universal credit question aibu??

[plodalong12]

AIBU to think it is unadvisable to let someone in a full-time working job think they can claim either housing benefit or universal credit? Working 37.5 hours per week earning £1150 after tax per month and rent is £625 per month. I said this person is likely to not be entitled to help for either housing benefit or universal credit- Am I right? This is some where in England, but not London.

@TulisaIsBrill

The thing is also remember that saying £200/300 p/m is a ‘small’ entitlement is really not the case when you’re a low earner.

Yes, it’s a small amount of money if you take home 5k p/m, but for someone taking home less than 1200 it’s a bloody massive amount of money relatively.

It’s the difference between eating poorly and potentially eating very well and healthily for a single person, or a subsistence existence vs one where at least you can have some enjoyment. Hell. It’s enough to run a bloody car. It’s a huge boon, and potentially telling them to forget about even investigating it is a terrible thing to do. The worst case is yes, no entitlement. The best case is literally life changing.

Yes, I know that's exactly my point. The other person was telling this person that sort of amount would be a big help to them and could massively help with their rent and I said afterwards, privately, that it was probably unlikely that they would get that amount, or any amount, so don't expect or rely on it from what they were told.

@TulisaIsBrill

Honestly, the more I think about this the angrier I get that you thought you were being reasonable. It’s totally ridiculous behaviour.

But my behaviour wasn't unreasonable and I wasn't asking about that. I asked whether people agreed it was unadvaisable for someone else to tell someone they were entitled to Universal Credit when they most likely weren't. The anger should be directed at the person making false claims to the person thinking this would help them (which is what my AIBU was about)

No, you werent asking about your own behaviour, but people have evaluated it anyway.

I dont know if they would or wouldnt. My advice to them would be to apply and find out. The other person suggesting that it would be worth a significant sum might be wrong, but they werent unreasonable. It might be a significant sum, it might be a small sum or it might be nothing.

You on the other hand in advising them not to bother were unreasonable as you may have caused them to not apply and miss out on what they were entitled to,

@Cailleachian
You on the other hand in advising them not to bother were unreasonable as you may have caused them to not apply and miss out on what they were entitled to

I did not advise them "not to bother" in the slightest, all I responded was, to an offhand claim that the person was entitled to a certain amount of UC was unrealistic as the other person was insinuating.

I was working full time and my hubby without any kids but cos low incomes we were entitled to about £200 a month UC (between us, was a joint claim). It took Into account our rent and salaries and gave us payment of around £200 extra a month

Why have you brought this to MN? 🤨
You don’t think it’s a good idea to get hopes up, because you think it’s unlikely there would be any entitlement. Why would you need the internet the give you an “I was right” pat on the head? You think you’re right, fine.

That's a really low wage to get working full time. On that, if they have kids they will get help.

@sadmummy12345

I was working full time and my hubby without any kids but cos low incomes we were entitled to about £200 a month UC (between us, was a joint claim). It took Into account our rent and salaries and gave us payment of around £200 extra a month

What were your salaries and rent costs?

@Cocomarine

Why have you brought this to MN? 🤨 You don’t think it’s a good idea to get hopes up, because you think it’s unlikely there would be any entitlement. Why would you need the internet the give you an “I was right” pat on the head? You think you’re right, fine.

I was asking if other people thought it was unadvaisable behaviour to advise someone that they were likely entitled to something they likely aren't.

@DeflatedGinDrinker

That's a really low wage to get working full time. On that, if they have kids they will get help.

On my second post I said no kids.

“ I was asking if other people thought it was unadvaisable behaviour to advise someone that they were likely entitled to something they likely aren't.”

And when will you get it into your head that as inadvisable as that might be, it is far, far worse to discourage them if they could get something?!

This is beyond baffling that you can’t see this.

Brad Pitt probably doesn’t want to sleep with me, but if I met him, I’d probably investigate the possibility.

Yea, they might end up a little crestfallen if they didn’t get anything, but the best case might elate them.

Worse case scenario - continue as normal. Best case - life changing. Your attitude continues to be beyond ridiculous.

plodalong, if you're not sure, then best to keep your thoughts to yourself.

Your understanding of UC entitlement is wrong, that's been explained to you several times over the thread. If this person chose to take your comments at face value and did not claim, they'd potentially be losing over £2,000 a year. How bad would you feel if that happened?

@plodalong12 my take home was £1,300 his take home was about £900. Rent was £950 per month and we got just under £200 I think. No kids.

@TulisaIsBrill

Yea, they might end up a little crestfallen if they didn’t get anything, but the best case might elate them.

Worse case scenario - continue as normal. Best case - life changing. Your attitude continues to be beyond ridiculous.

That is entirely my point. The other person was making them feel elated saying basically "you will be guaranteed X amount a month so could look into moving into a bigger place as it would help with rent" etc and I was trying to be realistic saying you will unlike not be so don't make any plans or start looking at places thinking what they are saying is guaranteed.

They do say you can't help people, I can see why now. Don't know why I bother .