Almost daily, I receive letters from people who are struggling with Universal Credit. The roll out of Universal Credit has caused severe hardship for many people in Wallasey, and it hasn’t even been fully rolled-out yet.

Here in Wirral, as Universal Credit has been extended, the results have been as predictable as they have been awful. The long waits for initial payments have caused people to get into debts, rent arrears or even be forced to turn to food banks for help. That is if they get that far as almost 30% of claims for Universal Credit started are never completed. Wirral Foodbank has reported that between January and June 2018 foodbank usage was up 34% on the same period in 2017. This 30% increase means an extra 30 tonnes of food is needed, which thanks to the generosity of people in Wirral has been met. In the 21st century in one of the world’s richest countries, it is unacceptable that many in our community have to rely on food banks, but that is the appalling legacy of this Tory Governments austerity policy and their indifference to the suffering they have caused.

• Universal Credit

  Almost daily, I receive letters from people who are struggling with Universal Credit. The roll out of Universal Credit has caused severe hardship for many people in Wallasey, and it hasn’t even been fully rolled-out yet. Here in Wirral, as Universal Credit has been extended, the results have been as predictable as they have been awful. The long waits for initial payments have caused people to get into debts, rent arrears or even be forced to turn to food banks for help. That is if they get that far as almost 30% of claims for Universal Credit started are never completed. Wirral Foodbank has reported that between January and June 2018 foodbank usage was up 34% on the same period in 2017. This 30% increase means an extra 30 tonnes of food is needed, which thanks to the generosity of people in Wirral has been met. In the 21st century in one of the world’s richest countries, it is unacceptable that many in our community have to rely on food banks, but that is the appalling legacy of this Tory Governments austerity policy and their indifference to the suffering they have caused.During an Urgent Question in Parliament on Tuesday 16th October, I asked the Government that if they feel Universal Credit is such a success, why are so many people forced to use foodbanks. As ever, the Minister did not reply to my concerns, instead choosing to suggest that there were numerous reasons why people use foodbanks, and that it cannot be attributed to Universal Credit. This is despite research carried out by The Trussell Trust has carried out research which suggests that the increase of foodbank usage is directly linked to the roll out of Universal Credit. The government’s standard response is that critics are scaremongering. It needs to wake up to the problems that Universal Credit is causing and stop the roll out now.Watch the video below for more ↓

  Posted by Angela Eagle on Wednesday, October 17, 2018