To think that bit is impossible to live off of benefits?

[Rolf38]

So Universal Credit rates are £498.89 an adult couple over the age of 25. This is meant to last them one whole month. So £250 per adult which works out at about £60 per week or just £8.57 per day.

How is someone meant to buy food, pay their bills and maintain a jobsearch at these rates?

I understand that some may think that by setting benefits at a low rate, there will be a greater incentive for recipients to return to work. This I understand and agree with to a point.

Surely though that danger of setting benefit rates too low is that it has the opposite effect. Claimants may reun the risk of getting in to debt, depression and lose the desire to maintain an active job search, along with any ambitions and aspirations they ever had.

Is met ting benefit rates too low a precursor to the increase of long term benefit claimants, simply by affording claimants less resources and willpower to maintain their job search?

After all, say if have been unemployed fir or three months. In this time, you have been so cash strapped that you haven't even been able to go to the cinema or meet an old friend, as bills and increasing debts have taken priority.

Without just a bit of enjoyment to boost morale, how less determined would a claimant be to give their job search their all as they would be if they could take their mind off of it for a bit.

For the couples payment too, I wouldn't be surprised if such a low payment to sustain two adults for a month may cause friction in the relationship, adding further restrictions to morale and job search.

Of course taxpayers money should be treated with the utmost respect.

However, is keeping benefit rates at such a low level proving more costly in the long run?

Why not add an incentive for job search for claimants? Increase UC payments by 10% for those who continually do all they can for their job search over a sustained period (say three months).

Such an increase, just form he most committed in their job search, would act as a continued incentive for the most determined to find work quicker (thus reducing long-term burdens on the taxpayers). Restricting an enhanced payment to just the most committed would also ensure that those not committed to athe or jobsearch and envisage a long-term existence on benefits find that this, beyond subsidence level, is not sustainable.

If you are doing everything you can in your jobsearch, why should you be unable to afford very basic enjoyments (even on a very occasional basis)? Why are those who put in the effort, in testing times, not differentiated from those who show no desire to come off benefits.

Perhaps in addition to sanctioning claimants who do not fulfill their commitments, the government should do more to help and reward the positive attitude to do all they can to get back to work.

Wishing how can you in good conscience claim that money? How? Can you hand on heart say you need it?

I think people are naive to think it's only a small minority claiming benefits when they shouldn't!

Unfortunately many people believe the poor are MORALLY INFERIOR as thry DO NOT WORK HARD ENOUGH.
People think that they deserve to sit on the cold with no tv or internet with a lump of coal in the Xhristmas stocking.
Im on universal credit. Has it sucxeeded in gettibg me to work.I work 2 ZERO HOUR cobtracrs as tge care sectir has been privatised in my area . New pay is so bad that they can only get agency.
I also teach in a college..zero hours...no permanebt contracts...they just are nit there..

Typos agggrrr!

Would you care to back that up with any proof booie?

I meant i work two zero hour contracts teaching and in the care sector.

Also i am always skint

I understood mal.

Stocking is too good for you. You should have your lump of coal on the bare floor boards.

When did we retreat to this Victorian position and start hating each other so much?

What's happened to the care and FE sectors is grim. Such important roles too.

Also what winds me up is that sibgle parents are criticised for not being at work as soon as their child is one whilst stay at home mums ( with high earning hysbands) are lauded for doing the best thing for their kids.

As a single mum a benefots councellor sneered at me for not being at work when my dd was 6 weeks old. That's what childcare is for i was told.
Strangely she softened her tone when she realised i was a teacher and had a career. I guess i challenged her prejudice of single mums on benefits.

Some of the comments on here are hilarious ' sick of people on housing benefits and tax credits sitting in the park having a lovely time' nearly made me spit out my coffee!!!!
how the fuck do you know if they were on benefits..?
Another two things the unemployed are not able to do...sit in parks and have a lovely time.!!!!

Booie your prejudices don't equal facts, take a look at websites recommended earlier in the thread for some real facts rater than assumptions.

Sitting in parks is free.

Love to hear them if they were sitting in pubs!

And of course they shouldn't have. Lovely time, thexpoor should live in abject misery and gratitude and Know Their Place.

Which is below whichever posted is currently spouting shite. Ah well I guess it makes them feel better about themselves.

We should start thinking from the place of 'What if there was no such thing as benefits?' Like many countries have? What if you have to look after your own Self, provide for your own kids, work for whatever food you eat and holidays you go? Many in this country on a low wage cannot afford Sky and cheap holidays.

Benefits are totally for survival (essential food, shelter and clothing) so most people can live off benefits if they are used for those essentials.

As for UC, it's untrue that the job centre expects you to log your job search everyday. You can log it once a week.Get to the job centre earlier than your appointment and use the customer computers to do your logging and save on transport. If you have kids, your work search is reduced even.

And there ARE jobs. We just dont want to do them because they are beneath us or they don't pay much more than the benefit - but there are. Immigrants from all over the world, with their BSc and masters degrees arrive and do those cleaning, doorstepping and warehouse jobs to house themselves and to feed their kids while they apply for their high end jobs. We though, won't do that; we have benefits to claim and moan about.

Disabled people definitely need the extra help - and there are things like Access to Work to help pay for many types of support.

Under CTC and UC, 70% - 80% of your childcare costs are paid for so what's the deal with 'got kids'?

*for the record, I'm a lone parent of Primary school kids and I work near full time. We haven't been on holiday in yonks because it's too expensive and we've got bills. My kids deserve to be happy and a family that loves them - which they are. Holiday and cinemas is a luxury and the word. No one 'deserves' a holiday if they haven't earned it.

