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.

During pandemic many people gained as did not have to pay travel costs and could WFH. Others got furlough or grants from government

I have to wonder how many of the people who saved on travel costs and could WFH, or got a grant or on furlough, actually claim benefits.

Because I know from the other side of the coin, that we didn't save anything and got plunged into more debt during the lockdown and I know we were not the only ones

@vivainsomnia

Have you missed the multiple posters saying the price of food, electricity and gas have gone up? People were in trouble before they had the extra £20 a week, the price rises and the rise in National Insurance payments And many families will have to cope without being entitled to UC, being just above the threshold. Continuing with the increase would see these families worse off yet not be entitled.

We all are going to tighten our belts. We always knew this would be the case. We all are going to cope to recover. Families will have to make difference choices.

If you already don't have enough to even cover essential outgoings how can you tighten your belt anymore?

@Cuddlyrottweiler

I think it's ridiculous that people on benefits got a raise when the rest of us got pay cuts 🤷‍♀️

Yes. You'd be so much better off on benefits

@Willyoujustbequiet

My friend became disabled 18 months ago. She is now bed bound as her treatment was cancelled due to covid. Her prognosis isnt great.

She has waited 10 months for a work capability assessment so she can receive disability element of UC. 10 months!

When the uplift is removed she will get £257 and that's it. No mortgage help so she will ultimately lose her home. How is a disabled person meant to live on £257?

She has no savings left. No family to fall back on. They have apologised for the delay but that's all.

All you utterly ignorant selfish people who want rid of the uplift ypu should be thoroughly ashamed. People will literally die in some cases without this money.

I think your friend needs to get some advice or query this with her case manager. By your figure, I guess she's under 25, as 25+ get 324.84. Her Limited Capability for Work and Work Related Activity will get back-dated to when she first declared her health condition (minus 13weeks) and then will be an extra £343.63. You say she's waited 10 months, so (presuming she hasn't been working as you state she is bed bound) then she is eligible for the Statutory Mortgage Interest loan. This is set at quite a good rate (or was when I last looked), and although it's meant to only cover the interest, if your friend is on a good mortgage deal, she may well find it pays some of the capital off too.

If the info you have given re savings etc is accurate, then she should be getting about £600/month, plus mortgage interest. Not great, but certainly not as awful as £257 would be

@cadburyegg

benefit system needs stark reforms so that there is more incentive for people to work

People on UC are always better off working. The more you earn, the less UC you get but it always works out that the more hours you can work, the better off you are.

Yes it's a benefit designed to attack people who are too disabled or ill to work.

Re legacy benefits. Actually the most severely ill and disabled weren't able to switch to UC from legacy benefits. Not until the rules changed earlier this year.

Disabled people - particularly those without children - are worse off on UC. It's understandable why they wouldn't want to switch. They're hardly living it up as it is (likewise UC recipients).

Also UC is online only. Huge barrier for any recipient of benefits, who might struggle to afford reliable internet access, but even more of a problem for many disabled people. Depending on their illness or disability, going online can be a struggle.

Both groups - UC and legacy benefit recipients should be given a permanent increase. We're meant to be one of the richest countries in the world. Or so we're told. Ever since Tony Blair's attack on the disabled, the benefits safety net has been slowly disappearing.

A civilised society would ensure people had enough to get by.

I think it was only ESA recipients who received a severe disability premium who were not allowed to switch to Uc until recently and that was because there is no sdp on UC. People not receiving a sdp were able to swap to Uc were actually slightly better off on Uc if in the support group of ESA.

@Cuddlyrottweiler

I think it's ridiculous that people on benefits got a raise when the rest of us got pay cuts 🤷‍♀️

What does that even mean?

Many people on benefits are unable to work, therefore unable to increase their income with a better paid job and/or overtime.

Feel free to live a life on benefits and feel this alleged privilege over people who work.

@Cuddlyrottweiler - you'd be very welcome to swap with me if you think being on benefits and getting an extra £20pw (still not able to cover outgoings) is so great.

For those who got it, I understand the joy/relief that the relatively small amount of money brought, for those who didn't I understand the resentment. Through my work I have quite a bit of insider knowledge and the amount of frittered public spending (through unfinished projects, unchallenged cock ups, vanity projects, consultancy fees for some quite simple things, etc, etc) is staggering. Add to that daft political decisions to make everyone "feel equal" - free school meals for all, baby boxes, generous free child care (yes, I'm in Scotland, realise it may not translate south of the border) and you begin to see that the £20 is a drop in the ocean.

During pandemic many people gained as did not have to pay travel costs and could WFH. Others got furlough or grants from government

Huge numbers of people couldn't work from home. It's not always the case obviously but a lot of WFH jobs tend to be the more well-paid. Lots of the lowest paid work isn't WFH.

Also those who did WFH might've saved on travel costs but on the flipside they have increased heating and electricity costs.

And then there's the ever forgotten group (since Blair's attack on them). People too ill or disabled to work, and at least one of their parents when it's a disabled child in need of care.

My husband got furloughed so we lost 20% of his wages. Tesco then took on so many temp staff I lost over 20 hours a week overtime so the extra £20 a week really helped us. My husband is now back working but not as many hours. I still have not been able to pick up as many hours as pre covid, I even go to different stores for extra hours. The loss of the boost each month will hit. We will just have to get on with it tho.

@Athenajm80 - I've been trying to get the SMI loan for over 3 years now. It took about a year and a half to get the limited capability to work amount despite me being in hospital throughout and no, it wasn't backdated. I have had a lot of help - at one point I had people helping me make calls twice a week to UC. It makes no difference - you still get told something different each time you call. I don't have that level of help now I'm out of hospital so can't call very often. I try with the journal but it is rare to get a response. It is much more difficult than it may seem.

