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

[GingaNinja84]

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

Wow Philip Alston, what a star! He's damn right.

RE people being online- I am very tech savvy. I remember being really broke, I couldn't pay the WiFi bill and my phone died. I didn't have the money to buy a new phone. I had to go to the library with a toddler to try and get on a computer to access the internet and check my emails about work. I'm reasonably smart and resourceful, but I felt panicked and stressed and if I had been 100% reliant on the internet and computers to access urgent help it might have broke me. Don't underestimate how quickly the dehumanising process of being treated like a number is. Most if us are no more than 3 pay packets away from disaster so maybe some empathy?

Also the staff on the end of the tax credits phone line were usually bloody lovely. Really human and helpful. That's so much better than trying to navigate a load of online forms, being able to speak to someone.

It's more difficult for those who are disabled, or on precarious work contracts. My sister gets irregular work and so has to keep updating the job centre and ends up losing money.

We on not on uc yet but I am terrified.
Dp is disabled and i am his full time carer. We are going to be about £200 a month worse off on uc.
I'm lucky that I do have a bit of money from when my grandmother died but that's not going to last long.
After that we will be relying on the good will of family.
The only good thing for us is both mine and dps parents are both in a situation to help us.
But I'm an adult with children I dont want to go asking my parents for money because I cant afford food, heat, light.
Dp was on a good wage before his accident so we never worried about money.
It's hard on tax credits. I dont know what is going to happen on uc but ide be shocked if we were ok. I know working people who it has left them in dire needs.

I'm extremely fortunate that I've never had to claim benefits. I say fortunate because no one can predict their future, but I feel desperately sorry for those who have no choice.
This country has taken a huge step backwards with regards to benefits.
A few years ago, I watched a programme titled something like Labour exchange 1942 where they showed how benefits worked back then.
It featured a disabled wheelchair user, a pensioner and a single mother of three children having to claim benefits as though it was 1942.
The pensioner was made to go into a care home because they refused to pay his rent and his pittance of a pension didn't cover it.
The single mother had to give her children up to care and get a job and the disabled man got what was a pittance and found a job by the labour exchange which he had to take or be destitute because they refused to give him benefits if he didn't take it.
That programme is almost true to life for 2020, it's a bloody disgrace.
The system isn't fit for purpose.
I, Daniel Blake is so true to life, it's uncanny.
Anyone who says is a fictional film must be blind.
People living in near destitution, relying on food banks just to be able to eat, the chronically sick being told to find work or starve, the disabled not faring much better.
It's absolutely appalling that in a country such as this that people are in such dire straits.
We have now become a third world country and my word, the way we treat our less fortunate makes that cap fit very well.
I have a friend whose young adult son is immobile and has severe learning difficulties. She is a single mother and has now had to give him up to the care system due to being financially strangled by the benefits system. I can't even begin to imagine how she feels. It is only due to her love for her son that she hasn't killed herself. Disgraceful.
We are returning to the dark days of history. Why not just open the bloody workhouse and be done with it!!

I've claimed UC twice. First time,we were the trial area for UC. It was an absolute shitshow! It took nine weeks for my first payment. Advances weren't possible back then. No food banks in my area then (there are three now, since UC was brought in - maybe that says something?). The online system was very basic, riddled with errors and no one knew how to fix faults preventing payment, not even the tech support department. It was utterly awful.

Next time, it had been rolled out and upgraded a lot. Easy to apply online, a few minutes to verify my ID, two minutes later had an advance payment sitting in my account! First payment received after 4.5 weeks. Almost all appointments were a quick chat on the phone, everything input online and no problems at all. A vast improvement on the JSA signing on system with an enormous amount of paper saved too.

