Universal Credit Act 2025 - Latest Updates

Hi @Marie12

The expression if it ain't broke don't fix it springs to mind every time the government fiddle fannies about making changes and decisions about things they know nothing about, i.e real life. They either think we're too stupid to work out they're screwing people over or they really couldn't care less because they know there's precious little benefit recipients can do about it. There's a constant feeling of being 'Punished' for 'ending up on benefits'

What I know, is that people who have been forced to migrate from IR ESA Support group to UC get a standard allowance and a LCWRA element and because for some reason UC amounts are less than the equivalent legacy benefit amounts, the difference between the two had to be bridged and the TP amount does that and that's all it does, until it gradually erodes, gobbling up any cost of living increase, year in, year out until the TP has eroded to zero or the benefit recipient has eroded to zero, whichever comes first. You do end up being worse off on UC because of how TP works and because it's allowed councils to abuse the system and claw extra revenue from people who have no extra income to cover their greedy demands leaving people under threat of bailiffs, fines, court action, eviction and even prison. All the government had to do was to leave things alone or replace legacy benefits with UC at the same payment rate = No need for TP. Simple.

The government will now be paying less, councils will be getting more and guess who will be getting less! Why am I and thousands of others not surprised.

@michael57 Hi thanks for your comment. The point I'm making is UC always stated that migrating from ESA to UC wouldn't make you worse off but as my post explains that's clearly not the case because with ESA the cost of living annual increase wasn't deducted so it was real cash, much needed and used for cost of living increases to rent, utilities and food etc, now, any increase is deducted pound for pound from the TP amount leaving no increase to help with higher rent and bills etc. Add the extra council tax that we're supposed to magic up from nowhere, then yes, we are worse off and no, that is neither fair or right. This isn't isn't about expecting more than legacy benefit amounts it's about the government stating, categorically, that we wouldn't be worse off and that's just not true is it.

There are hundreds of people in exactly the same situation, we can't all be wrong and I can assure you we aren't. Please take notice of people who are experiencing these things rather than maybe listening to false info often peddled by the propaganda brigade. I don't mean this in a nasty way but really, having someone who may not be in the same situation or may not even be in receipt of benefits telling us what's 'fair' is a bit much.

Hi @Emilee, they never said that cost of living benefit increases would be deducted pound for pound and they said nothing about the council tax situation, they were vague at best but basically we were misled because they weren't honest and they had their usual hidden agenda and they've allowed councils to take full advantage of the situation which they're they're doing by generating extra revenue from people who have no way of covering it. You're right, they're staying true to form.

@Michael57

Ok Michael whatever. You clearly haven't understood what I've said, you're missing the point I'm making and I really can't be bothered arguing the toss with you. I AM worse off on UC than I was on ESA and I've very clearly explained why, it's a fact ok, not an opinion, a fact. The GOVERNMENT made a big noise about how people in my situation WOULD NOT be worse off, people in my situation ARE WORSE OFF, end of ok. If you still can't understand or accept this fact, put your point of view to the hundreds of other people who are in the same position as me, ( check out some of the other forums) because you will hear the same thing, are we all wrong? As you said, you aren't on ESA and have never been on ESA so please, move on to someone or something else ok.