George-Osbornes-planned-cuts-to-universal-credit

[Tawnyowl]

Have you ever had a spell on Universal Credit.

About 6 weeks i lasted.Got sanctioned within really the first 2 days.

To much paperwork for the old owl.To take in quickly and it was in the first week of UC arriving in my town.

Missed a appointment.

Spent more money going there than benefit received.

 

But i did realise the help it could provide as well,courses and help with CVS etc,and a combination of benefits under one roof.

But at nearly 60 felt embarrassed and out of place at times.

And really felt that pressurised i will not say intimidated because that would take some doing i just left it in the end.Asked some of the advisors if they liked their jobs.

Their eyes said many things.Maybe they get pressure,i did not hang around to long.Bad atmosphere.Deep down,my experience anyway.

I feel i must be the oldest sanctioned person in the UK.

 

And when sanctioned for some who do not understand things so well,you could very well starve,feel alone,left out.Terrible for those that live alone,no friends around to help.The vulnerable people in society.

Some would walk out not really understanding things,and do not like creating a fuss.

And suffer in silence.

 

"I have dodgy heart"

"That is ok you go on security course old owl,chase those shoplifters down the road."

"When you stop one i suppose you will say"

"Before you hit me over the head with that stolen whisky bottle sir or madam be careful i bleed heavily because of medication i am on".

 

Enough of that it is now in the past.I came on to post a story.

 

Not really talking about that it is the thought of possible cuts to this.

It is said That Ian Duncan Smith feels this is one step to far.

Now i never thought i would hear him say or think that.

If behind closed doors he is saying that things are serious.

A link that explains things.

 

Labour hits out at Osborne's planned cuts to universal credit

Opposition says families will be worse off if taper rate is raised by chancellor, with dissent also evident among Conservatives

http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2015/nov/08/labour-hits-out-at-george-osbornes-planned-cuts-to-universal-credit

[SabreSheep]

The sad thing is, IN principle UC has a lot going for it.

 

If only it hadnt been bungled beyond repair

[citizenB]

No TO, it is not something I have had to apply for. The stories I read are quite dreadful though.

 

It is worrying how many people might simply have decided enough is enough and just taken themselves off the list, preferring perhaps to beg, borrow or steal rather than subject themselves to the kind of humiliation I am often reading about.

[Nystagmite]

Eventually, I will have to apply for this and I am worried that I will be worse off.

[Tawnyowl]

No TO, it is not something I have had to apply for. The stories I read are quite dreadful though.

 

It is worrying how many people might simply have decided enough is enough and just taken themselves off the list, preferring perhaps to beg, borrow or steal rather than subject themselves to the kind of humiliation I am often reading about.

 

Do you know CitizenB,i think you have made a massive point there.

I believe thousands of people have given up on claiming UC.

I am one of them.And will admit to it.

How i survive is difficult to describe really,but do.

Yes i am on the internet,for those that may wonder,how things are afforded but that is another story.

I am pretty open minded and fair with things.But i can talk a bit and make people laugh at times.

 

It is perhaps the rules not the people working there although there were one or two absolute heartless characters working there.How many people i saw nearly in tears was enough for me.Made me feel sick.Clearly control freaks and i will not change that opinion.Out of perhaps 50 not to bad perhaps.

That experience in this day and age is bordering i feel at times on infringing on peoples human rights.

 

Slightly off topic but has bothered me today since coming across it.

WCA death scandal: Ministers ‘failed to pass 2010 suicide report to Harrington’

http://www.disabilitynewsservice.com/wca-death-scandal-ministers-failed-to-pass-2010-suicide-report-to-harrington/

 

We are entering Dickensian territory.

Placing DWP staff in foodbanks

Foodbanks are often where people go when the DWP has failed them. Often having been humiliated, degraded and made fearful by their experiences at the Jobcentre, they find at the foodbank a compassionate approach which treats them as valued human beings, no matter what their economic status. This is particularly valuable for people with mental health problems.

http://www.ekklesia.co.uk/node/22242

 

I observe things closely and to see people under that kind of pressure is disgusting.

Sorry Nystagmite i have only just spotted your post.

I hope things work out for you.But a massive potential loss 3k a year.

 

Nelson Mandela said,

 

“Overcoming poverty is not a task of charity, it is an act of justice. Like Slavery and Apartheid, poverty is not natural. It is man-made and it can be overcome and eradicated by the actions of human beings."

[Nystagmite]

I seem to remember that they said no-one would be worse, there would be transitional protection. But with TP, your benefits stay the same until they reach the same level as someone who has applied now. And those of us who currently receive the severe disability premium, will lose that completely. A loss of over £3k a year.

[SabreSheep]

My lodger orignally was a friend that stayed with me. He was unemployed, not claiming benefits and couldn't live at home due to issues with family members. He gave up on JSA as he was unfairly sanctioned twice 3 years previously!!

