To ask you to watch Panorama re Universal Credit

[longwayoff]

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

Why do they pay less in the uc carers element then what you receive in carers allowance.... I'm worse off working now why do I bother now I'm switching on to uc

Just read about Michelle Obama's new book. She 'wonders where the bottom is'. I think we all know we're not there yet.

I think that a big problem is that Jeremy Corbyn, who is a totally un-votable leader who has made labour into a divided, cult like, party, refuses to stand down as leader.
If Labour had an electable and strong leader people would vote with their feet. As it is, we are stuck with the Tory's.

It panics me horribly. We are currently in CTC with childcare element. But will be moving over to UC (I think) in January.

Now my job won’t qualify for the 35 hours at minimum wage, so as far as I am aware I will have to job search (despite having a job, one that took ages to find) or I won’t get help with childcare. Without help with childcare I will have to quit my job. It’s a no win situation.

I am happy to be told I am mistaken though, please.

The problem is that many people don't get the full rent element anyway because their rent exceeds the maximum for their local authority. So if you are in private rented accommodation and they deem you to only need two bedrooms but all you can find is 3 then you will have to find the excess rent. Sometimes there are problems when people split up and the partner is still on the tenancy agreement, UC will only pay half the rent etc

The first point applies to HB as well, so isn't really a UC problem.

The second is woeful ignorance. If you have a joint tenancy, you're "jointly and severally" liable for the rent. So if one of you moves out, the other is still legally liable (the same applies to council tax). By asessing a claim from someone as a single person, the DWP is tacitly accepting that their ex no longer lives there, so they should include the full rent.

Part of the problem with UC is piss-poor training. Someone I know is on JSA but has become too ill to work. The JCP keep telling her that she'll have to go on to UC at the end of the month, but she has 3 kids. People with 3 or more children can't get UC! She keeps telling them this, and they keep telling her she's wrong. She's bricking it in case they're right, and she loses her severe disability premium.

Nowhere Dixit explain WHY the payments are going direct to the tenants rather than to the landlords. It's obvious that the money's going to be spent, when people have so little spare cash (although I know one man who spent all his on beer and weed).

Babyroobs iirc, the U25 rate applies to people with children on UC. On legacy benefits, parents get the 25+ rate, even if U25.

Imo, the worst thing about UC is that people actually voted for this. Some sections of the media have created a climate where being on benefits is seen as some kind of crime by lots of people.

Lets look at it from the other side.

A lot of people are not computer literate or are at the lower end the educational scale. I think some of the problems stem from these people not understanding or completing forms properly - hence many delays.

Regarding sanctions, if you can give an adequate reason you are ok, but many people are unable to keep paperwork together, or do not understand the importance of documents to explain their absence. I also don't think theres anything wrong with looking for work for 35 hours if you have no commitments as that's how long you would work anyway.

Hopefully with windfall to help CAB with UC will ensure forms are completed properly and on time.

Is there nothing that isn't Jeremy Corbyn's fault. Fucksake.

Read the party policies. Vote for who best matches you.
If you're a Tory own it.

Cupboard. Except it's not like that.

Also if you want people to do something for 35 hours pay them a living wage to do it.

I always blame Jeremy Corbyn. For everything. It saves a lot of time. Brexit screw up? Corbyn. Ireland border? Corbyn. Dodgy anorak? Corbyn. Fall of the Roman Empire? Corbyn. Ad infinitum.

I have just watched it an it was encouraging to see the family getting sorted out.(dad working and mum now in work} so from their point of view it looked a ball ache but ok in the end.The two guys who were getting evicted did nothing to help themselves.I am sure the sanctions could have been avoided but some people will not/cannot take responsibility for their own lives.they are the ones who need extra support and its just not there for them.The major failiure seems to be the direct payment of housing monies...If that bit was reversed it would run smoother...Its a tough one as I believe the benefit system should not be a way of life.it should be a safety net for the shortest possible time to help someone re establish themselves its been far too easy in the past to make a career out of the system..it was time for a change but this I feel has been too much too soon .The pilot schemes should have been properly analyzed and action to improve or change things should have been done then before further roll outs started.

Except there was a not a big problem with people conning the system at all and this is punishing poor people for being poor. Again.

Mrsemcgregor, how many hours you have to work/look for work depends on the age of your youngest child. It’s unlikely to be more than 25 hours ;and could be much less) if your kids are young enough to need childcare. Also, I believe the transfers have been pushed back so you won’t swap in January? See here: www.entitledto.co.uk/help/Claimant-commitment-Universal-Credit

Also if you want people to do something for 35 hours pay them a living wage to do it.

In return for looking for a job you get your benefits. Work always pays better in the long run.

Well said Sally.

Its a tough one as I believe the benefit system should not be a way of life.it should be a safety net for the shortest possible time to help someone re establish themselves its been far too easy in the past to make a career out of the system

I believe this too - however until wages catch up with the real cost of living & private sector housing costs are capped at reasonable rates many working people need benefits in order to cover the basics... the amount of people "making a career" out of the system is negligible if you look at the overall picture and this system punishes the many for the crimes of the few.

Im scared too...im a lone parent to 3 children...2 at uni who i still support in the holidays...i work in retail so my pay is topped up by tax credits...im terrified of going onto UC....

I have just watched it an it was encouraging to see the family getting sorted out.(dad working and mum now in work} so from their point of view it looked a ball ache but ok in the end

If it's the family I'm thinking of they will still be in the system, but now their payments will vary according to hours worked. There's countless people having problems with this as the UC payments don't match the work cycles, so you don't know how much you've got coming in, and some months you might have two work payments so no UC, yet you've got no more (from the pay) in your pocket. Then you get to the situation where you can't afford the bus fare and you can't get to work. Or you can't eat so you're not fit for work.

The Minister that said the system was easy to understand was talking rubbish. Most JCP staff don't understand it, let alone claimants.

Only new claims are on UC at the moment, no one on a legacy benefit will go over yet as parliament have not yet approved the order in which this will be done.

On the benefit I work on (IS) this means that lone parents who's youngest child turns five, gets a job over 16hours/£93.10 a week or starts living with a partner , carers who's CA stops or get a job over £64.50/week and students (under 20) leaving FTE, will need to make a new claim to UC. With exception of those with more than 2 children who will not be able to apply to UC until Feb 19

Parents that are working and have 1/2 children should be better off as child care is 85% instead of 70% and the weekly threshold for earnings is £45 instead of £20 and anything over the threshold is taken at 63% instead of 100%. You are only expected to look for 16hours work if children are under 5

However there are no disability premium or severe disability premium meaning anyone disabled is worse off

The older men seemed to forget that they are adults and are responsible for themselves eg going to appointments, budgeting etc. Was irritated by them.
The older man suffered with depression and quite obviously had some learning difficulties. He needed some help to remind him of meetings etc.
Were you irritated when he turned up for a meeting and his advisor was on holiday, but he still got sanctioned?

@Dontwalkaway No you will not be put on UC but assuming min wage at 10 hours that would be £78.30/week £20 disregarded and £58.30 taken off your IS would leave you with £14.80/week IS plus your wages.

@Dontwalkaway you would effectively be working for £20 per week as clients have pointed out to me on the phone, but it is your choice if it is worth it some feel the benefits of being in work are more than the downside of having it being take out of your benefits