universal credit discussion thread

[michael21]

Are you on it or going to be on it any questions

[Marsh.]

I was on it about 2 years ago.

[smudgie]

No, thank goodness, and never will be. ( hopefully)

[Strictly Jake]

Yeah I'm on it the initial start up of it is horrendous though

And don't judge me for being on benefits I have 2 Jobs

We get it because we have 2 young kids and my wife is a stay at home mum

But yeah it really helps actually when it works properly

Once they overpaid us by quite a bit due to their error and we spent it thinking it had just gone up

Now we are having to pay it all back. Bit of a joke when it was their mistake

[Vanessa]

Yes, i'm on it.

[Babayaro.]

I'm on it, but obviously don't get a lot bc I'm working full time atm. It's good to have for national insurance, anyway.

[Cherie]

I don't know what it is, is it like tax credits?, I don't get it :idc:

[DemolitionRed]

I don't know what it is, is it like tax credits?, I don't get it :idc:

Its something that has replaced Housing benefit, child tax credit, working tax credit, income based jobseekers allowance, income-related employment allowance and income support.

For those who have moved onto this. Has it been a difficult journey?

[smudgie]

I don't know what it is, is it like tax credits?, I don't get it :idc:

It's meant to make life easier for those that claim it, make it easier to get back into work.....supposed to wait 6 weeks before you get a penny, but a lot of people wait longer.
You can of course put in for an advance hardship payment, which is in fact a loan that they take back in full.
The universal part of it is supposed to make life easier because all your benefits are put into one payment, just a bloody shame that the DWP don't appear to have a clue as to what they are doing.
In theory it could work well, in reality it is a ruddy shambles.
How on earth people are meant to live for 6 weeks on fresh air is beyond me.:shrug:

[Cherie]

Its something that has replaced Housing benefit, child tax credit, working tax credit, income based jobseekers allowance, income-related employment allowance and income support.

For those who have moved onto this. Has it been a difficult journey?

It's meant to make life easier for those that claim it, make it easier to get back into work.....supposed to wait 6 weeks before you get a penny, but a lot of people wait longer.
You can of course put in for an advance hardship payment, which is in fact a loan that they take back in full.
The universal part of it is supposed to make life easier because all your benefits are put into one payment, just a bloody shame that the DWP don't appear to have a clue as to what they are doing.
In theory it could work well, in reality it is a ruddy shambles.
How on earth people are meant to live for 6 weeks on fresh air is beyond me.:shrug:

aw right got it, in theory it seems like it should be a good idea, in practice maybe not so especially the 6 week thing...:umm2:

[michael21]

Yeah I'm on it the initial start up of it is horrendous though

And don't judge me for being on benefits I have 2 Jobs

We get it because we have 2 young kids and my wife is a stay at home mum

But yeah it really helps actually when it works properly

Once they overpaid us by quite a bit due to their error and we spent it thinking it had just gone up

Now we are having to pay it all back. Bit of a joke when it was their mistake

Well don't worry I not judgeing any one but this is one point on why I made the thread it not just unemployed people thaw it effect it people with kids and Oder people that might clam housing benefits

[michael21]

aw right got it, in theory it seems like it should be a good idea, in practice maybe not so especially the 6 week thing...:umm2:

Yes now I on the case mp are thinking about cutting the waiting time

Silly govement making people homeless or in debt

It all need sorting and fast

[Amy Jade]

I literally know nothing about benifits. Not sure how they work, do you have to have a disabled child?

[michael21]

I literally know nothing about benifits. Not sure how they work, do you have to have a disabled child?

If you have kids then you get a benefit I don't think it much money tbh

[michael21]

I don't know what it is, is it like tax credits?, I don't get it :idc:

Yes that one of them

[michael21]

Universal Credit (UC) roll-out 2017 november


Full Digital Service Areas

November 2017

Arbroath, Banbury, Basildon, Birkenhead, Birmingham Broad St, Birmingham City, Birmingham South West, Bournemouth, Brentwood, Brighton, Bromborough, Chesterfield, Cinderford, Cirencester, Coleford, Devonport, Dewsbury, Dundee, Edmonton, Enfield, Forfar, Gateshead, Hoylake, Huddersfield, Irvine, Kilbirnie, Kirklees, Leytonstone, Lichfield, Manchester Town Hall outreach, Montrose, Newport, Newton Heath, Openshaw, Palmers Green, Peterborough, Saltcoats, Spen Valley, St Albans, Sutton Coldfield, Tamworth, Upton, Wallasey, Waltham Cross, Walthamstow, Washwood Heath, Winton, Witney, Yardley. In Northern Ireland; Ballymoney

[michael21]

There to many this month

[Marsh.]

