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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

....to think people are over exaggerating how bad Universal Credit really is?

347 replies

GingaNinja84 · 03/02/2020 21:14

Hear me out!

I've recently come off maternity leave and have just signed up to UC to supplement my wages for the next few months, while I ease my way up to full time hours. I'm not entitled to a lot, but what I do get will be enough to live on and pay my bills until March when I go full time again.

All very easy. Apply online, meeting at job centre, first payment next week. Smashing.

Can the people who've experienced the horror stories please share? I'm intrigued as to how and why it's badly affected some people, and how much worse off people are on UC now, than they were on old style benefits. All I've ever heard from everyone I know is that UC is terrible and I shouldn't go on it (just go back full time straight away instead....)....without backing it up with any real stories or details.

I'm hoping this doesn't turn into a benefits bashing thread. I'm just really interested in how other people use the new system, and it's benefits and drawbacks Grin

OP posts:
Original poster
GingaNinja84 · 04/02/2020 14:44

@FoamingAtTheUterus with all due respect...your horrific circumstances aside, I don't remember the last time I stayed in a hotel, whether it be for necessity or for a holiday. I'd go as far as to say it's a privilege not many in your circumstances enjoy.

OP posts:
beano47 · 04/02/2020 14:49

@moneyQuerying There are no disability premiums paid with UC, only legacy benefits eg HB, ESA etc. They’ve been completely cut out.

FoamingAtTheUterus · 04/02/2020 14:52

Ginga, I couldn't tell you of any time my son had the luxury of leaving the house alone, attending a youth club, having a partner or friend, going to a birthday party that wasn't a family members, applying for sixth form or uni and planning his future so I guess it's all swings and roundabouts. 💁🏻‍♀️

Pip is there for people who have disabilities making their lives easier and a bit less shit. In my son's case it's travelling to wherever we can get cheap tickets for and stay in a £30 a night premier Inn so he at the age of 18 can look at fucking trains with his mum and dad.

GreyTS · 04/02/2020 15:09

Not being able to speak English is a not a "disability" - it is something you can rectify - and should. All of us would learn "Esperanto" pretty fast if we crash-landed in the snow and HAD to communicate to eat.

😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱

Fucking hell, what's wrong with you? That's is some bitter and twisted racist shit, can only imagine what an awful life you must have to feel so negatively about other human beings, genuinely hope you are ok

PomBearWithAnOFRS · 04/02/2020 15:13

When we first (were forced, we later found out wrongly) to switch to UC, DH and I were both working and we still ended up at the point where DD fainted at college because she hadn't had anything to eat! DH was also hospitalised for tests because they suspected cancer because he lost so much weight so fast. I only stayed fat because of the medication I am on.
UC is evil, and designed to push the people at the bottom of the pile lower and lower until they crack.
I could rant for days about it.

dottypotter · 04/02/2020 15:31

There is a programme on it tonight so watch that.

MrsTidyHouse · 04/02/2020 15:32

How can you prove that you spend 35 hours each week applying for jobs?

dottypotter · 04/02/2020 15:48

you cant prove it .

TabbyMumz · 04/02/2020 16:00

Thanks monkey, I understand now...apologies I thought they were pushing for you to work 35 hrs a week, not search for work. I remember this now, I had to prove I was looking for work about 20 years ago when I was unemployed for a short time.

TabbyMumz · 04/02/2020 16:03

"Why exactly did they stop the severe disability premium ?
Did the usual non severe disability premium increase at all ?"
There is now Pip with a higher rate paid for more severe disabilities. There are 12 areas that you get points for, whether you can prepare food, dress yourself, eat food, mobility etc.

moneyQuerying · 04/02/2020 16:03

I think that’s disgusting they’ve cut the disability premiums

moneyQuerying · 04/02/2020 16:05

So essentially UC credit isn’t making work pay its just making being well pay

TabbyMumz · 04/02/2020 16:05

"How can you prove that you spend 35 hours each week applying for jobs?"
You just write up a chart, saying 4 or 5 ours reading jobs on line, 2 hours adapting your cv, applying to agencies etc...etc..its tricky and you end up repeating yourself a lot

TabbyMumz · 04/02/2020 16:07

"I think that’s disgusting they’ve cut the disability premiums"
I dont know that they have, it's just called pip now and harder to prove, which is slightly better because it was being abused a lot.

moneyQuerying · 04/02/2020 16:08

The disability premium was separate wasn’t it under ctc either one of 2 rates depending on rate of dla or pip ?

