Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To ask how people will cope with Universal credit cut.

999 replies

ponyexpress22 · 10/09/2021 13:25

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. Angry

OP posts:
Thread gallery
5
Akire · 11/09/2021 15:05

Single person full time mim wage no kids unlikely get anything. Working part time
Or zero hours would be getting something to live on and for rent.

Westerman · 11/09/2021 15:05

Jeez, there are some ugly spirited people on this thread.

'I hope it's stopped, no-one has given me £20 a week more.'
'It's dishonest to call it a cut.'

People with attitudes like this are a Tory's wet dream. Selfish, unsympathetic, no empathy.

I'm on a legacy benefit so didn't get anything extra. But the reason I know I'm a better human being than some is because I know there are millions of people worse off than me and I care about them. I don't begrudge the extra help that was needed then and still bloody well is needed. I don't want to see anyone pushed further into poverty or difficulty.

Furlough is coming to an end, too, just to add to the rest of this hideous mess.

IceCreamAndCandyfloss · 11/09/2021 15:06

@UndertheCedartree

So many people jumping on to explain the £20 pw was temporary! We know that. But that doesn't make it any easier to lose it when costs have risen. My utilities have gone up £45pm and cost of groceries have risen.
Costs have risen on food and utilities for everyone but employers aren’t handing out pay rises to cover it. Those not on benefits didn’t get any extra weekly help yet are the ones funding benefits via their tax.
Monster2021 · 11/09/2021 15:08

@MUM2TJ

Can I ask a question? And before anyone jumps in and says I'm bashing anyone I'm not but how much income does a single person get from work to still be able to claim universal credit? Just on some posts people are saying both they and thier partner work and still claim universal credit on top..again not bashing anyone just genuine question?
The housing element is the one that makes a difference. Someone in a couple both working full time in London would get help towards rent whereas someone in a couple earning the same in a cheaper area wouldn't.
MUM2TJ · 11/09/2021 15:12

Akire- thank you for replying.

Reason I asked is my mam works full time, always has and had 2 jobs to support is growing up.her husband also always worked..
She is now a widower at 58 and suddenly struggling to pay her rent on one wage but yet uc say she's entitled to zero when people she works with get same wage as her, claim uc and also have partners at home..how does that make sense..it doesn't at all

Babyroobs · 11/09/2021 15:13

@MUM2TJ

Can I ask a question? And before anyone jumps in and says I'm bashing anyone I'm not but how much income does a single person get from work to still be able to claim universal credit? Just on some posts people are saying both they and thier partner work and still claim universal credit on top..again not bashing anyone just genuine question?
It depends on various factors such as whether they have rent to pay etc. Uc is made up of different elements . Everyone gets a standard element, if you are a couple you get a couples element, if you have kids you get child/ children's elements, if you rent, you get a rent element based on the local housing allowance for your area. If you have a disabled child or if an adult has limited capability to work due to illness or disability you get a LCWRA element, if you are a carer you get a carers element, if you pay childcare then you get a childcare element. Each of these elements has a different amount attached to it and these all add up to make your total Uc entitlement. So if yu had a few kids, a high rent in an area with a high local housing allowance, a disabled child etc it could add up to a lot. Then Uc look at any earnings reported in the monthly assessment period and earnings reduce your total UC on a taper ( 63 p for each pound earned). If you have kids or limited capability for work then you also get a work allowance meaning that a certain proportion of your earnings is disregarded before deductions from your total Uc happen. This enables those with kids and illness to be better off and have less deductions. Once deductions for earnings are taken off your total UC, you get paid the amount of UC that is left. To answer your original question - a single person may get £324.84 standard element and possibly £500 rent element ( just an example ). So their total UC is £824.84. If they for example then earn £1000 per month, each pound they earn reduces their Uc by 63 p so their Uc would be reduced by £630 meaning they would still get a top up of £194.84 each month. They obviously still have rent to pay out of their Uc and earnings but it gives a little help for low earners. Obviously if someone owned their house or had a mortgage there is no rent elmeent paid so unlikely they would get any UC.
Babyroobs · 11/09/2021 15:15

@MUM2TJ

Akire- thank you for replying.

