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.

I am on UC and will be getting the £650 too. I see comments on MN and FB about how we are getting "free money", it is "rewarding laziness", and that we can't be trusted to spend it wisely, so it should come direct from energy companies like the £400 universal payment is.
You can bet your payment that the people bitching about us getting it would happily hold their hand out if it was available to them.

Of course you shouldn’t feel guilty. I’m glad people on benefits are getting more, that’s how it should be. Don’t let anyone make you feel this way.

It must be bloody tough managing on 17k

Well surely they would only need to know that op is on UC to know she will be getting an extra £650 ? It's all over the news.

Exactly but it would be too hard and complex to means test everything. Some disabled people ( particularly older ones on Attendance allowance) have tens of thousands in the bank yet will still get extra. We don't need the £400 and my dad will no doubt be trying to give away his double winter fuel payment as he barely has his heating on and is always trying to give away money !

It will be added as credit to your account.

Are you're family struggling? Perhaps they are desperate for the money but are like many people on an acceptable wage considered too well off for the extra grant. I don't think you're family are unreasonable at all. They are just angry at the wrong person. Tbf like everyone else answering you.

Could your family perhaps think you're being a goady fucker, you know what with you telling them and Mumsnet your personal financial business?

They might have the impression you're looking to start a bun fight?

I guess the problem is that people who are working and earning not much above the threshold for UC are also struggling. I can understand the worry but the anger is misplaced, they should be angry at the government not at you but since they keep voting Tory maybe they just aren't very bright.

People are in work, or they are not. If they are not, it does not take a detective to work out that someone might be on benefits. It is hardly goady. Has OP been calling all of her family and telling them of her good fortune due to being made £650 richer?

Wtf?

If you know that a person can't work because of health issues, and that their dh is in a low paid job, then you know that they're on UC without them saying a word. So those family members will watch the news and know that OP gets £650, again, without her saying a word.

There is nothing in the OP to indicate that OP gloated about the money or even mentioned it before they did.

And in most even vaguely functional families it's normal to be aware of and ask about each others lives and problems, so the fact that OP is going for an assessment shortly is something that a parent or sibling SHOULD know, if they give a rat's arse about them and show the slightest interest in their life and welfare.

And also... If you're working 5 jobs and STILL under the UC limits your employers are exploiting you...

The OP isn't well...

Aren't you glad you jave the ABILITY to work 5 jobs??!

@MozFan - I'm sorry, things sound very tough for you at the moment. I am glad that you are receiving some help from the government- and I don't begrudge you it at all (as a tax payer). I think there should be more support not less for people in your situation at the moment.

Your family members sound very mean and unhelpful. I would hugely limit the information - and time - I shared with them, if I was you.
They don't sound great.

Sod being 'grateful' to the blasted Tories 😡.

Have your idiot relatives not worked out that an awful lot of low pay is DIRECTLY linked to companies CHOOSING NOT TO PAY A LIVING WAGE... So their TORY owners /share holders have MORE profit /dividends.
Many Tories are business owners /share holders!

I'd stop talking to them about your finances, some people are just funny about money. Don't sweat it, I mean people with 2 homes are getting 2 payments. It's a crude measure and there will always be some people who don't need it but that doesn't mean the majority don't need it. Just ignore your relative.

Are you sure your DP is being paid enough? Even at minimum wage (assuming he's over 22 and working FT) he should be on £18,500 ish

@polkadotpixie he gets paid term time only as he only works during term time. He’s a science technician in a secondary school.

Sadly this has shown the judgemental in society well and truly. It’s bringing in the division and anti benefit rhetoric that the Tories want.

all the £650 is really is the money that people should have been getting throughout the year if the government hasn’t backtracked on their promises with regards to the rates of increase for benefits. But doing it this way plays nicely into their hands.

It’s to pay for your increased energy costs not money to spend on non essentials so I would save it in your shoes and use it solely to pay the bills each month

I just learnt that companies have a legal duty to maximise profits. So they could easily argue that the law compels them to pay the absolute minimum they can.

If you truly believe that I suggest you have a long, hard look at Scotland. No Tories in power here and it is every bit as bad if not considerably worse, even with the extra Barnett formula money.