universal credit sanctions.

MinerSteve

I wonder how hard it would be for someone to live upto all the JC requests and not get sanctions for a long time. I mean some people are just not good at interviews they could go to all the interviews under the sun but nobody wants to employ them.

Robbie64

The question of minimum hours (based on NMW) is a problem which has been of successive Government's own makings. When in-work top ups were first introduced, in 1970, as Family Income Supplement, it could only be claimed by anyone working 30 hours or more. When Family Credit replaced FIS in 1988 this was reduced to 24 hours and further reduced to 16 hours in 1996 (when JSA was introduced). This was then transferred over to Working Tax Credit though for many couples the hours needed to be worked was raised to 24 hours a few years back.

All that happened was that many employers just reduced the maximum hours that they would offer. 16 hour contracts became common and many claimants refused to work more hours as there was little to be gained.

The 35 hours x NMW condition is welcome in that it should reduce the reliance on UC unlike the tax credits system we have now. The problem is that many jobs are still just 16 or so hours a week so for the policy to be successful then the hours each job offers needs to go back up. But employers are reluctant to do so and some employers want so much flexibility that they won't employ someone who is already working a few hours somewhere else. And of course by offering 16 hiur jobs at NMW is helps keep staffing costs down - no employer NI contributions to pay nor any SSP in many cases.

seven-day-weekend

BigMac400 wrote: »

I dont like this bit ;

" If you're already working, it may set out what you have to do to find better paid work or work more hours. The steps you have to take are known as your work-related requirements."

http://www.adviceguide.org.uk/england/benefits_e/benefits_welfare_benefits_reform_e/benefits_uc_universal_credit_new/benefits_uc_claiming_universal_credit/uc95_uc_the_claimant_commitment.htm

What if someone has had a low stress min wage job for years now that they love but are not getting the hours or income that UC require? They will really be put under pressure to work more, sounds cruel.

So they are already working, but have to be like all those people signing on and prove they are looking for more work?

Only if they are claiming Benefits. They are not obliged to claim any.

Surely if you are claiming in-work benefits and don't have anything that stops you looking for better-paid or more work, then you have a duty to do so and not claim off the State (i.e. other people)?

rogerblack

It's not 35 hours.
It's 35 hours, for those with UC entitlements (housing costs, ...) that are high enough.
For a single person with no housing costs - UC reduces to 0 payment at 17 hours or so, and then conditionality doesn't apply obviously.

System

rogerblack wrote: »

It's not 35 hours.
It's 35 hours, for those with UC entitlements (housing costs, ...) that are high enough.
For a single person with no housing costs - UC reduces to 0 payment at 17 hours or so, and then conditionality doesn't apply obviously.

Anyone have any idea how this is going to work for working disabled people who claim the disability element of tax credits? Looking it up so far i can only see information for those who can't work (who'd be claiming ESA). Will they still have the 35 hours rule? Or will it still be 16 hours? Its confusing because surely if you get the disability element they recognise you have limitations on the hours you can work because of your disability? But not so much you'd be exempt for work all together?

krok

The government last week hailed the next stage in its "welfare revolution" as universal credit is made available to families for the first time.

Universal credit eligibility guide for families makes a mockery of IDS claims

But while Iain Duncan Smith may be hailing this supposedly landmark moment in the House of Commons at the same time as dismissing Labour's accusations of "burying" problems associated with the new benefits system, a list of elgibility criteria attached to the UC rollout to families tells you everything you need to know about how slowly things are moving.

When Rachel Reeves says the rollout is "glacial" she is actually being quite kind to the Department for Work and Pensions.

And if IDS is expecting a big spike in the number of UC claimants with families now on board, he's going to be very disappointed.

Here then is the DWP's official UC eligibility guide for for families.

To claim universal credit you (and your partner if you have one) must:

• live at your usual address in an area where universal credit is available
• not be homeless, in supported or temporary accommodation, nor a homeowner
• be a British citizen with a National Insurance number
• be aged between 18 years and 60 years and six months
• be fit for work
• not have applied for a fitness for work note
• consider yourself/yourselves fit for work
• not be pregnant nor have given birth within the last 15 weeks
• not be receiving Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA), Employment and Support Allowance
(ESA), Income Support (IS), Incapacity Benefit (IB), Severe Disablement Allowance (SDA),
Disability Living Allowance (DLA) or Personal Independence Payment (PIP)
• not be awaiting a decision on a claim for Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA), Employment and Support Allowance (ESA), Income Support (IS), Housing Benefit (HB), Child Tax Credit (CTC) or Working Tax Credit (WTC)
• not be appealing against a decision of non-entitlement to Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA), Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) or Income Support (IS)
• not be awaiting the outcome of an application to revise a decision of non-entitlement to Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA), Employment and Support Allowance (ESA), Income Support (IS) or Housing Benefit (HB)
• not have any caring responsibilities (such as for a disabled person)
• not be self employed, a company director or part of a limited liability partnership
• not be in education or on a training course of any kind
• not have a person acting on your behalf over your claim
• have at least one suitable account that DWP can pay your money into not live in the same household as a member of the regular or reserve forces who is away on duty
• have lived in the UK for the last two years, and not have been abroad for more than four weeks continuously during that time
• not be required to pay child maintenance via the Child Support Agency
• not have savings in excess of £6,000 between the two of you
• not be an approved foster parent (even if you currently have no foster children)
• not be expecting to adopt a child in the next two months
• not expect to receive individual take home pay of more than £330 in the next month
• not expect to receive joint take home pay of more than £525 in the next month
• not expect to receive any earnings from self-employment in the next month

You cannot make a new claim for universal credit if one or more children in the household:
• has been adopted in the last 12 months
• is receiving Disability Living Allowance or Personal Independence Payment
• is certified blind or severely sight impaired
• is fostered
• is looked after by the local authority (apart from short periods solely to provide respite care)

You can’t claim universal credit and tax credits at the same time.

