£1,800 universal credit for the unemployed AIBU ???

[rosekettie]

Don't get me wrong, I have a lot of sympathy for people that has lost their jobs due to COVID-19. BUT.....just announced now...a family of 2 children out of work can now claim £1,800 worth of universal credit WHILE AS a registered nurse after paying all taxes, parking fee and pension comes home with £1,700 on a good month. That's with enhancements of weekend and night working. Even less so for HCA and other support staff. Maybe we should all go home and isolate..THOUGHTS,????

There's no such thing as a magic money tree unless its cash for banking or tax cuts for the wealthy.

The bureaucracy of these new corona virus measures will cost billions. The government could save money with universal income.

But they will never do this, they would rather starve the NHS and its workers of funds, as they have done so for the last 10 years.

Austerity was ideological. The countries that spent on their populations, economy and infrastructure came out of the 2008 economic crisis far quicker than the UK. FACT.

Wage freeze, wages cuts etc all ideological. Nurses should never have been subjected to the pay, structural difficulties, paperwork, shift changes and loss of bursary etc ad infinitum over the last 10 years. This together with the changes made to drs contracts, teachers work conditions and many other key workers is ideological.

I'm actually surprised the UK is responding so well and more haven't died due to the vast stringing cuts to social care, care for the disabled and community projects across the UK.

In fact I'm sure more are dying, but it won't say corona virus on their death certificates.

But it will be because they feel through the cracks due to corona virus taking already super stretched resources away from where it was needed.

As an aside the government has authorised £50m to advise us on hand washing.

Does that really cost £50m, a group of celebrities on YouTube/tv/Facebook would have a far greater and much cheaper impact.

That money tree is really magic at the moment.

That’s for FOUR people though right? So not really a good comparison to a single wage.

@izzywizzygood Now is the time for that shit During a global pandemic? Really?

@SimplySteveRedux

You actually earn more than I thought nurses did OP, plus what you earn is just for you so you are still getting twice as much as the families who have lost jobs through no fault of their own.

@jrun it’s not twice as much with there is still one rent etc to pay. Sorry OP have tried for you, it’s surprising how little your efforts are appreciated once money comes into it. Perhaps your right you should stop putting yours and your families health at risk and claim UC. Thank you.

Yanbu
I’m a key worker. I do a role you unofficially need a degree for. ALL my colleagues have a good degree.
Just got my NHS payslip.

@jrun it’s not twice as much with there is still one rent etc to pay. Sorry OP have tried for you, it’s surprising how little your efforts are appreciated once money comes into it. Perhaps your right you should stop putting yours and your families health at risk and claim UC. Thank you.

That is if the OP lives alone, but even if that is the case that applies to any single person. doesn't it? Also it's not that I don't appreciate nurses etc, just not the bitter, resentful ones who can't see the bigger picture. At the end of the day OP chose her career and if she's not happy with it and/or the pay etc then she is free to leave and get a job elsewhere or, as you say, claim UC instead and try living on half of what she earns.

I'm assuming that's the maximum amount that would be payable. The reality is that most people receive a lot less and in fact UC is barely enough to live on especially if you have kids and live in an expensive place.

The benefit cap, sanctions, and all the other conditions are hugely punitive.

The state of the NHS is a separate issue. Yes it's shit. Yes NHS staff are paid rubbish amounts. This latter statement does not mean that UC should be lower. The NHS and families are in a rubbish state in this country because of years of Tory austerity measures. children are in poverty, NHS salaries have been frozen, there is a lack of equipment.

Universal Credit is not a high amount. People are in poverty in this country. If you are unhappy with the wages NHS staff are receiving, taking a cheap pop at benefits claimants will not help anyone.

I agree with you- more money should be invested in the NHS and in retaining staff. I hope that all the NHS workers who putting themselves at risk in this situation get massive bonuses when this is over. I think you deserve higher pay.

However, I don't agree that people who have ended up on UC through no fault of their own deserve less- it benefits everyone to help people stay afloat through all of this. It will help people stay at home and stop the spread.

I agree that it's possibly a cynical move in some ways as well.