I can't believe how much that poster above is receiving - that's so much more than I earn for working FT. It makes me feel foolish.

If people live rurally and there are no buses etc, why don't you move? I grew up in the Lake District - love it, my family is there, love the outdoors but no work, no transport so now I live in a town. That's just how it goes.

I think what many people ate misding is that working people like me have to have top ups from universal credit to survive. How is that right?
i work in two tough jobs that are not paid well. If the goverment forced rent down and stopped zero hour contracts then i wouldnt need benefits. But it is not within their interests as they want to privatise everything and erode the unions including workers rights.

I worked ft last year in he and i didnt have a pot to piss in. Then my contract wasnt renewed.....which in a way was a blessing as i had so little money even with universal credit thrown in. Whereas the head of the college was on £250, 000 pa...disgusting!

insideoutsider

Nailed it. I wish all would read your post.

pangolina

I don’t need it all, no.

However next year I will be back at work (sahm for past 7 years. Previous boss wants me back. Starting back on at £40k).

I will be off benefits.

So I don’t feel even a slither of fully about having them in the short term whilst I settle my young children afterthe divorce (1 year ago).

Fully should read guilt

malificent7 you were working full time this time last year?

You have a degree and the PGCE.

What happened to the £16+ inheritance you received?

Benefit bashers are not usually the sort who know or care about the paradise papers. Companies who don’t pay tax are taking a lot more from our country than people on benefits are. But it’s easier to spit on the poor than stand up to the rich.

People saying those on benefits don’t need internet or phones- how are they going to get a job then?! Just walk about and hope they’ll find someone who will hire them with no typed CV or email address?

Really put yourself in the shoes of someone who has lost their job and is struggling before spouting that kind of nonsense.

I work always have DH too and all our families but I’ve always thought I’d happily pay more taxes to make sure nobody is suffering due to a painfully low income.

I’d say necessities are:

1. Roof over your head in Home that’s not damp, overcrowded, dilapidated or unsuitable for your medical needs (I.e. my clients in wheelchairs living on 3rd floor with no lift)
2. Food- decent healthy and fresh, enough so you and your family don’t go hungry
3. Clothes- at least 7 full outfits that are clean with no tears. Probably need a new clothing item every month to keep that up. Uniform for your children along with 7 sets of general clothes again not dirty or ripped. A pe kit for children including trainers. A suit or similar for interviews/ funerals/ weddings. Waterproof season appropriate shoes including a smart pair that go with the suit. Waterproof and school suitable shoes for children. Pyjamas, dressing gown, slippers for everyone (to keep heating costs down) extra socks and pants, gloves, hats, scarves.
4. A working washing machine to keep clothes clean (laundrettes expensive and may incur transport costs getting there.
5. Laundry powder, dish soap, toilet paper, cloths for cleaning, surface cleaning liquid, shampoo and shower gel and hand soap, toothpaste, tooth brushes, dental floss, mouthwash, face wash, moisturiser, sanpro. Everyone deserves to be able to keep clean and hygiene is important for health.
6. A fridge to keep your food cold so you don’t have to go to the shops every 2 days (either transport costs or more expensive local shop)
7. Pots, pans, oven, hob, cutlery, utensils etc
8. A bed for each family member (adult couple can share double) with duvets, sheets, blankets, pillows, pillow cases.
9. A pulley or clothes horse, basket or similar for dirty clothes, pegs for outside line if appropriate
10. Heating and electricity

10. Money for transport to shop, job interviews, bank, GP, hospital etc 11. A wardrobe or place to keep your clothes 12. A vacuum cleaner 13. Curtains or blinds 14. A phone 15. Internet 16. A device capable of accessing the internet 17. Educational materials for children (or you if you’re studying) including pens, pencils, notebooks, sharpener, desk tidy or pencil case, ruler, compass, calculator etc 18. A smoke alarm- if not mains fitted, batreries 19. A hair drier, bobbles, hair clips etc as required. 20. Towels, face cloths, bath mat 21. Alarm clock, torch, batteries 22. Light bulbs 23. A few Educational toys for children 24. Bin bags, carrier bags, purse/ wallet, 25. For a baby, nappies, baby clothes, bibs, crib, pram, big ba

Gilead I am not prejudiced! I never ever said people should not be in receipt of benefits! What I have a problem with is people who cheat the system! Maybe if the government closed loop holes they may have more money in the pot for people who need it!

Posted before I was done, probably more things. Those aren’t all daily/ monthly costs but some of the big ticket items if they break down you’ll be out a couple of months benefits.

Imagine you’ve fled violence or a young person chucked out by your parents or you’ve lost your job and been evicted for rent arrears and have to go on benefits faced with an unfurnished flat and £70 a week to get all of that. It would be pretty horrific. Walk a mile in someone else’s shoes.

Excellent post kiki

Insider yours was great too.

Both have differing views.

Yes we have a lot compared with other countries but I actually think that is what's good about here....we should t be racing to the bottom.

We have jobs that immigrants do which we should be doing but quite honestly if I have bills to pay and I end up worse off than on benefits then I wouldn't do them. I am not actually on benefits .... but if I was and life was already hard financially then no way would I make it harder. That's not being a scrounger....that's common sense.

We have a relatively high cost of living here....and many people on benefits are stuck privately renting having to top up inflated rents ....why would they make it harder for themselves...or impossible.

The Government says we are all better off in work but we are not....not when you have to take into account housing benefit, prescription costs, dental costs etc. I pay all of those and I actually think I am a bit worse off financially.

I do however have a job which covers my rent, Council tax and all other bills plus a husband who also earns.

Compared with my life on benefits this is luxury.