MP joins calls to halt rollout of Universal Credit benefit

THE MP for the Cynon Valley joined an “urgent call” to prevent the October roll-out of Universal Credit, which she said would cause “misery for millions”.

Ann Clwyd joined the calls earlier this month, and on Tuesday, an emergency debate was held on calls to reduce the six-week waiting time for claimants to receive their first payment.

Speaking earlier this month, Ann Clwyd MP said: “The system for claiming Universal Credit is a shambles, even with only five new areas a month.

“According to Government’s own the figures, almost a quarter of claimants wait longer than six weeks for their payment.

“Some families wait 12 weeks or more, pushing many into rent arrears or a spiral of debt that is almost impossible to get out of, as their income under Universal Credit is too low to pay off the loan.

“David Gauke must now do the decent thing and delay the planned 11-fold expansion until Universal Credit systems are working properly.

“If he does not, then hundreds of thousands more families each month will have to suffer weeks with no money, causing them long-term financial problems.

“It would be a huge injustice for so many families to suffer simply because the government will not admit they still can’t get Universal Credit working properly.”

A Department for Work and Pensions spokesman said: “The best way to help people pay their rent and improve their lives is to help them into work, and under Universal Credit people are moving into work faster and staying in work longer than under the old system.”