UC is fine if you have a straightforward claim, your circumstances don't change often (moving in rented house every few months, work hours varying, childcare costs varying, self employment, paid weekly, fluctuating health conditions). If any of these apply, or you don't have reliable Internet and laptop/smartphone, plus the skills to use them, you're in for sanctions, payment errors and misery. Years ago, if you didn't get paid, you nipped into the jobcentre and they helped you sort the problem. You can't even go in the door without an appointment, and that may be in a fortnight. The way that many people lose their disability premiums and everything is now paid in arrears (childcare, rent) has left many claimants in huge debt before they even start.

I am not one of any "type" . The point of the benefit is to help people. But ultimately society has to function effectively and no society is going to function if the atitude is that some people don;t have to participate.

Lack of language skills cannot be used as an excuse for years and years - as if it were somethign that no-one can help.

UC is far from perfect - and I agree as soon as life is "messy" it become difficult - but so were the old benefits. Mostly, certainly for younger people, UC seems to be easier. (Experience and anecdote)

And yet, when there was an opportunity to get rid of this wicked system last December the Tories were elected yet again, with more seats than they'd had before.

You can only conclude that a significant number of those voters are ignorant of the wholesale attack upon the most vulnerable members of society.... those who are fortunate enough to be in relatively good health, who have jobs with relatively good pay (or relatively good pensions) and can afford relatively good housing.... and who've therefore never (or at least not yet) had cause to turn to the benefits system, and who, presumably, have little or no interest in anyone else's lives other than their own. And that the remainder of those voters who aren't ignorant of UC believe its claimants 'deserve' what they get (or rather, don't get in many cases) because they're not trying hard enough to 'better' themselves.

I consider myself very fortunate not to claim benefits because I can just about scrape through, albeit on low pay. However, I'm not complacent and, like 100s of 1000s of others it would only take a very small change in circumstances for me to be tipped over the edge of managing. I therefore believe it's in all our interests to make ourselves aware of the horrific 'safety net' we'd need to apply to. And to make others aware too, to keep raising the issue in conversation, to share news stories and so on. This isn't 'their' problem, it should be 'ours'.... as in, society's. That is, if you consider a humane and decent society to be something to aspire to which it seems increasing numbers of selfish people do not.

Threads like these make me despair and hugely affect my anxiety. Yet that's nothing compared to some of the people mentioned upthread who are living in this nightmare already. It beggars belief that despite all the evidence to the contrary that there are still those insisting it's 'not as bad as all that' when UC clearly only functions satisfactorily for a distinct (most often employed) group whose circumstances fit very neatly into a particular set of boxes. For me, UC seems not to be about support, but about punishment if life's twists and turns have rendered you 'useless' (in its eyes) whether temporarily or permanently. And of course, as I think a pp also pointed out, the principles of UC might be all well and good if the playing field was pretty much level in other areas - like opportunities for secure, full time jobs (rather than zero hours shite) and affordable housing. But as it isn't, the tenets of UC are even more grossly unfair and inhumane.

Aside from my own experiences on UC that I've posted, I used to work in a jobcentre. I am very aware that many, many people just not able to maintain an online claim for benefits. They can't afford smartphones or laptops, or just aren't able to use them and understand the system (those with severe health and mental health issues, especially). They don't have a passport to verify their ID, or an address to put in to claim from, or they can't keep track of when jobcentre and phone appointments are due to all the other awful things they are coping with in their everyday lives.

I'm carer for a child on MRCLRM DLA. When I transfer to UC I will be £400 a month worse off. It punishes the most vulnerble

catsmother Very well said.

@ColourMyDreams so very well said, thank you for such an empathic, realistic and rational testimonial. I'm very sorry to hear of your friend's plight, all down to the cruel divisiveness of the UC 'system'. Which much of the media implicitly or explicitly support with their propaganda. Tonight's BBC fantasy already sounds like a palliative for the middle classes to stop them noticing (or mobilizing against) the crippling of those in genuine need by stealth. The 'human face' of Neil wotsisname who claims to be thinking about the best interests of claimants! It's complete bullshit, and I bet you they don't show much (if any) of the hidden suffering among thousands upon thousands of people up and down the country. It's the Beeb, ffs - they pander to the govt first, license payers/recipients second. Anyone else (a considerably-sized community within our population) can go fuck themselves, apparently. Their plight largely only qualifies to be hatcheted and twisted to suit the programme makers' agenda.

