Universal Credit: what it's like to lose £20 a week

They've been investigating the impact of the decision to cut Universal Credit payments by £20 a week from October, and they say it could plunge half a million more people into poverty, as well as putting millions of low income families under further financial strain.

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[shadowdwellerconwis]

They are creating jobs Zero hour contract jobs with terrible pay as usual 🙄

[jamesswindley]

Make all the politicians do a month or two on a basic Universal Credit payout…

[brummie]

People don't seem to understand not everyone can relocate for work due to other overriding responsibilities. The areas these people live in are deprived where one job attracts 100s if not 1000s of applicants.

[gorillasinthemist]

Time to cut politicians pay and benefits by 50%

[neildavis]

I want the government to live on UC they would have a mental breakdown in to seconds

[joncuk]

Time to tax all those lucky covid billionaires for starters. Then there's the local tax havens to have a firm word with....

[tRx]

The time Klaus and the rest of the gang have finished with you being £20 quid a week short will be the least of your worries !!

[BM-lwgn]

I am having to work 50 hours a week mainly nights. In my later 30s with healthy weight and high blood pressure. Don't smoke/drink. GP- my work. On the real living wage £9.50ph. ''living'' more like keep head above the water. What;s the point.

[DanDmana]

There are many low income workers who are forced to rely on Universal Credit to top up their earnings.
The best way the government could help would be to increase the Personal Tax Allowance. Increase it from the current £12, 570 per year to £18, 000 per year.
This would benefit everyone, but those on the lowest incomes would benefit the most.
Low income earners wouldn't need to claim Universal Credit top ups, those who are unemployed would be greatly incentivised to find work.

[belkentens]

Meanwhile...
They’re going to space in private rockets 😂

[Chris-hyjy]

It's not a CUT in UC. The Government gave you a TEMPORARY £20/week for however long it was. That's taxpayer's money, it's not YOUR MONEY!! If you want more money, get an education and a better job and stop blaming everyone else for your mistakes in life!

[paulweir]

I have just been reading about a chap in Bristol who, as DLA was being phased out, was told to apply for PIP. Before any decision was made his DLA was stopped and for 12 months he received no payments re his disability, PIP then given to him only after the intervention of a help agency, plus an apology from the DWP.
People on UC think that they are badly treated!
By the way, I am a highly intelligent man who knows how to talk to folk, and I can honestly say that I have never experienced any difficulties when talking to DWP or Council staff about state benefits or HB and CTR; perhaps this is because I am pleasant and don't blow my top with demands.

[magas]

There are so many jobs out there especially in hospitality (excluding the people with special needs that can't work).

I was doing deliveries during the pandemic and then i got into construction as a labourer. Its not a career im saving money to get licence for forklift (easier and better money) but there is always work in construction and the money is better than minimum wage.

[flyingfridge]

Boris "The Variant" has to go.

[mjdegrey]

I was told, officially in 2016, that I because of my health problems, I cannot work. I am in the Limited Capability For Work and Work Related Activity group of Universal Credit

Now I did not make that decision. It was made by an INDEPENDENT decision maker, after I attended a Work Capability Assessment (WCA).

So I am a GENUINE case. Basically, come October, I will be £80 a month worse off. Now I am one of the fortunate ones. Though it will not be easy, I CAN make cutbacks. But what about the people who simply CANNOT? Who cares about them?

'Get a Job' I hear. Have you TRIED to get a job these days? One that will pay a half decent salary, so that you do not STILL have to claim benefits?

[stephenwhite]

Sad truth is it isnt just the cut with universal credit but the job centre themselfs whats worest if the goverment only cares about youth unemployment but what help for older people.

[Foxingban]

The guy shouldn't even be in our country weve imported half the eu's benefit scroungers

[paulthomas]

No idea, I didn't get a £20 uplift I'm on legacy benefits so no idea how it feels to lose it.. complete abandonment by this government.

[svenkamog]

Here it comes, no jab 💉 no work, and if you're not fit for work then you can not make a claim. Made mandatory and forced on to you, but in a different form...

[rcspencerr]

What a dreadful time to stop UC as prices go up tax on food and electric and gas. What a heartless government .Well this will be the end for the conservatives and also £5 poll tax on wages yes people who work get UC because of low pay. Dreadful