Archbishop attacks ‘grotesque’ delay to new benefit payment

THE Archbishop of York yesterday called on ministers to reduce ‘grotesquely ignorant’ delays for those claiming universal credit.

Dr John Sentamu warned that the Government’s flagship welfare reform was punishing the poor who have ‘nothing left to fall back on’.

Universal credit, which combines six benefits into one monthly payment, is designed to make the welfare system less complicated and ensure no one could be better off claiming benefits than working.

But ministers are under pressure to adapt the system, which is gradually being brought in across the country, so new claimants do not have to wait six weeks to receive their first payment in full.

Dr Sentamu, the second most senior member of the Church of England, argued that the poorest do not have a ‘nest egg which will tide them over’ during the delay.

Writing in The Sunday Times, he said: ‘In the Bible, the hardest-pressed of all poor people were summarised as “widows and orphans” for they were the group most at risk and with least support.

‘Our concern should be for their present-day successors whose essential outgoings are costing more and incomes standing still or going down.

‘They fear universal credit, particularly because it seems to assume that everyone has a nest egg which will tide them over as they wait a minimum of 42 days for payouts.’

Universal credit claimants have to wait four weeks for their money because it is paid monthly in arrears.

But there is also an arbitrary ‘waiting week’ when people are first moved onto the system, added by thenchancellor George Osborne to save taxpayers’ money.

Recipients then have to allow an extra week for the cash to reach their account. Stephen McPartland, who is part of a group of around a dozen Tory MPs pressuring the Government to reduce the delay, said at they were ‘very, very close to getting a resolution’. The Commons work and pensions committee chairman Frank Field yesterday said Prime Minister Theresa May must reform universal credit or face the Tories again being seen as ‘ the nasty party’, a phrase she coined in 2002. Writing in The Mail on Sunday, the Labour MP said: ‘Unless she acts fast, she risks undoing many good things she has done. The Conservatives will be seen as the nasty party once again.’

A Government spokesman said: ‘We remain determined to ensure people joining UC don’t face hardship, which is why we announced significant improvements to the system of advance payments.

‘No decisions or announcements on any further actions are imminent.’