Universal Credit delays leave claimants to ‘drop off a cliff’ in rent arrears, hear MPs
I have been pondering for a while whether tough changes to social policy have begun showing through in the number of unfortunate people begging and sleeping rough in rural towns. This article seems to offer some interesting insights. It tells us:
Claimants “drop off a cliff” and “remain in freefall” in rent arrears due to delays in receiving payments under the new Universal Credit regime, MPs have heard.
It comes as the Government plans to accelerate the delayed roll-out of Universal Credit – devised by the former welfare chief Iain Duncan Smith – to 50 new areas in the autumn despite warnings that it is a “disaster waiting to happen”.
Speaking to MPs on the Commons Work and Pensions Select Committee in Westminster, council leaders, food banks and charities from across the country raised concerns about the system which intends to merge six existing benefits into one single monthly payment from claimants.
Earlier this week Citizens Advice called for a suspension of the programme, citing major concerns that families risk being pushed into a spiral of debt due to a minimum six-week wait for an initial payment and processing delays.
Gillian Guy, the chief executive of Citizens Advice, added: “The roll-out of universal credit is a disaster waiting to happen.