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

@smeaton, thank you so much! You are totally awesome for taking the time to explain all that. In America we just pay property tax and it's usually based on the area you live in and what the average price of the house gets in your area period to even if you have a 50 room mansion and it's in ghetto neighborhood your taxes would not be as much as they are if you own The Bungalow in Beverly Hills. We also would not go to prison for not paying School tax or property tax, which is what we have locally you would just lose your property after about 5 or 10 years. However, you would definitely go to prison for scamming the federal or state government out of their pound of Flesh.l ol

@avoiding DM. In New York state employers are mandated to carry a disability insurance if someone is injured on the job or if they get sick and need surgery while employed. It's supposed to be half of their weekly salary however, due to budget constraints fantastic lobbyist for employers, the maximum benefit paid is $170 a week paid biweekly. Really not enough to live on. So that is why it's best to carry extra disability insurance which will pay you 75% of your salary for six months to a year depending on what you sign up for. But the amount taken out of your check each week is like three or four dollars so it's quite affordable if you are working. I hope that helps

@avoiding DM, yes it varies by state to state. Midwestern and Southern States don't pay as much as Northeastern or west coast states I'm sure you can imagine why LOL

@Bowlo...fish..😨 WOW!!! Just.....wow! I really had no idea things were so, as they are in Great Britain! I always imagine that Britain was very very similar to United States economically and socially. I never in my life would have thought of my country and being " extremly" religious LOL! I always thought that America received their Christian religious Foundation from the British! At least that's what we're taught here. I'm so sorry to hear that you've lost that aspect of your culture because believe you me it's one of our greatest strengths socially it reinforces our bonds to one another, our commitment to family and overall generosity when we choose to exercise it properly. But if atheism is working out for you and your impoverished people more power to you I guess. Smh

But if atheism is working out for you and your impoverished people more power to you I guess. Smh

How’s your warmongering redneck of a President working out for you?

I'm mortified at this thread - purely because of the I'm OK mentality

I am so sorry you're in this horrible situation Smeaton

Would you mind if I PM'd you? I'm horrified that in our wealthy country a man is living on cup a soups!

Those who begrudge benefits - I'm not so charitable that thankfully you don't face this situation - and actually hope you find yourself in the same boat as Smeaton.

Shame on you.

Bashum so you have insurance which would cover what we'd call sickness benefits to cover short term illness.

What happens beyond the 6 month period, if somebody is unable to return to work? Are they then reliant on church / charity support?

What is being discussed here is welfare payments for disabled / people who are unable to work and people who are long term unemployed.
The system might not be perfect but I still believe it's better than what the U.S. has to offer.

Smedden: well... Everyone is back to work.( Thank God) & No wars being mongered on US soil so far. Limited middle East immigration seems to have resulted in there NOT being another incident like 09/11/2001. Companies are allowed to enjoy the fruits of capitalism again, for the time being so... Overall, outside of the usual American facade bitching about things not being perfect, I'd say we're doing OK. NO one is killing themselves after eating dog food in their Sunday brunch. It's still early though. How you?😉

@smeddum: I reread my post and I'm sorry if I appeared to be mean spirited, I didn't mean to come off that way. That may be the reason for your red neck president comment. I shouldn't have linked the words impoverished people with atheism in such an awkward way. I just thought ( perhaps incorrectly) definition difference being showed 2 poor people in such desperate need that they have to feed their children dog food might be related to the fact that those with means don't feel that the people have a soul or spiritual Humanity. And that way it's easy to disregard the desperate plight of their fellow citizens. I really didn't mean it as a dig. Apologies. But to answer your question we're doing okay whether America has a redneck, Brown neck, pink neck or clean neck president.lol

Avoiding DM, OK no judgement here I was just curious about why people were saying that suicides increased and British children were eating dog food to survive. You guys have to do what's best for your nation, absolutely! Again, no judgement and apologies if I came off that way. BTW. Anyone in U.S legally deemed disabled and unable to work after 6 months of injury in any capacity, and by any capacity means you can't lick an envelope in an office and get paid for it or staple papers at a desk or sweep a floor in a building excetera excetera. Then you receive something called SDI which is supplemental Social Security disability income. It's based upon average income levels in your region for minimal survival which would be anywhere from $850 to about $1,200 a month. That would also entitled the person to rental supplement called Section 8 , food stamps and a heating benefit in the winter months called HEAP. Combine all that with charitable donations and family support for those that are lucky and the disabled I tended to with a modicum of dignity. It's not perfect but....... FYI

Ok so I wrote a reply and it didn’t post so here I go again.

