People who won't work otherwise they lose benefits

[Alphavilla]

Came across BBC article recently quoting a 20 year old man saying he had cut out Netflix and booze to cut his costs in these difficult times. However apparently he could not work more than his 16 hours otherwise he would lose his benefits. My DH is a manager in large organisation and he finds it difficult to get shifts/jobs covered as the employees claim they can't add more hours to their part time shift because they would lose entitlement to benefits. So there is work to be had, but it seems it is more lucrative not to work. What has gone wrong?

There are many posts on MN that show the complexity of Universal Credit and why some will make a choice not to work extra hours. How about reading those and then coming back and asking what pressure can be put on the government to ensure that people on 0 hour contracts, people with disabilities care leavers, young parents, carers, one income households do not fear taking on extra hours because of the long, long history of the mess made to claims when they do?

Consumerism?! Oh, so that moral judgement of yours, that you’re imposing on him, makes it ok that he can afford to do literally nothing other than stare at his own four walls, right?

Any thoughts as to how this might affect someone’s mental health?

Beez people on benefits should have nothing and enjoy nothing don't you know that!

I used to pay for DS's Netflix and phone when he was in supported living as he had nothing else in his life. For him sitting in an empty flat would impact badly on his MH as all he had were the intrusive thoughts. A few hours of occupying his mind with Netflix gave his mind a break. It also helped him have conversations with others as he could join in and talk about the latest series or movies which helped with his anxiety and social skills.

This thread is depressing. Basic Netflix is cheaper than a TV license and a low cost form of entertainment. Same applies to video games and the odd can of beer. Anyone suggested bringing back workhouses yet? They really looked after the mentally ill.

Can't comment on this particular young man's case but I'm on carer's allowance as I have a disabled daughter. It's around £300 a month. I can earn up to about £130 a week, but if I earn a penny more then I lose the whole £300 for that month. Yes, I can offset some into a pension, but there's a limit.
I can work evenings and weekends as my husband is around for my daughter, and I still meet the 35 hours per week caring requirement, but the system is hugely flawed.

Absolutely. I have a teen so if I had to get rid of all my devices, I'd at least have somebody to talk to. And I work full time so I get daily interaction with people.

But living alone, only working a few hours or unable to work at all and can't afford to do ANYTHING? Just sit at home staring at the walls all day every day?

That is a form of punishment that they use in prison. It's disgusting that people think that would be ok.

It's the zero hour contract that's messing it up for those on a low income. People need guaranteed hours/income to afford rent and bills. I've always worked full time jobs until I had children. I've been looking for a part time job that's not zero hour based. As I cannot live on 6 hours one week and 12 the next. I need a stable income to leave benefits. I rely on benefits at thr moment. Zero hour contracts really should be abolished.

Speaking from personal experience there's not a million miles between being impoverished and in prison. Except in the cell you have heating and three meals a day.

Fuck me is this what we have come to?

I’m not sure it’s that straightforward that they lose benefits, but more like it doesn’t feel worth it. Do you lose 55p of benefits for every £1 earned, so only a net benefit of 45p? My friend is a very skilled specialist nurse, but also a single mum of three. It’s not worth all the effort of finding childcare for 3 to cover a 12 hour shift to take on much more than the minimum shifts possible.

The benefit system is messed up.

As a single parent I am only entitled to a small amount of help.
Whereas a couple I know who both earn the same amount each that I do, are entitled to almost £900 a month help, even though their bills and situation is almost identical to mine.

He is right that the benefits reduce/stop if you earn over a certain amount but he is wrong that he’ll be worse off.

I recently saw my dream job advertised but it was PT hours and I looked at the online calculator and it said I would be much worse off.

He would get less in benefits but he’d also get more in wages so he should be better off.
Although he may think the amount he’s better off by isn’t worth it.

It's the zero hour contract that's messing it up for those on a low income. People need guaranteed hours/income to afford rent and bills. I've always worked full time jobs until I had children. I've been looking for a part time job that's not zero hour based. As I cannot live on 6 hours one week and 12 the next. I need a stable income to leave benefits. I rely on benefits at thr moment. Zero hour contracts really should be abolished.

I agree.

I know so many people who have been absolutely devastated by zero hours contract and more and more employees are using them now.

I'd love to work. I'd be better off financially and I long for the social side.

I'm a full time single carer to my youngest child who needs round the clock care and supervision. He is 12 but developmentally a toddler - full scale meltdowns, still in nappies.
I don't have any support from family at all (his father refuses to have him and wouldn't cope with him anyway).
Childminders wouldn't cope with him.

I would give anything for a normal life.
It's a struggle financially too. I would be way better off working.

He is right that the benefits reduce/stop if you earn over a certain amount but he is wrong that he’ll be worse off.

For this man he will be as if anyone bothered to read the article they will see he is in supported living so his rent will be around £300 per week. So working full time at minimum wage for his age he will earn £252 per week so please do explain how he won't be worse off?

The young man in the article was living in supported accommodation as pointed out though so not a 'normal' 20 year old.

It’s all costly. TV streaming needs the equipment which costs. It all adds up. Mobile phones too. Some people I know are thinking of going to basic phones but most things are on smartphones. Charging as well. I’ve got a battery pack so that I don’t take charging from others electricity.

Perhaps he is rightly or wrongly factoring in travel expenses.

I think claimants are expected to travel doe work up to an hour away? I may be wrong about that.

@x2boys and in the real world thats not always the case , my neices boyfriend is early 20's gets a job for a month or do then back on UC for 6-9 months , last job they got him and was part tIme

Will he be living in this £300 a week place all his life? That's really expensive, he's 20. Couldn't he live somewhere a bit more cheaper and work full time?

Something like that. It's the cost of childcare that fucks it up. I work full time and get UC top ups and am much better off than I would be on full unemployment benefits but my child is 14 so no childcare needed any more. I really feel for parents of younger children at the moment, with the cost of living as it is. I could take on another weekend job if I was really struggling, but parents with younger children just don't have that option.

I think zero hours contracts are banned in most of Europe.

@CuteBabyFarts I hear a lot of people say this in benefits as they will get less UC if they work more , but they don't see overall they will get more
But your UC does go down if you earn more , buts hard for people to work out they will be better off

Will he be living in this £300 a week place all his life? That's really expensive, he's 20. Couldn't he live somewhere a bit more cheaper and work full time

He could be there his whole life it depends on his needs.
My DS was in supported living for over 2 years. Partly because he needed to support and Partly because he was waiting for council accommodation.

My neighbours also one if them just works and he does 16 hrs and won't do more ( fully capable ) as its not worth it in his eyes as they loose benefits and he isn't working for just a little bit more , they are in their 40's and he has done min hrs for the last 6/7 years

You have to take into account the costs of working.
You might be slightly better off in cash terms if you work but you have to get to work - it's likely that will cost at least £10 a day. (Mine is £20 - so £100 a week).
Childcare is a cost obviously.
Increased expenses on lunches, coffees, clothes, etc (not essentials but likely costs).
The loss of "discount for those on benefits" - which mean you have to pay more for things. And the exhaustion of a full time job which has a cost in itself.

This.