What scares me about the timing of this thread is the attempt to paint a picture of a benevolent benefits system by someone who will rarely need them, in reality, and even then only as a tactical lifestyle choice. OP cannot speak for the vast majority of claimants, nor can she speak to their suffering. Instead, she stokes entirely justified outrage in those affected, or closely associated with those suffering, while her demographically similar cheerleaders occasionally pipe up and tell us all to shut the fuck up and behave ourselves, basically.

Universal credit have made mistakes with my claim. I have had months where they decided to give me £0.

The benefit is not helping people though is it.
Its causing the most vulnerable people to live in poverty and in some cases take their own life!

Lack of language skills cannot be used as an excuse for years and years - as if it were somethign that no-one can help.

It's not an excuse. Its s fact. It's the barrier to actually claiming the benefit in the first place. Also trying to organize an interpreter can and does take time and while they are waiting they are in receipt of zero benefits.

Also UC is not better for young people. Under the age of 25 they are expected to live off £68 less a week than an over 25 yo despite having the same Bill's to pay.

You really are that type Age as you lack the insight to see past your "I'm alright Jack" nose.

Yep I'm £400 per month worse off, since my daughter aged 20 and had to claim UC not tax credits. Already had to jump through hoops to change from dla to pip.

£400 down a month and I moved because of it at a time when I really needed the family support but I needed to make the money work and I was luckier than most to own a home. Not luckier to flee domestic violence at the same time as losing £400 per month though. There was no way to make the loss of money work without moving away and I had to due to dv, so it was a double edged sword. However without the loss of the money I could have moved to be safe from ex and still been closer to access some support from family. 100 miles away is too far.

My daughter was diagnosed autistic and add at age 2.5 and has some physical problems also...

This is not going to change, she does some things better now but she is still autistic. Some things I can't ever see her doing. She still has an impairment which affects her life in major ways every day.

It's a year now and despite sicknotes and assessment, will probably appeal as just heard last week daughter was placed in work activity group.

How can she do a security course or bricklaying or forklift driving course when she had 121 at college and gets sucked into her own brain and world myriad times a day. Has the comprehension skills of a 12 years and the emotional maturity of a 13 or 14 year old. Yet this is what the work prep group means. If she does not attend she will be sanctioned and loss the £250 per month that pays for her to eat.

But hey take money away from the disabled, thats easy to do. They either fight to get some back and do so and survive or they lose the fights and start a decline.
For most sick and disabled its a non choice of live on a pittance and survive or die. Neither option is good. A crap survival equals a slow death in many ways.

Im not on universal credit as her carer but not sure I will ever be, I can't jump through the hoops without impacting me mentally when I'm already live on the edge anyway with my own illnesses which I receive no support for at all. No money, no benefits and no support. I put whatever I have into being a mother and carer.

So when the rollout is complete and I have to claim universal credit, I pray it goes "smashing" like for the op, otherwise I know I will not have the resources to deal with the myriad of problems it creates and that over time, I would likely be another death statistic.

@OhMyWord123 yes I know the difference between managed migration and change of circumstances. That’s exactly what I was saying to the poster if they moved via managed migration they will receive transitional protection.

Well you are in a minority if your first payment is next week !!

Most of us have to wait FIVE weeks .

Oh and your comment about your MIL and not wanting to work .

Meowww.

Just because it worked well for YOU (somehow) does not mean it is so for everyone

I'm sure it's been made clear to you already that YABU.

UC means a lower income with more delays, harsh sanction regimes and greater, less reasonable conditionality. You'd have to be a pretty special sort to think those were good things. You'd have to be a sadist to hear the stories of people surviving on food banks thanks to UC and think "yes, this is good".

