Rent arrears soaring under new Universal Credit system
Benefit claimants face hardship, says housing body
PEOPLE on benefits are increasingly being driven into hardship and face the threat of homelessness as rent arrears soar under a Westminster Government scheme, a leading housing body has warned.
The Chartered Institute of Housing (CIH) in Scotland said it had “serious concerns” about the introduction of Universal Credit north of the Border, adding tenants taking part are finding it more difficult to pay their rent.
The body, which represents the housing sector, raised fears of a return to the culture that saw “No DSS” signs placed in the windows of many privately rented properties leaving benefits claimants homeless during the 1980s.
Universal Credit, which was devised by former Conservative work and pensions secretary Iain Duncan Smith, is a single payment for those on low incomes or the unemployed.
They can have payments made twice monthly or have managed payments of rent made direct to landlords.
However, executive director Annie Mauger said: “We are increasingly being made aware of serious issues with implementation including spiralling costs of supporting tenants with the transition and severe hardship for the tenants themselves in terms of delayed payments, increasingly restricted access to private renting and a growing risk of homelessness.
“This experience runs directly contrary to the Scottish Government’s own aspirations to create a social security system that is based on the principles of respect and dignity.
“Aside from the human cost, these problems are placing real strain on local budgets and services that are already overstretched and facing the ongoing pressure of cuts.”
Welfare Reform Impact, a recent report published by the HouseMark consultancy group, showed the average rent arrear debt of a claimant on the scheme was £618 compared to average non-Universal Credit arrears of £131.
MPs have already launched an official inquiry into the scheme amid concerns that design flaws are leaving thousands of lowincome claimants facing eviction and reliant on food banks.
Holyrood’s Social Security Committee has already met administrative staff and claimants in the Musselburgh pilot area and heard about unacceptable delays of eight or nine weeks in being paid benefits, pushing people into rent arrears.
Committee members also heard local job centres are ill-equipped to support claimants properly.
Universal Credit has been introduced in certain areas north of the Border ahead of a nationwide rollout and Holyrood’s Social Security Committee has written to Work and Pensions Secretary Damian Green urging him to address “fundamental, systemic issues”.
CIH Scotland, which holds its annual conference in Glasgow this week, said frontline members are also reporting inconsistencies in communicating with Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) staff.
A DWP spokesman said: “As CIH Scotland acknowledges, we’ve added flexibility as we’ve rolled out Universal Credit.
“We continue to work with local authorities and landlords to target extra support to the most vulnerable, with £870 million available in discretionary housing payments.” THREE pictures of the Highland Light Infantry, which, despite its name, was a regiment headquartered at Glasgow’s now demolished Maryhill Barracks.
At the top are soldiers and their kit-bags being weighed before being flown out to Cyprus from Bulford Camp on the Salisbury Plain in January, 1956. Their presence was needed as part of anti-terrorist operations as the British Army found itself in the middle trying to keep the peace between Greek and Turkish Cypriots.
No doubt the sergeants on the right of the scales would have something to say if they felt the kit-bags were not packed properly or the rifles were not clean enough.
Bottom right is the huge protest march through Glasgow in March of the following year when the Government announced plans to amalgamate the regiment with the Royal Scots Fusiliers and close the Maryhill Barracks.
There was a great deal of pride in the HLI in Glasgow. Thousands had served in the regiment, particularly in World War Two when the HLI was involved in the D-Day landings in Normandy and then fought its way through France into Germany.
The second battalion of the regiment took part in the Western Desert battles against
Copies of our archive photographs can be purchased by emailing photoenquiries@heraldandtimes.co.uk or via our website www.thepicturedesk.co.uk the German Army with many young Glasgow lads going to Egypt as their first time even leaving the city.
But the protests were ignored, and the final picture, bottom left, is the last passing out parade at Maryhill Barracks in September, 1958.
As The Herald reported: “The simple command of ‘March Off’ brought to an end the military life of Maryhill Barracks.
“The barrack square, known to thousands of infantrymen since 1875, echoed to the sound of marching feet for the last time.”
The merged regiment became known as the Royal Highland Fusiliers, and was based in Ayr.
‘‘ Aside from the human cost, these problems are placing real strain on local budgets and services