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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

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
Iheartbaby · 11/09/2021 19:13

@WaterAndRichTea

Wow!!!!! …………….

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

That is an unbelievable comment!!!

Why ?
Easyvision01 · 11/09/2021 20:10

Iheartbaby why? Did you not read notanotherjacketpotato’s post that some people depending on housing costs etc. have £90 left a month after bills? I’ve been ruminating on that info all day, as I genuinely did not know that before coming on this thread.

Could I do it if I was single and I only had to feed myself and provide incidental expenses? (I know single people get a lot less but for the sake of argument…) Assuming I wasn’t working and didn’t have to factor in commuting costs then maybe it would be possible but miserable and unsustainable. If I was working my current working pattern then over 50% of that £90 would go on commuting to work, leaving me £10 a week for food and other costs. How is it possible? It’s not really is it?

If that £90 had to somehow stretch to me AND kids then that is a terrifying position to be in.

So why would anybody think that the £20 a week uplift is unreasonable?

liveforsummer · 11/09/2021 20:18

*If that £90 had to somehow stretch to me AND kids then that is a terrifying position to be in.
*
It's truly miserable. I was walking round Morrison's with my phone out yesterday calculating to the penny what I could buy with the couple of pounds left in my account to feed us for the weekend. I've always worked hard and never imagined I'd be here!

Easyvision01 · 11/09/2021 20:33

Sad that’s awful I’m sorry.

notanotherjacketpotato · 11/09/2021 20:36

I'm sorry to hear that @liveforsummer it's awful. I hope things improve for you soon

Paquerette · 11/09/2021 21:21

@Easyvision01

Iheartbaby why? Did you not read notanotherjacketpotato’s post that some people depending on housing costs etc. have £90 left a month after bills? I’ve been ruminating on that info all day, as I genuinely did not know that before coming on this thread.

Could I do it if I was single and I only had to feed myself and provide incidental expenses? (I know single people get a lot less but for the sake of argument…) Assuming I wasn’t working and didn’t have to factor in commuting costs then maybe it would be possible but miserable and unsustainable. If I was working my current working pattern then over 50% of that £90 would go on commuting to work, leaving me £10 a week for food and other costs. How is it possible? It’s not really is it?

If that £90 had to somehow stretch to me AND kids then that is a terrifying position to be in.

So why would anybody think that the £20 a week uplift is unreasonable?

Notanotherjacketpotato’s post listed UC money and outgoing expenses without any salary from working, so commuting costs aren’t relevant. £90 left over is tiny, but the UC system encourages claimants to do a minimum of 20(?) hours work per week to provide extra income. If that’s not possible due to any kind of disability, then dla payments top up that amount. Managing on UC money alone isn’t meant to be enough.
XenoBitch · 11/09/2021 21:22

@Iheartbaby

I hope it’s stopped, no one has given me £20 a week more.
Well, have £20 worth of Biscuit
Gimlisaxe · 11/09/2021 21:29

then dla payments top up that amount. Managing on UC money alone isn’t meant to be enough.

No they don't.

You normally get refused PIP, then have to wait to get the mandatory reconsideration, where you will be refused, you then have to wait for a tribunal. Last time round I waited 16 months for my tribunal within, something like 20 minutes they reinstated it and 28 days later, I got my backpay.

You know who doesn't accept the reason, its ok I may be due a back payment from PIP, every single bill you have to pay out during that time. You still have to find the money from somewhere.

notanotherjacketpotato · 11/09/2021 21:40

@Paquerette you are correct. However, there is an amount of time that has to pass on UC before you can claim LCWRA, PIP etc. Also, if you have a small baby and don't work for that reason, you aren't entitled to any LCWRA or PIP (obviously) so the amount I quoted is the amount you live on for that period of time until you return to work.

Plus, claims for additional elements are often rejected and go to appeal so that's longer to keep going.

Also, even if able and looking for work, not everyone will find work quickly.

I was living on the figures I gave for about 6 /7 months then things got easier. Mostly because I was given a council property for which I am eternally grateful.

Babyroobs · 11/09/2021 21:51

[quote notanotherjacketpotato]@Paquerette you are correct. However, there is an amount of time that has to pass on UC before you can claim LCWRA, PIP etc. Also, if you have a small baby and don't work for that reason, you aren't entitled to any LCWRA or PIP (obviously) so the amount I quoted is the amount you live on for that period of time until you return to work.

Plus, claims for additional elements are often rejected and go to appeal so that's longer to keep going.

Also, even if able and looking for work, not everyone will find work quickly.

I was living on the figures I gave for about 6 /7 months then things got easier. Mostly because I was given a council property for which I am eternally grateful.
[/quote]
There is nothing to stop someone with a young baby from applying for LCWRA if they have an illness or disability which prevents them from working or limits hours they can work.
PIP is not related in any way to UC - you do not have to be on UC for any length of time to apply for PIP, you just need to have had difficulties for 3 months.
Of course people are entitled to claim PIP if they have a small baby - if you meet the criteria for claiming a disability benefit then having a baby has absolutely nothing to do with it.
PIP is a completely independent benefit to UC - it is extra money for people who are disabled to help with the extra costs of disability. Some people will claim PIP and still be able to work and may not even need UC. PIP money is not for basic living expenses, it is to pay for all the extra costs that a disability brings like extra heating costs, needing to get taxis because your mobility is poor and you cannot manage public transport, having to pay for therapy, counselling, hiring a stair lift, paying for incontinence pads , special adapted clothing, an electric wheelchair.

