universal credit is causing debt

The problem with Universal Credit won’t be solved by “pausing” its rollout.

The system is inherently flawed, in that it allows Conservatives to harm benefit claimants by – for example – delaying their payments or inflicting unreasonable conditions on them.

It is inherently flawed because in households with more than one earner, the taper rate – the amount of Universal Credit withdrawn as earnings increase – is greater than under the current system of tax credits.

http://voxpoliticalonline.com/2017/09/23/heres-why-the-trussell-trust-and-citizens-advices-demands-on-universal-credit-dont-go-far-enough/

David Gauke, the work and pensions secretary, has been under pressure to slow down the roll-out of universal credit, which combines several benefits into one payment, after mounting evidence that it is pushing new claimants into debt and rent arrears. There are also calls for the government to end the seven-day waiting period after a new claim is made. The delay saves the government £250m a year.

http://www.welfareweekly.com/ministers-told-to-cut-wait-for-new-benefit-amid-evidence-it-is-causing-debt/

Tory welfare cuts and administrative errors are pushing people into poverty and driving homelessness, leading housing charity Shelter will today (Wednesday) warn Holyrood.

In evidence submitted to the Scottish Parliament’s Local Government Committee, Shelter warned that “the ongoing roll out of Universal Credit, the benefit cap reduction and the capping of housing benefit” by the UK government all “directly threaten tenancies and risk pushing more people into homelessness”.

http://www.welfareweekly.com/tory-welfare-cuts-pushing-people-into-poverty-and-homelessness/