Thousands face Universal credit chaos this Christmas

Benefits should cover basic needs not Christmas presents.

People on low wages aren't allowed Christmas?

Ill people aren't allowed Christmas?

People between jobs aren't allowed Christmas?

All heart you are.

It is not the role of the state to provide the latest toys and smart phones for spoilt kids.
If you want to celebrate Xmas earn the right to do so rather than leaching off taxpayers.

Ah, Troll account, NM.

It is almost like these people reporting the 5-week gap haven't heard of the advance payment.

Tbh I've found it's closer to 6 or 7 weeks, assuming they pay on time, and the advance payment can be insultingly paltry. I have little doubt that part of the system has been designed to infuriate, everyone is near automatically put in rent arears.

Ah, Troll account, NM.

Paltry? It is 100% of your expected first UC payment.

5 weeks is typical.

That isn't my experience with them, i've had 2 and neither was even half of full payment, not even a months rent in fact, and this was for straightforward claims with all documents provided. Likewise I've never seen a payment within 5 weeks, they also don't count the first 5 days of the claim either because 'waiting days' Whatever the hell they are.

Just checked DWP btw, 'The most you can get as an advance is the amount of your first estimated payment' is their words, no mention of that being what you get.

So you're talking about UC before they changed it. No more waiting days and advance payments are now 100% of first payment (if you choose them to be).

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/first-universal-credit-payment-paid-quicker

To repeat, people complaining have no idea what UC currently looks like and are fearmongering.

So you have no experience of receiving it, yet are lecturing someone who is on it about what it's really like...

Typical.

The point I was making is rather specific. The 5-week gap, which is much talked about, does not mean anything because you can get your full payment within the first assessment period as an interest-free loan spread over 12 months, and still get your first payment (minus the loan deduction). Meaning within the first 5 weeks you can get 200% (a little bit less) of what your first payment would be.

And if you don't like getting paid monthly, you can get alternative payment arrangements (APA, to be paid fortnightly usually) and you can also have your rent paid directly to your landlord (if either of you elects).

That user's experience is outdated. UC has not been like that for the past 8 months. So their experience is by no means superior to my own.

So you're talking about UC before they changed it. No more waiting days and advance payments are now 100% of first payment (if you choose them to be).

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/first-universal-credit-payment-paid-quicker

To repeat, people complaining have no idea what UC currently looks like and are fearmongering.

Fair enough, I wasn't aware of the changes. I wouldn't say i'm fearmongering though, that IS how they acted, can you blame me for forming an opinion based on my own experience with them?

But that's not how it's working in reality, clearly given the huge number of issues with the system which has prompted condemnation even from Conservative MPs.

You are focusing on how the system 'allegedly' works, not on how it actually does work. And dismissing the concerns and stories of people who are actually on UC when you aren't yourself, is quite hollow.

I was more speaking about the source in the OP. The people who have supposedly researched this. And the impact is surely to strike fear into the heart of anyone who might be transitioned to UC in the near future -- people who are no doubt anxious enough.


That user has admitted their experience is from before the UC reforms. See above.

There might be issues, but the 5-week gap is not one of them.

It is not the role of the state to provide the latest toys and smart phones for spoilt kids.
If you want to celebrate Xmas earn the right to do so rather than leaching off taxpayers.