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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To be so worried about Universal Credit?

85 replies

BoldComicSans · 25/11/2018 20:18

I've had a letter telling me I'm being changed to online Universal Credit.

I've set my account up but it's forced me to give every detail again and is asking me to upload evidence of everything!

It also says I now need to book an appointment at the job centre. I've been on it for about 2 years now so they already have all my details and all my evidence.

I am now panicking because my monthly payment is due next week. And they mess up payments already and often forget to pay my childcare element.

If they do not pay my childcare help next week I then cannot use my childminder. This then means I cannot get to work. Im so worried that such a frustrating system can lose me my childcare and my full time job.

They advertise is as helping parents work, but it feels like the opposite.

I feel sick with anxiety at the thought of what is more than likely to come next week. Plus I can only go to the job centre on my lunch hour which means there are no appointments free for weeks.

OP posts:
Original poster
BoldComicSans · 27/11/2018 07:06

Also my employer usually pays us early in December to help with Christmas. But I have had to ask them not to for me. So when everyone else gets paid early I will be left out.

But I've no choice as last year they paid us all early and it meant that 2 wages fell into 1 assessment period. So not only did I have to go longer on just 1 wage, but I then did not get paid anything in January. I ended up having to ask my boss for a loan to pay my childcare as I had no way of paying it.

OP posts:
Original poster
BoldComicSans · 27/11/2018 07:19

Tea on the portal it says I have until mid December to give my evidence and book in at the job centre. But I'm due to be paid on Thursday. I declared my childcare over the phone before I got the letter about switching online.

Nearly every other month they forget to pay me the childcare element, so I'm not feeling very hopeful. It just causes stress when it's not needed.

OP posts:
UterusUterusGhali · 27/11/2018 07:20

That's insane. My NHS trust always pay early in December. That's the biggest employer in the uk! That's so many people affected.

Original poster
BoldComicSans · 27/11/2018 07:20

How old are your children?

OP posts:
Original poster
BoldComicSans · 27/11/2018 07:22

It is. I've requested to get paid later than others. So something that's meant to help employees means I'm the odd one out or I get penalised. Absolutely crazy how the system works.

OP posts:
hmmwhatatodo · 27/11/2018 12:29

Most local councils also pay early and I’m assuming people who work for the government like civil service will also get paid early at Christmas.

hmmwhatatodo · 27/11/2018 12:30

I would imagine this system is stopping people from having a go at applying for new jobs because of the stress of changing from tax credits to UC and then all the stopping and starting of money and the uncertainty of it all.

hmmwhatatodo · 27/11/2018 18:34

Thank you Helena. The more I read, the more shocking a system it turns out to be. I am still amazed that people are expected to attend an interview despite being in a full time job. When has that ever happened before? People have always been able to post their info or do it online. This seems to be going backwards. Why should you have to go and share with your employer that you claim something? What about the people you work close to... make up a story about a doctors appointment? I really think there will also be a lot of people now claiming through the old system who are looking at going for a new job, maybe because it pays a little more but not enough to not claim anything but they won’t due to fear of the new system so they are stuck until they get forced onto it. And who wants to go for a new job knowing that you will have to ask for time off straight away to go for a UC interview? This doesn’t just affect people on the lowest of wages, it is affecting people earning closer to. £25k+ a year who have the misfortune of needing help with their private (too expensive) rent.

Original poster
BoldComicSans · 27/11/2018 18:58

This is my to do list...

To be so worried about Universal Credit?
OP posts:
HelenaDove · 27/11/2018 20:44

@UterusUterusGhali Wonder how it will fly when some of those working for that trust cant afford to get to work.

UterusUterusGhali · 27/11/2018 20:56

I guess I'll have to throw a sickie when I run out of fuel.

At the mo my wages go straight out on bills the moment they hit my account. I have money outstanding on a car loan as I drive for work and needed a car quickly.
The tax credits are used for food, fuel, rent, CT, clothes, toiletries etc.

crikey, Bold they make you work for it. Can you imagine if this happened when people claimed their pensions?

BumbleeBeeMe · 27/11/2018 21:05

I switched to the online system on the 18th of November and my payment on the 22nd went through absolutely fine. I was worried too. The online system does seem to be better than spending an hour on the phone whenever you need anything.
Hopefully your payment goes through ok.

HelenaDove · 27/11/2018 21:07

And those who work in retail who are expected to go in on Boxing Day when there are no buses. It was hard enough for them before having to fork out double time cab fares. How on earth will they do it if they are also paid early and it screws up the timing?

ivykaty44 · 27/11/2018 21:24

funinthesun birth certificate is ID and £10.50 for a copy, so much cheaper than a passport

ivykaty44 · 27/11/2018 21:27

Hmmwhatatado people earning £25k a year won’t qualify

Rachyrach1990 · 27/11/2018 21:31

I moved to UC last week, was really anxious especially so close to Christmas. I signed up online and applied for an advance, I got a notification to say it has been accepted and would be in my account Thursday. I then read all the horror stories online so didn't hold my breath but it was in my account this morning.

I have uploaded all my childcare paid etc and all my details and should receive my first payment on 28th Dec. So far I can't knock them at all as they have paid earlier than expected, I did confirm my ID online but have to go for a meeting on Thursday at JC, I work 30hours p/w so questioned why I needed to go but apparently its to get a code?

Original poster
BoldComicSans · 27/11/2018 21:35

A code for what? You'd think if that's all its for they could give it over the phone.

OP posts:
FishesThatFly · 27/11/2018 21:37

I'm still on tax credits. When will l moved over?

Bluelonerose · 27/11/2018 21:50

I thought the whole point of universal credit was it was to pay more like work?

What job would not know weather you were getting paid £0 or £1000 that month?

I'm petrified of moving over. Dh is disabled so that should help matters Hmm

Rachyrach1990 · 27/11/2018 21:54

A code to get on my online account (which I'm already on) apparently you don't have full functionality until you get this code?

Babyroobs · 27/11/2018 21:56

Blue - UC is a top up benefit, if you earn more you get topped up less and if you earn less you get topped up more. You can't compare it to wages because for working people it's a top up and they get their wages paid as normal. If you are on UC and not working then you get exactly the same amount each month so you know exactly what you are getting !

Rachyrach1990 · 27/11/2018 21:57

@bluelonerose totally agree! And it's supposed to be better for people as it will help to budget, but you will be paid 5 weeks after you apply and never know what you are going to receive, so how do you budget for that?

mummmy2017 · 27/11/2018 21:57

Can you imagine the uproar when the government pay wages early over Xmas and the people who work the system who are on UC get hit themselves..

Rachyrach1990 · 27/11/2018 22:02

I do think if it stops overpayments it will be great as that's caused a lot of headache over the years for a lot of people, I do think it's easier verifying online (for me personally) however appreciate how difficult this will be for so many people.

My main concern is when the server goes down and nobody can access accounts (like now) I have just tried logging in and service is not available???

To be so worried about Universal Credit?