@Nanna50, if an overpayment has been caused by an "official error" on the part of the DWP, it's not recoverable. Anyone in this situation should appeal.

Imo, the biggest problem with UC is that the staff haven't been properly trained. There's a whole raft of regulations that relate purely to the housing costs element that staff seem woefully ignorant of (extra bedroom for overnight carers and under-35s on PIP/DLC entitled to over-35 rate of LHA, to name just 2 I've come across already this year). It seems completely random if people who are too unwell to work get issued with a UC50 or not, so we have people who've been on UC for 2 years and still haven't been assessed for limited capability for work.

Things like forgetting to ask claimants to bring in their tenancy agreements, and they know nothing about it until their first payment arrives without any housing costs. It then takes another month to sort out, by which time the claimant is 2 months in rent arrears and even when they sort out the ongoing payments they don't pay the bloody arrears. (This may just be a Brighton thing, it doesn't seem to happen to my clients who live in Hove or other parts of Sussex). They don't seem to realise that homeless people shouldn't be expected to look for work for the first 13 weeks of a claim.

It's a nightmare for those with poor IT skills, learning difficulties, mental health problems, poor literacy or who are generally chaotic. Telling someone with acute paranoia that they have to get themselves an email address is not fun, I can tell you!

@MyDcAreMarvel, I think managed migration is a long way off. The Harrogate pilot started last summer, iirc. They wanted to pilot 10,000 managed migrations to get the process right.

Last month, the number of managed migrations undertaken by the pilot was in single figures. Not 10,000 - not even 10! This is first hand info from a DWP regional manager, and I suspect is the reason for yesterday's announcement.

@PeapodBurgundy

• PeapodBurgundy

@MyDcAreMarvel

Any new claim has to be for UC (or was at the time, I think they've suspended that for now but not 100%). Having a second child meant we had to put in a new claim with DD added on.
Yes new claims were for UC in your area but as it was your second child there was no need for a new claim you just add additional children to ongoing tax credit claims.

During my 5 week wait after stopping a weekly paid job to care for my disabled son i was lucky that the timing meant that i had my bills covered. However I couldnt provide evidence for free school meals for my children and ran out of tampons,it was pretty grim. Then once we were up and running we realised that the date of our assessment period meant that every 3rd or 4th month when my partner is paid early because payday was a sat sun or a bank holiday we get no money at all the following month and have to reapply again. I have to budget 4 months in advance and its usually to the penny. This is despite my partner working full time at more than minimum wage. Thats without the heartache of losing a hard earnt bonus entirely because it just took us over our award amount

• LakieLady

@MyDcAreMarvel, I think managed migration is a long way off. The Harrogate pilot started last summer, iirc. They wanted to pilot 10,000 managed migrations to get the process right.

Yes 2024 which is a good thing as it means people. Get to stay on legacy benefits for longer.
I think many people are not aware that if they don’t have a significant change of circumstances they will not be worse of under UC due to managed migration. Although over the years this income will be eroded.

@Pippinsqueak Just after my LO was born we started looking for childcare and struggled to find an affordable option that had full time availability. I mentioned this to my boss who allowed me to come back part time (could be wrong, but I think employers legally have to give flexibility with mothers coming back off maternity leave).

He recommended I apply for UC to supplement my wages for the few months, and here I am. I honestly can't wait to go back full time. Hence why it really grates me when other people here state that this is just a 'lifestyle choice' and that I 'should have signed up for childcare before I got pregnant'. Wonder what the weathers like up there on their high horse

@Goldenmother I wasn't talking about my friend, I was talking about her mother. They're now estranged, as my friend had so many problems with her mothers constant abuse of the system, besides the mental health issues my friend suffered growing up, partly due to the 5 half siblings she was forced to help take care of (none had the same dad).

It's this abuse of the system that I fear UC was intending to stamp out, but instead all they succeeded in doing was target the most vulnerable and the disabled. The responses on this thread paint that picture only too clearly.