CiaoForNiao · 11/09/2021 21:52

then dla payments top up that amount. Managing on UC money alone isn’t meant to be enough.

I've been placed in the LCW group which means I'm considered too ill to work, but not ill enough to qualify for extra money or the lifting of the benefit cap.
I'm currently appealing that as well as the council tax thing. And have been told to apply for PIP so that's on my to do list.

Babyroobs · 11/09/2021 21:58

@CiaoForNiao

then dla payments top up that amount. Managing on UC money alone isn’t meant to be enough.

I've been placed in the LCW group which means I'm considered too ill to work, but not ill enough to qualify for extra money or the lifting of the benefit cap.
I'm currently appealing that as well as the council tax thing. And have been told to apply for PIP so that's on my to do list.

PIP is really about longer term disabilities. You need to expect your difficulties to last another nine months. It's important to get medical evidence linked to proving how you meet the PIP descriptors will score enough points for an award. There are quite long waits at the moment for assessments.
notanotherjacketpotato · 11/09/2021 21:59

I don't mean people with small babies can't apply for pip or LCWRA, I mean having a baby doesn't on its own entitle you to those benefits. Even though you are not expected to look for work until the child is 2. So they figures I quoted are what people with small babies live off if they stay at home for the baby stage.

You do need to have had the disability for 3 months for PIP, I can't remember how long it is for LCWRA but I remember it was several months. Then there's to time to apply, the decision, the rejection, the appeal...

CiaoForNiao · 11/09/2021 22:05

Thanks @Babyroobs I didn't think I qualified for PIP, but have been told I should. I was signed off work sick for 1 year, and then they ended my contract 18 months ago. So I've been ill for 2.5 years so far. Hard to know if ill be "better" in 9 months tbh.

Babyroobs · 11/09/2021 22:08

@CiaoForNiao

Thanks *@Babyroobs* I didn't think I qualified for PIP, but have been told I should. I was signed off work sick for 1 year, and then they ended my contract 18 months ago. So I've been ill for 2.5 years so far. Hard to know if ill be "better" in 9 months tbh.
That's the problem isn't it, no one can predict the future. I helped someone with a PIP form yesterday and honestly there was very little to put on it, but in the next 12 months she will be having extensive cancer treatment, so I'm just hoping that by the time she gets assessed in 4/5 months time, she will score enough points. assesments are taking so long at the moment that things can change.
Gimlisaxe · 11/09/2021 22:09

@CiaoForNiao

I would always recommend applying for it, as long as you keep in mind you might not get it, you are not going to be any worse off then you are at the moment.

Although I hate doing the form, because when filling it out, it shows how limited my life is through something that I can't help

MsAwesomeDragon · 11/09/2021 22:09

My sister is on UC (as well as working a min wage, 0 hours job). She'll cope by asking family and friends to help when the money runs out. Same as always. She's lucky that she's got family and friends who can help her out, plenty of others don't.

Foodbanks will get busier, people will get into more debt, some will go hungry so they can keep their children warm and fed.

Anon778833 · 12/09/2021 04:42

PIP is a nightmare to apply for. Basically, you have to accept that the assessor may lie (often does) and you will have to appeal to get the award, although I think the majority of appeals overturn the decision.

The government has made it almost impossible for people to get it on first application and this is designed to make people just give up and not appeal.

They do things like, ask you to travel 1 hour for a face to face interview and then if you come, say if you were that disabled you'd not have been able to make it.

I know of a guy who couldn't walk. The assessor lied and wrote that he walked across the car park (he didn't) .

Shamsa03 · 12/09/2021 04:58

@ThisIsStartingToBoreMe

I'm a carer working full time but no-one gave me an extra £20 a week.
Do you get £200 a month?
Shamsa03 · 12/09/2021 04:59

@Itsnotover

PIP is a nightmare to apply for. Basically, you have to accept that the assessor may lie (often does) and you will have to appeal to get the award, although I think the majority of appeals overturn the decision.

The government has made it almost impossible for people to get it on first application and this is designed to make people just give up and not appeal.

They do things like, ask you to travel 1 hour for a face to face interview and then if you come, say if you were that disabled you'd not have been able to make it.

I know of a guy who couldn't walk. The assessor lied and wrote that he walked across the car park (he didn't) .

Exactly this ^
Explosivefarts · 12/09/2021 05:09

@Tealightsandd

Perhaps they'll cope the same way as the mainly disabled people who are in receipt of the legacy benefits. They weren't included for the extra £20. Nobody seems all that bothered about them.

It's actually pretty disgusting and hypocritical to see all the apparent concern for people struggling. It's sending out a message that disabled and other struggling legacy benefit recipients don't matter.

This I hope they all get it backdated disgusting they weren’t included
gofg · 12/09/2021 08:11

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

Unbelievable! What an incredibly selfish person you sound, wanting struggling people to miss out simply because no-one gave money to you.

Mumoblue · 12/09/2021 08:26

@Iheartbaby

Well apply for UC if you think it’s so grand!
You won’t! Because you know it’s not!

WaterAndRichTea · 12/09/2021 12:35

@Iheartbaby

Why? You really have to ask why?

Christ, you really are awful

Iheartbaby · 12/09/2021 12:49

Still stand by my point