To feel bad that I’m getting £650?

[MozFan]

We are on universal credit, my DP works, his salary is £17,200 per annum before deductions.
I’m currently unable to work due to several mental and physical health issues. I’m having my capability for work assessment next week, but I’m not very hopeful from what I’ve heard.
We have a 3 year old also, he won’t be starting school until September 2023.

Anyway, when we found out that UC claimants are getting £650 as well as the £400 to help with energy costs, it did take some of the panic away I’ve been feeling lately.

A family member spoke to me on the phone and was really angry about it, saying that working people always get overlooked and that people on benefits always reap the rewards.
I was too upset to come back with anything, except for saying that we are a working household, just the wages aren’t enough to live on.

Another family member later on spoke to me and said I should be ‘grateful’ to the government … this is a person who votes Tory and says they’ll continue to do so.

Stop sharing your financial information with family who clearly don't understand what life is like for you. I'm sure they'd not be in a hurry to trade places with you for the sake of the £650. You're entitled to this money, don't feel guilty for it. People are directing their anger at the wrong people here.

My husband works and we claim child tax credit so will be receiving the £650 on top of the £400 also. I have 2 disabled children so we'll also get the £150 (perhaps 2 £150 payments, I've no idea how it works for multiple disabilities in a household). I've had to give up work to become full time carer for our children, we live payday to payday. If anyone wants to bitch about us receiving more money than them they are welcome to walk in my exahusted, penny pinching shoes for a day and see if it's worth it.

You shouldn't feel guilty.

IMO this has been badly thought out by the government. Why does everyone need £400? Surely it would be better to make it means tested so the people who actually need the money get enough.

You do realise that 35k is waaaay more than people on UC have, right?

It would cost a fortune to do this. You would need huge numbers of staff to administer the system. It is far cheaper to make the grant universally available.

Yes I realise it’s more but like I said they have help with rent, school meals, grants, dentist, prescriptions etc so whilst they “earn/have” less as they don’t need to pay for so much they actually have more than someone/a couple who earn just outside the threshold. My family are on benefits and have more spending money monthly than I do and their children get more compared to mine.

A week in Scotland? How fucking DARE they. Scroungers.🙄

£35k would be a dream household income for many. We're on £25k because I can't work, so DH is the sole earner. We're entitled to fuck all too, but I wouldn't dream of criticising/guilt tripping/being jealous of those who are.

And no way do you have less spending money than someone on £70pw UC. That's just an outright fabrication.

Don't discuss your financial situation with people, family or otherwise.
People always make preconceived judgements, they can't help it

I knew this would attract the benefit bashers, every thread about the grants is.

Agree with this. Its not like anyone on UC is laughing all the way to the bank. The money will help, but not completely negate all the rises across every aspect of the cost of living, with more rises to come.

It won't disqualify you, presumably you still get UC and some income support, I do and I am in the same position as you

I think we will also receive £150 as our dc get dla

Your family member needs to mind their own business

Your DH presumably works full-time. If he doesn't do the job, then someone else will have to and be in a similar position. You genuinely can't work, and even if you could guess it'd be around your DH's working hours or there wouldn't be a lot left after childcare (unless you'd be a high earner). It's people like you I totally respect and want to have the money. Ignore your family.

Well the income support is now part of the UC payment. I've just moved onto uc

I earn less than your DP and don’t get UC as I’m a single parent.

You need to check this.

I've just run EntitledTO:

based on someone earning £17200 a year, with 1 child and pays a rent of £750 a month is entitled to £680+ a month.
if you're not entitled too it, there's more to your circumstances than you suggest. If you're choosing not to claim it for whatever reason, that's up to you, you should claim it if you can.

35k just outside of london, not 35k in the north. Rent is expensive here and we are already in the lowest/cheapest town close enough to work.

If we was in the north maybe it would be better for us, but we don’t live there so not much good.

It’s best to never discuss your money situation with anyone. It goes all ways from not having enough to being well off.

There is the actual law, societal expectations which have been shaped over millennia and are subject to change and then peoples own sets of moral codes to live by. Then we have peoples actual personalities. So anything remotely contentious means a chance to disagree.

Try not to take it personally.

You have the opportunity to change your circumstances long term, others are not so fortunate
I have been in your position and its really hard but you'll come out the other end
Don't begrudge people who receive support

Actually you should feel angry - angry that companies don’t pay enough for families to live in and have to have claim.

people should be paid a living wage not worry about benefits being enough

Don’t feel bad OP. You have very little money coming in and have a little one to support. You are entitled to the £650, that’s why you are getting it. I hope things get better for you in the future. Don’t let nasty judgemental people get you down.

Who said anything about the north?

Besides 'The North' isn't just some homogeneous lump of cheapness.

Are you still standing by your claim that you have less disposable income than someone on £70pw, by the way?

You are probably premature with your guilt. I doubt that that will cover the increases in costs. Just hope for a mild winter.
I am a pensioner in a big house with good pensions. Now I DO feel guilty.

Does anyone know how this will work for those who are still on the old tax credits system and not moved over to UC? We haven’t been moved over yet but should be entitled to the £650. I am used to the comments from others, thinking I’m living the high life in benefits, if only they knew what my life was like. Just ignore the comments.

Your mental health may improve if you dump the family member who, knowing your health and financial position, would make you feel like that.

You have nothing to feel guilty about.

I'm on universal credit, part time working single parent. I don't get any of those things as I own my home (obviously very lucky with this so not complaining!) so no help with mortgage, also don't qualify for free school meals, don't qualify for free prescriptions/dentist, and this £650 is the first grant I'll ever have rereceived! Most of my UC goes towards childcare costs which I'm very grateful for as couldn't work otherwise. Those on the lowest incomes do qualify for the above and rightly so, they won't have loads of disposable income left over!