MSE News: Government moves towards new monthly benefit system

Fiver29

moose1982 wrote: »

BigAunty,

I think the resistance is being met because DWP often make mistakes with payments and the biggest mistake is non-payment when there was no reason for the non-payment. I've had this happen to me (I think) three times in 18 months with no change in circumstances at all. If a payment was missed by them then the claimant would have to wait 4 weeks rather than just 2 at the moment.

Ideally everyone would have enough savings to cover that period if/when it comes up, but the reality is that with universal credit covering housing payments as well as JSA/ESA, it could make some landlords quite unhappy and then unwilling to take on future benefit claimants as tenants.

When the DWP made a mistake with my JSA it was rectified in a couple of days, I didn't have to wait a fortnight. Same thing happens to workers too. My wages were incorrect and late 4 months in a row, so I had to wait. As BigAunty says, it's life.

moose1982

Fiver29 wrote: »

When the DWP made a mistake with my JSA it was rectified in a couple of days, I didn't have to wait a fortnight. Same thing happens to workers too. My wages were incorrect and late 4 months in a row, so I had to wait. As BigAunty says, it's life.

I guess not all BDC work the same then sadly

In my last job I wasn't paid my overtime at the correct rate (time only, not time + 10%) and this carried on for months and months. I was normally hitting 40+ hours overtime a week so the amount was mounting up, only option was to issue a court summons and it worked. I'm just saying that I've been there and it's a severe PITA.

By the way, I don't disagree with BigAunty at all, more just trying to add some more to it which may or may not have been realised.

john539

BigAunty wrote: »

Still scratching my head over the resistance to benefit payments being made in the type of periodic payments common in employment. The smaller the gap between benefit behaviour and employment behaviour, the easier it will be to transition between the two? I agree that delays in payments cause total chaos and it would great to see swifter processing of claims.

The move from HB to LHA being paid directly to the tenant was implemented precisely to promote personal responsibility for budgeting, financial inclusion, help remove barriers to work.

So why is it any different in benefit payments mirror much more closely what happens with employees?

I'm aware what a pain it is to budget standing orders and direct debits with the payment cycles into a bank account. For example, I had around 8 direct debits coming out of my account on the 1st of the month while my employer paid me every 4 weeks. As there's 13 weeks in a 3 monthly period, it meant very little correspondence between pay dates and my major bills. So I had to pay closer attention to my finances but that's life.

Many on benefits won't have spare cash to cover the monthly period, because benefits cover the bare minimum.

So the money will run out earlier.

They may not have spare money to cover missed payments.

It assumes people can budget effectively.

But that is not the real world when dealing with those in poverty, the vulnerable, with medical & social problems, with debts.

Universal Credit has NOT been tested !

It's an idea from one man who hasn't had to live on them.

Your mistake is to think it's just about money, it isn't.

Weary_soul

Exactly. Well said.

Percy1983

john539 wrote: »

Many on benefits won't have spare cash to cover the monthly period, because benefits cover the bare minimum.

Don't forget the bare minimum does include fags, cider and the most recent xbox 360 games.

clearingout

I budget very well and have never had problems juggling money and was always paid monthly (and am now). But when on benefits, I had the Tax Credits paid weekly because it mean that I would never go more than a week without money going into my account - it was very, very important to me when trying to make everything add up that I had this to fall back on. I do think that families - and more importantly - children will really struggle on monthly payments.

looby75

Percy1983 wrote: »

Don't forget the bare minimum does include fags, cider and the most recent xbox 360 games.

I really don't know why I'm bothering to reply to such an idiotic post but.......since when?

Having to go on benefits was the main reason I gave up smoking, I don't drink cider and I've never bought a xbox 360 game in my life.

neverdespairgirl

john539 wrote: »

It's an idea from one man who hasn't had to live on them.

Your mistake is to think it's just about money, it isn't.

I'd like to think that we don't live in a nanny state where people think their pocket money has to be given out in daily amounts, as they can't look after themselves.

Percy1983

looby75 wrote: »

I really don't know why I'm bothering to reply to such an idiotic post but.......since when?

Having to go on benefits was the main reason I gave up smoking, I don't drink cider and I've never bought a xbox 360 game in my life.

Good work, and with that I am guessing you where able to survive.

My point is some of those claiming benefits aren't enough should quit smoking, drinking and luxury items (ie video games) instead of complaining.

As for having to budget for a month, most people in the real workd have to so surely moving them onto monhtly benefits will help them back into the real world.

john539

neverdespairgirl wrote: »

I'd like to think that we don't live in a nanny state where people think their pocket money has to be given out in daily amounts, as they can't look after themselves.

And when was the last time you dealt with the real world daily lives of people on benefits.

Does what you think match the real world ?