I literally know nothing about benifits. Not sure how they work, do you have to have a disabled child?

Well, in any way struggling.

If you're out of work and need help whilst looking for a job, if you are on low income and have a family to support etc.

[Marsh.]

When I was on it, it was an 8-12 week wait so it's improved.

Baby steps. :umm2:

[Amy Jade]

Ohhh so it's job seekers allowance and child benifit just rebranded basically?

[user104658]

The main problem isnt really for new claims - it's for those who are already recieving Tax Credits and Housing Benefit which are now going to be under Universal Credit. For some it could mean incomes cut by £100 - £200 per week for 6 weeks which is obviously in some cases impossible. Also, while the housing benefits part is fine for council accommodation (they will know about it and be expecting rent arrears), the vast majority of people on housing benefit are in privately rented houses and could basically end up facing eviction if they can't pay the rent for 6 weeks.

Also anyone with any sort of debt - credit cards, loans, store cards etc. are likely to miss payments and **** their credit for years to come.

Its a total shambles and it should never have been implemented until there was a seamless transition in place.

[Marsh.]

Ohhh so it's job seekers allowance and child benifit just rebranded basically?

Yeah, it's basically all your benefits together so instead of applying for everything separately it's all on "one account" so to speak so you get one single payment.

[Amy Jade]

That sounds convenient enough. Bound to be a catch isn't there!

[Kizzy]

It's my opinion it's part of a cull, the govt want poor people to just die, whether they off themselves, freeze or starve to death...they're not fussed.


'Ministers are refusing to investigate evidence that people claiming Universal Credit are flocking to food banks, sparking accusations they have “contempt for the most vulnerable”.

Charities and MPs of all parties have warned that long delays delivering the new benefit payments have left desperate people with no choice but to seek out emergency food aid.

Research by the respected Trussell Trust, which runs the UK’s biggest food bank network, found that demand had soared by a staggering 30 per cent.'

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/universal-credit-government-food-banks-benefits-work-pensions-dwp-charities-mps-dan-jarvis-a8048496.html

[Marsh.]

It's my opinion it's part of a cull, the govt want poor people to just die, whether they off themselves, freeze or starve to death...they're not fussed.


'Ministers are refusing to investigate evidence that people claiming Universal Credit are flocking to food banks, sparking accusations they have “contempt for the most vulnerable”.

Charities and MPs of all parties have warned that long delays delivering the new benefit payments have left desperate people with no choice but to seek out emergency food aid.

Research by the respected Trussell Trust, which runs the UK’s biggest food bank network, found that demand had soared by a staggering 30 per cent.'

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/universal-credit-government-food-banks-benefits-work-pensions-dwp-charities-mps-dan-jarvis-a8048496.html

They'll just be replaced by more poor people.

There will always be inequality unfortunately.

[user104658]

Ohhh so it's job seekers allowance and child benifit just rebranded basically?Jobseekers allowance, Child Tax Credits, Working Tax Credits, Housing Allowance and Income Support.

Child benefits aren't under UTC.

[Kizzy]

They'll just be replaced by more poor people.

There will always be inequality unfortunately.

There will yes but there just won't be the option to be as poor as poor people are now, it's just not viable to live and be poor now. We have working poor people with jobs using food banks.... what chance do those on UC have?

[michael21]

Any one that starts claming uc from today will not recive any money before Christmas

The damm govement done it again :fist::fist:

[michael21]

Look like Wednesday afternoon 22/11/17 will be when we have the big news cant wait

[AnnieK]

I get working and child tax credits but have not had notification that anything will change....Should I be worried?

