We are ‘forced’ to live on just £30 a month at UC because there are ‘no jobs’
RESIDENTS of a town have said they are “forced” to live on just £30 a month from Universal Credit and use food banks because of unemployment.
Disgruntled Huddersfield residents say they are struggling to pay the bills due to the cost of living crisis.
Energy, water, home insurance, motor insurance and council taxes will all rise next month as people are already struggling with rising costs.
Will has been claiming Universal Credit for the past six months, having previously worked as a bricklayer.
The 21-year-old has looked for work in the construction industry but has had no luck.
Wil told me YorkshireLive: “I am constantly looking for a job in construction.
“I’m a qualified bricklayer, with level 1 and 2 qualifications. I’ve been looking for work for a while, but haven’t gotten anywhere.”
Will says he receives £265 a month, which pays gas, electricity and water bills.
But he described living on benefits as ‘difficult’ and said he and his partner were ‘just getting by’.
Once the food bills are taken into account, he is left with about £30 to £40 to cover everything else he needs.
Meanwhile, another woman said claiming Universal Credit was a ‘humiliating’ experience.
The single mother, who wanted to stay anonymouslysaid: “In January I was struggling and had no money for gas or electricity.”
“I felt compelled to go back to work. I feel forced because I have no money and no food.
“I have applied for and received Universal Credit but it is not enough. I have a mortgage and two children.”
The mother said it was extremely embarrassing to obtain food parcels and staff asked questions about income.
She added: “No matter how hard you work, you won’t get anywhere. I work as a care worker and am paid £11 an hour.
“I work 10 to 12 hours a day and double shifts.
“There is no help for the average person.”
Meanwhile, a father, originally from Poland, is currently claiming benefits after suffering a knee injury.
But the father-of-two says he can’t wait for his surgery to be over so he can get back to work and earn his own money.
Greg, who has lived in Huddersfield for almost twenty years, has had a variety of jobs including cleaning, working in a warehouse and most recently as a machine operator.
He described finding work as “very easy,” but it could mean taking what is on offer.
“It’s easy to find a job. When I go looking, it’s easy. It’s very easy: you go to employment agencies.
“They give you something. I did a few pick and pack jobs. I worked as a machinist for £17 an hour. I worked in a warehouse. If you really want to work you can get a job straight away.”
Greg says he is “unhappy” with his benefits and wants to get back to work as soon as possible to earn more money.
Universal credit
Here’s everything you need to know about Universal Credit:
With the next one tax year starting in April, many price increases will happen soon and bill payers need to be prepared.
The DWP is currently transferring people from old-fashioned ‘legacy’ benefits to Universal Credit, in a move known as managed migration.
The government said the vast majority of people taking the step will have done so by the end of March 2025.
But there will be scenarios where people who make the switch will be worse off on Universal Credit compared to their previous benefit.
In this case, the government is issuing some, but not all, of the transition payments to top up Universal Credit payments to match previous benefit entitlements.
And new regulations introduced on February 14 mean five groups of people moving to Universal Credit will now see their transition payments increased by up to £246.