To think Universal Credit will put women off leaving shitty/abusive relationships?

[RocketQueenP]

10 years ago I fled a really bad relationship and became a lone parent...it's been on my mind a bit lately as was ten years ago last month. It took me a long time to ask ex to leave but I did it.

It was quite shit, I wasn't working and had to jump through a lot of hoops and I was fairly broke, but I was allowed to stay in our rented house with my baby DC. We had full rent and council tax paid plus just enough for food and utility bills. A while down the line I was moved to a HA house (due to my LL being a twat)...wouldn't happen now. Thanks to having a secure home and a little bit of income I was soon able to pick myself up. I got onto a paid uni course, started work, started a business and met and married a new partner. We claim nothing now, own a home and earn good money.

But this new system of universal credit.... some of my friends have been put on it and it's horrendous. Weeks on end waiting for any money, while being bullied constantly about going back to work or working more hours. People have ended up with rent arrears, had to use food banks, not been able to afford to heat or light their homes. Also it's a LOT less money than the old system of income support (or jsa) with tax credits and housing benefit. I honestly do not know how people survive 😰. And I dont think many will manage to get out of it like I (and a lot of people who were in similar situations at same time as me) did.

Aibu to think that a lot of mums will end up staying in bad relationships rather than be placed at the mercy of this shitty new system. Tbh I would probably have stayed out of fear of not being able to provide for my child.

[KateSpade]

Thank you rocket I've made my peace with it now, but I've been put through so much stress, it was awful! Now, I have no childcare fortunately to claim as school has started, but there was many a time where I walked into work & cried after being refused payment for the most ridiculous reasons. I couldn't speak to anyone regarding payments as depts don't take phone calls, either.

Someone once told me to pay my nursery fees with a credit card instead.

[HelenaDove]

This is also going to affect the mixed age pensioner couple so is likely to affect carers.


www.ageuk.org.uk/money-matters/claiming-benefits/the-welfare-reform-act/

[HelenaDove]

Ask Basil

[missymayhemsmum]

One of the things with UC is that all the money for the whole household goes to one the account- usually the first claimant. So a lot more women will have no access to family money unless they do leave, but leaving is now much harder

[RocketQueenP]

That is very true miss mayhem . I think it should be automatically awarded to the main care giver like tax credits are/were. Although I suppose the idea with UC is that there is no main care giver cos both parents are working all hours under sun 😡

[NeedsAsockamnesty]

The gov already know it is going to cause issues where DA exists.

I know this because the abuse service I run has spent a long time telling them as have women's aid and almost every other abuse service in the country

[RocketQueenP]

Oh they Clearly know full well the implications Sock. They just don't give a shiney shit. 🤔

[AskBasil]

"Although I suppose the idea with UC is that there is no main care giver cos both parents are working all hours under sun"

Yes, they're pretending that most women aren't still the main care giver even when both parents work all hours under the sun.

[RocketQueenP]

YY ask basil