To wonder if we're the only people with a positive universal credit experience?

[Myusernameismud]

Just that really. When we first claimed it was hell, we were a test case in our area and nobody seemed to know what they were doing. It took 8 weeks for our first payment, which was awful obviously but our landlord and local authority were very understanding and made it as easy as possible for us (we were allowed to pay £5 a week rent until our first payment came through, and no council tax. Obviously, when our backdated payment finally came through we paid off arrears)

But since then, it's been a breeze. DH and I have both changed jobs, had differences in income and therefore differences in monthly UC payments. We've moved house, and the children have changed schools but throughout it all, our payments have been reliable. We don't have to inform them if our monthly wage goes up or down it's all done through HMRC.

I can't speak for how well it works if you're self employed, both unemployed or a single parent, because I haven't experienced that. I've been unemployed with DH in work, and there was no requirement for me to look for work unless I wanted to due to his earnings, which takes the pressure off significantly.

So AIBU to think that if you're a low to middle earner, UC works well? The rollout has been horrendous, yes, and that needs fixing. But once it's all settled, it's by far a better system than tax credits ever was.

I'm ready for a lot of negativity, because that seems to be the norm, but I'd be interested to hear from anyone else with a positive thing to say about it. For the record, I'm a Labour voter and die hard socialist, so it pains me to be completely on board with it. But there we go.

It has to work for someone. I wonder if it's because you're a couple. As a LP I'm dreading the UC change.

FWIW I'm one of the few with a positive experience of tax credits and the CSA.

When I was single I claimed and had no problems. My advisor was really nice and when I had to miss an appointment he noted that I attended and asked if I wanted to do appointments over the phone. He even gave me lots of careers advice which was more than helpful.

The payment took a few weeks but I'm lucky I had savings to tide me over.

Ahh the CSA have failed us massively. ExP works cash in hand and declares no income, but claims no benefits so isnt on the radar at all. I know he takes home around 150 a day, 6 days a week, but because he declares none of it, my DCs get nothing. And CSA refuse to investigate. Massive failure. I even have proof that he works, because he stupidly has a Facebook page and plasters his business all over it.

I was unemployed at the time but I'm on zero hours now and living with my partner so things could be different if I claim now.

Yes it should be criminal to avoid paying child maintenance.

As a single working parent to a disabled dd it's put me in debt which I wasn't in before eg higher council tax and over payment of CTC. I hate it but glad it works for some but it won't work for the majority. It needs a overhaul and the waiting time for it is ridiculous.

I think one of the biggest issues with universal credit is migrating people on to monthly payments when they are used to week my or fortnightly. With no budgeting support

I also don't think people realise that more people will be eligible than under tax creds. We would need a joint pre-tax income of 44k before we stopped getting any payments at all. I'm fairly certain TC stopped at 35k

umberalla we did struggle with that for a while. Although we had monthly wages, day to day bits like shopping were usually paid for with tax credits, leaving monthly income for rent and bills. It took some strict budgeting and a lot of discipline, but withing about 3 months we'd worked out the best way of doing things.

*within

TC didn’t stop at 35k and it was a simple form once a year. Am assuming you have no childcare costs?

It was simple once a year if you had no change of circs, but if you started a new job or left one, and any significant changes in income were more complex than that. I work different hours every month, so TC would have been a nightmare but UC do all those calculations for you.

I don't have childcare costs, we have transitional FSM protection and DS school offer free breakfast and after school club to FSM children. I did when we lived elsewhere, and our payment was even higher as UC pay 85% childcare as opposed to TC 75%

I think one of the biggest issues with universal credit is migrating people on to monthly payments when they are used to week my or fortnightly. With no budgeting support

At some point, I would expect that the individual take responsibility for their own budgeting and money management. Just as those living on a wage only, have to.

worrying I do agree with you there, but it does take time to learn to manage money differently.

It would be great if this was taught effectively in schools! Then all could learn good money management before adulthood.

But I don't think the onus should be on the already stretched benefit system.

Instead of trigonometry perhaps. Because who really uses that in their daily life?!

It's great to hear a positive UC story, but ime they're in a minority.

I've helped 6 clients to start UC claims and not one has gone smoothly.

It took 8 weeks for our first payment,

Imagine that if you'd got no savings, or if you'd got an unsympathetic landlord. Eviction, food bank reliance (that would only cover you for a few weeks, you can only go so many times)... How does it work for you now?

We didn't have any savings. We had a sympathetic landlord yes, and that was our only saving grace. We got by on child benefit (I still received it weekly), freezer raids at my mum and sisters house, and the fact that I'm a neurotic food shopper who always has plenty of stuff in the cupboard. DCs FSM claim was sorted quicker than anything else, so I didn't have to worry about packed lunches. It was hell, I'm not denying that but 8 weeks is longer than the usual wait. What didn't help is that we were transferred without any warning after a minor change in circs. If we'd thought it was going to happen, I would have had time to prepare.

I'm not denying the transfer process and rollout in general is a shambles. That is true for almost everyone. But once it was sorted, it's far better for us. Like I said, I can't comment on how it is for unemployed or self employed people, because I don't know.

I work different hours every month, so TC would have been a nightmare but UC do all those calculations for you.
Well yes and then you get considerably less money. Tax credits also worked things out for you based on your annual income.

I'm on UC and it works for me. I'm used to being paid monthly as most of my jobs have been 4 weekly/monthly paid.

Yes the waiting period was a struggle,(had to rely on foodbanks a couple of times)but my Housing Association were brilliant when I explained and let me pay off my arrears once my payments started.

This month I received more from UC as I'm working just my contracted hours for a couple of months, which makes up for the lower wage.Once my hours go back up from about March/April time,then my UC goes back down.

For me it works well and seems a lot fairer-for my situation,I get it's different for other people and they may struggle more than I did.

What didn't help is that we were transferred without any warning after a minor change in circs. can I ask what this was my friend is extremely anxious about change of circs , minor changes do not usually trigger a change.

My single nephew had no complaints about it. He's a well educated professional with good job prospects and he didn't have to sign on every week, He was left to manage his own job search and treated with respect....He has no one to worry about but himself. He therefore thinks it's the same for everyone and can't see what the fuss is about.
Sadly, there are a lot of people who think the way he does.
If somethings not a problem for him, no problem exists.

It's the childcare costs element that's awful for me. Six months in a row, and not once did they pay the childcare element. My childcare bill is over £1000pcm, so I really can't afford to not get the help towards that. And EVERY month without fail they don't pay me that element, and when I ring to query it, I get a blasé "oh it needs to be approved by a case manager/oh it hasn't been looked at yet/hmmmm that's odd, it should have been done" etc etc.

myDC you're right, they don't. Ours was because we got married. That was literally it. No change in the household, as we'd been living together before, no change in income etc. It was literally a change of name. But we were essentially Guinea pigs. We were transferred a full year before anyone else in our area, and the guy at the jobcentre eventually confessed that prior to rollout, a few claimants are randomly picked when a change of circs occurs to test how well they implement the transfer process. There was a note on our records that said 'test case' that everyone involved (jobcentre, UC helpline advisors etc) could see.
We were the family with children, they also picked a couple without children, a single parent and a single person with no children. IIRC there was a person claiming disability benefits too, although I don't know if they had children. It was an utter shambles. But you're right, a change of name wouldn't normally trigger a change. Ours was an exceptional case.