Share this post:

Remember the Department for Work And Pensions’s mistake that meant I wasn’t paid Universal Credit because I didn’t reach a level of self-employed income I wasn’t expected to manage for a year?

The payment finally came through.

Eight days after it was due.

Eight days with no rent.

Eight days of uncertainty — while I waited for Universal Credit to fix an error of its own making.

The DWP assures me that it has now corrected my claim, and I am told the system should behave itself for the rest of the “grace period” I was always supposed to have.

But that doesn’t undo what’s already happened.

The damage didn’t stop while I waited.

Life didn’t pause.

Bills didn’t wait.

And the result is that I’m now overdrawn at the bank — meaning I will be charged, simply for trying to build something independent while relying (briefly and reluctantly) on a system that’s meant to support people doing just that.

If you’ve ever thought about supporting Vox Political — the journalism, the videos, the platform — now would be a particularly good time.

🧾 You can do it here: https://ko-fi.com/voxpolitical

The message from the system is clear: try to build something on your own initiative, and you’re on your own.

But the message from readers — from you — has been very different.

The support after my last article was incredible. It reminded me why this work matters.

Thank you for reading — and for continuing to help Vox Political stand up when the system would rather we all stayed silent.

— Mike

Share this post: