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AIBU?

to be worried about Universal Credit

968 replies

idiuntno57 · 23/03/2013 20:21

I am in the lucky position of not needing to claim this but I am so worried about its implementation.

Its coming in in the Autumn and is going to be an online only, monthly, postdated payment. It will be paid to one adult in the family unit.

All well and did if you are god at managing your money, internet literate and in a stable relationship. But in the real world....

How are the most vulnerable in society going to have a chance with this?

Already the council tax changes are coming in and as far as I understand people are confused and shell shocked by it. UC is much bigger and no one is prepared.

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idiuntno57 · 23/03/2013 20:22

should read good sorry

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ApocalypseCheeseToastie · 23/03/2013 20:25

It's the vulnerable who will suffer, it always is.

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wannabeEostregoddess · 23/03/2013 20:31

The online part makes me laugh tbh.

Broadband is a luxury to benefit claimants dontcha know?

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idiuntno57 · 23/03/2013 20:33

it feels to me like a tsunami that everyone is ignoring.

the Autumn is not far away and yet when I spoke to my local councillor about it they knew so little about it.

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Viviennemary · 23/03/2013 20:35

I think it is worrying for people because the details are not yet know so people don't know how much it will affect them. And if they will have less money after they are moved onto UC.

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InNeedOfBrandy · 23/03/2013 20:35

I think it's actually a good idea having the monthly payments. I remember coming off of IS and into work and being terrified about losing the security IS/JSA gives you.

Least with monthly you can budget so much better, buy online big baulks of things like toilet roll/pasta/offers and save yourself money and from the UC calculator it seems your better off then with tax creds and jsa.

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wannabeEostregoddess · 23/03/2013 20:37

I dont think anyone will be better off. I think its just more lies told by politicians to placate people until its too late for them to do anything about it.

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noisytoys · 23/03/2013 20:38

It is very scary. And I have a debt from when tax credits was mis calculated that is being paid off weekly by reduction in tax credits. Will that continue under universal credit or will I have to pay the whole lot off in one lot? Sad

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idiuntno57 · 23/03/2013 20:39

inneed I get what you say but time people lead such dysfunctional lives that they can't manage monthly. Feels like Christmas will come early for the payday lenders and their ilk.

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idiuntno57 · 23/03/2013 20:40

bloody predictive text some

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ItsAllGoingToBeFine · 23/03/2013 20:42

I worry about the implementation and I very much doubt this will work.

The government is shit at big computer projects and all the UC pilots have ended up riddled with error.

Morals aside, I think it is very unlikely this will actually work physically.

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TheSecondComing · 23/03/2013 20:44

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InNeedOfBrandy · 23/03/2013 20:45

I also really like the idea of being able to input your hours and have it changed accordingly so your not hit with a huge repayment bill off tax credits!

I do see what your saying about people not being able to budget but when (if) they get a job (which they should) they will have to manage their money monthly anyway. Would of helped me so much more when I came off IS having to wait 6 weeks for my first payday if I had been paid a monthly amount before.

Those money lenders payday provident company's should be made illegal.

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ballstoit · 23/03/2013 20:45

I'm very worried for some of my DCs classmates. One child in DDs class for example, wouldnt eat on Monday and Tuesday if school and other parents didn't supply food, as Mum runs out of money. Lots of children are hungry when they return to school after christmas as benefits paid a week early in December mean no money for a week after Christmas.
I just dont see how money will be saved by Universal Credit. The cost of emergency housing, social services, NHS when people drink a months money in a couple of days, just means that the money will just be spent from a different budget.

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InNeedOfBrandy · 23/03/2013 20:47

But why is it the govs job to support neglect, and if your not feeding your dc that is neglect, if you can't manage your money to that extent where you don't even have beans on toast to give them then you need more help then weekly payments and you need to take care of your dc properly.

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idiuntno57 · 23/03/2013 20:52

inneed it is our responsibility as a civilised society to ensure that the vulnerable are cared for, be they old, ill or in poverty.

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Viviennemary · 23/03/2013 20:53

I still think a lot of people will find it hard to budget for a whole month if they have been used to weekly payments. People will not make the money stretch and I agree that payday loans and lots of problems will arise from this. The Tories will simply not have a clue about this.

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idiuntno57 · 23/03/2013 20:55

I predict an increase in petty crime. That's going to have a direct effect on society.

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TheSecondComing · 23/03/2013 20:56

This reply has been deleted

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TheSecondComing · 23/03/2013 20:57

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Booyhoo · 23/03/2013 20:57

YANBU OP

UC and it's effect terrify me. i am so worried not just for myself and my dcs but for so many people who are already struggling so much. this will devastate so many lives Sad

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TheCrackFox · 23/03/2013 21:04

There will be riots by December.

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InNeedOfBrandy · 23/03/2013 21:05

OP yes and that means not letting dc starve, if you can't budget your money for a week to cover food then you shouldn't have dc since you can't look after them. There is no real poverty in this country it's neglect and neglect is a form of abuse against your dc. It's complete bullshit that they don't have enough money to put some form of food into their child, the money is there it's what they are spending it on instead. I have been there on benefits with my pre payment meter and storage heaters taking £50PW and both dc needing school shoes at the same time with christmas 2 weeks away but have never had nothing to feed them with ever and would have welcomed UC then. UC will mean being able to buy big tubs of washing powder not the rip off 99p for a poxy 4 washes washing powder.

There is a reason one of the forst things a social worker does on a home visit is look into your cupboards.

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vivizone · 23/03/2013 21:06

Never head of it.

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vivizone · 23/03/2013 21:06

heard

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