The Courier & Advertiser (Angus and Dundee)
Call for ‘destruction’ of Universal Credit
Protest: Campaigners want politicians to reject benefit as it comes to Courier Country
Furious activists have called for the “destruction” of Universal Credit as the controversial benefit is rolled out across Dundee and Angus.
Universal Credit encompasses six benefit provisions into one and is currently being introduced to regions across Scotland.
Yesterday, campaigners staged a protest calling for Scottish politicians to reject the roll-out.
Members of the Scottish Unemployed Workers’ Network and Dundee Against Austerity met in Dundee city centre to express concerns.
Dr Tony Cox, of the Scottish Unemployed Workers’ Network, said: “Our biggest concern is that it’s having a major impact on people’s mental health.
“There is going to be enormous costs placed upon the NHS because of the havoc the welfare reforms are creating.
“We get stories on a regular basis of people who have attempted suicide or who are contemplating suicide as a direct result of the welfare reforms.
“Universal Credit is designed to make your life so unpleasant when you’re on it than you’ll do anything rather than be on it.”
Former SNP councillor Jimmy Black, who chaired Dundee’s Fairness Commission report, said: “Universal Credit might have been a good idea, but they’ve taken so much money out of it through cuts and have made it so difficult to claim, that people are effectively destitute for several weeks and months.
“It’s going to be really tough for people.”
Dundee West minister Gordon Sharp attended reports on the roll-out and believes many Dundonians are going to be negatively impacted.
He told The Courier: “A lot of people are going to be worse off.
“I was gobsmacked by the number of people who are going to be worse off.”
An Angus Council spokesman said: “We are committed to ensuring the right processes and procedures are in place to enable an effective transition to Universal Credit, while trying to ensure the right support is there for our service users.
“It’s important that anyone who is not already aware of how Universal Credit might affect them takes the time to find out.”
According to information compiled by Dundee City Council, welfare reforms will result in an estimated annual loss of £94 million by 2021 in Dundee.
In September, it was announced that 750 jobs will be created in Dundee over the next four years to deal with the transfer of 11 benefits to Holyroodcontrol from Westminster.
The Dundee base will be in charge of delivering nearly £3 billion worth of benefit payments.
The Department for Work and Pensions was approached for comment but had not responded at the time of going to press.
jmilligan@thecourier.co.uk