Worse off

MiaSummer
MiaSummer Community Member Posts: 4 Listener
in Universal Credit (UC)

I migrated to UC back in July 2024 , I received TP and with rent increase and benefits rate going up, my TP obviously has gone down . I’m now £3,812 per year worse off. I understand that’s due to no longer getting SDP . I spoke to someone on the phone Friday and asked why my amount has gone down lots . Basically it’s down to where I live . My rent I’m in social housing has gone up by £40 per month. My friend in the North East hers has increased by £12 , So no heating again this winter , I don’t really eat , I’ve barely left my house as I feel so down, I feel hopeless. Internet and phone providers always hit you with late charges. I can’t get out of being broke two days after payment

Comments

  • rubin16
    rubin16 Scope Member Posts: 1,592 Championing

    This is just the norm for most of us on benefits.

  • justsaying2025
    justsaying2025 Community Member Posts: 82 Contributor

    Hi Mia, were you receiving the SDP when you were migrated? If so the amount should have been included in the TP amount surely? Even with the yearly increases (rent & benefits) eroding the TP the figure you mention is considerable (£3,812). I'm sorry things are really hard for you :-(

    Do you think you're getting the best deal on all your utilities? I have a social broadband tariff which is £20 (vodafone) but I saw on MSE that there's even lower prices being offered. I have a SIM only phone deal which is £4.90 (Lebara) pcm. I also managed to get a reduction on my water-a scheme they had as I was struggling. I did also visit a foodbank when I was really struggling, they gave me a huge bag of things bless them. Hopefully you get the warm home money (£150) as I've found that be be a life saver in winter.

    Scope also have a really good service to help with energy costs which I used last year.

    Anyway, just wanted to reach out & say hello :-) and hope things improve for you. Sending hugs. x

  • Rachel_Scope
    Rachel_Scope Posts: 4,221 Online Community Team

    Hi @MiaSummer, I'm sorry you're struggling. Do you have any mental health support?

    There's some good advice here from our members for saving money. I've sent you an email with some more information so be on the lookout for it.

  • Andi66
    Andi66 Community Member Posts: 1,458 Championing

    Mine gone down as well April it was £225 a fortnight. May it was £212. Now it is £200. My Tp gone down a lot. I know my rent increase which I thought would come of tp. They overpayment last month which I paid back. So unsure why they taken this off. My nsesa gone up.

  • OverlyAnxious
    OverlyAnxious Community Member Posts: 6,270 Championing

    Hi,

    There's an error here somewhere. The UC rates increases do not reduce your total UC payment. The rates go up and TP comes down at the same amount, so the payment stays exactly the same.

    A rent increase of £40 a month will reduce your TP. But that would only make you worse off by £480 a year. Something has gone wrong if you've lost over £3000 a year.

    If you can post your UC statements, one with the new amounts and one with the old amounts, we might be able to see what's gone wrong.

  • MiaSummer
    MiaSummer Community Member Posts: 4 Listener

    Nothing has changed. Except rent increase and benefit increase.
    this is total deductions when I first migrated, and total deductions now

    IMG_3197.jpeg IMG_3195.jpeg
  • MiaSummer
    MiaSummer Community Member Posts: 4 Listener
  • OverlyAnxious
    OverlyAnxious Community Member Posts: 6,270 Championing
    edited June 2
    https://forum.scope.org.uk/discussion/comment/1129009#Comment_1129009

    Sorry but total deductions is of no help here. We need to see numbers for all of the elements to see what's changed.

    Benefit rates increases are not part of the deductions.

    The only things that will create deductions are savings, earnings, advance loans, NS ESA/Carers Allowance. And Housing Element when you get rent paid directly to the landlord. If the only change is a rent increase of £40, then something has gone very wrong here. The deductions should be £464, not £1330.

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