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.

[Ken4155]

Spicerack; The likes of me? You know absolutely nothing about me. Obviously you don't have anything to back your argument up otherwise you would have gladly shot me down in flames with a link, or whatever. I think it's you who should get over yourself.

[THECORBYLOON]

"You might be refused an advance if you:

•have enough money to last until your payment of Universal Credit
•live with parents, relatives or friends
•have any final earnings or redundancy payments
•have any accessible savings"

[jim360]

Things should be made as simple as possible, but not simpler. Therein lies the big problem with Universal Credit: life just ain't that simple, and a benefits system designed to pretend that it is is essentially doomed to failure from the very start.

Add on to that the problems of trying to push the system out well before it's ready, trying to utterly overhaul the benefits system at the same time as cutting back the staffing and budget of the DWP massively, and making decisions that regularly lead to successful appeals, and it's a recipe for total failure.

[New Judge]

"We may be disillusioned with what is now but let us not hanker for the oh so rosy past."

I didn't suggest the past was rosy, Mamy, and the story you tell is harrowing. I just think the pendulum has swung too far the other way.

[Mamyalynne]

It's not an easy fix that's for sure and all this patching and rejigging is done so badly many fall by the wayside, yes of course some may know how to play the system - others are too exhausted to try.

[pastafreak]

Your aunt's experience is horrific mamya. Let's hope we learn from both the past, and current mistakes.
I'll continue to be hopeful.
There will always be those who manipulate the system, who feel entitled to get as much as they can...and more...from it. It will always be at the expense of those who do not have such "skills" or any desire to be dishonest.

[Spicerack]

Thanks Corby. I couldn't be bothered to look it up. But like I said, you wouldn't be turned down for 'the loan' without good reason. And you certainly wouldn't be forced into the hands of loan sharks.

[Peter Pedant]

yeah it works by giving out £2000 a y less
great so long as you are not the one that is short

[Spicerack]

They take £40 a week out of £70.
That is bad
(or made up)

[Deskdiary]

Excellent post Cassa. I agree with every word.

It irritates the bejesus out of me how much of my money the Government gives to people who choose not to work, many of whom have never worked.

The benefit system should be a safety net - if we have to give anything to the long term useless it should be set at subsistence level.

[weecalf]

If a government over pays itself then it has no right to under cut the the help needed by those are not fit in many cases to work . Well off people have not got a clue how the less fortunate people have to get by on scraps from the tables of those who get to live in luxury .Some seriously sick people are being denied .The government can always find money like the handout to the dup to hang on to power .

[wolf63]

Corby - does the loan take the place of the Crisis Loan from the Social Fund System? Or is that still around?

[Mamyalynne]

I think Crisis Loans went and are now called Budgeting Loans.

https://www.gov.uk/budgeting-help-benefits


The Advance scheme is different again.

[wolf63]

Mamy - the Social Fund system that I remember had Crisis Loans, Budgeting loans and Community Care Grants - plus maternity and funeral payments. But that was ever so long ago.

[Mamyalynne]

Sticking with crisis loans, I thought they had gone but I am happy to be corrected.

[jno]

put the baby twins in the same cot and sell one

yikes...

[Mamyalynne]

Startling yes, but that's how it was - as I said wasn't very bright thinking,

Long time ago thankfully.

[THECORBYLOON]

WOLF, the Crisis Loan from the DWP Social Fund ended about five year ago and folk apply through their local Council rather than a Jobcentre.

[jno]

I read it as selling one of the twins, Mamya.

But only for a moment.

[ladybirder]

I was wondering how much you got for a child in those days jno.