children and where would you be?

wannabeEostregoddess thats the whole issue some people find the minimum wage 26k a tad to genrous and feel that people moaning about money paid for by working families And about the same as ehat a graduate would expect to get is a booldy cheek