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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:
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denisethegreat · 13/09/2021 19:57

Our food bank you can go to once every 2 weeks. Some stuff lasts longer like coffee and tea but there is usually enough other stuff to last a week if you're creative. We are lucky we don't have any allergies or special requirements because it's the kind where they make up the bags in advance and you get what you're given.

There's nothing fresh, it's all tins and cans and bags of pasta but the wonderful wonderful people at the Sikh temple provide meals that have been cooked with fresh ingredients. It's across town though and often bus fare wasn't possible when we were in need.

We don't need them very often now thank goodness.

5iveminutespeace · 13/09/2021 20:33

Haven’t rtft but just wanted to add…
I’m a ‘key worker’ working 32 hours a week. I rely heavily on UC. I’ll feel the cut as I’m struggling with debt, but I’ll survive.
Not everyone that claims doesn’t work.

Maddison12 · 14/09/2021 01:25

[quote PalmarisLongus]@Iheartbaby

Back in 2014, around when the government started releasing those tax breakdown pie charts, they had one sub group called "Welfare" which was around 24%
Some say it was designed to demonise unemoued by making it seem like unemployed were getting 24% of peoples tax. But, breaking down the 'welfare' section at the time revealed unemployment benefits accounted for only 2.9% of total welfare bill.
You can read about that here: commonslibrary.parliament.uk/hmrcs-new-annual-tax-summary-whats-in-welfare/

Any who.
The question:
A person earning 30k a year, paid almost 6k tax, how much went to welfare?
Answer: about £630 total.

So without getting bogged down in it all.
630 total, well say 2.9% of that went to Unemployed people, so £18.50ish.

Someone earning 30k a year contributed around £18.50p a year to the Unemployed or £1.50 a month..

This rhetoric about the unemployed getting tons of "your" money is a load of nonsense.[/quote]
Excellent post 👏

The phrase 'a lie gets halfway round the world before the truth has chance to get it's trousers on' (or words to that effect) came to mind when reading your post as the 'unemployed getting loads of YOUR money' nonsense has been regurgitated by the media in so many different ways it's now almost taken as fact.

Gimlisaxe · 14/09/2021 01:41

People who are saying get cheaper phones, or internet, also don't seem to understand that during the lockdowns, those people who had done that were burning through data to homeschool.

Poor people get penalised for being poor, the amount data costs because they can't afford internet contracts, the pre pay meters and since BG decided to switch to the shitty one, that no shops seem to do and didn't tell people. It has become alot harder to get gas and electric if you top up still using a card or key. Especially if your post office one isn't working.

Its a really shitty position to be in and then you come across people saying well you can cut this and that. Most people who are on their arses have done that, I would say for the majority of people on or below the poverty line, they know exactly how much they have in their bank accounts, know they don't have any money hiding behind sofas, old bags and coats, because they did that last month. Can't sell any more things and can't take in ironing because they are working (or disabled) this is not a new thing, the £20 made it a bit bareable.

Costs would have gone up for them, because if they were unemployed, I know that during the day I have avoided turning on heating, lights, as I said people wouldn't have had to use as much data, suddenly you have the kids home, so you have to use a bit of that heating, electrity bill is going to go up. Water costs, food costs and you know what, you really don't want to say to any kid, I know you are hungry but you can't have that last apple because I was hoping to have it for my breakfast/lunch/dinner.

Chloemol · 14/09/2021 02:29

Yada yada blame the torys , they hate everyone who is not rich, they are to blame for everything, Brexit, NI increases, the nhs failing, prices going up, every shortage going, schools being crap, businesses folding, GPS not seeing anyone, Covid pandemic, they are bullied, and all the rest

But then let’s look back shall we, oh yes actually Labour are no better, in fact worse in some things, if that’s even possible,

The increase was only temporary. The Government simply

can’t afford to keep on paying it out where shall the money come from, bearing in mind how much impact the NI increase is going to have on anyone

Labours magic money tree?

Nat6999 · 14/09/2021 02:39

I'm on legacy benefits & never got the uplift. I really hope that the court case goes the right way & people on legacy benefits get the uplift in a lump sum, it would be nice if it was just in time for Christmas.

Nat6999 · 14/09/2021 02:49

I'm housebound so everything costs more for me, it costs me about £7 a week in delivery charges for food shops, if I need anything I have to buy online & it costs more for delivery, including Amazon Prime I estimate I spend £55 a month on delivery charges, I also have continence problems which cost me £65 a month in pads & disposal bags. I haven't had a penny extra during the pandemic, supermarket delivery charges went up, I used to pay £3.49 but during lockdown it went up to a minimum of £4.95 & often more. It's not cheap to be disabled & housebound.

