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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think Gordon Brown is right about UC

159 replies

Orangeblossom1976 · 10/10/2018 15:24

www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/universal-credit-gordon-brown-poll-tax-riots-benefits-dwp-roll-out-nationwide-a8576751.html

Remember what happened when they tried the tax credits cuts? I think thus might be worse. And with Brexit too...but oh I forgot it is the end of Austerity. Right.

OP posts:
RomanyRoots · 12/10/2018 14:11

a conservative government will only make any policy work for rich people, obviously, as it's what they stand for and always will.
Make the rich, richer and make the poor, poorer.
i learned this mantra about 45 years ago, it will never change.

HMRCfail · 12/10/2018 14:17

Let’s hope their admin is a bit better than this then ffs

To think Gordon Brown is right about UC
To think Gordon Brown is right about UC
LittleLionMansMummy · 12/10/2018 14:21

My sister who, fwiw has never in her life been in receipt of benefits, left an abusive relationship earlier this year. She has a 9yo dd and in order to leave her H and as she'd been a sahm for 9 years, she got a job but it's not well paid ( £17k). She would have been eligible for considerable financial support under the old system. She's not entitled to UC. And because she has savings - which she can't currently draw down on because her stbxh holds the purse strings until the divorce settlement is agreed - she's left struggling to make ends meet.

flopsyrabbit1 · 12/10/2018 15:53

On 17k with a child an no help from UC that is shocking

flopsyrabbit1 · 12/10/2018 15:56

Does she have over £16k in savings,because below that its a sliding scale i think

RomanyRoots · 12/10/2018 17:27

I can't understand why you'd not get UC on a family income of 17k
How is this right, I know people on much more than this able to claim.

Original poster
Orangeblossom1976 · 12/10/2018 17:38

Because of her savings, UC is 6K tax credits 16K I think. Rather than the earnings.

OP posts:
Awwlookatmybabyspider · 12/10/2018 17:49

The Tories know quite well that UC is a disaster waiting to happen but They don't give a shit.
On another note I'd never have recognized GB in a million years, hasn't he altered

flopsyrabbit1 · 12/10/2018 18:18

but isnt it saving between 6-16k UC just on a sliding scale but still entitled?

Justanotherlurker · 12/10/2018 18:54

The Tories know quite well that UC is a disaster waiting to happen

The disaster is the roll out and should be looked at, it won't be scrapped as returning to the old system that by Labour's own admission was disconnected, outdated and no longer fit for purpose is beyond wasteful.

HelenaDove · 12/10/2018 20:31

From tonights Channel 4 news.

www.channel4.com/news/whats-it-like-living-on-universal-credit

Babyroobs · 12/10/2018 22:19

Flopsy - On Uc if someone has savings of 16k or over they will not get any UC. Between 6k-16k, they consider you to have some tariff income from savings . I think it is about £4.35 a month for every £250 over 6k. So if you had 7k in savings they would take £17.40 off your total Uc entitlement for that month. So yes up to 16k you would still be entitled to UC but your amount would reduce a bit.

LittleLionMansMummy · 13/10/2018 00:13

Yes, so dsis is now in rented accommodation but because she's declared she has more than £16k in savings (which she can't currently use as it's tied up in the divorce settlement). So until he begins to play ball (given their previous relationship, that's not likely any time soon!) she's stuck on £17k with no access to anything else. I wonder how many other women who have left abusive relationships UC is leaving vulnerable.

HelenaDove · 13/10/2018 00:27

Little lion there is a Universal credit and domestic abuse thread on the Feminism board.

LittleLionMansMummy · 13/10/2018 01:05

Thanks Helena, it really is shocking. The thing is, nobody really knows its impact until they're on the receiving end and have to deal with it first hand. Dsis was still under the illusion she'd be able to get support. At the moment, she doesn't even have the money to seek proper legal advice (removal of legal aid being yet another way this government has given the most vulnerable a really good kicking).

HelenaDove · 13/10/2018 01:25

YY Lion Just seen this on Twitter Its David Clapson all over again so ive added it to an old thread on the News board.

inews.co.uk/inews-lifestyle/people/diabetic-woman-died-after-coma-benefits-stopped-employment-support-allowance-sanction/

themachinestops · 13/10/2018 13:43

Single Parent with a full time job and a mortgage. Currently claiming child benefit and a small amount of child tax credit which I do use to help with our living costs.

