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?

OP did not mention holidays.

You do realise that people like op aren't on benefits and are just starting another benefit bashing thread as we haven't had one for an hour. It might even be mumsnet as these threads get a lot of posts which = money

I know someone who lost a child to suicide. She is now claiming UC because the fallout of losing her DS was awful and her DH left her. She literally has to claim UC to live now.

Yet you’re on every one posting relentlessly aiding their reach

I say this genuinely with kindness. I think you need some counselling. You sound as though as you are still in emotional pain.

I get Costco own brand. It's amazing stuff! But of course I try to make sure I buy it from my teeny tiny earnings (I'm another disabled scrounger who can only work part time) and not out of the charitable donations of my betters. Otherwise how would I sleep at night?

And rightly so. I would never begrudge children who have just lost a parent to then lose their home probably have to leave the area all their family and friends are to a more affordable area. I don't want to live in a country that thinks thats an acceptable way to treat a grieving child

I will always stand up to ableists

I don't pay for it. DM has a cleaning company and gets me anything cleaning related. But that means I save money, and that is bad apparently.

Even if you were on minimum wage, 2.5 full time jobs would bring you in at least £3.6k per month after tax. How on earth did you not manage to save even a tiny bit while bringing that sort of money in? You must have bought a fancier house than you needed, or maybe overspent on cars?

Lots of people, myself included, work full time (not “just enough” 🙄) and receive UC. As it happens I am also able to put a bit into savings every month but this is because I live well within my means and have a house/car that I can afford. U

Well for a start if people were being paid a wage that they could actually live on, then the need for UC top ups would not be so common. The housing market, which has gotten completely out of control, with the price of buying homes, renting is a catastrophe. Corporations, and wealthy individuals being able to accountant their way out of not paying enough taxes, there is so much that is wrong. The money that people are making for their bosses, companies, corporations, is not enabling a large section of Society to live any other way, than just surviving.

Same. I also get shit on here for posting.

Aaargh, I always think of myself as an absolute bleeding heart, but I agree with those saying it’s not supposed to be enough to save. It’s supposed to be a safety net to tide you over, not a long term solution or lifestyle, with room to put some aside.

I mean of course there are always choices - I’m not saying it should be the barest minimum that you can literally only afford to stave off starvation on. So perhaps there is or should be room to save if you avoid buying x or y that that week that most people would think of as a basic expense.

But in any real sense of building up a savings pot, I think that should be done when you’re in work, which for most people should be most of the time.

But my understanding is that if you are long term disabled or have very young children you’re getting a bit above the basic minimum amount. So not the same as the “just tide you over” amount.

If the state cared full time for my disabled husband rather than the £83 a week I'm paid your tax money would be funding full time residential care which trust me is much more expensive

Just post the difference back to the DWP. It's the moral thing to do.

I have had that told to me on here!

People pay taxes. a huge proportion of which goes on the benefits bill. Benefits aren't a source of savings for people on benefits. They're supposed to be a 'safety net'. I'm sure people paying high taxes would rather be able to save more too, but they often can't, because they're paying high taxes for people on benefits. Not to build up other peoples savings accounts.

So funny - where would you even post it to? People don't half engage in some competitive stupidity on these threads 🤣

But now they have put all the benefits together it isn't a safety net this is a lot of people's forever as it covers disabled people and carers now

Important to acknowledge that there are people who aren't on uc who have no savings and living on the edge.
I have spent the majority of my working life in this situation.

The Tories really knew what they were doing there, pitting people against each other.

6% of your tax goes on benefits which i think is a bargain for peace of mind for if the worse should happen.

as I thought

Didn't they just

If someone is earning enough to be taxed at a high rate complains they have nothing left over to save then they are shit at budgeting.
That is a problem they have, and is fuck all to do with people on benefits.