Iggly · 14/09/2021 06:50

@Chloemol

Yada yada blame the torys , they hate everyone who is not rich, they are to blame for everything, Brexit, NI increases, the nhs failing, prices going up, every shortage going, schools being crap, businesses folding, GPS not seeing anyone, Covid pandemic, they are bullied, and all the rest

But then let’s look back shall we, oh yes actually Labour are no better, in fact worse in some things, if that’s even possible,

The increase was only temporary. The Government simply

can’t afford to keep on paying it out where shall the money come from, bearing in mind how much impact the NI increase is going to have on anyone

Labours magic money tree?

The Tories are shits.

There is a magic money tree. The Tories have certainly been calling on it.

Do you remember Northern Rock? The start of the banking crisis? All that money thrown into banks.

Do you remember what banks did to create the banking crisis? It was a neat trick they played, blaming feckless households for “borrowing too much”.

The reality was, they gambled billions of pounds with each other and those bets did not pay off. One side lost billions - a lot got government bailouts and the other side walked away very rich (yes Rishi, I’m looking at you).

Did the banks have to pay it back? Not really. There was a massive furore about any sort of banking levy.

So yes, there is a “magic money tree”.

And after ten years of austerity before covid came along, ten years made fuck all difference. We weren’t all in it together.

But yet, here we have the universal credit cut. It sounds relatively small but it will mean children go hungry. What prospects will they then have in life?

The Tories do hate a certain class of people. I certainly felt that growing up in a single parent household under Thatcher. Let’s not pretend otherwise. They excel in making people look askance at others who are in less fortunate positions than ourselves. I wonder why that is.

I recommend people do their research on the history of the Conservatives and what they stand for.

Iggly · 14/09/2021 06:51

And the Tories literally ushered in Brexit in its current form Hmm

lannistunut · 14/09/2021 06:56

@Chloemol

Yada yada blame the torys , they hate everyone who is not rich, they are to blame for everything, Brexit, NI increases, the nhs failing, prices going up, every shortage going, schools being crap, businesses folding, GPS not seeing anyone, Covid pandemic, they are bullied, and all the rest

But then let’s look back shall we, oh yes actually Labour are no better, in fact worse in some things, if that’s even possible,

The increase was only temporary. The Government simply

can’t afford to keep on paying it out where shall the money come from, bearing in mind how much impact the NI increase is going to have on anyone

Labours magic money tree?

The Tories have a magic money tree, just give it to different people.

Relative poverty fell under Labour, and would again, as they boost those at the bottom. This benefits society more generally as all that money gets spent, creating jobs.

The Tories are total money wasters - just give dodgy contracts to friends, relatives and party donors.

Things were not more crap 11 years ago. Look at waiting times pre-covid, look at TA support in schools, look at potholes, look at youth provision. All made far worse by the Tories.

Threearm · 14/09/2021 07:12

@Nat6999 I didn't realise it was going to court. Any idea what date it is being heard?

I'm on legacy benefits and a carer, it would be nice if they succeed would mean a non-shit Christmas

EmmaOvary · 14/09/2021 07:14

If I hear about the fucking magic money tree one more fucking time...

DIDO.

HARDING.

PalmarisLongus · 14/09/2021 08:17

@Chloemol

Yada yada blame the torys , they hate everyone who is not rich, they are to blame for everything, Brexit, NI increases, the nhs failing, prices going up, every shortage going, schools being crap, businesses folding, GPS not seeing anyone, Covid pandemic, they are bullied, and all the rest

But then let’s look back shall we, oh yes actually Labour are no better, in fact worse in some things, if that’s even possible,

The increase was only temporary. The Government simply

can’t afford to keep on paying it out where shall the money come from, bearing in mind how much impact the NI increase is going to have on anyone

Labours magic money tree?

The Tories have been I power over a decade. If they haven't been able to sort whatever mess you think labour made, surely that just proves how ineffective they are.

Or, put it this way, of you bought a house with a leaky roof and you're still being dripped on 10 years later, you can't blame the previous owners, it's your fault.

Brokensunflower · 14/09/2021 08:23

I'm on legacy benefits & never got the uplift. I really hope that the court case goes the right way & people on legacy benefits get the uplift in a lump sum, it would be nice if it was just in time for Christmas.*

That absolutely says it all about what is wrong with the system. Benefits aren't there for buying nice presents and a big goose. They are there to stop you starving to death on a short term basis.

NewPapaGuinea · 14/09/2021 08:26

Coffey claimed £20 equated to 2 hours of overtime. So many holes in this statement it’s outrageous. The short of it is people would need to do an extra 6 hours work for that £20, even if their employer would give them extra hours to begin with.

Akire · 14/09/2021 08:26

@Brokensunflower

* I'm on legacy benefits & never got the uplift. I really hope that the court case goes the right way & people on legacy benefits get the uplift in a lump sum, it would be nice if it was just in time for Christmas.*

That absolutely says it all about what is wrong with the system. Benefits aren't there for buying nice presents and a big goose. They are there to stop you starving to death on a short term basis.

