Oct 17th, 2018
Universal Credit
By Becca McCarthy
Families relying on food banks. People forced onto the streets. Even, in some cases, deaths. [1]
These are the effects of Universal Credit. It’s a benefit system the government say they designed to make it easier for people to put a roof over their heads and food on their children’s plates. But it’s failing. [2] And the government wants to inflict it on even more people. [3]
Together, we have a chance to stop that. There’s mounting opposition to Universal Credit, including influential Conservative politicians speaking out against it. [4] But what’s needed is a huge groundswell of public pressure to stop this terrible plan affecting more families.
Esther McVey, the minister in charge, has the power to intervene. She’s just admitted it could make people worse off. [5] She could look at the evidence, pause the roll out of Universal Credit and come up with a better plan.
Will you speak up today and demand Esther McVey pauses the roll out of Universal Credit?
Universal Credit is a scheme that replaces lots of different benefits. [6] But it’s been riddled with problems since it was first trialled. [7] Because of the way it rolls out, some families lose up to £200 a month when they switch to Universal Credit. [8] For many people, that’s the difference between paying the rent and being able to put food on the table.
The bad news is splashed across the papers today. [9] There’s even rumours that Chancellor Philip Hammond is thinking about giving the scheme more money in order to fix it. [10] Esther McVey will probably be hoping this just goes away. We need to change this from something that’s in the headlines today, to something that’s impossible to ignore.
If hundreds of thousands of us pile our names onto a petition today, calling on Esther McVey to act – she’ll be forced to listen.
NOTES:
[1] The Financial Times: Demand for food banks rises 52% after universal credit rollout:
https://www.ft.com/content/b2cd2bb0-c7e2-11e8-ba8f-ee390057b8c9
The Guardian: Food bank use will soar after universal credit rollout, warns charity:
https://www.theguardian.com/society/2018/oct/05/food-bank-use-will-soar-after-universal-credit-rollout-warns-charity
BBC: Universal Credit ‘increasing debt and homelessness’:
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/uk-politics-41442778/universal-credit-increasing-debt-and-homelessness
Hansard: Universal Credit: Death of Applicants:
https://hansard.parliament.uk/commons/2018-07-02/debates/C48F4946-D50D-4986-9E38-D0CCB94DE9F0/UniversalCreditDeathOfApplicants
ITV: Man died ‘in hunger’ while waiting for Universal Credit just days after ITV interview:
http://www.itv.com/news/westcountry/2017-10-24/man-died-while-waiting-for-universal-credit-days-after-itv-interview/
[2] Universal credit is a new benefit for working-age people, replacing six benefits and merging them into one payment.
BBC News: What is universal credit – and what’s the problem:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-41487126
The Mirror: Esther McVey admits Universal Credit claimants ‘will be worse off’ in car crash interview as Tory fury mounts:
https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/politics/esther-mcvey-admits-universal-credit-13400763
Sky News: Government accused of burying bad news over welfare reform:
https://news.sky.com/story/government-accused-of-burying-bad-news-over-welfare-reform-11522440
[3] “The government plans to start transferring people who are still on existing benefits or tax credits onto Universal Credit from July 2019. They plan to complete this process by March 2023.”
https://www.turn2us.org.uk/Benefit-guides/UC-timetable/Universal-Credit-UC-roll-out-2018#guide-content
[4] BBC News: John Major: Universal credit could repeat poll tax problems
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-45817897
Tweet from BBC’s Nick Robinson:
https://mobile.twitter.com/bbcnickrobinson/status/1050268543625961472
Tweet from the political editor of The Sun:
https://mobile.twitter.com/tnewtondunn/status/1050274886948655106
[5] The BBC: Esther McVey on universal credit: Some will be worse off:
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/uk-politics-45831973/esther-mcvey-on-universal-credit-some-will-be-worse-off
The Mirror: Esther McVey admits Universal Credit claimants ‘will be worse off’ in car crash interview as Tory fury mounts:
https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/politics/esther-mcvey-admits-universal-credit-13400763
The Independent: Charities working with Universal Credit claimants required to ‘sign contracts to protect Esther McVey’s reputation’:
https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/esther-mcvey-theresa-may-universal-credit-charities-contract-clauses-reputation-a8580056.html
[6] Citizens Advice: What Universal Credit is:
https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/benefits/universal-credit/before-you-apply/what-universal-credit-is/
[7] BBC News: What is Universal Credit? And what’s the problem?:
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-41487126
Last week, a government study showed that benefit sanctions, a key component of universal credit, made things even worse for families who are struggling financially.
The Guardian: Benefit sanctions found to be ineffective and damaging:
https://www.theguardian.com/society/2018/may/22/benefit-sanctions-found-to-be-ineffective-and-damaging
[8] The Times [PAYWALL]: Families lose £200 a month in universal credit switch:
https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/families-lose-200-a-month-in-universal-credit-switch-5ktwmrwr8
The BBC: Esther McVey on universal credit: Some will be worse off:
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/uk-politics-45831973/esther-mcvey-on-universal-credit-some-will-be-worse-off
[9] See note 7 & 8
[10] The Telegraph: Plans to cut income tax will be shelved to put more money into Universal Credit:
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2018/10/11/chancellor-will-shelve-plans-cut-income-tax-put-money-universal/?WT.mc_id=tmgliveapp_androidshare_ArZLp39flYcm
