Left to live on just £1.25 per day due to error
Political Editor A Tyneside person with mental health issues was left with just £1.25 a day to live on, after officials made a mistake with their benefit payments.
The shocking incident was revealed by South Shields MP Emma LewellBuck, as she accused the Government of inflicting “shame, degradation and harm” on millions of people by forcing them into poverty.
It followed a row over the film I Daniel Blake, which was shot in Newcastle and shows a man threatened with having his benefits cut after suffering a heart attack.
Labour MPs, including party leader Jeremy Corbyn, urged people to watch the film when it was broadcast on TV recently.
But many Conservative MPs, including James Cleverly, the Braintree MP and deputy chairman of the Conservative Party, responded by saying the film was a work of fiction.
Wansbeck MP Ian Lavery, the Labour Party chair, has invited Mr Cleverly to come to the North East and meet families experiencing poverty.
Speaking in the House of Commons, Ms Lewell-Buck raised concerns about the introduction of the new Universal Credit benefits system, which critics say has increased poverty. Conservative MP James Cleverly
She said: “Trussell Trust food bank figures show that in areas where universal credit has been implemented, food bank usage has increased by 52%.”
Ms Lewell-Buck highlighted the case of a constituent “who suffers from mental health difficulties and was left with only £1.25 per day to live on after the Department made an error with her payments.”
She also told MPs about an 18-yearold girl in her constituency “who unexpectedly lost her job and who, despite statements made by the Government to the contrary, has not been eligible for housing cost assistance through universal credit.
“She narrowly escaped homelessness thanks to the intervention of our irreplaceable South Tyneside citizens advice bureau.”
The MP urged Ministers to take seriously the findings of the United Nations special rapporteur on extreme poverty and human rights, Professor Philip Alston, who published a report warning that funding cuts were “damaging the fabric” of British society following a visit to Newcastle and other parts of the country.
Work and Pensions Minister Justin Tomlinson said: “We will consider the report seriously. We obviously do not agree with all the points, but Professor Alston has highlighted some important views and opinions to which we should rightly be looking to respond.”
He said Universal Credit was designed to help claimants and not to save money. “Universal Credit offers the opportunity for personalised, tailored
support.”