To ask you to watch Panorama re Universal Credit

[longwayoff]

God, this looks grim already. Look what we're allowing to happen.

I had to ring them last week, I don't have a home phone and my mobile bill just came. The call to them cost me £8.92

Oldsu not backtracking. Theres a wealth of literature to back up my points. Paul Willis' learning to labor was an ethnography of working class kids moving to working class jobs, it's a recognised pattern. Youre taking it very personally.
On another thread some would argue if you can afford not to claim tax credits you shouldnt be in social housing so your family dont really fit the pattern.
Your dad worked 3 jobs, does that not demonstrate that he was limited, as he couldnt work a full time job that paid enough just to have one job?
Theres no need to be offended at my post. Willis' work was written in 1977 so relevant to the time youre talking about. There is a pattern of learned culture, beliefs, talk, behaviours going from parents to kids. Social institutions reinforce these, the workplace, healthcare, school.
I never 'backtrack' in debates. I argue for my points by demonstrating their validitt though evidence. I dont make points to offend one person's family.

I agree with steakandkidney the system is designed to not let us get above our station. More so now than ever, it’s very hard to better yourself. Only to a certain degree anyway.

fox maybe you're talking about the tax credits number, but the UC line (and the ESA, and the PIP line and probably more than that) are free numbers. Obviously it's not great you were cost for ringing a tax credit line, but the UC line (which is what people are mainly discussing here) is free. The tax credits line is also 0345 not 0845 (or it's being phased out) so it is cheaper than before at any rate 😀

Your dad worked 3 jobs, does that not demonstrate that he was limited, as he couldnt work a full time job that paid enough just to have one job?

I have three jobs...I teach, I tutor, I examine. All professional.

Yet the choice was made to bring children into the situation regardless of that. With so many doing similar, something had to give and UC has measures to put in place to try and stop people taking advantage

Shocking though it is, a man was involved in creating my children. A man who is allowed to get away with paying a pittance towards their upkeep.

But, yeah, I see what you mean. There's so many single parents struggling to make ends meet, something had to change. It makes perfect sense to cut their income. God forbid we make men responsible for financing their own children....

www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-merseyside-46235842

The Universal Credit benefits system is forcing some women to turn to sex work, charities say.

The BBC has spoken to five charities and organisations in England who say there are increasing numbers of women on the credit (UC) in this position.

Frank Field, MP for Birkenhead, also told MPs in October "some women have taken to the red-light district for the first time" as a result of UC.

The government said: "No-one has to face hardship on Universal Credit."

"Julie", from Merseyside, never thought she would have to turn to sex work.

But an eight-week wait for the single mum's first payment after transferring from her previous benefits left her "desperate", so when she was offered £30 for sex she took it.

"I'm ashamed to admit, I have slept with a guy for money", said Julie, who asked for her real name not to be used.

"It's something I never ever thought I would be ever capable of doing. I just didn't think it was in me as a person.

"So I'm, like, very disappointed in myself and ashamed of myself.

"I had to use food banks. I've never been in that situation in my life. I've really struggled."

When Mr Field made his comments in the Commons, then Work and Pensions Secretary Esther McVey said work needed to be done to help them.

"Perhaps [Mr Field] could tell these ladies and the work coaches that now we have got record job vacancies - 830,000 job vacancies - and perhaps there are other jobs on offer," she said.

But Mr Field told the BBC he had received no contact from the government since raising the issue in parliament, following UC's introduction in his constituency in November 2017.

"[Women turning to sex work is] an absolute indictment of welfare reform… it seems that you couldn't get a worse result," he said. "

twitter.com/BoardDylan/status/1064541062260248577

You do realize that some of those childcare workers will be the UC claimants that you despise. Thats what i meant.

Where have I said I despise anyone??? Stop assuming and fabricating.

Fox Were you on an other thread and it was found you'd called through a different number = scammed basically.

This thread is absolutely horrible. I find it unbearable reading how tough some people have it. UC is a disgrace. It will be an absolute shitstorm next year

God forbid we make men responsible for financing their own children

We should be making both parents responsible, not just one sex. If they aren't then there should be harsh punishments.

Some may have taken the route of sex work but given UC gives an advance payment loan and there's agency work that can be picked up and paid for within two weeks for those willing.

UC isn’t just about single mothers having children so they can claim benefits.

Some are families with 2 parents who for no fault of their own suddenly find themselves between jobs and need some help.

Saying no one has to face hardship on UC I wonder how not having money for 2 months is not going to create hardship.

I wonder if MPs suddenly had no access to money for 8 weeks what their response would be.

No electric if you can’t pay for it. No food if you haven’t the cash.

What is the point of 820000 vacancies if they are in a different area or it is night work so there is no childcare or you are not qualified.

My friend , not on UC but on disability had her money stopped last year.

They told her that they were reassessing her benefits.

For 6 weeks she was without any money.

Then they awarded her a tiny amount and told her to appeal if she thought she could get more but they would strenuously fight any appeal.

It took just over a year for the case to come round and she has had her disability restored and it will all be back dated.

Problem is that she has had to rely on credit cards for the past year. Robbing people to pay Paul so whilst the amount she gets is what she should have received it doesn’t come with interest so any credit card charges and interest she will have to cover so it has ended up she is in debt which wouldn’t have been the case if she had been paid on time each week/month.

Equally the department that stopped her disability has a large solicitors bill for fighting the case so no one is a winner.

Friend has several disabilities but they only referred to one issue and wouldn’t listen to reason.

This rollout needs to be halted ASAP

Robbing Peter to pay Paul

She wouldn’t have been capable of robbing people.

People are frozen in fear because they are scared things will trigger non-payment.
Thing is, if starting a job was worthwhile in the short term, as in, you received UC until your first pay date (my last job was a month in hand), got help with rent until then, you didn't lose absolutely everything the day you start, then more people would try.
They talk about this 'oh you can earn 1000 more each year'. Well nobody cares about that when they've been there 6 weeks and need the food bank, and have arrears.
Give that help early, to give people a chance.

www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/universal-credit-forces-mum-prostitution-13612610

www.politics.co.uk/comment-analysis/2018/11/20/front-line-universal-credit-rollout-hits-northampton