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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think universal credit is for essential items.

103 replies

RC1511 · 31/03/2020 20:23

I am very aware there’s going to be a massive influx of people applying for this right now - rightly so.. For now oh is still working but this could well change with the current situation. I wish he wasn’t still working but anyway..

A friend of mine, her hubby is self employed and no longer working after this week. Hard times of course. They applied for UC - they have dependents at home.

I know little about Uc myself but she said they won’t get their first payment for a while but they received an advance or something? I assume to cover costs until the first payment comes in.

I won’t give away what they bought as I don’t want to give me identity away but they received an advance and went out on blew it on a luxury item costing £450. Not essential at all. It was one item costing that much.

I know we are on hard times. But I just assume the advance payment is for bills, car costs, food, toiletries etc etc. Essential items - things for the children etc.

Maybe I shouldn’t judge. Maybe I will be slammed on here. They are rightly entitled to UC now but surely the point of the advance is to get you through not to blow it in one hit? What will they live on until it comes through? That’s my main concern. They have been known to blow all their money before and ask others for help when they can’t afford to eat!

They literally have now have no money aside. No savings or anything as far as I know. She’s quite open about her financial situation.

My friend has already moaned now she’s now broke and has to wait at least a month for more money.

OP posts:
Port1aCastis · 31/03/2020 20:42

All advances have to be paid back as you'll find out if you have to claim your pittance

user1353245678533567 · 31/03/2020 20:42

I am not judging anyone at all in that situation.

Yes, you are. Not only that but you're trying to get others to pile on and join you.

Bottleup · 31/03/2020 20:44

@JuanSheetIsPlenty I work full time and honestly cant afford any of those things on your list.

VividImagination · 31/03/2020 20:46

You don’t get the goat with tax credits!

dogcatbaby · 31/03/2020 20:47

I get what you are trying to say. This isn't about benefits but more that they have £X to live on and "blew" all or a lot of it on an item TV then next week they will want to borrow money for food because they spent their money on an item TV.

How do you know so much about their finances? I might be wrong, but I believe when claiming UC individuals can have a certain amount in savings. How do you know this isn't the case? They might be confident they have enough to get by until they can work again.

How do you know they will be asking for money from friends and family?

This isn't really anything to do with you. They are entitled to that money (assuming they haven't made a fraudulent claim) and it's up to their friends and family if they want to loan/give them money because they have spent what they had on an item. What is this item? Do they need it? You say it's not essential but people have different priorities

This isn't to do with UC but more to do with how people spend their money which has nothing to do with you. If they ask you for a loan then you can just say no.

eaglejulesk · 31/03/2020 20:47

I get what you are saying OP. Sure, they can spend the money on whatever they like - BUT they then can't expect others to bail them out when they have no money for food. If they asked me for help they wouldn't be getting it. (and before anyone rushes to flame me, yes I am on a benefit)

Sillyscrabblegames · 31/03/2020 20:48

And that's why it's an advance that is deducted from future UC payments and not a grant...

@JuanSheetIsPlenty I work to bring in my income and I don't spend it on any of the things on your list! I am certainly. Not condemned or miserable.

JuanSheetIsPlenty · 31/03/2020 20:48

That wasn’t the point of my post

Well it’s what your title says!

I do care that they will be asking others probably including me to bail them out soon.

Say no and stop caring.

I work full time and honestly cant afford any of those things on your list.

Sorry to hear that bottle. You absolutely should be able to afford some treats on a full time wage. It’s really so shit that you and others can’t. I don’t think it means we should begrudge those who do manage to afford those things even if their source of income is the state.

eaglejulesk · 31/03/2020 20:49

I don’t care what people spend the money on. I do care that they will be asking others probably including me to bail them out soon.

This, for those who are saying it is nothing to do with the OP. It seems she will be one of the people they will be expecting to help them out.