You did mean to judge, and you had no right to.

1. #BlackLivesMatter
2. Healthcare changes which deny more people access to medical help when needed
3. aye, disabled people employed at any level (including licking envelopes for a living) because they have to to survive but are paid low wages and not treated the same as other workers (don’t deny this, I have family and friends in the US)
4. Your welfare system is not existent and dehumanising (yes even more than the UK system)
5. I am not prepared to take any judgement from anyone who thinks the US is doing “ok” when you have Trump as president and a whole host of problems that you need to address.

The UK may well be a shitshow, and the Tories and UC are a national disgrace, I don’t deny that. But your comments were not only ridiculous they were uncalled for.

And if you insist the treatment of disabled people is so wonderful, may I suggest you google Natalie Weaver. Her story is by no means atypical. Her daughter can’t even access the pain relief needed let alone surgery,

In the USA suicide accounts for more deaths than annum than homicide. (Department of Health and Human Services, Washington)
Suicide among the disabled population is some 7.5% higher than the general population.
Official figures show that 1:8 Americans live in Poverty significantly higher than under Obama.

Obamacare. Well, what the hell can one say about Republican attitudes to that.
Women's Rights.
Abortion Rights.
Human Rights.
Walmart workers accessing food stamps.
The entirely loopy plan to replace food stamps.
The US is worse under Trump unless you are middle class or wealthy.

@Bashun While I respect others' opinions, personally I thought your questions came across as a desire to learn rather than anything else

FWIW (and leaving aside my views on organised religion) I very much admire the way your churches and communities come together to pitch in with initiatives for the local good. Here in the UK, though, that might well be sneered at as "charity" and the church accused of getting folk together for its own interests ... "brainwashing" is often mentioned

All that said, it seems to me that the US way of doing things is driven by a "what can we do about it" mindset, instead of the "what can they (the state) do about it" which tends to be more common in the UK

And we won't mention gun laws in the US, where you can buy a gun with your weekly grocery shopping.

I would much, much rather be a poor person in the UK than in the US. I've lived in the US, I've see how the poor live and I was very shocked. I think the middle class in America often just pretend the poor don't exist; either that or they pray for them, rather than actually help. Prayers don't feed your family or pay $$$$$ for medical care.

The UK isn't great but at least in here we have the NHS, a welfare state and virtually no guns.

I'm devastated that because of Brexit the UK might become more like America.

I guess food banks are the equivalent of the American churches. But I too would much rather be a poor person in the UK than the US.

I know the NHS isn't without it's problems (mainly due to under funding) but it's saved my life on 3 separate occasions. I would never want to see it go.
I remain grateful that I live in a time when modern medicine is available and in a country were I could access it.

The trouble with the Uk is the mindset 'what can I get' rather than 'what can I do to help myself' .

The problem with relying on charity such as churches to help poor people, is that only certain kinds of people get help.
A welfare state ensures, if it is running correctly, that everyone who needs help gets it.
Agree though that FoodBanks are our equivalent of churches helping. And they are run by volunteers.

The trouble with the Uk is the mindset 'what can I get' rather than 'what can I do to help myself'

Bullshit. The trouble with the UK is “I’m alright Jack, fuck everyone else”. That and people believing propaganda demonising anyone on benefits. HTH.

Smeddum no I am quite right thank you

Yes agree it is bullshit. People help themselves every day. But sometimes they need a bit of help. I would have been on the streets in my early twenties if my parents hadn't helped me. Not everyone has family they can turn to for help.

Uh huh. ironic that on another thread you’re advocating someone keeping money that wasn’t theirs and saying you’d have kept it while saying that anyone on benefits is out for what they can get eh?

Wow! I would never keep money that wasn't mine. But then I am poor. I don't believe in screwing people over to be okay.

No Gin you are not right , and your username speaks for itself. Your attitude to life is foremost about yourself and life’s “little pleasures”.