Shortchanged by UC

sarahlply

tifo said:

poppy12345 said:

tifo said:

This has been mentioned many times here (including by me) and it seems unfair but you will still receive 12 months of the increase up to the next change, so for example if it goes down then it will also go down from the next assessment after the change.

Why is it unfair? No one is losing out because as you correctly said, everyone will be entitled to 12 payments at the increased rate.

Because, as many users have said, having to wait for the extra money after already waiting for the increase (cost of living etc) means some people could do with the money NOW rather than in 2 months.

Some people say it's like a job. It's not really because some employers increased wages last year, or gave one off payments, both these were available the following month, yet benefit claimants have had to wait until April this year and then many for a few months more. Yes, i understand that they also received cost of living payments but these are a long way apart. And benefits are already lower than what is required for a decent living, for many, and in these cost of living times it affects claimants even more.

I know many people seem to live a Life of Riley on benefits but for the majority that's not the case.

Not sure if you realise but some of us are also in same situation be it benefits or work places, none of my benefits have gone up yet but my rent has gone up £200 effective from 1st April, our first benefit At increased rate doesn’t arrive for ten more days. Personally don’t know anyone near me who increased wages mid year but most I know work in social care so are reliant on a fixed yearly increase agreed by unions.
please take care and remember we are all in this together.

Spoonie_Turtle

tifo said:

poppy12345 said:

tifo said:

This has been mentioned many times here (including by me) and it seems unfair but you will still receive 12 months of the increase up to the next change, so for example if it goes down then it will also go down from the next assessment after the change.

Why is it unfair? No one is losing out because as you correctly said, everyone will be entitled to 12 payments at the increased rate.

I know many people seem to live a Life of Riley on benefits but for the majority that's not the case.

Not sure where you got that impression from but I can assure you only a very tiny minority of posters here might think that (one in particular that only ever pops up to criticise or claim unfairness, not seen them around for a while though thankfully).  Most of us either claim benefits ourselves and/or work helping those who do, fully aware of the realities of the system and benefit amounts.

/End off-topic.

poppy12345

tifo said:

Because, as many users have said, having to wait for the extra money after already waiting for the increase (cost of living etc) means some people could do with the money NOW rather than in 2 months.

Some people say it's like a job. It's not really because some employers increased wages last year, or gave one off payments, both these were available the following month, yet benefit claimants have had to wait until April this year and then many for a few months more. Yes, i understand that they also received cost of living payments but these are a long way apart. And benefits are already lower than what is required for a decent living, for many, and in these cost of living times it affects claimants even more.

I know many people seem to live a Life of Riley on benefits but for the majority that's not the case.

Do they? What makes you think that then? Are you aware this forum is for help with benefits entitlement and not benefits policy? Please read the sticky at the top of the thread. 

My daughter works full time and claims no benefits apart from child benefit. She had an increase in hourly rate from her employer but like benefits she also has to wait until end of May to receive that increase. 

tifo

poppy12345 said:

tifo said:

I know many people seem to live a Life of Riley on benefits but for the majority that's not the case.

Do they? What makes you think that then? Are you aware this forum is for help with benefits entitlement and not benefits policy? Please read the sticky at the top of the thread. 

I'm not talking about any particular people but in general.

I do see it with some people. Like I said, in the minority.

seatbeltnoob

sarahlply said:

Unfortunately it would be the same in most employment paid monthly, I know my husband didn’t get his new pay rate in his late April pay, it won’t happen until he gets paid later on this month because he is paid monthly in arrears. Some years he doesn’t even get the new pay rate until the summer as unions and management haven’t agreed it by April, it’s unusual that it’s been implemented this early this time around.
it’s really hard for sure as you say bills etc go up straightaway regardless of what uc or employers do. 

inflationary increases is up to each employer to increase - they may decide not to increase it at all.

If they are on minimum wage, then the minimum wage rules kick in from April 6th, from that day forwards the employer has to pay them hourly according to the new minimum wage or they are in major breach,

sarahlply

seatbeltnoob said:

sarahlply said:

Unfortunately it would be the same in most employment paid monthly, I know my husband didn’t get his new pay rate in his late April pay, it won’t happen until he gets paid later on this month because he is paid monthly in arrears. Some years he doesn’t even get the new pay rate until the summer as unions and management haven’t agreed it by April, it’s unusual that it’s been implemented this early this time around.
it’s really hard for sure as you say bills etc go up straightaway regardless of what uc or employers do. 

inflationary increases is up to each employer to increase - they may decide not to increase it at all.

If they are on minimum wage, then the minimum wage rules kick in from April 6th, from that day forwards the employer has to pay them hourly according to the new minimum wage or they are in major breach,

Sorry really confused by your reply to me, was it meant for me? Not sure of relevance to the original post, very confused sorry unless your trying to comment on date payments are applied from? 

Most employers operate an in arrears policy these days, the issue is not about who gets a rise but about how dates are applied and the delay in payments post the new financial year. I mentioned my husband’s employers process purely to show how delays can happen, he is lucky he is with a big firm so has a union supporting him, so many small businesses don’t so as you say other than legal requirements some don’t get a rise, he’s only on a £1 over minimum wage but can take up to six weeks for rare overtime to arrive in his pay.