Families face being left without cash for Christmas
Festive misery looms after benefit payment delays
People across the area making a new Universal Credit claim face spending the festive season without money.
The in-built wait of a minimum of five weeks before payment means that anyone making a claim from this week onwards will have to survive until January without cash they are entitled to.
This has sparked an angry response from Motherwell and Wishaw MP Marion Fellows, who hit out at the Tory government for “punishing ordinary people so the rich can have tax cuts.”
The Scottish Government’s Social Security Secretary, Shirley-anne Somerville, is also hugely concerned about the impact the harsh benefits system is going to have this Christmas.
She said: “Christmas is a time of additional expense for most people but it’s particularly hard for families with little money to begin with.
“It is therefore unacceptable that anyone making a claim for Universal Credit from last week will not see their money until after Christmas. This is an appalling situation for many across Scotland and why we have repeatedly called for a halt to the roll out of Universal Credit.
“The minimum five week wait for a first payment is just one of the many problems with Universal Credit, the roll out of which has led to sharp rises in the use of food banks and rent arrears.
“While the DWP do offer advance payments, this needs to be paid back from future payments, locking families into further debt at the start of a new year.”
She added: “The Scottish Government cannot change Universal Credit. It’s a benefit delivered by the UK Government.
“We are spending significant amounts to mitigate the worst effects of UK Government cuts and support those on low incomes - £125 million this year alone.”
Universal Credit moved to ‘full service’ in Wishaw and Motherwell in April this year, and MP Marion Fellows has been calling on local people to make a stand against it.
She said: “The full effects of the Tories’ punishing welfare regime are becoming apparent now all of Scotland has moved to full service and more families choose between heating and eating at this expensive time of year.
“The UK Government is attacking our communities. The unemployed, the working poor, the disabled, the single parents, our friends, family, neighbours, colleagues and children. Universal Credit is a political choice which punishes ordinary people so the rich can have tax cuts.
“Tackling poverty and opposing Universal Credit are my priorities in Westminster. However, as well as fighting poverty in our parliaments, we must also fight it in our communities at a local level with local action.
“I’ve been working with local groups through the Motherwell and Wishaw Poverty Action Network to spread awareness of services on offer to help people this winter. This has included foodbanks and toy drives.
“I haven’t been surprised by the generosity and compassion shown by our communities.”
The Department of Work and Pensions insists that Universal Credit is working and that people are moving into jobs faster and staying employed longer than under the old system.