Universal Credit for [merged]

poppasmurf_bewdley

If we're going to have Universal Credit and it will be £500 a week to cover everything, please put me down for it right away. I'd be far better off than I am now!

Mortabrey

zagfles wrote: »

Very simply... it combines most means tested benefits, eg HB, JSA(IB), IS, WTC, CTC.

It doesn't include CTB (which will be "localised"), and child ben, DLA and contributory benefits.

It is means tested and will be tapered at 65% on net income, with quite a big disregard depending on circumstances (ie you'll be able to earn a fair amount before it starts being reduced).

It'll make moving into work of less than 16 hours far more benefiicial than it is now.

There are capital rules similar to IS, ie over £16k capital you get nothing.

There are transitional rules so those who will be worse off under UC will get "cash protection", This includes those with large savings claiming tax credits.

There will be conditionality rules depending on earnings not hours. If you earn below the amount (dependant on single/couple/age of kids/disabilities etc) you'll be expected to seek work/further work. Unlike now where it's done on hours.

Where did you get all this info from?

How much can you earn before the disregard ends?

At the moment you can still only earn £5 per week each, so if you are a couple you can earn £20 every 2 weeks before your JSA is affected. How much will it be when UCredit comes in?

Has a date been set for the UC to start?

suburbanwifey

Marisco wrote: »

If the conditions are as stringent as JSA (and I'm only going on what I have read on here re job searching, as it's donkeys since I claimed the dole) then quite a few people will be sanctioned! They have to prove they have tried for x number of jobs, willing to travel 90 mins each way etc, how can people with kids travel that amount of time for a second job? The cost of child care would be ridiculous, as maybe the partners work wouldn't "gel" with the other.

I used to leave the house at 8am and get home at 5.30 ish, would I be expected to then travel an hour and a half to go to another job? So when are people supposed to have some sort of life? Is that all there is to life, work? Thank god I'm retired! Maybe if employers paid living wages, there would be no need for all this juggling!!!

I do actually think that in this country, life is considered work. We work the longest hours in the UK apparently and those working full time have little, to no social life or enough sleep. This obsession that work is the be all and end all of life is causing cancers, exhaustion, mental illness, stress. Ask most workers in this country, most consider themselves having to work too hard and too long just to keep heads above water. We live to work in this country and the Govt. is doing their best to ensure everyone lives this kind of half life. At least it will reduce longevity for them huh.

suburbanwifey

quintwins wrote: »

absolutely nothing, but why should i live a frugal lifestyle with the aim of owning my own home, when my someone else in my position who spends on holidays/beer/fags/ a new car/ fancy appliances.....ect will be better off.

whats the point in saving if you then have to spend it all on day to day expenses, it makes more sense to have a higer lifestyle and waste every penny like so many do already...running the risk of getting into debt with no buffer to fall back on

We're not actually due any inheritence it is my mother in laws, mothers, yet they want to help us by if we're going to lose money, ther better keeping it and we will continue with our orginal plan of savings and paying down our mortgage then selling up and building with the procedes, why is it ok for me to live in a mobile home for years slowly building a house, but not for my inlaws to give me money to do it?

just for the record my hubby works and pays tax, we get child tax credits, working tax credits and child benefit, i don't work because childcare would be a nightmare and our twins require alot of appointments, if i was to work my kids would suffer- we have discussed it and if it comes to it and universal credits is that bad we will cancel our claim rather than our kids lose out when they clear need that bit of extra support and stuggle threw until we are in a position that i can work.


i just think it's unfair that savers get punished, if i were to save up to gop to go on holiday for example i could get in trouble, but if i just went and booked it and paid it off each month it would be fine, yet the out come is the same except for the fact that paying it off over time is likely to cost me more, the same as if i overpay my mortgage thats fine but i do it in a lump sum and i get into trouble...wheres the logic in that?

Yes, savers are penalised every which way in this country. Save money and lose your job, you are supposed to pay every penny you have got to survive, even though you have spent years paying out huge amounts of tax and national insurance supporting everyone else. If you need money, they say no, spend your savings and end up with nothing. Then low interest rates penalise savers who now get no income from years of savings. It seems to me the spendthrifts are the only one's to benefit in this country. Get in debt, buy houses you cannot afford or rent homes that cost ludicrous amounts per month and you get on OK. Save, plan for retirement, try to save for a holiday or a car and avoid debt and you are stuffed.

I too see no point in saving for anything looking at the way this country is heading now.

Mortabrey

BigAunty wrote: »

By the time UC is full implemented, I imagine your adolescent children will be adults!

Any idea when then?

Mortabrey

poppasmurf_bewdley wrote: »

If we're going to have Universal Credit and it will be £500 a week to cover everything, please put me down for it right away. I'd be far better off than I am now!

Yeah but in London rents have just been capped at £400 and its causing no end of trouble. What about £500 total cap? How much will go to rent and how much will be left to feed the kids?

Mortabrey

Yeah but in London rents have just been capped at £400 and its causing no end of trouble. There is still hundreds on top in other benefits for living expenses. What about £500 total cap? How much will go to rent and how much will be left to feed the kids?

princessdon

Do you work and claim wtc? How much benefits do you get now? Do you have (or children have) savings?

Mumto3cheekymonkeys

Universal Credit I believe (dont hold me to it) Will be similar to Tax credits but will benefit everyone including those under the age of 25 and those without children.

[Deleted User]

The details are still being worked out at the moment. There is a pilot going on at the moment but its more about the technical issues than anything else.

Almost all benefits will come under UC, the main exceptions being DLA (or the replacement for that, which is PIP) and conts based JSA and ESA.

People who work will be on it if they already get some tax credits or housing benefit. Will be around 2017 by the time everyone is on it though, the proper pilot for new claimants starts next year.

I think it can only be a good thing and should make life easier for claimants with having a "one stop shop" and also to combat fraud.