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?

It actually states in the rules that if you have any of your wage left over at the end of the month, IE not spent, then you have to tell them, it counts as savings..

You don't really believe that?

You’re deluded! One in three UC claimants are in paid work.

You're completely missing the point OP.

UC is effectively state sponsored savings until you get yourself a job.

I think like this because my daily job is studying this country’s economic state. It’s not ‘just’ any money. It’s billions and it’s getting bigger all the time. The number of 16-24 year olds ‘too ill to work’ doubled between 2018-2022. The number of people in the UK deemed to ill to work has risen in the UK since COVID. It has FALLEN in the rest of the EU. We are a huge outlier. It’s not at all feasible that these stats are true.

We are getting things very wrong and it’s getting worse all the time, but hey if you think we have money to give everyone who’s ‘disabled’ Netflix that just shows how little you understand. I’ll leave you to your ill informed conversation where taxpayers money is endless and benefits claimants are always honest.

Without respect Wtf are you talking about i have a progressive congenital condition which has put me into multiple organ failure I was working full time up until 5 years ago. I wouldn't obviously have had children or own my own home if I knew this would happen in my 30s unfortunately when you see drs they tell you somethings progressive but they don't know when it will progress it it could of happened when I was 10 could of happened when I was 80. That's the fun of rare conditions drs don't have the answers. Right now I need to go to sleep. Don't you have work in the morning?

Netflix is £6pm.
If I am not allowed that, then what am I actually allowed?

No, it does not. You only have to inform them if your savings/capital is over £6k.

You're also not allowed a fridge or a mattress. And don't even think about saving £5 a month for if your boiler breaks You're not allowed

Where do people get this crap from

I am single income household, lone parent with a mortgage etc.
I was made redundant in Sept and thankfully have found work but on about 1/2 the salary. I am dipping into my modest savings every month.

They need to realise that anyone can become sick / disabled / have an accident etc and therefore be unable to work full time or at all anymore.
Not that I would wish that for anyone.

The gutter press.

Quite a responsibility for you.

Obviously if you're the person who studies "this country's economic state" (Chancellor? Governor of the BoE?) you'll be able to explain the context in which the UK's rate of disability is rising faster than that of comparable nations. I have my theories. But grant us the benefit of your expertise and tell us yours.

Yoga mat? Far too extravagant 😆 🤣
Cardboard box 😆

But why can't you save some of the benefit money for a new fridge or whatever? The same as working people do when they need something?

How are you going to afford your holiday to Disneyland that all the entitled scroungers expect annually if you're wasting your money on fripperies like fridges?

from my universal credit journal! When I managed not to spend 17 one month, I was trying to save a ( rented) house moving deposit! They don't take money OFF you, but say it accumilates hence needs to be declared ( her words not mine)

I think there are people on here who think that any money you have left in UC at the end of the month, should be paid back.
Bonkers.

I think the point you're making is reasonable. It was bound to attract some of the more unpleasant replies you've had unfortunately. You're not suggesting that people should be able to save significant amounts of money but that life would be less stressful if it were possible to build even a tiny buffer.

I've not read every post, but why has the Government introduced the new help to save scheme for those on UC if you aren't meant to be able to save whilst on UC?! And the bonus you get if you do manage to save isn't taken into account when they calculate your savings / income?! 🤔

If your UC coach expects you to declare £17 of unspent income, she has badly misunderstood her job role or you've misunderstood what she's saying.

But you can do that as you can have several thousand before it impacts. As a single parent with a serious health issue, I received in work benefits as I live in the south east and rent is extortionate. It was a big help to be able to work part time for a decade as I dealt with a very painful health issue and raised my children. After a major surgery and kids getting older, I went back full time, got promoted and been able to save. Finally buying in the summer (not in the south east, having to relocate).

Should I have had enough money on UC to save? Not beyond 6k or so no, it’s meant to top your income up for survival, and I do think in work benefits are quite generous. I could only save my deposit because I was no longer on UC, earning more and doing overtime (and a relative allowed me to live in their house rent free whilst they worked abroad). It does make it hard to save for a house deposit though, but if you’re able to save loads, you don’t really need benefits do you?

I typed exactly what she did, and this is same one who sanctioned me a while ago for being 45 mins late to an appointment when the bus service wasn't running due to snow.. so yeah I do pay attention to what she says, as cannot aford not to

The vast majority of universal credit recipients are fully employed.