What are your thoughts on today's budget?

Cher_Alumni
Cher_Alumni Scope alumni Posts: 5,714 Championing
edited March 2021 in Coffee lounge

This afternoon Chancellor Rishi Sunak has delivered his latest budget to the House of Commons.  Setting out the government's financial plans for the year ahead, his words were widely anticipated as many people continue to struggle through the fallout of the coronavirus pandemic.  

In this thread, @Woodbine shared that the Universal Credit uplift of £20 a week will continue for the next 6 months and those on tax credits will get a one-off payment of £500.  But what other nuggets of importance did you take away from today's budget?

Photo capturing the top of Big Ben


What's the lowdown?

This BBC news article lists key points of interest as including:

  • Government to continue paying 80% of employees' wages for hours they cannot work
  • Employers to be asked to contribute 10% in July and 20% in August and September
  • Support for the self-employed also to be extended until September
  • 600,000 more self-employed people will be eligible for help as access to grants is widened
  • Minimum wage to increase to £8.91 an hour from April
Whilst those wanting to buy their first home might take comfort from the announcement that the government is backing a new 95% mortgage scheme. 

Over to you:

  • What are your thoughts? 
  • Do you think those on legacy benefits should also have received the £20 uplift? 
  • Has the budget gone far enough?
Let us know in the comments below :)
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Comments

  • leeCal
    leeCal Online Community Member Posts: 7,537 Championing
    edited March 2021
    It sounded fair considering how much has been spent recently.
    there is just one thing, having never done economics I don’t understand who exactly we’ve borrowed billions from which need to be paid back? If it’s the IMF then where do they get their money from?

    ok, I’ve answered my one question and if any one else is interested then the answer can be found here
    https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-50504151
  • Lisatho11987777
    Lisatho11987777 Scope Member Posts: 5,874 Championing
    @Cher_Scope can you check that it's 20.00 a week  for uc uplift as if that's the case I am owed money my uc only went up by 20.00 a month thank you 
  • Cher_Alumni
    Cher_Alumni Scope alumni Posts: 5,714 Championing
    edited March 2021
    @lisathomas50 Yep it's definitely weekly.  Taken from the Government website:
    • Six-month extension of the £20 per week Universal Credit uplift in Great Britain, with the Northern Ireland Executive receiving additional funding to match the increase. A one-off payment of £500 to eligible Working Tax Credit claimants across the UK.
  • janer1967
    janer1967 Online Community Member Posts: 21,922 Championing
    @lisathomas50 yes it is definitely per week mine went up bu over £80 per month due to it being paid calendar month and not weekly 
  • Lisatho11987777
    Lisatho11987777 Scope Member Posts: 5,874 Championing
    Then I am owed money my support worker has just looked I haven't had any uplift payments at all the 20.00 extra I though was me finishing my loan repayments  
  • Lisatho11987777
    Lisatho11987777 Scope Member Posts: 5,874 Championing
    Thank you everyone 
  • janer1967
    janer1967 Online Community Member Posts: 21,922 Championing
    Sounds like you need to give them a call 

    It should show as extra on your basic allowance if you check your statements 

    Compare statements from last feb against this feb 
  • MarkM88
    MarkM88 Online Community Member Posts: 3,119 Connected
    SheffieldBloke1976 said:
    Meh, I'm on enhanced PIP, will I get the extra 20 quid a week?

    Only UC I’m afraid. 
  • Lisatho11987777
    Lisatho11987777 Scope Member Posts: 5,874 Championing
    @janer1967 checked all my statements uc are going to check now as they can't find any up lift payments 

    Will I get it back dated or will I have lost out and only start from next month please and thank you ?
  • MarkM88
    MarkM88 Online Community Member Posts: 3,119 Connected
    lisathomas50 said:
    @janer1967 checked all my statements uc are going to check now as they can't find any up lift payments 

    Will I get it back dated or will I have lost out and only start from next month please and thank you ?
    How much does your standard allowance say on your statement?
  • calcotti
    calcotti Online Community Member Posts: 10,005 Championing
    lisathomas50 said:
    Then I am owed money my support worker has just looked I haven't had any uplift payments at all the 20.00 extra I though was me finishing my loan repayments  
    I don't see how you can have missed out on this. You may be misunderstanding your UC payment statement. The extra £20 doesn't appear as a separate entitlement - it is included within the 'standard allowance' figure which was increased by an extra £86.67/month. I don't think it would be possible for DWP to do a UC calculation which did not include this.
  • Cher_Alumni
    Cher_Alumni Scope alumni Posts: 5,714 Championing
    Hi @lisathomas50

    If you're on a single claim and receiving £409.89 a month as your standard allowance then you will have received the uplift. 
  • Lisatho11987777
    Lisatho11987777 Scope Member Posts: 5,874 Championing
    @calcotti my money hasn't changed since last April uc have said there is no uplift payments on my claim. Its being looked into  
  • Lisatho11987777
    Lisatho11987777 Scope Member Posts: 5,874 Championing
    @janer1967 409.00 I have gone back as far as April 
  • Adrian_Scope
    Adrian_Scope Posts: 11,712 Online Community Programme Lead
    lisathomas50 said:
    @janer1967 409.00 I have gone back as far as April 
    @lisathomas50, £409.89 is the UC amount including the £20 uplift. Without the uplift your standard allowance would be £323.22 a month.

    It’s also my understanding that it’s handled automatically by their computer system so it’s not possible for someone not to be receiving it.

    As you’ve confirmed your UC standard allowance is £409.89 a month, you’ve already confirmed you’re receiving the uplift. 
  • Lisatho11987777
    Lisatho11987777 Scope Member Posts: 5,874 Championing
    @Cher_Scope so has the uplift been going a year already as I have 409.00 since last April 
  • calcotti
    calcotti Online Community Member Posts: 10,005 Championing
    edited March 2021
    lisathomas50 said:
    @janer1967 409.00 I have gone back as far as April 
    £409.89 is the single personal allowance that includes the £20 uplift. Compare it to the amount in your February and March 2020 statements and you'll notice the difference.
    You'll also notice the difference when the amounts drop again in October!
  • janer1967
    janer1967 Online Community Member Posts: 21,922 Championing
    I hot my first uplift in my may payment as I get paid at beginning of month so didnt get it till may 

    As everyone has said the amount you are getting includes the uplift 
  • Lisatho11987777
    Lisatho11987777 Scope Member Posts: 5,874 Championing
    @Adrian_Scope my support worker totally threw me  thats why I needed to check it   thank you 

    If I was still on esa in the support group would I have been better off than uc 
  • Lisatho11987777
    Lisatho11987777 Scope Member Posts: 5,874 Championing
    Sorry everyone  I don't normaly take any notice I am grateful for any amount of money I get my support worker convinced me and the poor woman on the phone I wasn't getting It 

    Thank you everyone  I can see now looking from before the uplift  

    To be fair as long as I can pay my bills and have my house and food  then all is ok again I apologise 

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