Original poster
RC1511 · 31/03/2020 20:51

When I said friends it’s more like a relative. I didn’t want to give away my identity to be honest. She’s very open about her situation. They’ve borrowed thousands off people. They are terrible with money. I am just concerned how they will eat when the rest of us can’t afford to help them that’s all.

Thanks all. I wasn’t aware an advance was paid back. Not too bad then but still an issue of when they will be claiming poverty soon!

OP posts:
JuanSheetIsPlenty · 31/03/2020 20:51

I work to bring in my income and I don't spend it on any of the things on your list! I am certainly. Not condemned or miserable.

I’m glad to hear you dong feel miserable. I would definitely feel pretty miserable if I couldn’t get the DC an ice cream every now an again or take them to the cinema a couple of times a year.

AnotherEmma · 31/03/2020 20:51

People making terrible budgeting decisions all the time.
People on benefits, people on low incomes, people on high incomes.
People blow it all and don't budget or save for essentials and then moan when they've run out of money.
It is annoying, I get it. But it's none of your business really. Just try and change the subject when they moan about money.

AnotherEmma · 31/03/2020 20:51

*make

Whatwedontknow · 31/03/2020 20:56

Well if they are terrible with money of course they are going to blow it, it has to be paid back but it’s an interest free loan.

JuanSheetIsPlenty · 31/03/2020 20:59

Hasn’t Richard Branson asked for a bail out in the last couple of weeks? I’d save my bosom hoiking for that

Theresnobslikeshowb · 31/03/2020 21:01

They have to pay it back, so their future payments will be reduced. Not your problem, so why are you so concerned?

Purpletigers · 31/03/2020 21:04

I understand what you’re saying Op . It’s not that they spent the money. More so than you will be one of the people they run to when they run out.
There’s a reason the following saying exists
“The poor plan for the weekend , the wealthy plan for the next generation”

Purpletigers · 31/03/2020 21:05

Just remind them of this purchase when they ask you for help .

DifficultPifcultLemonDifficult · 31/03/2020 21:08

Imagine benefit claimants spending money on something other than bread and gruel.

This country has gone to the dogs I tell you.

BelfryBat · 31/03/2020 21:08

The point about UC, any benefit, is that people get it because they are assessed as needing it. IT is then up to them, as adults, to manage their money. They are not accountable to anyone for what they spend it on.

tl;dr Mind you own business. Butt out.

PyongyangKipperbang · 31/03/2020 21:08

Well they're fucking idiots, my advance barely got us through the 5 week wait, I had to borrow money from my parents in the last week for petrol to get to work.

But its their money and they are well within their rights to spend it as they wish, just as you will be well within your rights to say no when they come begging, as they no doubt will.

PyongyangKipperbang · 31/03/2020 21:14

And FWIW I think that the OP is right. The advance is for essentials to get you through to the first payment, because of the uproar when people where having to go to food banks waiting for their first payment. Its for food and transport, not a fucking TV.

And yes I am on UC and currently potless as work fucked up my wages so havent been paid this month and am waiting for friday with increasing desperation. No judgement for claiming here, but plenty for being a pair feckless twats who have just put a new telly above feeding their kids.

Lolwhat · 31/03/2020 21:16

I spent my £1000 backpay on a new bedroom, someone call the feds because it wasn’t bread x

LangClegsInSpace · 31/03/2020 21:21

They couldn't have bought a goat as they're given out to all UC receivers.

Not during the current crisis unfortunately.

There have been some issues with stockpiling and the supply chain so for now they're prioritising benefit claimants in Llandudno for the goats. As you'll have seen from the videos, the scroungers aren't even looking after the goats responsibly. They're letting them out to commit goat rampage all about town.

I can't wait to get back to normal.

myohmywhatawonderfulday · 31/03/2020 21:26

Down and Out in Paris in London by George Orwell is 1. A very interesting book. 2. Shows his discovery that he found that it was the luxuries that kept being poor from being completely unbearable.