Page 12 | To think this will just increase pressure on the poorest/vulnerable?

Zebedee55 · 2023-03-13T09:03:16+00:00

Sanctions increased, putting more (often unrealistic) pressure on parents, carers, and sick/disabled.🙁 https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/universal-credit-sanctions-hunt-budget-b2298836.html

XenoBitch · 13/03/2023 21:56

Eightiesgirl · 13/03/2023 21:45

@XenoBitch I understand exactly what you mean. My husband, who is paranoid anyway, also worries about being spied upon by the DWP. We have had to show bank statements to the council for them to scrutinise, in order to obtain council tax support and the shame I've felt if we've had a very rare takeaway listed on the bank statement is ridiculous. Living on benefits is living half a life and I suppose some might say that's all we deserve. Don't get me wrong, I'm extremely grateful for the benefits we receive, we literally couldn't survive without them but we've both paid into the system for nearly 40 years and always understood that one of the things we were paying national insurance for, was to provide for those less fortunate, we just never thought it would one day be us!

It is horrible, isn't it.
I am entitled to council tax benefit... but I don't claim it, for the reasons you have said. I worry that the odd Amazon or Etsy order will go against me.... like if I can afford them, then I should be paying for council tax. The forms to claim it pretty much want to know what you have for breakfast, and how much it cost.
Instead, about 20% of my benefit goes on council tax. Should I be found fit for work, or even dropped into the group down which is not fit for work but still half what I am on now.. I will be absolutely fucked. The stress of it will kill me.

Eightiesgirl · 13/03/2023 22:05

@XenoBitch yes, you definitely have to leave your dignity at the door with some of these people. I think the government rely on the fact that a lot of people will feel too ashamed or too afraid to claim what they are entitled to. I honestly don't know how anyone survives who only receives the basic universal credit.

XenoBitch · 13/03/2023 22:15

Eightiesgirl · 13/03/2023 22:05

@XenoBitch yes, you definitely have to leave your dignity at the door with some of these people. I think the government rely on the fact that a lot of people will feel too ashamed or too afraid to claim what they are entitled to. I honestly don't know how anyone survives who only receives the basic universal credit.

They don't. £334.91 a month. Anyone who thinks people make a conscious decision to live off of that... well, they can fuck off.
It is going up 10% in April... good! You will still get people here moaning it is too much, and acting like they are being marched to a cashpoint and being made to withdrawal that amount under duress, to give to a UC claimant.

Babyroobs · 13/03/2023 22:23

XenoBitch · 13/03/2023 22:15

They don't. £334.91 a month. Anyone who thinks people make a conscious decision to live off of that... well, they can fuck off.
It is going up 10% in April... good! You will still get people here moaning it is too much, and acting like they are being marched to a cashpoint and being made to withdrawal that amount under duress, to give to a UC claimant.

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It is a shocking amount to live on especially when you consider that some will need to be paying extra towards rent if their Uc doesn't even cover their full rent. It is enough stress to make people ill even if they weren't in the first place.

KievsOutTheOven · 13/03/2023 22:34

Nsky62 · 13/03/2023 21:10

KievsOutTheOven
i have mild bi polar, hormonal depression and Parkinson’s.
Parkinson’s diagnosed in September last year, was a relief and affects me daily, told I’ve had it 5 years.
i gave up working, being too slow ( fast paced job) and was forced out at 58, my depression and bi polar medicated well, not that I ever took much time off .
others had more time off for bugs and stuff.
My depression started a few years ago, and almost cancelled out bi polar, both awful, luckily my meds worked and didn’t numb me up,.
These bold and ignorant folk that say mental health does not affect you, of course it can, I despair at these bold statements

Yes, my partners depression now causes him no more issues than a non unwell person suffers from with colds and such - I think he’s missed maybe two weeks of work in the past two years. But that doesn’t mean he doesn’t have depression or that he’s “cured” - he’s just well managed now. And we are always aware that we could end up back where we were (although I’d hope that we both know the signs and wouldn’t get to that point)

Teatime55 · 13/03/2023 23:02

It’s such a difficult area. DD went to primary where a majority of parents didn’t work. It’s a culture. They all share tricks how to claim things and there seem to be a healthy shoplifting scheme going.
Parents who worked were looked down on and there were even comments about not being good parents because of it. You would often see both parents doing school runs, assuming they just had nothing better to do. There’s poor out of school childcare provided because of it as well.
Some of the parents I knew from this group seem incapable of working though. Disorganised especially. DD was friends with one girl, her mum had her own life organised by her own mother still. Even though she lived separately she had to go there for dinner as she couldn’t cook (she was in her 40s), her house seemed to be a constant mess and she never ‘had time to do anything’. She just went shopping constantly. Children always late for school. Messaged me endlessly about school trips, things they needed for school etc. she was frequently surprised that working meant I just couldn’t come home whenever I felt like it. I couldn’t see her working ever. She wasn’t the only one, they all lived in a special bubble and that’s how things were there.

