To ask how people will cope with Universal credit cut.

[ponyexpress22]

Surely they aren't going ahead with cutting it by £20 a week? I'm shocked that the government could stoop this low. What the hell are they doing.

Unfortunately, lots of people have kids and then expect to get housing benefit, tax credits etc as a lifestyle choice.

This is just not true, you only get benefits for two children.

There are very few circumstances where you get benefits for more than 2

Unfortunately lots of people base their opinions of those on benefits on the word of shitrag newspapers owned by tax dodging millionaires.

@ILoveAllRainbowsx

If people stopped having children until they could afford them without benefits, then the people who really needed UC could get a more.

Unfortunately, lots of people have kids and then expect to get housing benefit, tax credits etc as a lifestyle choice.

It is very unfair on people who fall on hard times through no fault of their own (eg if they become ill) as the benefits are so low because of the feckless.

If people stopped having children until they could afford them without benefits, then the people who really needed UC could get a more. @ILoveAllRainbowsx I'm not convinced the system works like that....

Those not on UC didn’t get any extra and many will have been keyworkers etc. Not sure why it was given in the first place, employers didn’t pay extra during covid.

Whilst I sympathise particularly for those with children but it was originally given because of lockdown and the increase in cost for power and food. However it is costing the taxpayers an extra 6 million a year and lockdown has still now finished. Also thanks to Daniel Radcliffe eligible children were given free school meals over the school holidays.
So agree with pp about it isn’t a cut.
However it has highlighted how difficult it is to live on benefits and identifies a need for the whole system is to be looked at. Possibly with a basic income.

If people stopped having children until they could afford them without benefits, then the people who really needed UC could get a more.

It doesn't work like that, they won't take the money off one group and people and give it to another. What they would do is take it off one group and continue to pay the other group the same low amount, all while figuring out a way to take it off them too.

Wages should better reflect the cost of living. A couple who are both in work should be able to afford to rent a home, have a family, feed/clothe everyone in that family, heat that home, and after all the essentials are paid should have some money leftover for non-essentials and nice things.

Minimum wage should be enough to provide a fair standard of living and the fact it isn't to the point that the government has to (grudgingly) top it up is a scandal.

Also thanks to Daniel Radcliffe eligible children were given free school meals over the school holidays.

Not sure Daniel Radcliffe was involved in that! Do you mean Marcus Rashford?

thanks to Daniel Radcliffe
Did you mean Marcus Rashford?

inews.co.uk/news/politics/daniel-rashford-matt-hancock-marcus-free-school-meals-boris-johnson-u-turn-interview-video-448170

@Iheartbaby

I hope it’s stopped, no one has given me £20 a week more.

You absolute ghoul.

For , ignorant lifestyle mantra idiots

People can becoe ill, lose their jobs etc AFTER HAVING CHILDREN

Oops x-posted with @CiaoForNiao

It is very unfair on people who fall on hard times through no fault of their own (eg if they become ill) as the benefits are so low because of the feckless

Source please.

Daniel Radcliffe
He's the Harry Potter chap pp. I think you mean Marcus Rashford?

@Mumoblue

Unfortunately lots of people base their opinions of those on benefits on the word of shitrag newspapers owned by tax dodging millionaires.

Yes. It's much easier to kick people when they're down though, isn't it?

I'm amazed at the number of benefit bashers who think tax evasion is perfectly ok.

I went on a date with a guy who told me he's been fiddling the system and not declaring income because of Covid & otherwise his business will lose money. I thought this was pretty stupid. Some people would report him. As long as he can continue to own a speed boat, I suppose that's all that matters(!)

Do people honestly begrudge children being given a meal? When they come from homes where there is such food insecurity?

Yes sorry I did Marcus Rashford brain fog.

@mbosnz

Do people honestly begrudge children being given a meal? When they come from homes where there is such food insecurity?

Sure looks that way.

It's interesting, and no, I can't and won't go looking for sources, but studies apparently have found that amongst the common people those who have lower incomes are more likely to be charitable and generous in their giving than those with higher.

It was temporary

@EIIa

It was temporary

Is the pandemic over? 🧐

@EIIa

It was temporary

It was necessary then.

It is necessary now.

To be fair...it was an uplift and not something that was to be paid out forever.

That said, it doesn't make it any easier for all the vulnerable who will be pushed further into poverty.

Its actually shocking how low benefits are in England compared to Ireland. Many people will be receiving an extra €28 a week here starting this month as fuel allowance. A much more generous system to protect those in need...

They've just managed to get benefit claimants and middle income people arguing with each other over £80 a week (as is happening on this thread) so no one stops to think about the millionaires and billionaires who probably don't even know this cut is happening

£80 a month I should have said

@notanotherjacketpotato

They've just managed to get benefit claimants and middle income people arguing with each other over £80 a week (as is happening on this thread) so no one stops to think about the millionaires and billionaires who probably don't even know this cut is happening

That's how governments get people to continue to vote for them - it's as old as time itself.