Universal Credit being monthly 👎, it paying monthly 👎. Users’ thoughts? 💭

ChrisSCOPEhtfc94
ChrisSCOPEhtfc94 Online Community Member Posts: 425 Empowering

I am on income-related ESA right now and I know in the future, in the next year and a half, that I will have to move to this UC. I don’t have a say in the matter, it’s mandatory, like for all on legacy benefits. I know I will most likely be entitled to an APA/alternative payment arrangement due to having autism. In their own guidance, the DWP say the autistic highly likely need an APA setting up.

BUT it’s just that I don’t like how they try to force you to settle for a monthly payment structure. Being paid monthly, it’s a sickly 🤮🤢 thought, a nightmarish 😱 thought. They can’t encourage you to live on a monthly structure, just to satisfy them.

What are users’ thoughts on the DWP trying to encourage all to settle for a monthly structure?

I am very much settled on a fortnightly ESA structure, it just works for me. It’s a much better way for me to live life.

Comments

  • ChrisSCOPEhtfc94
    ChrisSCOPEhtfc94 Online Community Member Posts: 425 Empowering

    ”who are expected to mangle their own budgets”. DWP, it’s not as simple that! We can’t all be expected to manage on a monthly budget, just to suit your needs. Fortnightly is much better, thank you very much.

    I imagine many ESA claimants won’t like the sound of monthly payments. If they’ve always been used to being fortnightly, how can we all expected to “suddenly” start managing our own budgets on a monthly basis?

  • ChrisSCOPEhtfc94
    ChrisSCOPEhtfc94 Online Community Member Posts: 425 Empowering

    ”who are expected to manage their own budgets” *

    being paid fortnightly*


    Oh I wish there was an edit button. The forum needs an edit button, hate seeing a mistake after publishing.

  • ChrisSCOPEhtfc94
    ChrisSCOPEhtfc94 Online Community Member Posts: 425 Empowering

    as simple as that!*

  • ChrisSCOPEhtfc94
    ChrisSCOPEhtfc94 Online Community Member Posts: 425 Empowering
  • 66Mustang
    66Mustang Online Community Member Posts: 14,987 Championing

    I've heard even people who are working want to get paid in a certain way or at a certain type of month

    Personally I don't see if it matters, as long as I get the same amount of money overall

    I do understand though if someone has a problem with like impulse spending or something and it's better not to have large amounts all at once

    It sounds like there is already something in place to accommodate people with budgeting needs so I don't see what else they can do

    Sorry if I'm coming across as disagreeing but just not really sure who is going to be caused any suffering by this??

  • OverlyAnxious
    OverlyAnxious Online Community Member Posts: 3,457 Championing

    Having been on ESA for years, I'd prefer monthly payments. Rent & bills go out monthly. And it'll make capital calculations much easier. I don't know why it was ever fortnightly. I don't think any jobs pay like that.

    I do understand that not everyone can manage having money in their account without spending it though, and it looks like there is a system in place for people to choose if that applies to them.

  • ChrisSCOPEhtfc94
    ChrisSCOPEhtfc94 Online Community Member Posts: 425 Empowering

    They can do one, I’m not just accepting a monthly structure to satisfy them. It’s not a change I’ll be able to go through, fortnightly is a lot, lot better for me so I can live comfortably financially.

    I don’t see why I would get turned down for an APA - in their own guidance it says people with autism highly likely need APAs. I just don’t see why I’d get refused. Our household will make it as convincing as possible that I need an APA.

  • ChrisSCOPEhtfc94
    ChrisSCOPEhtfc94 Online Community Member Posts: 425 Empowering

    I think from September the letters (migration notices) will start being sent out, I hope they’ll leave me along as long as possible 😂. I would actually be getting more money on UC but the monthly payments, the thought of them, it utterly stinks.

  • ChrisSCOPEhtfc94
    ChrisSCOPEhtfc94 Online Community Member Posts: 425 Empowering
  • ChrisSCOPEhtfc94
    ChrisSCOPEhtfc94 Online Community Member Posts: 425 Empowering

    Their aim, I think, is to notify all the remaining income-related ESA claimants by December of next year. The longer they take to get a letter sent to me, the better. I won’t have to go through a work capability assessment as part of claiming. I’ll be entitled to the support group equivalent on UC straight away. That’s good. I’ll be getting a higher amount on UC, as I said. That’s good too. It’s just monthly payments. Getting me to live that way, they can stick that where the sun doesn’t shine.