Iain Duncan Smith blasted for claiming ‘nobody loses a penny’ under Universal Credit changes

Last Updated: December 7, 2015By

Labour have blasted Iain Duncan Smith for claiming ‘nobody loses a penny’ under his benefit changes – despite experts saying they’ll lose thousand of pounds.

The welfare slasher made the bold claim after it was revealed Universal Credit will make up for now-axed tax credit cuts when one system replaces the other.

“Nobody will lose any money on arrival on Universal Credit from tax credits because they’re cash protected, which means there’s transitional protection,” Mr Duncan Smith told the BBC’s Andrew Marr.

“Nobody loses a penny, unlike they would have done under tax credits.”

But he neglected to say this ‘transitional protection’ will only last until a claimant’s circumstances change – then benefits will be cut.

The Institute for Fiscal Studies found 2.6 million working families will end up £1,600-a-year worse off.

Welfare payments ‘will be cut just as much as was ever intended’ by 2020, the respected think tank added.

When confronted by the figures , the work and pensions secretary was immediately forced to backtrack – admitting: “There were always points under tax credits that were more generous than universal credit.”

Shadow work and pensions secretary Owen Smith blasted the Tory minister.

“Iain Duncan Smith is completely wrong to say nobody loses a penny from his cuts to in-work support,” he said.

“Cutting Universal Credit raises £100m for the government next year and that money has to come from somewhere.

“What the Tories aren’t telling us is that the £100m – and a further £9.5 billion over the next five years – comes from the pockets of low- and middle-income families.

“That means those currently on Universal Credit face losses of up to £2,400 come April.

“Just like tax credit cuts, working families will be worse off next year and just like those cuts, Labour will fight them at every turn.”

Source: Iain Duncan Smith blasted for claiming ‘nobody loses a penny’ under Universal Credit changes – Mirror Online

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10 Comments

  1. Michael Broadhurst December 7, 2015 at 12:37 am - Reply

    this odious,slimy, toad of a man is a bigger liar than his leader,and that’s BIG.

  2. Mr.Angry December 7, 2015 at 6:10 am - Reply

    This being is just pure evil to the core and a blatant liar, why is he still in a job is beyond comprehension.

  3. Jenny Hambidge December 7, 2015 at 8:44 am - Reply

    WE hear nothing these days about Disability Premium and Severe Disability Premium which people with highest rate PIP and DLA get if they claim Pension credit and Presumably anyone in Support Group of ESA. Word was years ago when IDS was busy unventing UC that these premiums would be abolished. Which would leave those with most severe disabilities short of at least 50 pounds a week/

  4. NMac December 7, 2015 at 9:34 am - Reply

    Duncan-Smith is a proven liar. That really says it all.

  5. Tony Dean December 7, 2015 at 1:40 pm - Reply

    Will no-one rid us of this turbulent politician.

  6. Jarrow December 7, 2015 at 2:26 pm - Reply

    Heh. If every new claim for social security and all pre-existing claims are migrated to the entirely flaky Universal Credit system by 2020 – including those of the self-employed, families which include children, people with fluctuating work patterns, single parents and carers – I’m a Dutchman!

  7. Steve Duff December 7, 2015 at 5:01 pm - Reply

    During this interview he actually said ” to be honest with you” he was sat next to his mate Tristram who said sweet f.a.

    • mrmarcpc December 8, 2015 at 3:43 pm - Reply

      Trisha Hunt is about as useful as a glass hammer, like IDS, are both incompetent and useless and time they were gone!

  8. Inkdrop December 7, 2015 at 10:02 pm - Reply

    The Sad thing about all this – the constituents in his seat saw fit to re-elect him – If Mr Angry is correct – then he should have been shown the door…

  9. Michael Broadhurst December 8, 2015 at 4:16 pm - Reply

    he wouldn’t know honest if it smacked him round his lying gob.

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