How do people survive on UC?

jimpwarsop

Did I hear right ? Rishi wants to stop the £20 a week and replace it with £1000 one off, to "boost" the economy.  That'll teach 'em to budget.

allison445

jimpwarsop said:

Did I hear right ? Rishi wants to stop the £20 a week and replace it with £1000 one off, to "boost" the economy.  That'll teach 'em to budget.

This hasn't been confirmed yet but would be a shroud move by the government quells the millions already receiving the £20 weekly increase annoys those on legacy benefits just a little more but there is not much they can do about it saves the government tons of cash when the latest furlough ends and who knows how many people will then lose their jobs and need to claim universal credits at the now reduced rate 

what

calcotti said:

DCFC79 said:

As to the thread title, I've no idea but it must be hard trying to pay mortgage etc.

Anyone with a mortgage has no chance of surviving on UC. There is no help for paying a mortgage until a claimant has been on UC for nine months without any earned income at which point they become eligible for a government loan, secured against the property, to help them pay mortgage interest. If they then find any work and have some earned income their entitlement to the loan ceases.

As someone who has paid significant Tax and NI for 40 years, having to apply for UC has been a depressing reality. The staff are friendly and as helpful as they can be, but having made the mistake of getting a mortgage and having children, I am currently worth more to my family in life cover. How on earth do "they" expect a family of 3 with a mortgage of £900 pm, plus the usual bills to survive on less than £600 pm? that princely sum is awarded after earning zero for 3 months. 
We all know and see people getting by on benefits for years, but this current situation has shown that new applicants have no chance. 
Perhaps contracting CV19 will be a godsend.

sparkycat2

what said:

calcotti said:

DCFC79 said:

As to the thread title, I've no idea but it must be hard trying to pay mortgage etc.

Anyone with a mortgage has no chance of surviving on UC. There is no help for paying a mortgage until a claimant has been on UC for nine months without any earned income at which point they become eligible for a government loan, secured against the property, to help them pay mortgage interest. If they then find any work and have some earned income their entitlement to the loan ceases.

As someone who has paid significant Tax and NI for 40 years, having to apply for UC has been a depressing reality. The staff are friendly and as helpful as they can be, but having made the mistake of getting a mortgage and having children, I am currently worth more to my family in life cover. How on earth do "they" expect a family of 3 with a mortgage of £900 pm, plus the usual bills to survive on less than £600 pm? that princely sum is awarded after earning zero for 3 months. 
We all know and see people getting by on benefits for years, but this current situation has shown that new applicants have no chance. 
Perhaps contracting CV19 will be a godsend.

You would find the staff less friendly and helpful if the conditionality and sanctions regime was being applied and enforced. The conditionality and sanctions regime puts you at the mercy of the whims of your advisor many of whom are incompetent and some of whom are prejudice and nasty/sadistic to those they don't like. Normally lots of people suffer incorrect benefit sanctions.

As for people getting by on benefits for years. Most if they had a mortgage lost their home years ago. Support for Mortgage interest has not been fit for purpose for years as far as covering interest payments, and was never designed to help with capital repayments. Social housing tenants fare far better in the welfare system than private renters and mortgage payers fare the worst.

Wolflady

Are you claiming jobseekers allowance? As I rent I am getting £540 UN plus  £145 Jobseekers . After rent and Bill's it leaves me with  £120 for food and run my car !

what

Wolflady said:

Are you claiming jobseekers allowance? As I rent I am getting £540 UN plus  £145 Jobseekers . After rent and Bill's it leaves me with  £120 for food and run my car !

Hi No, technically self employed, Im trying hard to set up a business, but none of those costs are allowed against my UC and working 70 hours a week without drawing anything. My standard living costs are around £2500 pm, bare bones. 

Spoonie_Turtle

Wolflady said:

Are you claiming jobseekers allowance? As I rent I am getting £540 UN plus  £145 Jobseekers . After rent and Bill's it leaves me with  £120 for food and run my car !

JSA is deducted in full from UC so claiming both together makes no overall difference to the amount of money you receive.

Numberwang_2

On the mortgage front, when I took out my mortgage the bank wouldn’t lend me the money unless I took out unemployment/sickness cover which would cover payments for a minimum 12mths, is this not the case anymore?

kimwp

Numberwang_2 said:

On the mortgage front, when I took out my mortgage the bank wouldn’t lend me the money unless I took out unemployment/sickness cover which would cover payments for a minimum 12mths, is this not the case anymore?

It wasn't a requirement for me when I took mine out six years ago.

Spender£

kimwp said:

Not a rhetoric question, genuinely how does a single person live on £400 ish a month? I think I could squeeze bills, food and annual expenses down to £400 a month, but that leaves nothing for rent/mortgage!

Is there something I'm missing?

If you think UC is hard to survive on try JSA or CA for size!
I have been on Carers Allowance of £62 per week although it might of changed since and my other half claimed JSA of £72 or so a week as they don't let everyone on Universal Credit.
The UC is higher than JSA and CA the main difference being monthly payment vs fortnightly and questions still remain as to why UC claims got an extra £20 whilst people on other benefits got no extra which is strange when people on JSA are in the same boat although don't want to talk politics.
It was a case for me of adapting to survive and in those days before the MSE Website success I used to listen to Martin Lewis on the Radio 2 Jeremy Vine show getting tips and advice on how to make your money go further, this and being thrifty was a big help living on £62 per week, I look back now wondering how i managed!