Universal Credits- a new nightmare

"I’m a doctor. This is a real conversation I had with the Job Centre:

“Hi, I don’t think Miss X is well enough to come to your appointment…”

“It’s a term of her benefits that she has to come.”

“I know, but I don’t think she’s well enough. Can you rearrange it?”

“So she came to your appointment?”

“Yes, but…”

“Then she can come to ours.”

“But she’s not well and I’m her doctor.”

“And she wants benefits and so she has to come here.”

“So you’re saying that she has to either jeopardise her health by coming to your meeting, or not receive any money.”

“If you’re trying to make me feel guilty you’re speaking to the wrong person.”‘

Says it all really, doesn't it?

www.cpag.org.uk/sites/default/files/Austerity%20Generation%20FINAL.pdf

Child poverty action group says that a million more children will be in poverty because of universal credit.

Brilliant Christmas card here.

And we have come to this because we had to depend on the politics of making a few people rich while the rest had the crumbs from their table nicely renamed 'trickle down'. Talk about going back to the dark ages.

GracesGran, have you seen the video of homeless people in London? It's horrific. We treat people worse than animals.
84 families housed in a converted office block on an industrial estate, with all the lorries going up and down the road all the time.

They were talking about it on the radio this morning.
When people move onto universal credit, they can get a loan which is repayable.
The government has only just realised it's essential to tell people about this.
It was a man from the Trussell Trust foodbank in the West End of Newcastle talking about it very angrily.
He says that foodbank use has risen there by 66% in the past month because of this move.
When benefit recipients are given this loan, they are loaned about £78 per week to live on. This is why they end up in rent arrears and unable to heat their homes.
I don't know what it's like where you live, but this week we have had temperatures in my village of -2 and -4 overnight. Not very good if your house is already cold.
My area is going onto universal credit in December, just in time for Christmas. There is an urgent message out for the foodbank in the next town.

JEN! I had no idea it had cost that much and they have cut the budget for universal credit so much. This is madness. It is the only benefit that isn't paid on a weekly or multiple of weekly basis. Madness, madness, madness.

The cost of moving to universal credit was originally £2.2 billion. It has already passed £15.8 billion.
Just think how much more benefit those people could be having if this ridiculous system hadn't been thought of by IDS.

secure.avaaz.org/campaign/en/uk_budget_cuts/?ckHcnjb

A petition to sign to Hammond to stop him cutting benefits and to ask him to give more to the NHS.

A Department for Work and Pensions spokesman said: "Our thoughts are with Ms Morrall's family at this difficult time.

"We understand that people can't always attend appointments, which is why we will re-arrange alternative times.

"Assessment decisions are made with consideration of all the information provided, including supporting evidence from a GP or medical specialist.

"Anyone who disagrees with a decision can appeal."

To add further insult to the Elaine's families' grief, Jonathan Horsfall, Halton Housing Trust debt recovery manager, said: "We always follow strict procedures around arrears."

"We strive to find solutions with our customers and have intensive support workers who enable us to do so where possible.

"Our support services are on offer to those who we know are in arrears, and are always reached out to for support.

"If customers are concerned about arrears we always encourage anyone to get in touch with us as early as possible in the arrears process so we can do all we can to help."

Official responses to the family/woman who died in the cold because she couldn't afford to put her heating on before her children got home from school.
If they'd done what they said, she would still be alive.

It's only two weeks tomorrow until the budget. I am not sure I can bear watching it when it comes. I have just looked at a list of biblical plagues - the last one in the list I was looking at was ... 'darkness'. I wonder if that comes after 'budget'. It all feels doom laden.

I think it may be an escape rather than a break. Who know how many will come back?

Why do they need another break? They've only just started again.
I hope May goes for a very long walk with her husband and calls another election when she returns.

Wednesday 22 Novemberwhitewave.

www.24housing.co.uk/news/food-banks-fear-soaring-christmas-demand-as-uc-rolls-out/

Might give the foodbanks a fighting chance over Christmas, and help the 23,000 families at risk of destitution in the run up to Christmas.

When is the budget?

www.24housing.co.uk/news/plea-for-full-scale-rescue-of-universal-credit-in-upcoming-budget/

Can't see it happening, but you can hope...

Time to get rid of them, GracesGran.

Unbelievable. Or sadly, with this government - believable. And the cost of fighting to keep things from the voter come from the voter's pocket!

www.politics.co.uk/news/2017/11/01/dwp-fights-to-block-publication-of-universal-credit-docs

Another government department trying to hide reports that they commissioned.
Why? They must know they will be forced to publish in the end.

www.theguardian.com/society/2017/oct/31/switch-to-universal-credit-will-hit-lone-disabled-people

Can you imagine what it would be like to lose £2000 a year of your pension, those who are on one?

www.theguardian.com/society/2017/oct/31/reverse-cuts-universal-credit-collapse-resolution-foundation-cash-injection-welfare

Why has it taken so long for people to realise that the system is wrong, penalising the poor?

This is just so ridiculous.

www.disabilitynewsservice.com/access-to-work-ombudsman-faces-questions-over-investigation/

An access to work investigation took over three and a half years and made no recommendations at the end of it.
What a waste of public money.

www.disabilitynewsservice.com/access-to-work-schemes-future-in-jeopardy-through-cuts-and-incompetence/

" “With Christmas on our doorstep, the Universal Credit roll-out is going ahead as planned with people being changed over at the beginning of December, which could leave families with little to no money for up to 12 weeks.

“Please ensure that anyone you know who is struggling understands that THERE IS HELP.

“If your money is stopped/late/delayed you can go to the council and fill in a Nil Income form.

“That will reinstate rent and council tax [they mean housing benefit and council tax reduction] and give access to further help like meter credits, food bank vouchers and emergency cash payments.

“This info is not readily available sadly and it should be. The authorities will only deal with it if you ask specifically which is a disgrace.

“So if your benefits have been sanctioned or if you suffer cash flow problems from UC, then remember help is still available.

“Also … never vote Tory again.“ "

From a council worker.

Pass the information on if you know anyone in that position.
Put it on facebook if you can.

A welfare adviser who teaches other welfare advisers at college knows what the problems are with universal credit.

theconversation.com/a-welfare-advisers-view-on-universal-credit-a-flawed-system-that-emphasises-process-over-people-85291

I don't expect the government to listen to him, though.