MPs Investigate Claims Universal Credit Leads To 'Survival Sex' Work

MPs Investigate Claims Universal Credit Leads To 'Survival Sex' Work
An inquiry will explore whether the benefits reform has increased "poverty and misery".
https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/survival-sex-work-universal-credit_uk_5ce42f16e4b075a35a2e7579?guccounter=1&guce_referrer=aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZ29vZ2xlLmNvbS8&guce_referrer_sig=AQAAAGAMDh1bJS_Ez8iKVlitaU-7blY9SDx_U4VRMPKVGoRMfl8qtUfoVhIovnMPkSyNiZvG5vu7670S6XCUPKHqTAr_7v46-9u7iN_S9iiXVncNhqqENiH1cWDoRY0Y4i-hjn7dN82jH1TLFYMeLXpHd-QAq9awcIHSz7WDMMsZOuHR

Universal credit hardship 'linked to prostitution'

Benefits reform forcing women to sell sex for cash, food or shelter, MPs’ committee told.

Women are increasingly forced to take up sex work to get money for food and rent after becoming desperate over financial hardship caused by universal credit, an MPs’ committee heard.

https://www.theguardian.com/society/2019/may/22/universal-credit-hardship-linked-to-prostitution

Women are selling their bodies to pay for food because of Universal Credit delays
Evidence links the rise in sex workers to financial hardship caused by benefit changes
https://www.hulldailymail.co.uk/news/uk-world-news/women-sell-bodies-universal-credit-2913004

Universal credit delays a factor in prostitution, government accepts.

Minister apologises for DWP memo dismissing link between long waits and survival sex.

The government has dropped its hardline refusal to accept that destitution caused by five-week waits for universal credit payments has been a major factor in forcing some women to turn to prostitution.

Giving evidence to the work and pensions select committee, the minister for family support, Will Quince, apologised for a memo his department sent to the committee last month and said it “did not very well reflect my views on this issue”.

https://www.theguardian.com/society/2019/jun/12/universal-credit-delays-a-factor-in-prostitution-government-accepts

12.18 today, 13th June, Radio 4, You & Yours programme includes "Universal Credit and sex work". Also available for Listen Again.

MPs have questioned the government over claims its flagship benefit Universal Credit is forcing vulnerable women to sell themselves for sex. We've reported on this speaking to individuals affected and hearing from charities who say they've seen an increase in the numbers of women doing this.
The Work and Pensions Select Committee is now carrying out an enquiry designed to investigate the link between Universal Credit and what's being described as 'survival sex.' The government says it plans to do more to better understand the issues.
We'll hear from the Minister for Family Support, Housing and Child Maintenance, Will Quince and also the Independent MP Heidi Allen who's on the committee.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m0005t6s

The DWP accepted my evidence that Universal Credit pushes people into survival sex work – but that doesn’t mean they care
I find it strange that the department was thoroughly disinterested when we were starving to death, and yet have suddenly found a moral compass when we have been forced to find a way to survive
https://www.independent.co.uk/voices/universal-credit-dwp-survival-sex-work-will-quince-a8963336.html