Universal Credit won't be paid in months with 5 weeks. (WTF?) AIBU to think no one realises

[raisinsarenottheonlyfruit]

If you get paid weekly, and there are 5 weeks in a month, in those months your pay will likely go over the Universal Credit limit and your UC will be stopped. You will have to go without that month and apply again.

WTF are they thinking?

Have they never heard of averages FFS? (That's how Tax Credits works). This is going to screw over so many people. It's ludricous.

The people claiming UC aren't any richer that month, they get the same amount of money as if it was paid in 12 monthly chunks.

This will happen to thousands of people every time there's a month with 5 weeks. (I guess they mean 5 Mondays?)

This is farcical.

There's 5 weeks in January, so if you get paid weekly that's you fucked for February.

April, July, October and December also have 5 Mondays.

This is utterly farcical and just plain callous.

Have to work now, will try to respond to recent posts later.

Just wanted to post a thought I had overnight.

Let's say a 5th weekly payment of say £200 take-home pay just wipes out your UC. Since google says the general withdrawal rate is 65%, that means it wiped £130 of UC. £200 - £130 is £70. So in a 5-week month, your income is £70 more than in a 4 week month.

If I'm right (big "if") then that looks fairly reasonable.

TotallyWingingIt Helena and Co only want sob stories, those who have actually died because of benefits, they like to spread the fear rather than a balanced debate (that yes, there will be some people who have difficulties transitioning but some who don't).

Regarding the gentleman who died. His story is very sad and I have no doubt UC was a huge concern during his last weeks, however (in respect of balance) did his sister and children not help? why was he being interviewed for TV (and has this influenced his story), 'meagre' food parcel?????

BabsGangoolies it's not about spreading fear, FFS. It's about alerting people to the reality of what is happening.

His story is very sad and I have no doubt UC was a huge concern during his last weeks, however (in respect of balance) did his sister and children not help?

That is totally irrelevant. His mother and sister are not elected to represent us. They do not make decisions that effect the population.

Each individual will have different relatives or none - but all on UC are up against the same system and it's that system we're talking about.

We are talking about the effects of decisions made in government on people. If the government has set up a system that can only keep vulnerable people alive if relatives intervene then that's a cruel and callous system (do I really need to point out that not everyone has relatives, or relatives who are in a position to help?)

Babs, the government has prevented a 'balanced debate' by abstaining. Apart from which, I suggest you do a little research yourself. Take a look at Universal Credit in Lowestoft and how badly that has affected the majority of people on benefits. In one small town. Now, the local MP is known for toeing the party line, but even he has had something to say about this. Do some research before you come on and decide a bunch of lefties are giving an unbalanced view of what is actually happening. Universal Credit is not working. It has cost the government a ridiculous amount to try to implement, an amount that has effectively negated any savings. People are suffering and going without, losing their homes and losing what little they may have.

Gilead typical leftie - shouts down anyone with a different opinion.

If it's not working how come theres a thread on here from a poster on benefits want to save for £400 pm for a house?

BabsGangoolies WTF?

First you complain about lack of debate. Then when someone debates with you in a respectful way, (without rising to your inflamatory comments) you say they are shouting you down.

Are you feeling OK today?

You were not “shouted down” Babs.

Perhaps read that post again and do as the poster suggests.

UC is a mess and local councils are dreading the start of it because of the initial payment delay. I was speaking to our local head of housing who said that if people are left with a choice of paying their rent or feeding their children then they are going to feed their children first. He totally gets that and understands ....he is a Tory and he think this is madness from central Govt. Am amazed anybody is backing it tbh,

*Gilead typical leftie - shouts down anyone with a different opinion.

If it's not working how come theres a thread on here from a poster on benefits want to save for £400 pm for a house?*

Oh god it's working...

Fwiw it's piss poor to make a piss poor argument and then when someone responds with strong and reasonable counter arguments they're just "shouting you down"

It's a fucking shame that people have to be so blindly loyal to ideas that appear to be in line with their political standpoint instead of being able to objectively look at something and come to their own conclusion as to whether something is working well or not.

Also what a ridiculous notion that you can deem a system as working and fair if it relies on people outside of the system propping it up to make it workable - if you have to rely on relatives to get by when there is supposed to be welfare in place to support you then that is not okay.

It's a fucking shame that people have to be so blindly loyal to ideas that appear to be in line with their political standpoint instead of being able to objectively look at something and come to their own conclusion as to whether something is working well or not

Couldn't have said it better myself

Gilead typical leftie - shouts down anyone with a different opinion.
I responded to your comment about debate.
It is a proven fact that UC isn't working, hence the discussions in parliament. This is also supported by many charities, Scope, Shelter and others. I strongly suggest that you do some research, perhaps The Joseph Rowntree Foundation would be a good place to start? Or The Trussell Trust. Full Fact also have some valid information. These will give a good overall view on how the welfare system is failing those who need it most and explain clearly how it's falling down around our ears.