 

To start with he paid his way by doing all the housework.

 

Now he is doing charity work (Not mandated) and back in the system but it has taken me a year to get him back there. Now he pays rent and bills and is on his way to independence.

 

Not everyone is lucky enough to have that and I too wonder how many ex claimants survive and or end up outside of the system

[citizenB]

Food banks in the 21st Century, when supermarkets are chucking 1000's of tons of food away is an absolute disgrace.

 

I am sure there must be some people who work in the system who are thinking "there but for the Grace of God"... but there are others who appear to take a perverse pleasure in humiliating the very people they are supposed to be helping ?

[Conniff]

Chancellor George Osborne has vowed to bring tax credit spending "under control" despite the government's defeats in the House of Lords.

 

He told the BBC "uncontrolled" welfare spending, including on tax credits, was a threat to the UK's economic security.

 

While offering to help those set to lose out, Mr Osborne said he would not "lose sight" of his long-term goal of a "low-welfare, high-wage economy".

 

I think the goal is very laudible and it is something that has to be done, but, I also think there was a belief that no one would notice the fall in income between the cuts coming into effect and the promised rises. Maybe they hoped no one would notice so they could have a few years of extra profit before they started to pay it out in other ways.

[determindator]

Same ol' profit before people

[Tawnyowl]

CitizenB

Food banks in the 21st Century, when supermarkets are chucking 1000's of tons of food away is an absolute disgrace.

 

Yes i to believe in Hugh's War On Waste.

To see those farmers having to plough tons of food back into the earth was disturbing.

In fact i received a short message today from War On Waste early in the morning.

A nice feeling when someone replies.

 

As for ministers making decisions on the poor in society i find, i have to admit hard to understand.

I keep coming up with if you cut 20 pounds from the rich they do not feel it that much.

But cut 20 pounds from the poorest in society it is the difference between a few clothes or food on the table for a day or two.

 

And as i keep reading some seem to avoid paying millions and millions in tax.

But i am not much of a politician.Cannot understand the complexity of it all.

It seems to me it is fair or unfair and usually stands out a mile.Simple as that to me.

 

I have been close to the rich,not saying all are like it when earning perhaps tens of thousands a week,just takes time to get used to seeing people with that kind of money.How they spend it.

Bills they do not worry about,they mean absolutely nothing to them.

They are used to it,grew up like that,do not know a different kind of life, and i do not begrudge them that.They employ people,how they spend such sums per week is up to them.

But they argue just like the rest of us,catch colds and the rest.I want to make you feel ok about something.We are all humans.

I could tell you a few tales but will refrain,they usually go on to long anyway.

 

Just that saying from Nelson Mandela keeps haunting me.

Nelson Mandela said,

 

“Overcoming poverty is not a task of charity, it is an act of justice. Like Slavery and Apartheid, poverty is not natural. It is man-made and it can be overcome and eradicated by the actions of human beings."

[Conniff]

Same ol' profit before people

 

It's not really. Someone has to take the bull by the horns. At the moment this country is living in the red, we can't go on like that, get us into the black and with a surplus that can be built on and we will all profit.

[determindator]

mmmm remembering money found to bail out banks.

 

What's the other one, privatise the profit, socialise the debt.

 

When you have stats like, about 85 people own 75% of the world's wealth, makes you think.

 

Ooo and there's the 11% payrise for MP's and large salaries in the public sector and government quangos.

[caro]

So sorry to read of your problems with UC in your very eloquent and moving post Tawny. A friend of mine was also sanctioned (although not on UC) and I recognise your account of what it's like. The indignity of having to jump through hoops for the most meagre existence does nothing to help people to work. Neither will the disincentive for families in social housing paying market rent if they have a combined income of over £30k. Earn that and your rent will triple?

 

George Osborne needs to look at multinational companies operating in the UK and make sure they pay the going rate for tax, and HMRC need to start tackling the tax avoiders.

 

Oh - and how many billion will UC have cost to implement? What a waste!!

[Surfer01]

CitizenB

 

 

 

Just that saying from Nelson Mandela keeps haunting me.

Nelson Mandela said,

 

“Overcoming poverty is not a task of charity, it is an act of justice. Like Slavery and Apartheid, poverty is not natural. It is man-made and it can be overcome and eradicated by the actions of human beings."

 

A great pity that it is not applied in South Africa where the saying originated as poverty is now widespread there so we are not the only country with a poverty issue! Unfortunately our definiton of poverty is vastly different to third world countries.

[obiter dictum]

Hae you seen this, another Tory lie exposed, this time it is disabled war pensioners who are suffering with the jack boot of Government policy with having their Disabiliy Living Allowance taken away

 

http://www.independent.co.uk/voices/letters-we-will-remember-them-and-cut-their-benefits-a6720031.html

Edited November 10, 2015 by obiter dictum