“Light at the end of the tunnel” Creating the Universal Credit Guide

Signing onto Universal Credit was a daunting experience.  Being part of Uc:Us has been an asset in supporting me, making new friends and also seeing that I am not on my own. I am not the only person going through these struggles and there is no shame.  Through Uc:Us I have been able to network with Members of the Legislative Assembly. I have also been interviewed on the Radio, BBC news, Spotlight and for various other reports on Universal Credit and living on a low income.  My experience of this has been daunting at times but I always had in the back of my mind, I am not just speaking for myself I am speaking for many families. I have personally developed myself and felt empowered through being part of Uc:Us and foresee a better future for myself and my child in the next year or two, I hope.

Being part of the development of this Guide has been hugely important. It has not been designed by academics, it has been designed by US, the Uc:Us participants – with lived experiences of many areas of the benefit system.  I hope this guide supports you to navigate a system that can at times feel overwhelming and scary, but you have got this. You will get there, we have. Yes it has not been easy at times but knowing we are not on our own gets us through and there is always light at the end of every tunnel.  Speak to your work coach, let them know your fears and worries, ask for help and assistance that is what they are there for, alongside this fabulous Guide of course.

I hope this guide supports you to navigate a system that can at times feel overwhelming and scary, but you have got this. You will get there, we have. Yes it has not been easy at times but knowing we are not on our own gets us through and there is always light at the end of every tunnel. 

I would love to see big changes in the benefit system. Stopping the £20 cut to Universal Credit would be one. This will have such a drastic impact on families and especially young children. I would like to see more participatory practice within departments and policy making, I believe it is important to have lived experience input within every decision made especially when it comes to benefits and cutting support for those on lower incomes. I would love to see a much fairer system that values everyone’s input into society, be it a stay-at-home mum, a carer, someone with a disability. A system that ensures everyone is living well above a minimum income. This minimum income should only be there as a safety net, we should not have people living at this level.  We should never have to see a food bank or a social store within our communities, they should not be the norm. Yes they are feeding families but surely if people had enough money we would never need them.

Written by: Caroline Rice, UC:Us member