Government climbdown over roll-out
THE Government has been forced to bow to pressure and delay the roll-out of Universal Credit.
It will also push hundreds of millions of pounds into the new benefits system to help those running out of cash.
It is a victory for the Mirror after we exposed how the chaotic new benefits system was causing widespread misery.
But ministers are still under pressure to heed our call to scrap UC completely and replace it with a fairer system.
More than 27,000 people have signed our petition to halt the rollout and bring in a different programme.
The new system – which merges six benefits into one payment – has been repeatedly beset with problems. Now the roll-out end date has been shifted back from March 2023 to December 2023.
Leaked documents show the Government is planning to spend hundreds of millions of pounds to prevent claimants suffering hardship as they move over to the new system.
Labour will today try to force the Government and Department of Work and Pensions Secretary Esther McVey to Esther McVey yesterday outline the impact of the roll-out on household income and benefits debts. Labour Shadow DWP Secretary Margaret Greenwood said: “People’s lives are being destroyed by poverty and debt. “The Government must stop the rollout of Universal Credit immediately. “We need urgent answers from Esther McVey about what’s going on and what action the Government will take to tackle the many flaws in the system.” The Church of England yesterday joined calls for reform, saying fall-out from the system is being seen at its foodbanks across the country. The Bishop of Durham, Paul Butler, said the Government must make a “long-term commitment” to ensuring the system would allow recipients to feed their families properly. He said: “Without such action, we can expect to see more and more people turning to foodbanks and becoming trapped in poverty.”
It came as it was claimed the DWP is considering making changes to provide more help to new claimants.
So far, only new benefit claimants have been put on to the system. Sign our online petition to stop the roll-out of universal credit at