‘Bug’ benefit claims – MP
ADVICE TO RECORD UNIVERSAL CREDIT INTERVIEWS
Political Editor PEOPLE facing health assessments for universal credit have been urged to make a recording of the hearing – so they can challenge the findings later.
Easington MP Grahame Morris said he knew people whose claims were turned down, only for the decision to be reversed once they produced a recording.
He said: “While the current system remains, claimants, I believe, must take steps to protect themselves.”
He was speaking as MPs debated universal credit, which replaces benefits including jobseeker’s allowance, income support, housing benefit, working tax credit and child tax credit.
The aim is to replace a complex range of benefits with one simpler benefit, which it’s claimed will save money and make the system easier for claimants to understand.
It’s also supposed to encourage people to find work.
But critics, including the National Audit Office (NAO), the official independent watchdog for Government spending, say the way the benefit has been introduced has driven people into poverty and rent arrears.
A particular problem is claimants having to wait weeks for their first payment, which often forces them to borrow money.
There has also been criticism of the way decisions are made about elements of the benefit that depend on claimants proving they are unable to work.
Mr Morris said: “I would advise anyone undergoing an assessment to get it recorded.”
But he warned claimants had to provide their own recording equipment, saying: “That’s absolutely ridiculous. I’m in little doubt that’s a deliberate barrier to prevent people making claims.” Labour called the debate after Work and Pensions Secretary Esther McVey admitted “inadvertently misleading” Parliament about report.
The NAO delivered a scathing verdict on universal credit, warning that it may cost taxpayers more than the complex benefits system it replaced.
At least 270,000 claimants are expected to receive their payments late in 2018, likely to cause them serious financial problems, the NAO said.
And the number of people turning to foodbanks increases faster in areas where universal credit is rolled out.
But NAO head Amyas Morse warned the Department for Work and Pensions “has little realistic alternative but to continue with the programme”.
Ms McVey told MPs the NAO had urged the Government to speed up the roll-out of the new benefit, which was incorrect. the NAO
It comes after Newcastle City Council revealed the impact of universal credit on city tenants.
The authority has spent £1.25m helping universal credit claimants avoid eviction, including £750,000 to support people who couldn’t cope when they were switched on to the new benefit, and more than £500,000 writing off council tax for people who couldn’t affordit. It also handed out £50,000 to support the most needy, usually in the form of food vouchers.
The cost to the city was revealed by Tony Kirkham, Newcastle City Council’s director of resources, who told the House of Commons Public Accounts Committee that rent arrears from city council tenants came to £1m before universal Credit was rolled out but had now doubled to £2.1m.