Herbie

Thanks for this question.

I work full-time and am on UC as a lone parent who rents.

I do not have a work coach. I have no commitments for UC (other than to jump sky high when they ask me to (see below)).

So I do not get this idea that UC gets you in to better paid work, or the government are trying to get people off benefits and in to work. I have been on UC on and off (mostly on) since 2019.

I am good at my job, I enjoy it - its what I want to do. UC isn't going to change my view on my job, or get me a qualification or promotion and out of benefits.

UC being used as a tool to get people in to work is only correct at one point - being out of work and going in. Its taper rate is slightly better than the old Tax Credits - but these benefits are much the same. They are a support to poorly paying employers.

The idea that UC gets you in to work or off benefits in to better employed work, is nonsense. Its system of commitments and sanctions simply puts people under pressure to do more, low paid, poorly supported work, so they are financed less by the government.

UC (and even the old Tax Credits) are needed. They support me and my two daughters. But to say they get me in to better paid work is rubbish.