[michael21]

I get working and child tax credits but have not had notification that anything will change....Should I be worried?

I going to post a Link to the universal credit roll out for you in a min or 2

[michael21]

Here it is https://www.turn2us.org.uk/Benefit-guides/Universal-Credit-timetable/Universal-Credit-(UC)-roll-out-2017



See where you live on it

[michael21]

It a 5 week wait now instead of 6 :fist::fist: :fist::fist: :fist::fist:

[joeysteele]

It's a shambles.

Wise of the govt. to roll it out selectively and slowly.
Even so,it has many initial flaws.

Better to pause it and allow for time to have all in place to deal with claims with no holdups.
However this lot have no intention of listening,so likely a great deal more as to problems will surface over time.

A good idea,thought out and planned properly 'before' implementation.
Like a lot of what this govt does,this was not at all thought out and planned fairly or correctly.

[user104658]

Going forward, at least people aren't going f to have to struggle by on nothing or be forced to borrow externally - they can get a full month's payment within 5 days of application as an "emergency loan". Which is obviously still ridiculous... You start out on UC already in debt and paying a bit back on each payment for the whole first 12 months. For people with kids on very low or no income, UC could easily be £1200 a month, so that's £100 a month being taken out right from the start.

But yeah... Still better than the stance of "You get nothing for 6 weeks and you'll just have to deal wiv it" which was insane.

However, it simply shouldn't have been rolled out until they could figure out how to implement a seamless transition. Full stop. It can't be THAT hard, surely??

[joeysteele]

Going forward, at least people aren't going f to have to struggle by on nothing or be forced to borrow externally - they can get a full month's payment within 5 days of application as an "emergency loan". Which is obviously still ridiculous... You start out on UC already in debt and paying a bit back on each payment for the whole first 12 months. For people with kids on very low or no income, UC could easily be £1200 a month, so that's £100 a month being taken out right from the start.

But yeah... Still better than the stance of "You get nothing for 6 weeks and you'll just have to deal wiv it" which was insane.

However, it simply shouldn't have been rolled out until they could figure out how to implement a seamless transition. Full stop. It can't be THAT hard, surely??

This is what mystifies me, it should be easy to plan a seamless transition,as you say.
The moral,decent and right thing to have done, was to never start rolling it out until that was in place.

[Cherie]

This is what mystifies me, it should be easy to plan a seamless transition,as you say.
The moral,decent and right thing to have done, was to never start rolling it out until that was in place.

is anything seamless these days, a lot of people don't give a rats ass about their job and even less so in the public sector, they get paid either way so..

[joeysteele]

is anything seamless these days, a lot of people don't give a rats ass about their job and even less so in the public sector, they get paid either way so..

I think dealing with the lives and income of people,if the plan is to change how things were presently,yes any transition to said change should be straightforward.
It is the present govt.who planned the detail and roll out of this.
They should halt it,out of simple decency and respect for the people affected,until they have it absolutely right and fair.

[Kizzy]

is anything seamless these days, a lot of people don't give a rats ass about their job and even less so in the public sector, they get paid either way so..

I beg to differ it's only in the private sector where profits come before anything that corners are cut.
People would very much like to give a rats ass about theur job and take pride in it if they were allowed to.
You would think that with the technological advances there would be a greater focus on things being seamless today not less, what a damning indictment of the UK workforce, I'm going to have to suggest you are only speaking for yourself as those that I know especially in the public sector do give a rats ass!

My feeling is that being uncaring and expecting there to be a lack of safeguarding as well as a shambolic approach is not just excused by this govt but expected, there is no backlash...no outcry. They don't give a rats ass and consequently you don't either, but please don't presume we are all as lacklustre.

[Cherie]

I beg to differ it's only in the private sector where profits come before anything that corners are cut.
People would very much like to give a rats ass about theur job and take pride in it if they were allowed to.
You would think that with the technological advances there would be a greater focus on things being seamless today not less, what a damning indictment of the UK workforce, I'm going to have to suggest you are only speaking for yourself as those that I know especially in the public sector do give a rats ass!

