To think saving on Universal Credit is extremely difficult?

[FirmGreyMember]

It feels like Universal Credit doesn’t really leave much room for saving once basic living costs are covered. I know in theory people say to put even small amounts aside but in practice it seems very difficult when most of the money goes on essentials.

AIBU to think there’s very little opportunity to build savings on UC?

They chose not to prioritise protecting themselves and their family though.

Budget better then.

What has that to do with Netflix?

Not being on benefits doesn't automatically make you a net contributor. If you are a net recipient your not helping much either.

My son didnt have those policies because it was being born when he received the brain injury that led to his disability.

Because my condition is congenital

Being on benefits automatically confirms that that you are not paying your way.

To expect to be able to save???

You have the chance to find something else to do, a disabled person doesnt.

I didn't say I couldn't afford it. But I wouldn't expect you to understand the difference

I have paid tax and ni for over 20 years

So I should have foreseen that my one child was going to be autistic, that a global pandemic was going to put DH out of a job and, as DS problems became more apparent and he started refusing to go to school, he was going to be unable to get another job but would have to earn what he could from turning his hobby into a job. Then when we were just about managing I got made redundant and so far have only been able to get part-time work.

Though don't worry, my redundancy payment means we're not eligible for UC. But judge away because we do get DLA and CA and clearly I should have planned my life better.

You can’t really think this?

I’d rather people budgeted £6 for netflix over having to waste £150 quid or whatever on a tv licence.

do you see how wrong you are here. Surely the government should mandate netflix and save £100 a year per disabled person.

you must be trolling cos no one seriously thinks like this. I can’t believe people begrudge people so much. I mean I said its not meant to be there to amass savings but my god, people still need a basic standard of living. We don’t have workhouses anymore

So if someone is on benefits they shouldn’t be able to put a small amount aside for things like school uniform? Or birthday/Xmas presents? I doubt the OP is talking about trying to save tens of thousands just to have it in the bank, not least because that would actually make them ineligible for UC.

Maybe you missed my informative post, with linked source, explaining how both percentage of GDP and percentage of government income spent on benefits including pensions have been completely stable since 2013 (and previously but I cba to dig out the stats) AND are predicted to remain so until the end of the decade (which is as far as those particular predictions go).

If you'd seen it you wouldn't be indulging in silly hyperbole, would you?

Why does everyone one on here go on about people not on benefits not being able to afford things then as soon as their questioned its oh well I can afford it, its others who can't. Well who are these others.

Says the person who doesn't even know there is a difference between HMRC and the DWP.

Eh?

😂😂

Well im off to bed because some of us scroungers have work tomorrow. Goodnight to the people on here who I like i hope your pillow is nice and cold so you sleep well. Im not saying goodnight to the people I don't like on here and I hope your pillows are to warm. Night xx

To be fair, fun as it is taking the mickey out of some of the posters here, when you're reading that disabled people shouldn't be able to watch TV, you've got to accept that technology has got the better of us and we're arguing against non-human entities. At which point, how much fun is it any more?

That's not true though is it. Plenty of working people are also on benefits, people who aren't working may also be contributing in other ways, especially if your talking about contributions to 'society' which is far wider than just financial.

There are also far more people looking for work than there are jobs available, so it's not currently possible for everyone to work.

UC should be a temporary measure so its shouldn’t leave people permanently vulnerable.

I’m a single parent of 2 working full time for the government (earning roughly the national average salary), who don’t pay me enough so have to top up my income via Universal Credit. It’s not just workers on the minimum wage that require top ups. Our economy is screwed.

With respect, if you had a congenital condition, This would not have been possible.

Your Bipolar and depression are not congenital, and would have been straightforward risks that you could have insured for.

UC by itself, without additions such as children or health issues is next to nothing. It may help with rent (ie given straight to the landlord) and council tax but the personal allowance is about £400 a month for everything else as a single person. That isn't enough to pay the bills let alone save up with the cost of living rising as quickly as it is.