Universal Credit :-(

[LovelyBath77]

www.theguardian.com/society/2017/mar/01/universal-credit-hits-families-with-children-hardest-study-finds?CMP=oth_b-aplnews_d-2

User- I see this situation quite frequently in my line of work. Mum or dad dies leaving young adults alone. Often they can't take over the parents council tenancy or afford private rent leaving them really vulnerable at a point in their lives where they need a great deal of support.

Torn on the HB for under 25's, if they want to leave home then it comes with responsibilities Yeah, all those people leaving care or escaping abuse, comes with responsibilities that.

It's not even a case of wanting to leave "home".

Relocating in search of work is exactly what the government tell people they are supposed to do. And the young who aren't yet restricted by a spouse's job or DC in school or needing suitable accommodation with a baby, are in the people in best position to do this.

Except they can't any more, unless they already have a job - and one with sufficient hours - when they get there. This isn't restricting young people's options to shared houses: it's removing their accommodation completely.

Before anyone says, Ooh, they used to manage in the Olden Days: did you realise that in the Olden Days employers often used to provide accommodation to go with the job? Everything from hostels to whole housing estates (I'm not just talking the chocolate box ones). There were people who cycled from Scotland to Corby - but had a hostel to sleep in when they got there, while they got set up.

My parents died before I was 25! They left me money, so I didn't have to claim HB, but I was homeless sometimes in university holidays, it was horrible

Babyroobs I know what you mean entirely, not just from my own experience either. It makes me really frustrated

Babyroobs re, your collegues daughter.............its not the fault of people earning even less than her,

I am appalled that hb has been abolished for many young people. Were many without children even claiming it? I don't expect the savings will be significant. And now the simple way to qualify is to have a child - someone didn't think it through.

For anyone who wants to claim an advance on uc I believe that you can repay over 12 months, although you will probably have to push for this option.

Yes because leaving home is always an option
Occasionally I take in my D.C.'s friends whilst they get sorted out. They have been kicked out by parents. Reasons such as adult dc has a job paying just over £200 a week. Minimum pay, full time. Parent wants £180 a week. Leaving £20 for travel, clothing and saving. They then say ooh can we have mash and steak for dinner this week, parent flips and kicks them out (have seen this I sat there )
Then there's the abuse households. Get the no hours job and save like crazy when they do work to move out asap.
The 19 year old who still at home and gets kicked out when pregnanct.
The 23 year old who has been with their partner for years. Living together. Met at school. He's abusive and controlling. No room at parents.
The 24 year old who started working at 18. Like many people after paying bills and travel not much left for saving. Made redundant.
Living at home in a stable home. Under 25 and working but not great. Parent has mortgage and dies. Child cannot pay.

So as you can see leaving home isn't always black and white. It's not simple to say if they want to leave this comes with responsibilities. Anyone who cannot think of circumstances that happens outside their control has a very small view on the world. And I hope your bubble doesn't pop because you are going to be in for a shock.. and don't come out with crap like this will not happen. Your never know what tomorrow brings. If we knew what tomorrow brought then we would all be rich as we would know the numbers for lottery and the winners for gambling.

Of course not Helena, I think she was just making trying to make the point that it might seem unfair if for example a 35yr old on Housing benefit was receiving benefits to rent a place of their own wheras someone not claiming HB could only afford a room in a shared house after high rents/ travel costs etc are paid. It was just her response to people feeling that at age 35, a person should be able to have their own space.

It's under 21's not under 25's it's still awful though.

11000 Glitter glue.

It's under-22s, ie 21s-and-under, according to SurlyValentine at Mon 15:13:53.

(More details in that post.)

Sorry I meant 21 and under.

HelenaDove is there no way you can go on pension credit now? You will be able to avoid UC I think if you start claiming pension credit before they have introduced UC. I am on DH's pension credit claim as he is 64 although I'm 59 (DH was assessed for pension credit age based on a woman's qualifying age). Age UK helped us fill out the forms and they said it was a good thing we were applied when we did (last year) because we wouldn't be eligible if we applied once UC was in place in our area. But because we have already started claiming it then we won't be transferred to UC and can stay on pension credit so won't be subject to the new age rules. Good thing too as I won't reach pension age for another 5 years.

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

"It's expected most people will move to Universal Credit by 2021. If you have reached Pension credit age (63 years in April 2016), you may not be affected unless you are part of a couple and one of you is below this age."

Yes, leaving home can be for many reasons (and I would know), but why do any of them mean that you should get your own place and not need to share? That is what young single people have always had to do, I don't get why anyone shouldn't?

I haven't a clue about UC so no comment on that part.

I really feel for the young people getting no help. I'm young enough that id only get enough for a houseshare if I had to claim (.I spent all my 20s in houseshares! When I'd finished paying off debts I was in a position to only just afford to rent on my own).

Since I was 21 I've lived and worked hundreds of miles away from my parents homes. I had no intention of moving back to my hometown after university. If I was 21 now itd be a serious consideration as to whether I'd cope in a different city if things went badly wrong. I'm lucky in that my mum has helped me a bit over the years (rental deposits etc) but she can't afford to help me to the tune of thousands of pounds, and her help is a loan not a gift because she needs to think of her own future as well, understandably as she approaches pension age.

This is just another kick against poor young people. The ones who can't afford uni or don't want to get into debt, who's parents can't give them money towards a house (or money at all) even to rent never mind buy. The ones who actually need support.

Another way of keeping the rich rich (the ones who's parents can easily afford to support their adult children for years and years) and the poor poorer.

Count they won't even get the shared rate.

It's hb in all scenarios. Own flat, house share, temp accommodation from homelessness etc.

Age UK told me that we wouldn't be moved to UC HelenaDove even when it is introduced in our area. CAB says this on their website and it is the same thing that Age UK told me:

"If you're in a mixed-age couple and you're already getting Pension Credit at the changeover date, you won't be affected and will be allowed to carry on getting it."

Also see this.
Definitely worth seeking advice to see if you could claim PC now, the UC regime sounds awful and it would be a much lower payment as well.

Why make it a race to the bottom? So we are all slaving away ft. Wouldn't it be better if 'he system needs to change' to make sure wages are better rather than having to be subsidised through TC/UC.

We are already on it Snow Sorry i should have made that clear.

Why are you already on UC
"At the moment you can still claim Pension Credit as a 'mixed age' couple even in full service Universal Credit areas so this will be the best route if the eldest of the couple is of qualifying age."
That is current information from entitled to.

No We are already on PC.