My feeling is that being uncaring and expecting there to be a lack of safeguarding as well as a shambolic approach is not just excused by this govt but expected, there is no backlash...no outcry. They don't give a rats ass and consequently you don't either, but please don't presume we are all as lacklustre.

I have worked in the public sector for many years, I also worked in the private sector, if you don't do your job properly in a private company it won't take long until you no longer have a job as it is all about profit, in the public sector can take years for anyone to get around to being reprimanded, its public money no one is bothered, trust me, and incidentally the public sector were no better under a labour government either!

[Kizzy]

I have worked in the public sector for many years, I also worked in the private sector, if you don't do your job properly in a private company it won't take long until you no longer have a job as it is all about profit, in the public sector can take years for anyone to get around to being reprimanded, its public money no one is bothered, trust me, and incidentally the public sector were no better under a labour government either!

I'm sorry but that's rubbish, are you suggesting that public sector workers including our first responders spend the work day resting on their laurels?
Whether public or private there are grievance procedures,

For gods sake don't make it a left v right issue I didn't suggest things were rosy during the blair/brown years but the last 7yrs of austerity have hardened some up to the point where when it's known that policies are going to inflict hardship the response is a resounding 'meh'.

It is shocking that expecting a 3rd rate shoddy service is the norm, and even more shocking that it's taken as a forgone conclusion that people have no passion for their profession.

[user104658]

I have worked in the public sector for many years, I also worked in the private sector, if you don't do your job properly in a private company it won't take long until you no longer have a job as it is all about profit, in the public sector can take years for anyone to get around to being reprimanded, its public money no one is bothered, trust me, and incidentally the public sector were no better under a labour government either!

That's not true, I work with a tonne of incompetent people who have been in their job for over a decade. Cashiers, middle management, senior management... PLENTY of useless arseholes keep their jobs forever. That seems fairly common across most private companies tbh.

[Cherie]

I'm sorry but that's rubbish, are you suggesting that public sector workers including our first responders spend the work day resting on their laurels?
Whether public or private there are grievance procedures,

For gods sake don't make it a left v right issue I didn't suggest things were rosy during the blair/brown years but the last 7yrs of austerity have hardened some up to the point where when it's known that policies are going to inflict hardship the response is a resounding 'meh'.

It is shocking that expecting a 3rd rate shoddy service is the norm, and even more shocking that it's taken as a forgone conclusion that people have no passion for their profession.

I am talking about office management/staff who would be those responsible for ensuring that this was rolled out correctly, as usual you move the goalposts to encompass the whole of the civil service who would have nothing whatsoever to do with it, whats new?

[Cherie]

That's not true, I work with a tonne of incompetent people who have been in their job for over a decade. Cashiers, middle management, senior management... PLENTY of useless arseholes keep their jobs forever. That seems fairly common across most private companies tbh.

It is true in my experience, especially if you work in the private sector for a small to medium size company, your experience is yours naturally

[user104658]

I am talking about office management/staff who would be those responsible for ensuring that this was rolled out correctly, as usual you move the goalposts to encompass the whole of the civil service who would have nothing whatsoever to do with it, whats new?The 6 week wait was an official thing built into the transition, though, it wasn't down to staff operating slowly or not as intended. The .gov website about Universal Credit explicitly stated that for those transitioning, there was a 6 week wait between tax credits / housing allowance ending, and UC beginning. By design. The advice was along the lines of "So you will need to consider how you will manage this". Literally as blunt as that, a big ol' "tough **** lol".

[Kizzy]

I am talking about office management/staff who would be those responsible for ensuring that this was rolled out correctly, as usual you move the goalposts to encompass the whole of the civil service who would have nothing whatsoever to do with it, whats new?

'is anything seamless these days, a lot of people don't give a rats ass about their job and even less so in the public sector, they get paid either way so..'

How am I to surmise that from your usual glib statement?

The govt make the decision on waiting times for rollout, as well as the timescale between sign up and payment.. How can you suggest that is an office management cock up?

Do you actually think it's some joe down the job centre deciding who get's their money, and when?...

