Is anybody on universal credit?

[NotUmbongoUnchained]

Posting for my sister again.

She’s a single mother full time student. In the old days, during the holidays she could claim income support during her holidays but now she’s had to claim universal credit. She has to wait 5 weeks for a payment but they have stopped her tax credits and housing benefit in the mean time. She also cannot apply for an advanced payment loan until she’s had a commitments meeting which isn’t for another 2 weeks. Luckily I’m in a position to help her out but what the fuck is she supposed to do if I wasn’t?! Are we missing something really obvious here is this genuinely what they’re doing to people?

I just can’t figure out how anyone thought this would be a better system. Poor kid is trying to better her life and they’re making it very difficult.

I didnt know that! no one told me. So they would have just closed my claim then.

BUTTERFLY You only need to go onto UC if there is a change of circumstances. If there are no changes, you stay on your current benefits. Once there is a change in circs, your current benefits claim will close and you will apply for UC.

This happened to me when I had my baby last year, they couldn't give me any universal credit for two whole months, luckily I was living with my mum and my boyfriend had a job so could give me a small amount of money to help out but apart from that absolutely nothing!