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Universal credit - worried sick about losing £20 a week, especially with rising prices

nickibe

Am i the only person that is worried sick how to manage with losing the £20 a week loss on UC, especially with everything going up in price and the rise in fuel prices.

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Comments

poppy123456

I suspect you're not the only person. I claim the legacy benefits still so i missed out on the increase.

nickibe

I'm gonna miss it as i don't get much money anyway everything price wise has risen so high but not the money we get.

poppy123456

It's been the same with benefits for many many years.

nickibe

I don't know what the legacy benefit is.

poppy123456

Legacy benefits include Income Related ESA/JSA, Income Support.

MarkM88

Same here, I never got it either as I’m on legacy benefits. It will be hard but the only advice I can give is, budget wisely and make sure your getting the best deal for everything.

nickibe

Well. I read this morning that the goverment are going to cap the fuel bills so thats a worry off my mind.

calcotti

nickibe said:

Well. I read this morning that the goverment are going to cap the fuel bills so thats a worry off my mind.

There has been a fuel cap for several years. Everyone on a variable contract is now paying the capped price. The cap will almost certainly rise again in six months.

Leigh14

lillybelle said:

Do exactly the same as you did before the government gave you an extra £20 a week.

Can’t quite do exactly the same though, not now everything is increasing in price. For some people, it will be the case of food or heating

calcotti

woodbine said:

...there is a lot of talk about energy price rises, they won't hit most of us till next April, if at all.

Many people have just experienced a significant rise.

woodbine said:

The extra £20 a week was originally for 12 months then it was extended for another 6 months, the total cost has been £9 billion and obviously that couldn't continue.

Not obvious at all - public spending involves making choices.

poppy123456

woodbine said:

there is a lot of talk about energy price rises, they won't hit most of us till next April, if at all.

They've hit me already with an increase from £83 to £107 DD per month and no, i'm not in arrears either, infact they owe me £70.

janer1967

Mine tried to increase mine from £65 to £85 and I was over £100 in credit

I rang and made an agreement to go to £75

Then had email to say not to panic about increase in prices as they had stockpile of energy they bought in advance so increases would have little effect

poppy123456

lillybelle said:

Are you on a smart meter? It may help to keep the costs down.

Yes i am.

poppy123456

janer1967 said:

Mine tried to increase mine from £65 to £85 and I was over £100 in credit

I rang and made an agreement to go to £75

Then had email to say not to panic about increase in prices as they had stockpile of energy they bought in advance so increases would have little effect

Thanks janer, i think i will do the same. I must admit i was very shocked at such a huge increase.

calcotti

woodbine said:

The energy prices that are in the news are mostly about the massive rise in the wholesale price of gas, this if it continues will affect the price cap when its next assessed in April 2022,

The price cap is, as you say, predicted to rise again in April but rose last week, by about 12%, so many people are affected by price rises now. This follows the 9% rise last April and is the first time since it was introduced in 2019 that the price cap has risen twice in one year.

woodbine said:
What we are seeing is utility companies increasing direct debits to fill their coffers before many of them go to the wall, if you aren't in debt to them refuse these increases.

That is undoubtedly true.

woodbine said:..as for the £6 billion a year cost of the £20 uplift it would be difficult in coming years especially if UC goes up inline with increasing inflation and in 20 years time who knows what it would be costing?

That is unknown for all items of expenditure, whether government or personal. The hope is that income can rise with expenditure - which doesn’t get away from the fact that choices can be made about how to spend (although the choices for those on low incomes are exceedingly hard to make).

Jona

poppy123456 said:

Legacy benefits include Income Related ESA/JSA, Income Support.

Sounds like youve been on it for a while...

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