[quote UndertheCedartree]@Athenajm80 - I've been trying to get the SMI loan for over 3 years now. It took about a year and a half to get the limited capability to work amount despite me being in hospital throughout and no, it wasn't backdated. I have had a lot of help - at one point I had people helping me make calls twice a week to UC. It makes no difference - you still get told something different each time you call. I don't have that level of help now I'm out of hospital so can't call very often. I try with the journal but it is rare to get a response. It is much more difficult than it may seem.[/quote]
LCWRA element should be backdated to the fourth Uc assessment period after you started handing in sick notes. I would ask for this to be referred to a decision maker if they are not paying it.

Exactly right. If you are unable to contact them or get through to a Case Manager rather than a call centre agent, I would recommend you speak to Citizens Advice or even your local MP. If you're able to get to the Job Centre, you should be able to sit down with one of the front of house team who would help get this resolved (this is my experience in offices in my district but I appreciate may not be the same at other offices)

It’s going to hit me hard. Single mum and work. I know it was only a temporary “gesture” but it will be difficult. You lot moaning about how you don’t get it… we’re you furloughed? That’s serious money for nothing!

A single person on UC is going to lose a quarter of their income. In the current climate, removing the uplift is immoral.

@Babyroobs - I'm still battling so many things with UC and PIP not sure I have the energy to start another.

I don't really understand your answer. Basically, over a year after claiming UC and phone calls every week trying to get the correct amount they claimed they didn't know I was in hospital. I was in hospital when the claim was made (someone from the JC had to come to the hospital) and it was referenced all over my journal. It took another few months before managing to talk to someone who knew what I needed to do on my UC account so that they 'knew' I was in hospital. Honestly it's so complicated and confusing and I was so unwell at the time it was just awful. I'm still struggling but have less support now to make phone calls. I try sometimes to make calls on my own but often just break down on the phone.

[quote UndertheCedartree]@Babyroobs - I'm still battling so many things with UC and PIP not sure I have the energy to start another.

I don't really understand your answer. Basically, over a year after claiming UC and phone calls every week trying to get the correct amount they claimed they didn't know I was in hospital. I was in hospital when the claim was made (someone from the JC had to come to the hospital) and it was referenced all over my journal. It took another few months before managing to talk to someone who knew what I needed to do on my UC account so that they 'knew' I was in hospital. Honestly it's so complicated and confusing and I was so unwell at the time it was just awful. I'm still struggling but have less support now to make phone calls. I try sometimes to make calls on my own but often just break down on the phone.[/quote]
I wonder if maybe sick notes weren't handed in when you were first ill ? Do you remember? Basically you hand in sick notes then after 29 days they should send you the Uc50 form, although someone may have filled this in on your behalf. It is horrible to try to sort these things out when you are unwell.

@Athenajm80 - believe me, I have spoken to everyone (Tory MP doesn't want to know of course!) - I have had an advocate making phone calls with me once a week plus a social worker making phone calls once a week for 2 years - but UC is just an utter nightmare. I have been very lucky to get lots of support it is not that but just noone at UC having a clue how it works either! I actually went to the JC a few months ago (UC told me to) - all they could offer was a computer I could use to go on my journal! No help atall, unfortunately.

Probably be shot down in flames but it's like the chikd benefit cap, a couple can earn 98k and get child benefit, a single parent could be widowed etc with 5 young kids living in London etc on 50k and has lost £££ in child benefit yet next door could have 5 kids and a 98m income and still get it.

@Babyroobs - perhaps it was something like that. I honestly don't know as I was too unwell. I remember some people coming to the hospital and doing the UC claim on a tablet as I had no access to the internet and then someone from the Job centre coming. But I remember little apart from that.

[quote UndertheCedartree]@Athenajm80 - believe me, I have spoken to everyone (Tory MP doesn't want to know of course!) - I have had an advocate making phone calls with me once a week plus a social worker making phone calls once a week for 2 years - but UC is just an utter nightmare. I have been very lucky to get lots of support it is not that but just noone at UC having a clue how it works either! I actually went to the JC a few months ago (UC told me to) - all they could offer was a computer I could use to go on my journal! No help atall, unfortunately.[/quote]
What problems are you having at the moment? is it just that the LCWRA hasn't been back dated or are there other issues too ? I suspect that initially when you made the claim, you didn't formally declare your health condition or whoever made the application for you didn't and it may have been only at a later date that they requested sick notes? maybe if you can prove from hospital records etc that you were in hospital at the time, it may help. I would speak to CAB if you haven't already done so.

In my experience social workers don't seem to know much about benefits ( well the ones I know don't), you need to speak to an advocate who knows the work capability process. CAB representative would be able to look at the facts and write an MR or make an official complaint on your behalf if they have not correctly followed legislation.

@listentomydeclaration

By not having 4 or 5 kids. By spending their money more wisely (no fags or junk food) By getting a job

And I say that as someone who works (and gets disability benefits) and also as someone who used to work for the DWP.

The majority of UC claimants, from my experience, need to make better decisions.

I would genuinely like to know what better decisions most of us UC claimants could make. I don't have 4 or 5 kids, no fags or junk food (tbh occasional McDonalds for my DC), I can't work. What other better decisions could I make?

@Babyroobs - thank you for the advice. I am currently trying to get the SMI loan and also trying to get some boarders fee backdated on my PIP.