IWineAndDontDine · 14/03/2023 01:20

Grumpybutfunny · 13/03/2023 19:38

@IWineAndDontDine why did you have two close together? We have one because that's what we could afford both working in the NHS with a side gig on top. If DH works shifts why can't you pick up shifts when he is home with the kids. When DS was little we practically worked opposite shifts.

We were out a few days ago and over heard someone saying they don't want to apply where they had been told to as "I would get a job there tomorrow"!

I do think we need benefit reform and work should be mandatory. So if your claiming your out doing labour say working in the fields or litter picking

Or, you know, people can be paid proper wages...?

Northernsouloldies · 14/03/2023 05:34

Typical Conservative policy hit the poorest in society. Meanwhile that cunt Boris Johnson has coined in 5 million since resigning as pm. Wtf has he done to earn that.

SouthCountryGirl · 14/03/2023 07:14

Babyroobs · 13/03/2023 22:23

It is a shocking amount to live on especially when you consider that some will need to be paying extra towards rent if their Uc doesn't even cover their full rent. It is enough stress to make people ill even if they weren't in the first place.

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Some also have to pay towards council tax. 20℅ in my case.

talkingdeadscot · 14/03/2023 09:22

Eightiesgirl · 13/03/2023 21:09

I am so puzzled at all these people who seem to claim benefits, particularly for disabilities, so easily. My own experience is that you have to provide copies of prescriptions, care plans, therapy etc and provide names and phone numbers of professionals willing to discuss your disability in detail. Maybe I'm stupid but I can't understand how anyone can "cheat" the system. From my own point of view in order for me to claim universal credit without any work requirements, I had to prove I was in receipt of carers allowance for looking after someone in receipt of PIP (an extremely difficult benefit to be awarded). If I hadn't been able to prove this then there is no way they would have let me receive UC without me proving I was actively looking for work for about 35 hours a week and taking part in back to work skills training courses and meetings with work coaches and if I'd refused or missed any then my payments would be stopped.

Exactly. It's not easy to claim disability benefits. I had to have 3 separate 'assessments'. One for PIP (which can be claimed whether you're working or not) one for ESA (the award is taken off UC) and then a third to decide if I could work for UC purposes. If you're declared fit for work and claim UC there are requirements to fulfil, if you don't do them and prove you've done them you'll be sanctioned. There are pages and pages of forms to complete and you must provide evidence or your claim will be denied. You don't just sign a bit of paper and that's it.

Thatwastheweekthatwasnt · 14/03/2023 09:35

I get paranoid about the same people sat in cars outside my house. Are they from the DWP and watching me? I am careful what I put on FB even though it is locked down. I am too scared to sell 2nd hand stuff online incase it gets classed as some sort of income.

You have no idea how much this has reassured me! I thought I was the only person who had these thought processes. I even tried to cancel my PIP because I'd got so paranoid, and was told to leave it until my next review (which is 2025). I don't think she understood how paranoid getting it made me...or maybe she did and that's why she didn't cancel it...

I work, in a high earner post, but have physical and mental health issues. The DWP tried to disregard years of CMHT reports because I went to my assessment alone. How could I possibly be mentally unwell and function?

I've stopped being paranoid about social media. I go out so infrequently and when I do I'm sat down that if they want to come for me about it then the argument that it's good for me to rebuild my life is there. My diagnosis and how it affects me doesn't change.

Eightiesgirl · 14/03/2023 10:02

@talkingdeadscot that's exactly the same experience my dh has had. Three assessments, PIP, ESA and UC and loads of paperwork to complete and evidence to provide. Yet, some people have this idea that you just sign on the dotted line and then put your feet up at home and wait for the money to come rolling in, when it couldn't be further from the truth. Even if you are fortunate enough to be awarded it and you get told its for a certain amount of time, you can't relax as that means absolutely nothing. It can all be reviewed at any time and you live in constant fear of the dreaded envelope coming through the letterbox, when you have start the whole process over again. It is all such a stressful experience.

