Austerity

There are other problems that need to be sorted out, before it is rolled out any further.
If a person is paid four weekly, instead of monthly, sometimes there are two payments in the same calendar month.
Universal Credit does not take this into account and just assumes that twice as much money has been earned in that month, and reduces the UC correspondingly. It is problems like these that need to be solved first, before UC is rolled out all over the country.

This system is a good one ( universal credits) but I do agree Ilovecheese that bureaucracy surrounding it, was for quite a while hit and miss, and nobody should be expected to wait for 6 weeks ( or whatever it was at first.) I don’t think they do now fortunately.

Day6 I agree with your posts.A family member has to apply for this, so I have sympathy for them, but actually disabilities do ( or can) change with time, so this is why you have to re -apply.The public purse has to be looked after, and cannot accept everything ‘for life’ with no checks.

It sounded so simple, to roll together all the different benefits into one.
it is not simple because life is complicated.
The system has been trialed in various areas and found to have problems.
I think one of the more unpleasant and ridiculous aspects of it has been changed, that of having a gap of five weeks before receiving any money when claimants were supposed to live off non existent savings.
Other problems remain, but instead of halting the roll out and having a look at the problems, the Govt. seems intent on ploughing ahead regardless.
A trial is supposed to be a try out, if something is not working well then the trial needs to be halted and the problems sorted, not to just go ahead anyway.

Of course I am stating the obvious and presumably I am able to do so without getting into a discussion about the socialist system.

I feel and I observe that this government has been cruel and heartless in the way it protects vulnerable people and it makes me feel sad.
That doesn't make me a Corbynista whatever one of those is.

Its just so sad that people are reduced to poverty.

It is. You are stating the obvious, and I imagine we all agree.

Sadly, it has always existed.

As we have mentioned on other threads, name one successful socialist system where everyone could say they have exactly the same as their neighbour and no one existed with more wealth than they have?

It's one of life's inequalities and hard for people at the bottom of the pile. Been there, as have many of us. A welfare state means living in this country, with all it's ills, is still an infinitely better option than living in certain other parts of the world.

BUT, the actual processing and payments take so long that the majority of claimants fall into arrears with their rent or have to borrow large amounts of money, a situation which is very hard to get out of. This surely wasn't what was meant to happen?

Exactly GillT57

The administration of it has been woeful - appalling even.
The idea isn't a bad one. Time (and long overdue) for (DSS, as was) workers going flat out to ensure people who are entitled to this benefit get the money they need.

It's been known for a long time that more clerical/administrative input is needed to make the system efficient.

I don't think many people have a great problem with the philosophy of Universal Credit; one monthly payment instead of bits and pieces being paid ad hoc during the month, a limit in line with average earnings to make work pay, and monthly payment in line with being employed....BUT, the actual processing and payments take so long that the majority of claimants fall into arrears with their rent or have to borrow large amounts of money, a situation which is very hard to get out of. This surely wasn't what was meant to happen? I am saddened by the number of people who still think that people on benefits are somehow second class citizens who are to be put through a rigorous process in order to 'catch them out'. Also, even if we were to look at it from a balance sheet/accountants point of view, and leave out the human aspect, it doesn't appear to be a financial success either.

Hard to listen to Mrs May talking about the end of austerity.

If, and possibly when - we end up with a bad deal or no deal - and the economy tanks- I would have thought austerity would increase, rather than end.

Please where does it say "awful Conservative government"

The quotation is from somebody on the left., true.

Its just so sad that people are reduced to poverty.

I know from experience that DLA rules have ALWAYS been rigorous unfortunately. My child lost it when she was old enough to manage her condition (to a degree) herself. Life is much more difficult for those with a disability but assessment of a condition is nothing new, and applied under Labour governments too unfortunately. Just added in the interest of fairness because this is an "awful Conservative government"thread. Life is unfair, difficult and always has bern.

I'd like to know about this golden age when applying for a benefit and keeping it, without checks and assessments being made, existed?

I must have missed it.
Unfortunately the system was open to abuse by some, which made it difficult then for those in genuine need.

I am not sure if any of us would condone benefit cheats?

Some of the most difficult, convoluted paperwork I have ever faced was applying for disability benefits and this was back in the '80s and '90s.

it just makes me so sad. It's cruel.

It is oldbatty. I also don't understand why you have to reapply every year to get Disability Living Allowance for your disabled child. He has a disability, it's not going to magically disappear. Once he's been awarded DLA, it should be for life!