Tory MPs and UC

If it's not working how come theres a thread on here from a poster on benefits want to save for £400 pm for a house?*

Well Cherries that would be because they are not claiming UC nor hsve they said they are paid four weekly.

Don't let facts get in the way of your "different opinion".

Sorry Cherries just realised you are quoting Babs

I care for a lady who is dreading it. Thankfully it’s so badly organised that it’s likely to be 2020 before we see it locally. In the meantime she is anxious about it and worrying about coping with the initial delay. She is so disabled she cannot simply go out and find work....prior to her disability she worked full time.
I dislike any Govt which rides roughshod over people like my client.

That’s not being “a Leftie” by the way Babs, it’s called being a “human being”. You should try it...it’s nice to be human and care about others but hey...like many (but not all) Righties.....you evidently don’t care.

It is doing as the Tories intend.

PM ??? time today was worth a watch

Babs you couldn't have said it better yourself?

So you have looked at the impact of the UC rollouts that have already happened? You've heard the sanctions and criteria for low income workers are going to be the same as those who are unemployed (and bearing in mind it is already a hugely over simplistic and gross attitude to think "those unemployeds" should be treated punished), you've heard that more people than ever will have to use job centres as even employed people will have to use them yet they closing down a proportion of them? You're aware that employers are not willing to give out the full time contracts these people need to secure a stable income/UC? You're aware that there would realistically never be enough full time positions for everyone who is now going to need them to work full time anyway? You're aware that to adhere to this black and white target of 35 hours NMW for many the reality would be having to leave better jobs for unskilled work or lose more money in the cost it would take the new job if it was a long commute or for plenty of other reasons? And you're okay with the reason this thread was started, the fact that people who most often live week to week will be losing money every few weeks, not to mention the 6 week imposed forced wait. And this is assuming everything goes smoothly to plan!!

What if you are already on TC which get stopped immediately but then have to wait six weeks so have no way to pay rent? Or you have to take work to avoid being sanctioned but couldn't possible afford to put the up front child care costs forward? There are already people genuinely struggling and your answer is to bury your head in the sand and say it's just scaremongering or media sensationalising or more likely, you probably just think people in the position in the first place deserve what they get.

If you have genuinely read all of the thread and info about UC and still think it's ethical to go ahead with it in its current format, then actually, you know what - fuck you, and everyone who thinks that way. It's truly appalling.

want to save for £400 pm

Clue is in the word WANT.

She wants to save £400. She will likely be able to save £100, IF they live really shit frugal lives.

HTH.

Agree with Delores, caring about the consequences of UC on society isn't being a leftie, its common human decency.

I'm sick and tired of people's attitudes towards low income families, this 'I'm alright Jack' way of looking at things.

I've had a response from my MP and have replied suggesting a meeting is organised (may need more than one unless we're going to take over the local footie stadium) regarding universal credit, making people aware of where they can go for help, what they can do and the possible implications of it. UC goes live in my area in 6 weeks, I've seen no publicity about it locally, no letters from the jobcentre warning people of impending change- I am one of those who will be affected if I have a chance of circumstances so surely I would have been on the mailing list had something been sent out.

Hopefully we will manage to prepare some people who may not know whats about to happen for whatever reason.

The fact that Gauke didn't even turn up yesterday to the emergency debate speaks volumes. The tories are worried, as well they should be.

About a year ago I met and had a chat with a Job Centre employee. She expressed concern about her role due to the reasonably child friendly hours (9-5) she currently worked explaining that as fully employed people would have to attend meetings the centre would need to be open early mornings, evening and weekends in order to accommodate the interview plus travelling time. She said they were currently struggling with their workloads yet had been given no indication at this stage if extra staff would be employed to deal with the quite frankly massive increase in workload. Also she and some other colleagues were in receipt of benefits themselves, so in effect they would have to have interviews with their colleagues and be forced to look for alternative work. You just couldn’t make it up could you. This makes me ask the question; would employers be obliged by law to allow their staff paid time out to attend meetings at the nearest job centre, and also time out for interviews with a prospective new employee? I can’t see that going down well somehow.

I care for a lady who is dreading it. Thankfully it’s so badly organised that it’s likely to be 2020 before we see it locally. In the meantime she is anxious about it and worrying about coping with the initial delay. She is so disabled she cannot simply go out and find work....prior to her disability she worked full time.
I dislike any Govt which rides roughshod over people like my client.

^ If I was in this person’s position, I’d put away a tiny amount each week so if I’m eventually left in the shit my UC, I’ll have a small back up.

I know loads of DWP staff what with me previously being a fraud officer.

The hate it. Every single quality staff member that I know is now finding work traumatic

Needs, I would imagine very few get any pleasure from sanctioning people and they are very much in the front line and will bear the brunt of worried peoples anger and frustration.

There are a few posters on here who sound like they would get immense enjoyment out of sanctioning people...