Yes, but if you become seriously disabled at 25 they also provide all your income for the rest of your life. Which is what everyone’s been been pointing out. Bread and water survival level they may be for short term but equally we give those who have no choice but spend 20-30-40 years on them the same. That’s whole point of saying the £20 equally applies those who can get themselves out of the hole and those who can’t.
PalmarisLongus · 14/09/2021 08:31

@Brokensunflower

* I'm on legacy benefits & never got the uplift. I really hope that the court case goes the right way & people on legacy benefits get the uplift in a lump sum, it would be nice if it was just in time for Christmas.*

That absolutely says it all about what is wrong with the system. Benefits aren't there for buying nice presents and a big goose. They are there to stop you starving to death on a short term basis.

Did you type that with your fists and clenched teeth whilst raging at your screen?

Did you miss the bit where they'd been loving without the uplift for the last 18 months? How there are those that think it so unfair they didn't get the uplift that they're taking the government to court to get it?

If you understood all of that information, you might just grasp that maybe, just maybe, after 18 months of scrimping and barely scraping through, a lump sum of the equivalent amount would take huge pressure off and pay for a less than paupers Christmas.

Are you so intoxicated with rage at people? It does not sound healthy, I hope you find the right life balance to bring equilibrium to your life.

denisethegreat · 14/09/2021 08:32

@NewPapaGuinea

Coffey claimed £20 equated to 2 hours of overtime. So many holes in this statement it’s outrageous. The short of it is people would need to do an extra 6 hours work for that £20, even if their employer would give them extra hours to begin with.
Did someone actually say that?? Tax? Loss in benefits? Plus the cost of childcare which may or may not exist if you're already working up to 5pm. Plus the fact that many (looking at carer workers for example) already do extra hours that aren't paid for but take them up to their childcare limits.

And as you say, as if everyone can just ask for 2 more hours a week and get it.

What a ridiculous statement.

Threearm · 14/09/2021 08:41

@brokensunflower except for those who are disabled who are stuck long term. Just as a point we lived in a tiny two bed flat during the first lockdown with electric heating. We didn't get the uplift. My heating doubled, my food doubled. Resources to make us survive the first lockdown also needed to be accounted for. I have an outstanding £939 electric bill thanks to the pandemic. It will be lovely to have it paid off so we could have an OK Christmas, we might even manage a santa trip.. we didn't last year

denisethegreat · 14/09/2021 08:51

[quote Threearm]@brokensunflower except for those who are disabled who are stuck long term. Just as a point we lived in a tiny two bed flat during the first lockdown with electric heating. We didn't get the uplift. My heating doubled, my food doubled. Resources to make us survive the first lockdown also needed to be accounted for. I have an outstanding £939 electric bill thanks to the pandemic. It will be lovely to have it paid off so we could have an OK Christmas, we might even manage a santa trip.. we didn't last year[/quote]
See though people will see "Santa trip" and started frothing about how it's not essential and anything other than bread and water is living in luxury.

PalmarisLongus · 14/09/2021 09:18

[quote Threearm]@brokensunflower except for those who are disabled who are stuck long term. Just as a point we lived in a tiny two bed flat during the first lockdown with electric heating. We didn't get the uplift. My heating doubled, my food doubled. Resources to make us survive the first lockdown also needed to be accounted for. I have an outstanding £939 electric bill thanks to the pandemic. It will be lovely to have it paid off so we could have an OK Christmas, we might even manage a santa trip.. we didn't last year[/quote]
Mrs A. M. Oron replies:
"How very dare you expect both heat and eat AND visit Santa clause whilst you're getting a pittance from the wonderful government. I demand that pittance be cut immediately and people like you can live on half a pittance spread equally over 12 months. I want my £2 a month to tip the stable boys."

EmmaOvary · 14/09/2021 10:19

We really love to hate the poor in this country. That's what comes from having an utterly toxic class system, I guess.

Nat6999 · 14/09/2021 13:49

BrokenSunflower the long term disabled have paid through the nose for everything during this pandemic, increased delivery charges, bigger heating bills, increased prices for food, just the same as those on UC, why shouldn't we be given the uplift? Don't say we could choose to move to UC, why should we when the system doesn't work?

EmmaOvary · 14/09/2021 15:52

@Nat6999 you should have been given it.
Doesn't mean nobody else shouldn't either, though.

XenoBitch · 14/09/2021 18:05

@Brokensunflower

* I'm on legacy benefits & never got the uplift. I really hope that the court case goes the right way & people on legacy benefits get the uplift in a lump sum, it would be nice if it was just in time for Christmas.*

That absolutely says it all about what is wrong with the system. Benefits aren't there for buying nice presents and a big goose. They are there to stop you starving to death on a short term basis.

Jobseekers, yes. People on disability benefits are allowed to have a comfortable life and not be expected to exist on bread and water until the day they drop. I had the uplift, and treated myself a fair few times. And why the hell not, eh.
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