To believe UC needs a bloody makeover!

[Lovethystupidneighbour]

Don’t panic - not a benefits bashing thread.

I see a lot of negativity around the benefits system in the UK (namely UC) but it needs to be said that in the right circumstances you can be very comfortable on benefits. It seems the government is incompetent and distributing these benefits efficiently. Why do some people get too much money and others get not enough to breathe on? Seems bloody ridiculous to me. UC is not fit for purpose!

AIBU to think they need to create a better system? How is this the best they can come up with?

The whole point of universal credit is that it sets a minimum amount that an individual or family need as income to survive and tops up your wages to this amount. It aims to ensure a minimum standard for all. It’s more socialist than the Tory government are given credit for.

the reason people criticise it is the want poor people to live like paupers

OP can get benefits at her salary but it’s subject to a cap- depending on whether she’s talking before or after tax she’s on the cap at that salary.

there are exceptions to the cap mainly around disability, as there should be.

easy to find the detail -

https://cpag.org.uk/welfare-rights/key-topics/universal-credit/universal-credit-basics#:~:text=The%20maximum%20award%20is%20subject,£1%2C413.92%20in%20Greater%20London).

Mostly although we will still get a bit (plus £ for wraparound care)

Ok, so what other circumstances do you believe people get ‘far too much’ from UC that doesn’t include disability benefits?

2 kids and rent with two parents working for eg…. Have you read my comments?

For transparency, we have a household income of about £65 k a year. This month we got around £1500 from UC.

Childcare costs are maybe £1000 a month? rent is £1175

It's because you rent although I'm surprised it's as much as 1.5k, i thought it would be closer to 1k.

but it needs to be said that in the right circumstances you can be very comfortable on benefits

surely that’s a good thing? Surely for those that can’t get off benefits, we want, for example the severely disabled to be very comfortabl?

An extra 1.5k a month plus 65k income would be akin to earning 83k before tax.

I think some people don't think to apply as they are earning but they would be eligible.

This is definitely a thing.

I honestly believe that rather than all the proposed disability benefit cuts all they needed to do was up the work allowance and increase the amount per pound you can keep once you hit the work allowance. Really make work pay. Also make carers allowance a non taxable benefit.

Our rent is incredibly cheap because 1. we live in the north and 2. it's an adapted council house due to my son's disability. We had to leave our previous property because it wasn't suitable for his wheelchair.

The rent is £400 which is fully covered by UC. Our UC would of course be much higher if the rent cost over double that amount per month.

A lot of the higher UC awards are that much due to rent and childcare. It’s rare for the claimant to actually have a large sum for themselves each assessment period.

The vast majority of UC claimants work.

it’s pretty impossible not to work unless you’re disabled or a carer

Thanks for confirming you are just on a wind-up.

Yes this is it really. They’re not giving you money, to spend as you please, they’re providing or contributing to a home, likely only for the sake of the children or other vulnerable person in the family.

There should be far more council owned housing so the rent goes back to them as opposed to private landlords.

it’s pretty impossible not to work unless you’re disabled or a carer

I think that's why so many of them get a rough deal, it's not a top up to wages as they don't have any so the top up is not enough.

I agree . For single people and people with high private rents where the rent element does not cover their rent it's dire but the amounts others get particularly where they get the generous work allowances they don't do badly at all.

I think there isn’t enough monitoring, assurance, checking whatever you want to call it.
Shouid be better use of available data to check who is living where and with whom and what is going into and out of bank accounts.
There will never be enough resources for this though.
The people I know who ‘get too much’ are failing to declare a partner or sub letting a social housing property. Working for cash or under another name. Even living abroad.
People will cry about privacy but tax payers want to know they’re not being taken for mugs and more assurance would discourage false claims.

That’s my point. The majority work so why are the minority being targeted negatively? Make it better for those who do work already and any who aren’t working who feel they can will see the benefits and can make that choice for themselves rather than being starved and punished into work they may not be able to manage.

The irony of me getting UC when I work for the NHS of which the government set the wages. It’s not just propping up dysfunctional businesses…they’re literally propping up the people they pay!

I didn't know about the 2017 thing - maybe that has contributed to a drop in the birth rate.

And yet..not enough to buy. Effectively the UC is rent and childcare. So straight to L/L and nursery. Hope you’re saving some of the money you don’t need to get a mortgage because long term once children are no longer on your claim you will be very vulnerable housing wise.

Because you get the basic minimum money if you are out of work temporarily - or out of work by choice. If you have disabilities or children, the money goes up. I have a disability which means that I cannot work - do you expect me to not be able to afford my bills or food just because I physically cannot work? Some of us unfortunately have no other option, it shouldn’t mean we’re punished because of it and be left in poverty.

so, as suspected, this is today’s benefit bashing thread..
slightly different approach but the same agenda

I'm sure there are a lot giving savings to family to put away in savings for them, how on earth would anyone know if someone was doing that ? I understand it must be hard with the savings limits though for example if a couple of trying to save for a house deposit.

I don’t know if they are targeted negatively in the real world- as you can see from this post most of the people discussing this haven’t got the first clue how it works

so you don’t know how DWP check and monitor finances yet you’re sure it’s easy to get away with benefit fraud.

seems a strange take when you don’t know anything about it