[Cherie]

The 6 week wait was an official thing built into the transition, though, it wasn't down to staff operating slowly or not as intended. The .gov website about Universal Credit explicitly stated that for those transitioning, there was a 6 week wait between tax credits / housing allowance ending, and UC beginning. By design. The advice was along the lines of "So you will need to consider how you will manage this". Literally as blunt as that, a big ol' "tough **** lol".

And before it reached the website no doubt there were countless breakfast meetings with croissants and coffee deliberating about how quickly it could be done, unless they just pulled 6 weeks out of their ass

[Cherie]

'is anything seamless these days, a lot of people don't give a rats ass about their job and even less so in the public sector, they get paid either way so..'

How am I to surmise that from your usual glib statement?

The govt make the decision on waiting times for rollout, as well as the timescale between sign up and payment.. How can you suggest that is an office management cock up?

Do you actually think it's some joe down the job centre deciding who get's their money, and when?...



The clue is in the thread title

The government will have taken advice on how long it would take to process app,ications from further down the line, they will have been advised unless you are suggesting they know how to do everyone's job

[Kizzy]

The clue is in the thread title

The government will have taken advice on how long it would take to process app,ications from further down the line, they will have been advised unless you are suggesting they know how to do everyone's job

Isn't that what impact assessments do?
Are you just suggesting they said to joe down the job centre . 'so joe how long you reckon for this ol malarky then'? ' Oh... er, I dunno 6 weeksish?' ' ok, sounds about right, thanks joe!'....
No, I very much doubt that's how it is Cherie.

[michael21]

So I just goggle universal credit roll out and was shock to see that it not been pause but push back in all job centers the power of my thread

http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/politics/universal-credit-delayed-every-jobcentre-11575515

This is big news but how did all news channel and me michael21 and all members miss this big news

[Cherie]

Isn't that what impact assessments do?
Are you just suggesting they said to joe down the job centre . 'so joe how long you reckon for this ol malarky then'? ' Oh... er, I dunno 6 weeksish?' ' ok, sounds about right, thanks joe!'....
No, I very much doubt that's how it is Cherie.

I didn't say that, and it's pretty pointless for me to break everything I say into bite size chunks so you can process it

How does it work then Kizzy, in any job is the guy or gal sitting in the top office taking decisions completely autonomously with no consultation?

[michael21]

The universal credit help line is now free :dance:

[Kizzy]

I didn't say that, and it's pretty pointless for me to break everything I say into bite size chunks so you can process it

How does it work then Kizzy, in any job is the guy or gal sitting in the top office taking decisions completely autonomously with no consultation?

You don't have to, your simplistic reasoning that it's the benefit advisers that make decisions regarding rollout of a 6 in one benefit reform is pretty obvious as well as laughable.
How then if they deemed it impossible to process claims in less than 6 weeks it's now 5? Or the 2 week housing benefit run on, who advised that?

'I am talking about office management/staff who would be those responsible for ensuring that this was rolled out correctly,'

Here you are attempting to absolve ministers from blame for the implementation of the 6 week wait, which is not the result of any errors from office staff but as said the stated timeframe as quoted between application for UC and payment.
Why are you removing the blame from those who actually implement the policy?

If there was consultation with anyone with experience of any of the 6 benefits affected they would have known that a six week gap in payments would lead to serious hardship as well as rent arrears, a total lack of any forethought , consultation or impact assessment is obvious.
If they couldn't see that then a huge salary for being a welfare minister is wasted being so out of touch with the needs of the section of society they are tasked to represent.

[michael21]

Tomorrow is a day long protest about uc all over the UK

Hope the news channel are there

[michael21]

Yes, i'm on it.

Have you had any trouble with it

[Vanessa]

Have you had any trouble with it

Not really. I get it once a month, straight into my bank account.

[michael21]

Not really. I get it once a month, straight into my bank account.

Sounds good :dance:

[thesheriff443]

Hitler was just one man! But was very successful in killing millions of people because everyone below him did their jobs.

[Kizzy]

Hitler was just one man! But was very successful in killing millions of people because everyone below him did their jobs.

Bingo, so many are complicit in the marginalisation which is so surreptitious that it's hidden in plain sight.

[michael21]

esther mcvey is the new Work and Pensions Secretary

Work and Pensions just got slutee :fist::fist: :fist: