Universal Credit: ‘It seems the primary goal is to delay payment at all costs’

Last Updated: March 8, 2017By

That’s right. The aim of the Tory Universal Credit system is to delay payment of any benefit, no matter how badly this affects the economy of the area where the system is being used.

Inverness (in this case) has been hit hard because it is a pilot area.

No wonder so many Scottish people want independence from the United Kingdom and its deranged, destructive Tory government.

A Highland MP claims the Universal Credit system of paying benefits is in crisis and is calling for its rollout to be halted immediately.

Drew Hendry says more than 40 per cent of his caseload relates to the controversial replacement for six benefits – Income Support, Jobseekers’ Allowance and Employment and Support Allowance (both incomed-based), Child and Working Tax Credits and Housing Benefit.

Some claimants … have reported benefits freezes of four months while their applications are processed, leaving them penniless and unable to pay for rent, gas or electricity.

“Through no fault of their own, people are being left months without money, and when they seek out help every obstacle possible is put in their way.”

One such obstacle is a premium-rate helpline on which users regularly report delays of half an hour or more. Payments have also been held up, which is hitting Highland Council’s budget. It has seen rent arrears for Universal Credit cases in Inverness Jobcentre area rise by 82 per cent from £387,040 to £704,347 since September.

Hendry added: “It seems the primary goal of the DWP is to delay payments at all costs. Even today I have had six separate constituents get in touch as their payment, due last week, still hasn’t arrived. This is after waiting months for money.”

Source: Crisis point: Highland MP calls for immediate halt to rollout of Universal Credit (From The National)

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7 Comments

  1. Justin March 8, 2017 at 2:29 am - Reply

    simple if this is the case and there should be no reason for it,then hold advisors that were responsible for it accountable and the contracting companies to be put on notice that they have to improve, not enough accountability and there are elements of the dwp that just think they can get away with it

  2. Paul March 8, 2017 at 12:22 pm - Reply

    What is Labour’s current position on Universal Credit, Mike? Do you know at all? I haven’t heard Universal Credit talked about much in respect to what Labour would do with it if it could.

    • Mike Sivier March 8, 2017 at 9:11 pm - Reply

      As far as I know, the party considers UC to be saveable. I disagree.

  3. Jacky_UC March 8, 2017 at 6:54 pm - Reply

    The family element in UC will be removed from claims where the eldest child is born on or after 6 April 2017.
    https://universal-credit-helpline.co.uk/category/2017uc/

  4. Sophie Lammond March 9, 2017 at 9:13 am - Reply

    I am just about to embark on my journey into trying to claim Universal Credits & I must admit I am not looking forward to it to say the least!!! I live in Bridgwater, Somerset & the scheme is being used in my area. I’ve been informed that I will not receive any money for 6weeks after the date that my claim form is received, I may be able to apply for a Hardship payment to help me but it will be taken out of my first months payment!!! It is UTTERLY OUTRAGEOUS & can see this new payment method causing a lot of Major Issues, people will be loosing their homes, which will put local government under more strain, causing the government to spend even more money. Crime will be on the increase as people struggle to keep a roof over their families heads & put food on the tables, etc, etc! The whole scheme will backfire terribly. I would love to see MPs or the monarchy survive for even just 1 week in this world!!! It just WOULD NOT happen!!! It makes me sick.

  5. christina March 9, 2017 at 10:00 pm - Reply

    Also it seems that ur week in hand payment is deducted from ur award even though it shouldn’t be as ur last day of work was the week before u claimed universal credit, so u end up in debt with ur rent by about a month as you’ve already struggled working a week in hand With no pay from benefit, if I had waited 2 more days before claiming then I wouldn’t have been penalized!!

  6. mrmarcpc March 16, 2017 at 4:17 pm - Reply

    UC is one of the biggest turkey’s the tory party has ever created, in a few years time, it’ll scrapped for some other idiotic idea!

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