Sadless · 14/03/2023 14:19

People believe that being on benefits is easy. My lifes pretty much pointless and I am not disabled I just look after a disabled person and claim carers allowance. If they could make disabled peoples lives better with doing anything that they are able to do would be good for them. But then if a disabled person fears that if they get the help and they are able to do a job with support. Then the dwp won't see them as being disabled anymore and lose any claim they where receiving.

Sal

Happygirl79 · 14/03/2023 14:55

Northernsouloldies · 14/03/2023 05:34

Typical Conservative policy hit the poorest in society. Meanwhile that cunt Boris Johnson has coined in 5 million since resigning as pm. Wtf has he done to earn that.

Don't be fooled into thinking Boris Johnson got that money for giving speeches and writing books. The money is almost certainly payback for favours already done by Boris for his rich tory donors/cronies whilst he was PM.

Northernsouloldies · 14/03/2023 18:20

Happygirl79 · 14/03/2023 14:55

Don't be fooled into thinking Boris Johnson got that money for giving speeches and writing books. The money is almost certainly payback for favours already done by Boris for his rich tory donors/cronies whilst he was PM.

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That was what I meant by how the fuck did he earn that. All the back handers come rolling in.

Smth · 14/03/2023 20:51

This reply has been deleted

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ilovesooty · 15/03/2023 19:35

This reply has been deleted

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You're not the only one to have noticed.

Willyoujustbequiet · 15/03/2023 19:40

Moonicorn · 13/03/2023 09:30

We do need to get more people back into work. Not working and claiming UC ‘because I want to pick my kids up from school’ or because ‘I’m depressed’ shouldn’t be an option.

Depression is a serious and often life threatening illness. Your comment was ableist.

Willyoujustbequiet · 15/03/2023 20:04

pointythings · 13/03/2023 12:35

@Moonicorn I have had it now. If you want to know more about autism/ADHD we have this amazing thing called Google, which you can use to look it up and find out that (gasp) it isn't a personality related. Since you are able to use MN, I presume that you are able to use the Internet, which means that your post is at the very least disingenuous.

It was ablelist and a thinly veiled dig at those with neurological disorders. The poster is known for it as others have already said.

Willyoujustbequiet · 15/03/2023 20:20

IClaudine · 13/03/2023 15:41

You only get Carer's Allowance if you are caring for 35 hours per week for someone who is in receipt of certain disability benefits. Those disability benefits are not paid to people who just need "driving to a couple of appointments" or a bit of company.

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This poster is likely well aware, its just another dig at the disabled.

XenoBitch · 15/03/2023 20:20

Thatwastheweekthatwasnt · 14/03/2023 09:35

I get paranoid about the same people sat in cars outside my house. Are they from the DWP and watching me? I am careful what I put on FB even though it is locked down. I am too scared to sell 2nd hand stuff online incase it gets classed as some sort of income.

You have no idea how much this has reassured me! I thought I was the only person who had these thought processes. I even tried to cancel my PIP because I'd got so paranoid, and was told to leave it until my next review (which is 2025). I don't think she understood how paranoid getting it made me...or maybe she did and that's why she didn't cancel it...

I work, in a high earner post, but have physical and mental health issues. The DWP tried to disregard years of CMHT reports because I went to my assessment alone. How could I possibly be mentally unwell and function?

I've stopped being paranoid about social media. I go out so infrequently and when I do I'm sat down that if they want to come for me about it then the argument that it's good for me to rebuild my life is there. My diagnosis and how it affects me doesn't change.

The fact you feel reassured has also reassured me! It is a lonely feeling.
In another thread, I mentioned my paranoid about being watched etc, and someone told me that I feel that way because I must be claiming fraudulently.

Willyoujustbequiet · 15/03/2023 20:22

ilovesooty · 15/03/2023 19:35

You're not the only one to have noticed.

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Yes thankfully a lot of people have noticed now and that's why her comments are getting deleted.

Hopefully a ban in the offing.

Smth · 15/03/2023 21:30

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

Hang on @MNHQ why did my comment get deleted?? I wasn't abusive or anything. I have only called out @Moonicorn repeated ignorant and offensive posts.

Smth · 15/03/2023 21:33

So glad I'm not the only one to notice this poster. Hopefully a ban is on the way..still don't think I should be deleted for calling them out though 🤷🏽‍♀️

IClaudine · 15/03/2023 21:38

That poster has been deleted on other threads too. Have not seen them for a couple of days or so now, so hopefully...