Council say benefit rollout is hitting most vulnerable
Overwhelmed by impact on claimants amid draconian rules
There was heated debate when councillors discussed ways to tackle the impact of the Universal Credit rollout.
Council officials said feedback from StartUp Stirling indicated that use of foodbanks was increasing and expected to be at its busiest in January both because of usual financial pressures after Christmas and the impact of the waiting time for Universal Credit.
Some council staff will be available over the Christmas and New Year period to help claimants.
Teams both within the council and in other organisations are being asked to monitor the level of excess work the rollout is creating.
Lack of access to digital skills and equipment was also said to be an issue for many people. This was not just in terms of their initial application but in ongoing maintenance of the new “online journal” required to be kept by claimants. Libraries and support teams were also said to be under pressure.
SNP councillor Alasdair MacPherson said: “I don’t know where to start. The Conservatives sit here as if butter wouldn’t melt. This is a political decision imposed on a lot of vulnerable people and our elected members and officials are left picking up the pieces.”
SNP councillor Evelyn Tweed said she had seen no evidence that Universal Credit was helping people back into work, only that it was affecting the most vulnerable.
And council leader Scott Farmer described the roll out as an “unfolding human tragedy” with people desperately trying to work out how to make ends meet and facing draconian sanctions if they are unable to keep their online journals.
“Disabled people are being asked to bring a friend if they need assistance which raises issues of confidentiality,” he added.
“It is an affront to human dignity and in the 21st century we are seeing people resort to desperate measures in order to survive.
An emotional Councillor Maureen Bennison (SNP) said she was particularly disturbed about the impact of welfare reforms on single parent families and people in abusive relationships.
“It only allows the perpetrator of the violence to be more controlling,” she added.
Green councillor Alasdair Tollemache said it was difficult to defend, saying people were losing their dignity, but while the Tories needed to call on their government to do what they can to change things, the council had to do what it could to support people meantime.
Labour councillor Chris Kane said it was “a vicious storm that shows no sign of abating”, adding that council staff had done a “remarkable job” under the circumstances and that working with third sector services had made a difference. He raised concerns that women fleeing domestic violence were expected under the system to remove themselves from a joint claim with their abusive partner by their side.
“We can address the policy itself at a later date but the way it has been rolled out is just horrendous,” he added. “It’s easy to make political points but we as a council have to do what we can for our citizens.”
While Tory councillors disputed some of the language used during the debate, they pledged their group’s support to doing what they could to alleviate the impact of the rollout.
Tory group leader Councillor Neil Benny said: “There is nothing I take more seriously than ensuring that people who need help get help. Don’t forget what Universal Credit is about. There’s no perfect system of welfare. They key thing about this is I do know someone who has been helped into work by Universal Credit. It helps to improve and boost people’s confidence.”
Thanking Councillor Kane for bringing forward the motion, however, Coumcillor Benny said the important thing was that people were not put off coming forward for help and advice.
Tory councillor Ross Oxburgh said: “In terms of where we stand I don’t think we are so different. The principle of this project was to make welfare work and make it easier for people to claim and get back into work, I agree it’s implementation has been poor and there have been multiple flaws in the way it has been done. I still support the principle but there are people out there that need help and help is available for them through the council.”
An amendment put forward by Councillor Kane outling measures the council could take to help manage the issue was unanimously agreed later in the meeting.
It is an affront to human dignity in the 21st century and we are seeing people resort to desperate measures