Do you agree with these benefits?

[Sophieleigh26]

Do you think the amount people get in benefits (before deductions like earnings) is the right amount, or it should be more / less?

MONTHLY AMOUNT
Single & under 25 £265.31
Single & over 25 £334.91
Couple both under 25 £416.45
Couple over 25 £525.72

£244.58 extra allowance for children (up to 2 children)

A single parent not working (24) with one child (1) would receive £509.89 a month, before deductions (loans, debt etc)

obviously these are just summaries and there are different rules if you have children born before 2017, for example, or disabilities, childcare costs.

YABU - It seems ok / right
YANBU - It should be more / less

@Georgeskitchen I don’t think they’ve had milk tokens for years George and everybody in infant school gets free school meals.

I believe it’s raised based on inflation six months previously though (although still doesn’t get the generous triple lock for pensioners).

It’s already been said this doesn’t include housing benefit
Im not eligible to pay council tax, but UC claimants still have to pay some
Free prescriptions, not everyone is on medication, like me
I pay for my dentist (private) as there’s no NHS dentists within 70 miles
I get £17 a month in Healthy Start vouchers

Pensions and pension age benefits are over double the rate of uc though.

They are low but it’s a but it’s not all people get rent/ council tax/ child benefit. I would like to see a higher amount when a child is 0-3 it’s an expensive age and incredibly difficult to work/ have affordable childcare.

Not everyone gets HB (I don't), plus many people do not get enough HB to actually cover their rent. A single person where I live can get £450 in HB.. even thought the rent on a one bed flat is more than that. They have to make up the shortfall.
Not everyone gets their Council Tax paid, and even if you do, you still have to pay at least 20% of it.
I would be DEAD if I did not get free prescriptions.. mine would cost me £120 a month otherwise. How dare you begrudge me that!
Dental treatment? HA! No one, working or otherwise, has been able to secure an NHS dentist for fucking ages. Even when I did, if you are on UC, your dentist would only do the absolute bare minimum treatment for you.

@XenoBitch prescriptions are also free in Scotland and (maybe) Wales for everyone. It’s not a reward it is a basic human need

Can’t really vote. They are the personal allowances only.
Housing costs and council tax aren’t included, so it’s a bit deceptive. If someone has full council tax and rent covered in full then I think the amounts are ok for all those who are aged 25+. For those under 25 it’s crap- problem is the majority live with mum and dad (so it’s enough for them) but those who don’t will struggle.

Benefits are lower elsewhere aren’t they? Or higher BUT only last for so long.

I don’t agree with any benefits unless it’s for disability or topping up hard working but struggling families.

So you think job seekers should be in poverty?

So you think job seekers should be in poverty?

No, she thinks they should starve on the streets. (But I bet she doesn't actually think.)
Job seekers are already living below the poverty line.

Compared to where?

That wouldn't even cover my council tax and energy bill this winter. Better hope I don't lose my job!

Someone better hope karma isn't real.

Very very few of us are truly free of the risk of needing a safety net.

It’s very low. We got the severe disability element for DS but that ceased the August past his 19th birthday. He still has the disabilities and his Dad still gets carers allowance.

we lost around £400 with the disabled child element. Now waiting to see if any of that is recouped with the work capability assessment. Thankfully extra hours have come up at work in a job I love so we will be fine even if they think DS can work (he can’t yet).

This! And the same goes for minimum wage! It's ridiculous that you're deemed an adult at 18 and therefore have to pay adult prices for everything (trains, entrance fees, buses etc), plus the fact that rent and bills don't give a toss how old you are, yet it's somehow legal to deem that under 25 you get less money than someone over despite having exactly the same outgoings!!

How it doesn't fall under age discrimination has always baffled me.

There are many different scenarios where you could find yourself needing go and claim benefits.
You will most likely find yourself in the gap of disability benefits and topping up.
Stay humble.

Why would they cost you £120 a month when you can get an annual pre payment certificate for around £10.50 a month?

I think we should be heading towards a basic universal income for all, personally.

@Bywayofanupdate

If your question was to me are the thresholds for poverty.
NOTE: These are WEEKLY figures, the OP gives MONTHLY figures.

Link here

"after 13 years of the UK’s support systems for the vulnerable being razored to the ground by the Tories, there are still people who begrudge claimants. Which kind of shows that it’s the mentally of selfish people that is at fault."

@MondaysChild7 has summed it up really.

As soon as the Conservatives came into power they began taking away benefits and strangling social housing to death.

Now, their stunning financial prowess has fucked the Pound and everyone (except 45% tax payers) can feel what it's like to live with less.

Very egalitarian of them.

Single and under 25 get less than those over 25? What less expenses do they have? Will they get housing paid for too? I don't think the amount single under 25 get would buy much food once utilities and council tax paid for. That is clearly not enough. However the rates get a lot more generous with children. Kids don't eat that much especially if you think a house is heated for parent anyway so no more heating needed. They get child benefit towards clothes No more council tax to pay. It is not fairly balanced.

You only don’t get housing element of you don’t qualify sue to earnings though. I have an NHS dentist although of course there have been difficulties in recent times.

I think you’re being a bit aggressive to @Georgeskitchen She doesn’t say she begrudges you anything.

I won't say what I think of you then, it'll only get deleted.

Very limited imagination if you can't possibly foresee any other circumstances where benefits might be a lifeline. Better hope you never need them is all I'll say.