Universal credit and financial abuse

[Bananaramaboat123]

I've been reading about uc and the implications of it being paid into one bank account, I just thought of another consequence that being that both parties on a claim have obligations in order to get UC paid. What if the man deliberately does not comply so the family are sanctioned left with no money all because half the claimment didn't do what was required, it then affects women and children. This could be done on purpose and there would be no means for the woman to appeal or get paid.. I guess it's similar to job seekers but this payment is once a month includes more than what job seekers is worth.

He could threaten that he will deliberately get sanctioned or refuse to do what is required, leaving the woman very stressed at the prospect or begging him to do something.

You can apply for split payments.

Can you get a single payment to the mother? I'm in charge of tax credits in our household so would take on the UC when it transferred over I guess. - and then would transfer some over to him. But yes I can see it causing problems. Mine has already moaned about the mother getting more in child tax credits, than the other part. I told them that's just the way it is! and don't think is financial abuse here.

I can see the point you are making about the interviews etc too, that already is worrying. But I guess it would also mean they wouldn't get the money either. But I can see that, if it was just the man working then he would still get his pay and the mother would have the UC stopped. Not good. Wonder if in that case the mother would apply separately. I think, in practice, it may end up in more couple splitting up. and costing the government more in the long run.

Why on earth can't they just do it the same way as tax credits work atm?

Can anyone apply for split payments or does it have to be a reason and agreed with both?

I agree some of the changes to the benefit system are cruel and draconian, but if we were to assume controlling relationships for them all we would never get anywhere.

Better to ensure the support is there for women to leave rather than in essence supporting staying in abusive relationships.

On gov website, advice as follows-

My partner won’t allow me access to any of the payment
If you have any concerns about accessing your payments and need to discuss alternative payment arrangements a Universal Credit helpline is available.

Telephone: 0800 328 9344
Monday to Friday 8am to 6pm
Find out about call charges.

Alternative payment arrangements are considered on a case by case basis and assessed on their individual merits. This allows for the household payment to be split. Wherever possible, these alternative payment arrangements will be temporary whilst you take steps to improve the way you manage your money.

Or LTB

I have seen this exact scenario played out where the lazy git refuses to go to the jobcentre because its beneath him and his benefit is sanctioned. But because its household money the unsanctioned amount is issued and he still gets to have all of his needs met - its just the partner and kids who suffer.

However it used to be the same years ago when 'the dole' paid out cash every week and the lazy git would have had to go and collect in person. His 'wages ' would be to go on a bender with the money and not go home until most of it was gone.

Ive seen this too.

Uc sucks big time and is horrendous to deal with . But its not to blame for the lazy gits in the world .

It is a bit like going back in time. When is it rolling out to those already on tax credits, 2022? I think. Interesting that may be after the next election? they seem to keep pushing it back

Even if the one partner was in charge of applying online and being in charge- thy still would be reliant on the other going to sign the agreement

self employment is another problem, they seem to require frequent updates on that so again reliant on them doing that as well.

Clearly woman should put her children first and leave twat.

I can imagine that might happen to be honest. And will mean more payments in terms of universal credit! maybe the best for the mother though in those situations.

I think an idea might be in transfer if this kind of thing may apply to sort it yourself and be in charge of it. But it still would meant them going to sign etc.

One of the many problems with this benefit. Not very woman friendly at all. To ask for split payments, the man would have to know about it ( possible consequences for woman) , and go to the job centre. All the admin for tax credits can be done by one partner.
Also, women are ' punished'
s for leaving under UC. If I left my husband next year, my payments would be capped at 2 children and I would also face the benefit cap, and a 5 week wait with no money. Seems like too high a hurdle to jump for some already being abused, there's no support there.

' We can't assume controlling relationships' yes, but at least think of women s needs a little bit.

The split payments won't be more universal credit, just half I would think.

All payments should automatically go to the mother.

Ok I see, yes so as would need to make a new claim as a single parent the transitional protection thing would no longer apply..as it would be a change in circumstances. also need to wait weeks to get it sorted out

Despite tax credits having problems in the past they are starting to seem easier in a way. It is good how they organise it and pay some to the woman (usually more) and some to the man, as routine and if the husband queries it you can say that is how it is. But if the one person, the mother was to get the lot they maybe wouldn't; like that and would want to be in charge.

Gin, they could, if the mother did all the applying etc, I think. It could be one payment to the mother. or to the shared account.

What happens if a family is only eligible for a small single part of of UC, do they still have to apply for all of it? Seems like a waste of everyones time to me

This was flagged up over and over again during the consultation stage of UC. The best Ian Duncan-Bloody-Smith could come up with was the split payment option.

There were then more representations that simply asking for a split payment would put abused partners at risk and this was ignored. At work, we come across this time and time again, where the abused partner is terrified to apply for a split payment because of fear of repercussions. Across the whole project, we think it's roughly one case a week.

I'll ask my colleagues if any of them have come across sanction cases in the circumstances described by OP.

Tax credits just do the split payments anyway, why can't they just keep it the same. I wonder.

Here www.entitledto.co.uk/help/Universal-Credit-Timetable
it says

Existing benefit and tax credit claimants who do not have a change of circumstance will not be migrated onto Universal Credit until July 2019 with this process being completed in March 2022.

• but it says about the page being out of date. Anyone know what the actual situation is for existing claimants? I am dreading it. although we may be exempt from the signing thing due to PIP / disability. I wouldn't; count on it though.

OK, so I looked into the conditionality part and it seems if you are already working etc as required you might not need to do this-

No conditionality

People in this group have no work condition as they are not considered to be able to work at all. This includes people with a disability or health condition which prevents them from working or who are carers, lone parents or the primary carer for a child under the age of one.

If a person is in work and earning over the set amount for their circumstances they are exempt from the conditions of their group. If they earn below the threshold set for them, they would still have to follow the claimant conditions set for them e.g. looking for extra work if they only do a few hours a week.

So presumably we would be OK then, as I would be in the former category and DH in the second. Self employed, but would just have to meet the minimum income floor requirements or above, then would be exempt from the signing part. That might make things easier, then for a lot of people.

Although

Receipt of Universal Credit is dependent on you signing a claimant commitment and being placed into a group that determines what you have to do in order to continue receiving the benefit.

So it looks like you do have to sign something to start with. Wonder if you need to go in and do this or can be sent in.

You can apply for split payments but the abuser would have to agree to that so you are not much further forward.

Bearing in mind that controlling access to money is a highly effective way to stop the victim leaving, and - if they do leave - forcing them to return. If you don't have bruises you might not be treated as a victim of domestic abuse and will be on your own.

'LTB' is simply not an option for many women who have been economically and financially abused.

I know, I was meaning it may prompt women to leave in terms of being in charge of the benefits entitlement. It is definitely not that simple.

So, it seems from checking if you are meeting the conditionality criteria it is just the case of signing once. The part with the one payment needs looking at though.

In practice as a suggestion if anyone in the same boat, I am going to suggest that I am the main person in charge of it (as with tax credits) then arrange a months direct debit of a set amount, similar to tax credits, to his or the main account (for bills etc). So it should keep a similar system in place to now.

I might even say this is because they are paying it all to the mother now or something like that.

Any child related benefits should go straight to the mother (in most circumstances). The male in the relationship may not the the father to all the children. At least the the mother has some control.