‘How long do people have to suffer before something is done?’
AS THE EXAMINER REVEALS THE SHOCKING IMPACT UNIVERSAL CREDIT IS HAVING ON FAMILIES, COUNCILLORS DEMAND BENEFIT ROLL OUT IS STOPPED
vides are women.
It is rapidly becoming one of the biggest foodbanks in the north.
The statistics in Kirklees make for grim reading.
Since the roll out of Universal Credit in November last year almost 13,000 people in the borough are in receipt of UC full service. That figure dates back to the summer and is likely to have increased.
Between November 1 last year and March 31 this year foodbanks in Kirklees received more than 2,000 referrals – a rise of 27% on the same period in the previous year.
At the Welcome Centre referrals due to Universal Credit jumped from 469 in the first four months of 2018 to 611 between May and July – a rise of 30%.
The six-in-one benefit payment system, a flagship policy for the Conservative government, replaced Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA), Income Support, Housing Benefit, Child Tax Credit, Working Tax Credit and Employment and Support Allowance.
It was designed to simplify the benefits system, cut administrative costs and encourage more people into full-time work.
But it has been criticised for leaving claimants without their benefits for at least six weeks.
In Kirklees critics of the system say it is affecting different groups – including single parents and the self-employed.
When the disabled are migrated across to the new system they could lose £62 a week from their premium – around £3,000 a year. The effect is said to be “absolutely huge.”
Now 15 Labour councillors – a quarter of the borough’s elected members – are calling on the authority to recognise how the roll-out of Universal Credit is causing unnecessary hardship to local families whilst failing to meet its original aims.
If their call is supported the council will write to Ms Rudd with its demands.
Among the 15 names on the motion is that of Harpreet Uppal, who represents Ashbrow ward in Huddersfield.
She says the impact of Universal Credit has seen people finding themselves in rent arrears and then forced into temporary accommodation because of the in-built delay in receiving payment.
The key issue for many is the fiveweek initial wait for payment of the benefit.
“That’s a massive problem and most of the time it’s what is leading people into arrears because the money is not coming in for them to pay their rent,” says Clr Uppal.
“Then the government will say that nobody has to wait because they can get an advance payment.
“But that is a loan, so people still have to pay it back. The following month the government can claw back 40% of a claimant’s benefit payment for the advance they’ve had.
“If you’re on a low income already and you’re losing that it leads to even more debt. It’s not helping with your rent arrears.”
The government has said the clawback figure will reduce to 30% “but that is still a lot,” says Clr Uppal.
“The government saying that claimants don’t have to wait is a nonsense. All they are doing is setting up debt for that person.”
Anyone who applied for Universal Credit after November 20 will receive their first payment after Christmas. Critics say across the country that equates to 100,000 children living in poverty during the festive period as payments will not arrive in time.
The problematic five-week wait is