Help me understand Universal Credit & other changes

mortgagewannabe_2

Icequeen, but the OP has said that his brother is already claiming tax credits, whilst working, so surely he is not a new claimant?

Icequeen99

mortgagewannabe wrote: »

Icequeen, but the OP has said that his brother is already claiming tax credits, whilst working, so surely he is not a new claimant?

If he loses his job and is forced to claim UC then he would be a new UC claimant is my understanding. He would have protection if transferred from tax credits.

IQ

mortgagewannabe_2

But surely those who have had kids before the benefits changes won't then be affected?

Icequeen99

mortgagewannabe wrote: »

But surely those who have had kids before the benefits changes won't then be affected?

If they are new UC claimants then yes they will.

This paragraph from the CPAG briefing ahead of the Lords second reading sums it up. But if you read the wording of the regulation carefully (rather than the Government's explanatory note posted above) you can see that it doesn't offer protection in the same way as Clause 11 for tax credits.

Finally the Impact Assessment, along with much of the Government’s rhetoric surrounding the policy,
implies that the policy is designed to influence the future choices of families. It notes that the policy
aims to encourage families supported by benefits ‘to consider whether they can afford to support
additional children’ and to ensure that ‘those on benefits face the same financial choices around the
number of children they can afford as those supporting themselves through work’. It further states
that ‘entitlement will remain at the level for two children for households who make the choice to
have more children, in the knowledge of the policy’ [emphasis added]. However, it is now clear that
the policy will affect many children already born, should their families fall on hard times and require
assistance, as it is to apply to new claims to Universal Credit after April 2017, regardless of the date of
birth of the children.


http://www.cpag.org.uk/sites/default/files/CPAG%20Briefing%20WELFARE%20REFORM%20AND%20WORK%20BILL%202015%20Lords%202nd%20reading%20Nov%20Update.pdf

IQ

mortgagewannabe_2

Thanks very much for the excellent link icequeen.

I totally understand why this change is necessary, but to be honest it sounds a bit unfair, because those families whom have already made the choices of having kids before this change was decided shouldn't be punished as the policy will mainly cause hardship for their children.

nannytone_2

mortgagewannabe wrote: »

Thanks very much for the excellent link icequeen.

I totally understand why this change is necessary, but to be honest it sounds a bit unfair, because those families whom have already made the choices of having kids before this change was decided shouldn't be punished as the policy will mainly cause hardship for their children.

it is harsh, but the other way has been tried and in many instances, failed.
people were encouraged back into work by allowing them to work minimal hours and receive tax credits to top up their income.
the idea being, that it was a step back into work. unfortunately many have continued to work few hours and still continued to have the number of children they wanted knowing tax credits would raise in line with their choices.
because of that, the choice element is being removed.

it isn't fair but it has to be done

helptips

nannytone wrote: »

it is harsh, but the other way has been tried and in many instances, failed.
people were encouraged back into work by allowing them to work minimal hours and receive tax credits to top up their income.
the idea being, that it was a step back into work. unfortunately many have continued to work few hours and still continued to have the number of children they wanted knowing tax credits would raise in line with their choices.
because of that, the choice element is being removed.

it isn't fair but it has to be done

I agree with you on some aspects nannytone, but I also understand where mortgagewannabe is coming from. The children born before this change don't have a choice and are going to be the ones suffering at the end, because they've been unfortunate enough to be born into larger familes, where money is going to be less, causing more poverty.

nannytone_2

disabled people are suffering
the unemployed are suffering
services are being cut left, right and centre.
the disabled have no choice at all in their circumstances but are having to make the best of things.

the people claiming tax credits do have choice. they can work more hours.
it is only when people have to start taking responsibility for their choices that things will change I'm afraid

helptips

nannytone wrote: »

disabled people are suffering
the unemployed are suffering
services are being cut left, right and centre.
the disabled have no choice at all in their circumstances but are having to make the best of things.

the people claiming tax credits do have choice. they can work more hours.
it is only when people have to start taking responsibility for their choices that things will change I'm afraid

Your right, but if a person is not able to take too many hours of work due to their ill-health or is unfortunate enough to lose their job due to their disability, don't have much of a choice.

nannytone_2

helptips wrote: »

Your right, but if a person is not able to take too many hours of work due to their ill-health or is unfortunate enough to lose their job due to their disability, don't have much of a choice.

the other parent can work too.
at the moment, one parent is working 30 hours and the other isn't working at all.
that is because tax credits top their income up and they haven't the incentive to support their children

how long have they been recveibing tax credits?