Reason I asked is my mam works full time, always has and had 2 jobs to support is growing up.her husband also always worked..
She is now a widower at 58 and suddenly struggling to pay her rent on one wage but yet uc say she's entitled to zero when people she works with get same wage as her, claim uc and also have partners at home..how does that make sense..it doesn't at all

Do those with partners also have dependent kids because that makes a huge difference because of the child elements and the work allowance disregard.
Babyroobs · 11/09/2021 15:16

@MUM2TJ

Akire- thank you for replying.

Reason I asked is my mam works full time, always has and had 2 jobs to support is growing up.her husband also always worked..
She is now a widower at 58 and suddenly struggling to pay her rent on one wage but yet uc say she's entitled to zero when people she works with get same wage as her, claim uc and also have partners at home..how does that make sense..it doesn't at all

If your mum is recently bereaved has she claimed bereavement support payment ?
Blossomtoes · 11/09/2021 15:18

[quote sst1234]@notanotherjacketpotato

Living in or near London is not a right. Live somewhere cheaper if you cannot afford London. People not in benefits have to make this choice all the time.[/quote]
How do you propose someone on benefits finds the money a move costs? Deposit, vehicle to move your effects - always assuming you drive. Where’s the money for that supposed to come from? Moving somewhere cheaper just means you get 30% of a lower rent. You’ll be suggesting taking in ironing next.

CiaoForNiao · 11/09/2021 15:19

Who’s going to do those jobs? Wage rates would be higher, it’s supply and demand. In work benefits actually fuel the low pay culture. If employers couldn’t workers subsidised by benefits, they are forced to pay more.

Surely if this was true care work would pay more and therefore not be chronically understaffed?

MUM2TJ · 11/09/2021 15:23

Thank you for replying.. Yes her workmates do have kids. Yes she had the bereaved support payment but that has ended now..I think its just a shitty situation that she's in where she would probably be better off financially not working but for her mental health's sake she needs to work and always has and loves it..just the lack of money is hard when she's working every extra hour she can..but that's life I suppose

Blossomtoes · 11/09/2021 15:23

@CiaoForNiao

Who’s going to do those jobs? Wage rates would be higher, it’s supply and demand. In work benefits actually fuel the low pay culture. If employers couldn’t workers subsidised by benefits, they are forced to pay more.

Surely if this was true care work would pay more and therefore not be chronically understaffed?

It’s going to have to pay more now. Careworkers are being let go because they won’t get vaccinated. Market forces will push their meagre wages up. That might be an upside to this mess.
Gimlisaxe · 11/09/2021 15:30

It’s going to have to pay more now. Careworkers are being let go because they won’t get vaccinated. Market forces will push their meagre wages up. That might be an upside to this mess.

I agree that they might get paid more, but I think that there is still going to be massive shortages in the care industry, I have tried it and I lasted a day, in my eyes it takes a special kind of a person to work in that industry, especially being paid what they do and I hate it when people suggest care work as if everyone can do it.

Blossomtoes · 11/09/2021 15:33

I agree that it won’t solve the shortages. I couldn’t do it. Good carers are absolute saints.

Saoirse82 · 11/09/2021 15:33

@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. Angry
You're shocked the government would stoop this low? Really? I'm not! The Tories are hardly known for their compassion for low income families, I would put NOTHING past this government.
Akire · 11/09/2021 15:34

Sorry about your mum but if she’s checked then it’s right. We see it on here all time when kids grow up and move out 18 household income drops dramatically. Fellow workers may be on the up now but when kids move out they be back down the ladder.