MonkeyToesOfDoom · 04/02/2020 16:09

How can you prove that you spend 35 hours each week applying for jobs?

By filling in your online journal.
You have to detail jobs you've applied for, result of that application, interviews attended etc etc.

Basically it looks like:
Searched pages 1-4 of indeed. 2hrs
Applied for position Gimp at Gimpy Gimps. 20mims
Did online suitability assessment for DoucheBros for position of chief doucher of douches 1hr

So on and so on and so on.

PityParty4one · 04/02/2020 16:10

Money

A case was won and a new rule brought in last Jan 2019 stating anyone on ESA with the SDP cannot claim UC now. Which is great but no help to those poor people that were forced to claim UC and lost the SDP extra payments.

Tabby
PIP replaced DLA and has nothing to do with UC.

Those that were on lower rate DLA lost it in the switch over to PIP. Many also lost their mobility car too as there are only 2 rates of PIP standard and enhanced and you only get mobility if you get the enhanced mobility part of PIP.

moneyQuerying · 04/02/2020 16:10

So you are expected to spend FIVE hours a day looking? What if there aren’t many jobs available and after 2 hours you literally can’t look anymore as there isn’t anything how do you explain that to them ?

lyralalala · 04/02/2020 16:11

I dont know that they have, it's just called pip now and harder to prove, which is slightly better because it was being abused a lot.

Pip is a totally different thing to the premiums, it replaced DLA.

Disability benefits have an error and fraud rate of less than 1%

PityParty4one · 04/02/2020 16:12

Money to gain SDP you must be on PIP and receive the standard rate for daily care as well as not living with anyone aged 18 to plus and nobody receives carers allowance for you.

UC has left alot if very disabled people in the shit.

TabbyMumz · 04/02/2020 16:13

"Not being able to speak English is a not a "disability" - it is something you can rectify - and should. All of us would learn "Esperanto" pretty fast if we crash-landed in the snow and HAD to communicate to eat."

"Fucking hell, what's wrong with you? That's is some bitter and twisted racist shit, can only imagine what an awful life you must have to feel so negatively about other human beings, genuinely hope you are ok"

Wow,t that's a bit of a major over reaction. When I read the comment, I just mused that learning a new language is not easy and very hard for some people, but she is right it's not a disability....but I dont see how that's racist?! And I wouldnt go on to say shes had an awful life because she said that...I would genuinely ask if you were alright after such a reaction.

TabbyMumz · 04/02/2020 16:15

"Moneyto gain SDP you must be on PIP and receive the standard rate for daily care as well as not living with anyone aged 18 to plus and nobody receives carers allowance for you."
That's not true I dont think, you can receive the higher rate mobility if you live with other people and they can receive the care allowance.

moneyQuerying · 04/02/2020 16:15

UC just sounds like a front for a discriminatory overhaul of the disability benefits system

MonkeyToesOfDoom · 04/02/2020 16:16

moneyQuerying

Therein lies the problem I mentioned.
Once all jobs you can realistically do, you must apply for ones you know you can't.
So instead of Admin Assistant roles, like you know you can do, you apply for chief executive officer, HR Executive, Payroll Clerk. Or if you have a kid and can't do weekends, you apply for jobs that include weekends. You get knocked back straight away, but it fills your time up.
If you ask a job coach they'll suggest walking the high street and asking in every shop, even if you did so last week. Or they'll suggest redoing your CV for the 100th time.

TabbyMumz · 04/02/2020 16:17

"Pip is a totally different thing to the premiums, it replaced DLA."
Never heard of these premiums...I totally thought PIP was the only thing you could claim for disability.