No credit payments ‘disgrace’
HALTON’S MP has branded the impact of universal credit in his constituency a ‘disgrace’ after revealing residents have not been paid for weeks – and sometimes months.
Derek Twigg spoke to housing and planning minister Gavin Barwell during a debate in the House Of Commons on social housing rent arrears on Monday, April 24.
Mr Twigg asked Mr Barwell is he had discussions with his colleagues in the Department For Work And Pensions (DWP) about universal credit and the impact it is having on ‘many’ of his constituents.
The Halton MP told the Commons that some have not been paid for weeks and ‘ sometimes months’ on end and are therefore going into arrears.
He said: “That is in addition to being hit by the bedroom tax and other benefit changes.
“Has he had these discussions, or will he do so, ● because what is going on in my constituency is a disgrace?”
Mr Barwell confirmed that he has had discussions with DWP colleagues and made two points to Mr Twigg, which included that universal credit advances are available for new claims and those ‘should be taken up’.
He added: “DWP research shows that after four months the proportion of universal credit claimants who were in arrears at the start of their claims had fallen by a third.
“So there is an initial problem, and the advance claims are there to cope with that, but over time the situation is improving.”