If you are a family that thinks it is still eligible for universal credit, please let us know.

mattcanary

lovinituk wrote: »

Benefits shouldn't be there to enable anyone to live a cushy comfortable life. People need to understand that if want higher hand outs they need to work for it. If they choose they don't want to and would rather stick to their cushy job then they need to learn to live off those wages.

OK - well maybe the government should be looking to reduce the wage inequalities that exist in this country (and are increasing all the time).
Do footballers really earn £150 000+ per week?
Do City Traders earn their massive basic pay and bonuses?
Do "consultants" (a menaingless job title, i ever there was one) really earn their £100 per our or whatever they earn for stating the blindingly obvious?

Instead of blaming people for being in poorly paid jobs, start looking at the society we live in and campaign for a more just society,
Someone has to remove litter from the streets and clean !!!! out of public toilets. It's a terrible job - don;t punish people for doing these type of vital, but unpleasant jobs.

mattcanary

krok wrote: »

The government last week hailed the next stage in its "welfare revolution" as universal credit is made available to families for the first time.

Universal credit eligibility guide for families makes a mockery of IDS claims

But while Iain Duncan Smith may be hailing this supposedly landmark moment in the House of Commons at the same time as dismissing Labour's accusations of "burying" problems associated with the new benefits system, a list of elgibility criteria attached to the UC rollout to families tells you everything you need to know about how slowly things are moving.


When Rachel Reeves says the rollout is "glacial" she is actually being quite kind to the Department for Work and Pensions.

And if IDS is expecting a big spike in the number of UC claimants with families now on board, he's going to be very disappointed.

Here then is the DWP's official UC eligibility guide for for families.

To claim universal credit you (and your partner if you have one) must:

• live at your usual address in an area where universal credit is available
• not be homeless, in supported or temporary accommodation, nor a homeowner
• be a British citizen with a National Insurance number
• be aged between 18 years and 60 years and six months
• be fit for work
• not have applied for a fitness for work note
• consider yourself/yourselves fit for work
• not be pregnant nor have given birth within the last 15 weeks
• not be receiving Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA), Employment and Support Allowance
(ESA), Income Support (IS), Incapacity Benefit (IB), Severe Disablement Allowance (SDA),
Disability Living Allowance (DLA) or Personal Independence Payment (PIP)
• not be awaiting a decision on a claim for Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA), Employment and Support Allowance (ESA), Income Support (IS), Housing Benefit (HB), Child Tax Credit (CTC) or Working Tax Credit (WTC)
• not be appealing against a decision of non-entitlement to Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA), Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) or Income Support (IS)
• not be awaiting the outcome of an application to revise a decision of non-entitlement to Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA), Employment and Support Allowance (ESA), Income Support (IS) or Housing Benefit (HB)
• not have any caring responsibilities (such as for a disabled person)
• not be self employed, a company director or part of a limited liability partnership
• not be in education or on a training course of any kind
• not have a person acting on your behalf over your claim
• have at least one suitable account that DWP can pay your money into not live in the same household as a member of the regular or reserve forces who is away on duty
• have lived in the UK for the last two years, and not have been abroad for more than four weeks continuously during that time
• not be required to pay child maintenance via the Child Support Agency
• not have savings in excess of £6,000 between the two of you
• not be an approved foster parent (even if you currently have no foster children)
• not be expecting to adopt a child in the next two months
• not expect to receive individual take home pay of more than £330 in the next month
• not expect to receive joint take home pay of more than £525 in the next month
• not expect to receive any earnings from self-employment in the next month

You cannot make a new claim for universal credit if one or more children in the household:
• has been adopted in the last 12 months
• is receiving Disability Living Allowance or Personal Independence Payment
• is certified blind or severely sight impaired
• is fostered
• is looked after by the local authority (apart from short periods solely to provide respite care)

You can’t claim universal credit and tax credits at the same time.

If you are a family that thinks it is still eligible for universal credit, please let us know.

That list really doesn;t rule out many people with a family that live in a pathfinder area, relative to those that are eligible in the area.

lovinituk

mattcanary wrote: »

OK - well maybe the government should be looking to reduce the wage inequalities that exist in this country (and are increasing all the time).
Do footballers really earn £150 000+ per week?
Do City Traders earn their massive basic pay and bonuses?
Do "consultants" (a menaingless job title, i ever there was one) really earn their £100 per our or whatever they earn for stating the blindingly obvious?

Instead of blaming people for being in poorly paid jobs, start looking at the society we live in and campaign for a more just society,
Someone has to remove litter from the streets and clean !!!! out of public toilets. It's a terrible job - don;t punish people for doing these type of vital, but unpleasant jobs.

I think you should go back and read my posts again. Where have I blamed people for being in poorly paid jobs? Get your facts straight before you throw your toys out of your pram.

mattcanary

lovinituk wrote: »

I think you should go back and read my posts again. Where have I blamed people for being in poorly paid jobs? Get your facts straight before you throw your toys out of your pram.

Your earlier post was clearly insinuating that people are to blame for their situation. As if a cleaner can request and gain extra hours in order to get extra pay and take themselves out of the benefits system. Do you live in the real world?