Under UC I will lose most of what I currently get now.

Yet the Tories say they are making these changes to make people better off in work Hmm

Me too. Except the mortgage. Single renting full time working Parent. Under UC I lose £2400 a year, or nearly £200 a month. I also lose a further £600 a year just because I am paid 4 weekly (seriously!!) due to the glitches with the uc assessment periods.

Made me sick to see Esther McVey on BBC news the other day saying, and I quote -

"Those people will be on less benefit by the sheer nature that they are now in work"

This is a barefaced and shameful lie!! Lying through their teeth!!

I don't know how they keep getting away with misleading..

I work full time in care work, which is not well paid but needed in our society, and I lose SO much support under UC. I will suffer, my children will suffer. I will really struggle to meet my bills. Add in the financial implications of brexit, whichever side you are on, and it's a perfect storm.

And there will be hundreds of thousands, even millions, just like me, doing as the tories supposedly want by working full time, yet losing £1000s a year and struggling to survive.

This doesn't even cover the injustices to the disabled.

They also keep saying how they are using a "test and learn" approach, and will constantly be "tweaking".. all very well and good, but what about the approx 1 million (out of a total of 7 million or so) who are already on UC?? Using real live human beings, including children, as GUINEA PIGS, is not on!!

It truly is disgusting what they are doing. I agree with UC being another Poll Tax in the making. It has to be changed, or I fear the effects will be far-reaching, severe, and the damage will last for years.

themachinestops · 13/10/2018 13:50

that should have read

Made me sick to see Esther McVey on BBC news when questioned about 3 million people losing an average of £1800 a year , the other day saying..

UndertheCedartree · 14/10/2018 00:27

Universal credit has put me in serious debt. I became seriously mentally unwell last summer. I was sectioned on a psych ward. It took 8 long months to get anything from UC. All my savings had been used up at this point. It was a farce. I was initially told that as I had no access to a computer I would have to get a legal guardian to apply. I had no idea what to do as I had no legal guardian. Family Mosaic helped me apply and my claim was turned down as I was in hospital (as if all your expenses magically disappear once you're in hospital Hmm), then someone was going to come to the hospital but they never turned up. Eventually I got the basic allowance with only one month backdated. It took another couple of months to get the child element. Another 5 months on I'm still not getting anything for housing. This has not helped my mental health to say the least. I asked recently if I could be paid fortnightly to help with budgeting. They told me make an appointment when you are out of hospital. I am in hospital as I am unwell - that is why I am claiming UC - I need the help now! They make it all as difficult as possible. Nothing can be done via the phone but all needs to be done on the computer which makes it difficult as I have to wait for the Social worker or advocat to be with me. I am home with my children at weekends and have to feed them from a food bank. I honestly feel like they are just trying to kill off the mentally unwell with their treatment of us Sad

AllTheChocolateMice · 14/10/2018 00:38

It’s frightening, I’ve just left my partner and our youngest child has a disability. I haven’t worked since he was born.

It took 2 weeks for me to get an appointment with at the job centre about income support even though I phoned them straight away the interview was on the 4th, I’ve just had a message to say it could be another 10 days until my claim is processed. On Monday I’ll be in 4 weeks arrears with the rent

The adviser told me that if I’d have applied from the 17th of this month or if my circumstances change I’ll go on to UC . He didn’t actually say it but he implied that that wasn’t a good thing

The thought of UC frightens me, I wonder how many other LP would like to find work but are now scared of the UC system

Oldsu · 14/10/2018 02:38

WhoWants2Know pensioner benefits don't come under UC or didn't you know that

Babyroobs · 14/10/2018 12:18

Under the cedar tree - do you not have some kind of advocate/ support worker who can help you with these things whilst you are in hospital ? The hospital must have a social work team or someone that could help. I hope you mange to get things sorted out.

ivykaty44 · 14/10/2018 12:26

If you have 3 children or more you also can’t claim UC as the system can’t cope with it but if you are on UC and have a 3rd child you’ll stay on UC

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