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?

Life is much better when you ignore the spiteful!

Should people just end their lives then because they aren't fit to work and some people are unhappy about them potentially getting disability benefits - because that's what happens to some people who are forced back into work when they can't cope

Actually that's the Tony Blair thinktank which (a) has no influence and (b) has based its recommendations on a fundamental misunderstanding of how disability benefit process works. No need to wet yourself with excitement at the scroungers being punished just yet!

Tell me how I'm getting free money when I paid taxes for almost thirty years - on you go. I hope you never go through some of the stuff I've been through over the past 9 years

Well considering that well over half of DWP expenditure is on pensions and related benefits, I'm sure your desire to see cuts extends to that too.

Labour aren't just talking about it. They've already cut the amount new claimants on lwcra get by half

Agreed, and no one who has experienced severe mental illness needs to justify themselves to the ignorant and the spiteful on here.

I have no idea how my tax has been spent. I am not talking about my tax but the personal money I spend on top of that. The largest component of welfare is the state pension at just over 11% of government s-ending so I guess a chunk of my money goes on that. You were not clear as you have now stated how much of my tax and national insurance went to people who don’t work but the original question was how much goes from my wages which is a different thing entirely.

Oh yes and "mental health" has to be put in brackets so that everyone knows that people really aren't unwell.

Hope none of you have to lose a relative to suicide before you wake up to the fact that some able bodied people are actually really unwell.

I think the pp is referring to the TBI's report which suggested that people with "mild depression", ADHD and muscular skeletal conditions should lose eligibility to cash benefits. Basically pretty much what the government tried already and was forced to abandon. Let nobody say Mr Blair is yesterday's man - he's much further away than that!

The cuts to LCWRA are apalling and discriminatory. They'll affect people like my child, born with a genetic disability and not likely to be in a position to sustain themself through full time work. But hey, if you can't work, you must starve, right?

If you have no idea, best not to claim that you sub benefit claimants really.

"Are there no workhouses?"

Yes reform have said that people with mild depression will lose benefits. Odd that I was told by the dwp that I was fully fit to work when I was suicidal

Oh give it a rest. A significant proportion of my tax will be spent on welfare. Simple. The exact breakdown is unknown.oh and the people I support individually have no need to claim benefits.

I doubt when it was created that the intention was that people would be able to save as such.
The creation of the minimum wage alongside tax credits ensured that employers keep wages for modest work to a set level. Topped up by a subsidy from the taxpayer.
This means it is incredibly hard to move to a different job equally modest, as the pay is the bloody same.
Years ago, before NMW and tax credits there were times when employers had to put their hand in their pocket and cough up and pay more. So not everywhere paid the same. And people could move around and get better paid jobs.

You do get living wage jobs of course but the inability to move upwards is an issue.

And? It's the same for anyone who works full time

Will it? I mean you make various claims. I've backed up my point with verifiable statistics. Which one of us should "give it a rest"? Me or the person who claims to spend "so much money" on people who "don't work" as though the welfare state wasn't contributory and collective at all.

TL:DR? Stop moaning and assuming your own superiority.

I file a self assessment every year and receive an email re how your tax was spent. Details are probably available on government gateway.

No one and I mean no e should be shamed for claiming benefits. Disability or otherwise. The biggest part of my benefit that I get is because of a triple leg fracture. I slipped going downstairs in my flat. I broke three bones and I pretty much snapped my ankle in two. I'm still in pain two years on

I was told that if I didn't have an operation I would suffer from arthritis in later life. I have a ten inch plate on one side of my leg and two screws on my ankle

But apparently I'm a scrounger and doubly so as I have mental health issues too

It beats having someone in the workplace who could be in the throes of mania, or catatonic, or in a psychotic episode.

I make two levels of contribution. My tax and NI is 14.5k a month. I have no control over how that is spent. I then spend a further 8k a month that I give to four people who don’t work. That has nothing to do with the welfare state and is my choice. I’m not sure why you are being so belligerent when I have not made any disparaging remarks about anyone claiming benefits. I have just stated how much of my income is spent🤷‍♂️

It's helped me because it was a break from the constant pressure of having to find work when I wasn't well enough to hold a job down

Why so persistently rude?

I'm not interested in how much you say you contribute. I never have been. You complained about how much money you fork out for people who don't work. This is what you said.

"It's very difficult for many of us who work to save these days too, mostly because we’re giving so much of our wages to those that don’t, so I can’t feel too sorry for them 🤷‍♀️."

I have only ever asked you how much you are personally contributing through your income tax (or, in your words, "giving so much of [your] wages" towards those who don't work). And you don't know. Fine. Don't make such sweeping claims then.

Also if you're finding it hard to save on almost £400k p/a, maybe people should feel sorry for you!