It’s taking money out the pockets of the poorest families

UNIVERSAL credit is causing misery.

Increases in rent arrears and the use of foodbanks in areas where universal credit is already implemented paint a clear picture of the damaging impact it is having on our people and communities.

Our Welfare Reform Report showed that by the end of this decade Scottish people will have lost £3.7billion through UK Government cuts to welfare spending. That’s money out of the pockets of the lowest income families in our country and, importantly, out of local communities.

That will have an impact on people on low pay, or low hours and those in fluctuating or seasonal work. People already struggling will have their situation made worse by a policy not fit for purpose.

The benefits freeze is the largest of the cuts and the UK Government should show its commitment to ending austerity by immediately lifting this freeze and uprating benefits in line with inflation.

But it’s not the only part of universal credit that is causing issues. Our report also estimates that by 2020/21 the Two Child Limit will cost Scottish families £92million in reduced payments, so the policy that led to the abhorrent “rape clause” will cause further damage. I can tell the UK Government just a few changes they could make right now to minimise the impact on people: Lift the benefits freeze; Stop sanctions; End the two child limit; Reinstate work allowances so work actually pays. And no one should have to wait five weeks to get money to feed their children or heat their homes.

Quite simply, the rollout of universal credit needs to be halted and that is why I support this campaign by the Daily Mirror.