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"Got myself into one big mess" - Universal Credit Documentary ¦ BBC Stories

Paula was on Jobseeker's Allowance but had to switch to Universal Credit (UC) when her boyfriend moved in with her. Universal Credit is a new benefit that replaces six existing payments - and it's been beset by problems. Like a lot of claimants, Paula had to wait five weeks for the payments to start. She was offered a large advance payment to see her through until then, which she was initially happy about. Then things went wrong. "I have just got myself into one big mess and I've lost control over everything", she says. You can watch the three-part series 'Universal Credit: Inside the Welfare State' on BBC iPlayer: https://bbc.in/2RZPFGq #UniversalCredit #Debt #BBCDocumentary For more Stories, subscribe to our channel: https://bit.ly/2unV9Sa Here's our website: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/stories

BBC Stories

4 years ago

I think it is worth we're getting a job but if I'm honest I wouldn't know where to start that's the God's honest truth I think that's what it is to me it's more fair that I'm going to do wrong and we're going to get rid of math [Music] how did you mean outside of pop yeah although don't me for a while and I've been a lot I was a bit drunk I was a bit drunk and crap sponsored a straightaway I'm 11 years older than anything I've always been on top see because what because Evans now moved in it's a
right thing to do now when it closed plans down start on their snap [Music] you've seen on telling how it's messed a lot of people up I'm hoping he doesn't thought people killed themselves over [Music] [Music] [Music] good afternoon your first payment is going to be the fourth of September because it is so long before any payments you can get an advance and the other honest you do get is ruefully yeah we don't take it off get in one great because some money can repay back over a monthly budget
a nice fair enough I mean a few do it coming out I know it's problem whatsoever but it is a lot of data as well just go use your farm [Music] it will be in your account by the end of today on the 5th of September when you receive your first universal credit that's done yeah you done yep I wouldn't follow me when I won't check your bank in about you can get in one lump sum now and God treat ourselves instead of you know I'm thinking how we're gonna live there by the advance money now has all been
spent and that's been spent on bills food well then what murder fun stuff really I got yourself a new phone what stick of Taito using a brick some Footwear and got me out Donna so that was nice as well got some new clothes is sat in your bar and some nice food I've enjoyed eating some nice food as well it's been brilliant yeah do you think you deserve to just treat yourself yeah of course everybody does jackass I'm not being funny but where are barber still spins now says you know I mean so yea
h I do think it's right that we treat ourselves [Music] five hundred and thirty odd quid but what a family it's ridiculous I was under the impression I would only be paying about wondering what was 100 in tennis ma a month [Music] my stress levels I've been through the roof I've been really anxious I've had that feeling in my fro where I've been smothered do you feel like they shouldn't I offered you so much money because I wish the Adhan now yeah I wish they just would have ha I got too tensed
and to get there Oh a wild lesson learned doc do it again now you do it I am I'm not too bad oh okay oh not a problem it's hard all the time because if the advances are available the customers are taking them then most customers are coming back to us with problems by paying their advances the 532 that's all she's got left basically to live off so if we divide it by say 31 days your average month it's 17 pounds and 16 pence a day to live off as a family of three so it's crazy me live that so much
coming off of it it has September has been absolute it has been health you know I mean we're about to use food banks so did that it did messes up to be honest laughter I'm glad see a lot past went well but I don't want to go through that again never again it's all about giving you the advances but in reality it does it you can't hate you like us on the bricks you just again you live in learned art yeah [Music]

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