DrCoconut · 11/09/2021 15:44

Childcare is a nightmare here too. Loads of childminders (including mine) went out of business last year and now spaces are rarer than hen's teeth, especially when you need someone who picks up from your DC's school. Same for out of school clubs, nurseries etc. So unless you have family/friends to do it or can afford a nanny you're stuffed. My career has been blown out of the water by my ex deciding that family life was no longer for him. I am now severely limited as to hours I can work, I can't go away anywhere for work etc. My employer has been utterly brilliant and at least I still have a job and can try to rebuild as the kids get older but with SN in the picture too that will be slower than average. Anyone who tells me I shouldn't have had my kids or just need to try harder can take a long walk off a short pier.

Tealightsandd · 11/09/2021 15:59

Living in or near London is not a right. Live somewhere cheaper if you cannot afford London. People not in benefits have to make this choice all the time.

Well the media and many people on MN seem to think it is a right for other areas, like Cornwall. The right to be living in your home area - where you're from, where you have family, community, childcare, and a support network.

Talking of childcare, that's gone if a London local moves away. Often family help with childcare is the only way many families can afford to work at all.

Then there's support networks. Particularly vital when someone is vulnerable. Disabled or long term ill, for example...eg. many benefit recipients.

It's not the fault of Londoners that Tony Blair and his successors want to turn London into an exclusive playground for the rich (who then fuck off back to their home town or somewhere in the countryside, after they've made enough money out of London, often at the expense of Londoners).

Btw who does the essential jobs in London if only the rich are allowed to live there? The cost of housing in London is now so high that even roles thought of as well paid, like doctors, are struggling.

It's lucky for London's current mayor, Sadiq Khan, that the Rich Only policy wasn't in place when he was growing up with his bus driver dad.

lannistunut · 11/09/2021 16:00

It is economically stupid too, this is going to reduce the amount of money being spent, further suppressing growth. This government are infuriatingly useless.

Anon778833 · 11/09/2021 16:01

[quote sst1234]@notanotherjacketpotato

Living in or near London is not a right. Live somewhere cheaper if you cannot afford London. People not in benefits have to make this choice all the time.[/quote]

People did have to move out of London when the coalition got in in 2010 - remember? This has already been discussed regarding LHA.

I don't think it's as simple as you imagine if you find yourself having to move away from family whom you rely on for support and childcare.

flirtygirl · 11/09/2021 16:02

It was an uplift and was always going to be stopped. Those who were on uc pre covid should not have allowed themselves to get used to it. Everyone was told it was time limited and due to covid.

We are in receipt of uc in part of this house, so yes it does affect my family but I think those going on about it are unreasonable.

Also it very unfair that legacy benefits never saw the uplift.

Uc credit rates are crap as are legacy benefits but that is another topic. They should all be much better but the uplift was always time limited and due to covid. People need to use their voices to get the crap universal system that penalises people sorted.

Anon778833 · 11/09/2021 16:02

Well said @Tealightsandd

Tealightsandd · 11/09/2021 16:04

And yes this:

How do you propose someone on benefits finds the money a move costs? Deposit, vehicle to move your effects - always assuming you drive. Where’s the money for that supposed to come from? Moving somewhere cheaper just means you get 30% of a lower rent. You’ll be suggesting taking in ironing next.

Also they have to find a landlord willing to accept them. It's no longer just London landlords who are discriminating against tenants in receipt of benefits.

Anon778833 · 11/09/2021 16:06

It's lucky for London's current mayor, Sadiq Khan, that the Rich Only policy wasn't in place when he was growing up with his bus driver dad.

I've noticed that a lot of Tories look down on other people because of their own inferiority complex.

liveforsummer · 11/09/2021 16:06

It's all very well to say not to get used to it but when you previously didn't have enough to get by day to day it's impossible not to rely on it but actually be able to sometimes both be warm AND eat. Personally I did manage without it previously but in April when they took money away from all angles - the uplift, tax credits and housing all because I got a small pay rise, it's really hit me to the point I can't sleep at night worrying how to get through the winter.

Swipe left for the next trending thread