To think unversal credit is a disaster *trigger warning*

[jnfrrss]

This just popped up in my feed. Talking about someone that had an abortion as they wouldn't be able to afford the child without credits. It's not just an isolated issue, a charity says they've had a huge increase in women contacting about abortions as now they won't be able to afford to have any more children. I'm not sure what the answer is but this is very worrying

www.mirror.co.uk/money/it-wasnt-planned-very-wanted-12480380

A friend got pregnant twice in spite of using condoms - incorrectly as they burst, and then the morning after pill.
Amongst the mothers I know, at least half had their first kid due to a contraceptive failure

Relying on condoms alone is relatively risky

Contraceptive failure rates

If you really don't want to get pregnant then double up by using another method in addition to condoms.

Or opt for a LARC - compare the effectiveness of condoms (18% failure rate) vs the implant (0.05%) or coil (0.2% for the Mirena or 0.8% for the copper IUD)

banana I am older. When I was young we were taught in sex education and Government NHS pamphlets to use condoms. Not along with anything else, just by themselves. So amongst women I talked to it was common to just use condoms.

Smeaton - you must live in a different county to me. It's close to slavery if you get the stick from your employer....

smeaton Sadly you get lots of idiots commenting on social media who have no real idea about universal credit or poverty. But they still think their views count.

crunchymint - those idiots are the ones picking up the bill ... So yes, we are idiots for working, paying full rent, 100% council tax and national insurance...

Just for the record.. 81000 people are belived to have died due to Universal Credit

Really? It seems you missed a crucial caveat in the very link you posted: "Any causal effect between benefits and mortality cannot be assumed from these statistics"

If even its authors are at pains to point this out, I'm not sure why you'd believe they sadly died "due to Universal Credit" rather than, just for one example, as a result of health conditions which caused them to claim in the first place

Smeaton - they are obviously not paying enough vat to support their own financial needs in the shape of benefits.
You do the maths... people who have a low income buy cheaper goods and pay less vat.
Maybe the pesky unemployed should join the idiots so that people with real need can have their 3bed council house and 20k income.

Thank you for clearing that up. I now understand and hope, as I do in America, that safety nets remain in effect for those in need, especially our senior citizens. Be kind and be well.

Smeaton - you are missing the point. A welfare state can only support a proportion of its population on benefits. It has to be a much bigger proportion actually working and paying into the system.
Good example is wealthy areas v poor ones. Prosperity is where people are actually working. So why shouldn't the government "encourage" people into working by cutting the benefits bill?

Bashun

Smeaton's very is very biased and left wing.

The Government (rightly) decided that people on benefits should not be better off that a working family. So benefits were cut. Think Benefits £45k v Working £30k

At once time you could pop out a child every 4-5 years and never have to work, so some families became very large. The Govt. capped the handouts to two children only.

They people on certain benefits now have to prove they are looking for a job, and looking for better jobs. If they don't have a job they must spend a certain number of hours job searching and prove it.

Many women are claiming 'contraception failure' but it is actually 'failure to use the contraception correctly' in the majority of pregnancy cases.

So Smeaton and Smeddum are saying that only the rich can have children so this is akin to Hitler and the Holocaust.

They spend hours searching for left wing articles to support their claims. There is no way 81000 people have died because of Universal Credit. As the authors have said they did not account for the many other causes of death - the only common theme was that deceased was claiming UC as the time of death. So someone may have died in a road traffic accident therefore UC didn't kill them.

The unemployed aren't paying vat, their money comes from tax payers it's not earnt.

Great post LifebeginsatGin

This is so short sighted. The birth rate in the UK is well below what is needed to maintain a stable society. They need to be looking for ways to increase it not drive it down further.

So highering wages will suddenly give everyone claiming a work ethic? What a load of rubbish

People on here admit to only working x hours as they net more in benefits, won't take overtime as then their benefits go down, won't increase their hours as what they gain in wages they lose in benefits.

Hence a harsher approach is needed. Which is sad because you'd think every parent would do their utmost for their children and wouldn't have to be forced to provide.

For goodness sake @Smeaton.

What a strange analogy!

No one is being punished or beaten with a stick. Everyone claiming UC has to meet the same criteria.

Which is sad because you'd think every parent would do their utmost for their children and wouldn't have to be forced to provide

Exactly Box. A child should be born out of love and want, not for how much money they bring in.

There is no way 81000 people have died because of Universal Credit. As the authors have said they did not account for the many other causes of death - the only common theme was that deceased was claiming UC as the time of death

I'm reminded of a famous pathologist who once said that "we'll all die after our last meal but it doesn't follow that it killed us"

No doubt we can all agree there are some problems with UC, but I've yet to see anything to make me believe it's killed 81,00 people ... however much some might want to suggest otherwise

A woman aborts her child at 4 months pregnant because she won't get extra money for it? Even though healthcare and education would be free for this new child (or is it also withdrawn under the universal credit)? Her partner is kind enough not to turn to crime? And they blame the government policy?
I admit I am not a UK citizen, just a long-term resident (incidentally, also pregnant with my third), so have very little idea of how the benefits system works. I am also 100% pro-choice, but this is simply unbelievable.

People on here admit to only working x hours as they net more in benefits, won't take overtime as then their benefits go down, won't increase their hours as what they gain in wages they lose in benefits

I think what you will actually find is an unresponsive system which makes errors. Sometimes very big errors. Therefore people can be reluctant to take on more hours k owing it will cause a reassessment and potential problems. My childcare costs recently increased - I haven’t bothered to pursue the extra for this reason, knowing we are so close to annual review.

Smeaton
Frankly.. Someone who has no intent of ever working isnt going to be encouraged by everyone else getting punished.
And those getting punished unfairly wont be encouraged to work as they see the system as unfair already.

So, the unfairly punished and starving will not even try to get into paid work and rather watch their ... dindling weight or ... hungry child or the living in one room to save electric ... its cause i dont like change.. well that's me sorted then..
That is, of course, that they are unfairly punished by pushing them into work... and turning them into idiots.

I believe you have to rethink the whole issue. My thoughts are, that yes we need a welfare that for people who genuinely need it. But it should not be a lifestyle choice... Maybe you can adopt this kind of thought?

Silver A woman aborts her child because she can't figure out how she can afford to feed and clothe this child.