Citizens advice + UC. Just ranting

[Jodielou5972]

Hi all, long story short I have to submit a change of circumstances for my benefits and subsequently change over to universal credit. I have no idea how any of it works so I rang citizens advice, who told me they hold a benefits drop in service every morning 9-12.
Off I went today, got there for 9:15am and I was already ticket number 53 to be seen 🤦🏻‍♀️
The woman at the desk assured me I would receive help, and advised me to wait.
After 1.5 hours I was ready to pee my pants (32 weeks pregnant), I got up and asked where the toilet was. The woman actually scoffed at me, pulling a face and told me the toilets aren't for public use and I have to leave the centre and walk into the town centre to use those toilets! Everyone in the room was so angry. I am carrying very very large it's hard to miss!
Anyway, I don't expect "special treatment", maybe kindness and understanding. But I wiped my mouth and walked to the toilet and back.
I never got seen till 11:30 only for them to tell me they no longer help with claims/forms and literally gave me a 0800 number to ring. That was it!!!
Complete rant for no reason I just thought it was appalling. They are supposed to be there to help and offer support!

Oh, may as well ask, if anyone knows where abouts will help with universal credit that would be appreciated!

@Moonicorn any delightful thoughts you’d like to share with us regarding women who become disabled after (or even during) childbirth?

Mine were in highs school when I was diagnosed with a degenerative condition, so I suspect I’m over the abortion limit now but I could be wrong.

Don’t worry - I’m not frittering away your hard-earned taxes on cider and Rollies - I buy appellation controlee France and sobranies.

For help to start a universal credit claim it is the Help to Claim team 0800 1448444 8-6.

When I rang and explained they said this change does trigger a move unfortunately x

I was just thinking this! What if you become disabled after having children? Do they need to put child up for adoption? Clearly unfit to be mothers 🙄

Thank you x

Well that’s unforeseeable isn’t it, so completely different. Setting out to become a parent when too disabled to work, unless there are some very unusual circumstances at play, doesn’t sound very wise, especially when it’s the state collecting the bill. Sorry but as a taxpayer it annoys me 🤷🏼‍♀️ I’m not going to pretend otherwise because it’s ‘not #bekind’

Not horrible - completely practical it’s just everyone is so sensitive and entitled now they feel they can’t have anything queried.

I’m not saying any of this in a ‘moral right’ way,
although there’s a question mark there, more in a ‘how can they physically and mentally provide for a child’ way. Not to mention the fact I believe people should financially provide for their children and not deliberately create lives knowing it’s other people’s hard work paying for them. This isn’t a controversial opinion, just one that people shy away from discussing because it’s ‘mean’.

Again you're making assumptions. Just because I recieve benefits doesn't mean I bleed the system. I am entitled to the benefit because of my conditions, however I only recieve about £60 a week, because my wife works full time. We can afford a child. This post wasn't reffering to money or the amount of benefit, just my frustration about having to change benefit at this time.

I don’t think anyone is inherently ‘entitled’ to benefits. They’re a safety net for people who need them, in my eyes if you’re capable of getting pregnant and raising a child (which is mentally and physically very tough) then you’re well enough to work. They’re not the same as ‘money earned’ because it’s money taken from other people to give to you.

I think when people need help benefits are amazing. They can be their whole income, or a top up help for people such as myself.
I started getting benefits when I was at my lowest, they were more helpful than I could ever try and express in words. Since then the amount has gone down, but that doesnt mean I'm not "entitled". It is literally called an "entitledtocalculator". So people are entitled if the system says they are. You are the reason people feel horrible about reaching out for help.
Your opinion is just that, an opinion. Shame its not a very nice one. But it doesnt change my circumstances or effect my life 🤷‍♀️

My cousin has zero disabilities, but she was made redundent with 2 children. Her partner works but doesnt earn enough, so she is currently receiving UC as a top up for her partners wage. Is she not entitled in your eyes?
Again, there are a thousand ways people could be getting benefits and be a parent. Open your mind.

Yes she would be because that is a situation beyond her control. She didn’t set out to do that when she got pregnant.

Thats very different to actively choosing to have a baby when you’re ‘too unwell’ to work and provide for them.

I don’t need to ‘open my mind’ as to why people who are allegedly too unwell to do some basic shop or admin work are well enough to go through pregnancy, childbirth and the gruelling early years of raising a child. It makes no sense.

You know what. You're absolutely right. This is clearly my error, I forgot to include "raped by manager" in my 10 year plan. This is all my fault. Clearly this was within my control, I mean there are psychics available I could of visited, crystal balls available to buy online. I just didn't prepare for the future at all.
And you're right again, you have made me see the light. Because this happened - me and my wife should just struggle through life and give up on all of our hopes and dreams. Thank you for being so helpful with this.

I’m sorry for your experience obviously, but that’s a personal/emotional topic and I’m talking about the wider effects which are obviously still there, regardless of how somebody finds themselves in this situation.

But i would also appreciate that you didn’t ascribe things to me that I haven’t said such what you went through is ‘all your fault’. I didn’t say that or anything like it.

I'm not even replying anymore.
I have these benefits ^because of emotional issues. It's the entire point.
And I don't have to put words in your mouth, you've literally said "not within their control" about 3 times. Meaning "not their fault". So what does that make my situation?
You clearly judge people like me and that's fine. But try not to make people feel like shit for things they can't help.
Bye.

I think you know I was referring to having a baby as being within a person’s control and not an experience like the one you had. Like I said that is one issue, and people claiming benefits and not working while having babies and expecting the state to pay is another. I wish you all the best in your pregnancy.

@Moonicorn your original post was deleted by MNHQ.

They obviously feel that the opinion you expressed that if you can get pregnant you can work is unacceptable.

Again your right. I should of allowed the rapist to take away my dream of having a family too. Just like he took everything else.

Have a great day.

Thank you x

I mean if you put it to AIBU, I would be intrigued to see the votes. I don’t think it’s a particularly ‘out there’ opinion, in fact I would say it’s quietly mainstream.

Moonicorn if you want to start a —rant— discussion about benefits suggest you start a new thread rather than hijack the OP’s thread? By all means put it on AIBU for a vote as you’ve suggested. This is not the place and is coming over as a personal attack on OP.

Thank you x

@minipie im not going to start a thread about it. But I didn’t meant to do a ‘personal attack’, I just queried OP’s situation and it kind of went from there.

Not sure if you’re aware Op but Citizens Advice is a charity and the people who work there are mainly volunteers who don’t have time to clean and service public toilets
The help to claim line is for people who are computer literate as you seem to be leaving the face to face service for the most vulnerable