Two articles , both from the Guardian , highlighting problems with the existing rollout , and premonitions of the forthcoming rollout extensions :
https://www.theguardian.com/society/201 ... any-people
https://www.theguardian.com/society/201 ... it-rollout
16 page Report from Trussells on this very issue :
https://www.trusselltrust.org/wp-conten ... dbanks.pdf
Needless to say , those who devised the UC Scheme have no real idea of the problems at grass roots level.
How many of us have resources to balance the loss of 6 / 7 / 8 weeks income ?
Comments section towards the bottom of both articles.
No doubt , the Trussells thread will record the aftermath leading upto the end of the year.
And , what an end of the year it will be for many nationwide !
https://www.theguardian.com/society/201 ... any-people
David Gauke, the new work and pensions secretary, has been urged to delay the mass rollout of the new universal credit benefit, after Citizens Advice produced fresh evidence that it is causing debt and financial insecurity among recipients.
The advisory charity surveyed 800 people who sought help with universal credit in pilot areas, finding 39% were waiting more than six weeks to receive their first payment and more than half (57%) were having to borrow money to get by during that time.
The report also detailed problems with the online application system and long waits to get help over the phone. It said nearly a third (30%) of those surveyed said they had to make more than 10 calls to the universal credit helpline during their application process, often having to wait over 30 minutes to get through.
The evidence from Citizens Advice is the latest in a long line of warnings about problems with universal credit, which involves wrapping six existing benefits into a single monthly payment.
Around two-fifths of the payments go to people in work rather than those who are unemployed, as it includes recipients of tax credits and housing benefit, as well as jobseeker’s allowance and disability benefits. The benefit is currently paid to around 530,000 people in trial areas but it this number will rise sharply in the autumn, when it is due to be rolled out to 50 new areas.
https://www.theguardian.com/society/201 ... it-rollout
David Gauke, the work and pensions secretary, has been urged by 30 Labour MPs, and the Green party MP Caroline Lucas, to delay the expansion of the new universal credit benefit system to stop their constituents suffering severe hardship over Christmas.
In a letter to the Guardian the group, led by the Labour MP Laura Pidcock, called on the government to put off the latest rollout of universal credit until the new year, because people would not be able to afford delays to their first benefit payments over the festive period.
Ministers are planning to accelerate the introduction of universal credit, which rolls six benefits into a single monthly payment, to about 50 new areas.
A group of 31 MPs writes to urge the government to postpone the introduction of universal credit in their constituencies until after the festive period
But the 31 MPs, whose constituencies will be affected, said it would cause misery for thousands of new claimants who may not get their first payments for up to seven weeks after applying.
“There is a real worry that the introduction of universal credit, at this time, will cause extreme hardship for many people in vulnerable situations, exacerbated by the financial burdens of the festive period.
“We understand that the proposed changes were designed to make the social security system simpler, more reactive to an individual’s issues and more efficient. However, evidence from other parts of the country where UC has been introduced already shows that it is far from the efficient system trailed,” the MPs said.
They highlighted the wait of up to seven weeks, the removal of the severe disability premium and difficulties people have in repaying crisis loans of £150 in three £50 lump sums.
16 page Report from Trussells on this very issue :
https://www.trusselltrust.org/wp-conten ... dbanks.pdf
Needless to say , those who devised the UC Scheme have no real idea of the problems at grass roots level.
How many of us have resources to balance the loss of 6 / 7 / 8 weeks income ?
Comments section towards the bottom of both articles.
No doubt , the Trussells thread will record the aftermath leading upto the end of the year.
And , what an end of the year it will be for many nationwide !
