What's All The Fuss About With Universal Credit ?

[ToraToraTora]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-45824590
Sounds like a much needed simplification of the benefits system to me.

[THECORBYLOON]

"Work and Pensions Secretary Esther McVey defended the new benefit system amid reports 3.2 million households will lose more than £2,000 year."

Could that be why there's a "fuss"?

[CrapAtCryptics]

They could simplify the benefits system much more if they stopped paying out illegal claims.

[SparklyKid]

How can you lose what is not yours in the first place. Why are some so blasé about tax payers hard earned money.

It is as daft as the "bedroom tax" nonsense. They did not lose any money or pay more. They just had benefits reduced.

[THECORBYLOON]

If by "illegal claims" you mean those made by claimants not entitled, how would reducing them make the process more simple?

[Zacs-Master]

Yeah, but, no but, how’s Chardonnay gonna afford da noo iPhone wiv reduced benefits!

[THECORBYLOON]

I should have made it clearer by using "fraudulant" rather than "not entitled" but my question stands still.

[pastafreak]

Some of the "fuss" is due to delays in sorting claims. Particularly for the most vulnerable and needy claimants. The system certainly needs simplifying, but not when it results in claimants possibly losing the roof over their heads or putting greater pressure on foodbanks and other agencies.

[mushroom25]

the system is full of bugs which should have been fixed but haven't - presumably because there isn't time to "slip" the implementation date as those charged to bring it in will lose their fat performance related bonuses.

for instance, problems typically affect claimants whose wages are paid on or close to the first day of their universal credit monthly assessment period, which is used to calculate how much a claimant is entitled to be paid each month. If a claimant is paid wages a day or two earlier – ie because their normal payday would fall on a weekend or bank holiday (for example; it happens to me, payday is the 28th but could be 26th if the 28th is on a sunday) – the system records them as having had two pay cheques in one assessment period and none in the following one.

As a result, universal credit considers them to be earning more than they actually do in the first period, so automatically blocks “passported” entitlements such as free prescriptions – and in the second period considers them to be earning nothing, so makes them subject to benefit-cap penalties.

[SparklyKid]

Forgive me for being cynical. Whenever I watch a documentary about people moaning about benefit cuts, they all seem to have 50" plasma TV's, latest smart phone, etc.

[Old_Geezer]

"They did not lose any money or pay more. They just had benefits reduced."
So they lost the money they were anticipating as being entitled to because of their situation.

[pastafreak]

The giant tv's, smart phones etc are there to get viewers in screaming and irate mode. Its "good" telly.

[SparklyKid]

So they lost the money they were anticipating


Happens to me everytime I buy a lottery ticket.

[ummmm]

This TV/Smartphone does my nut in. I have 3 large TV's and a smart phone. If I had to start claiming benefits I would still have them!

[ToraToraTora]

mushroom 12:16, yes clearly that needs fixing.

[hc4361]

Going five or six weeks with no income after submitting a claim would send many people to the pay day lenders, getting them in to a lot of debt and causing a huge amount of stress.
That is unacceptable.

[ToraToraTora]

yes sparkly and they are always smoking, that's an Ayrton a day for a start.

[SparklyKid]

Ayrton


What is that TTT, ?.

[ToraToraTora]

HC 12:32 yes I agree that is unacceptable and needs ironing out.

[emmie]

it may be a simplification, but its being rolled out in a very haphazard manner, and many people who do get benefits including those in work, are having to wait sometimes months for it to be sorted.

[ToraToraTora]

Ayrton Senna - Tenner