This causes some to question -
The universial credit helpline is only open two days out of ten over the holidays. Corbyn urges people to join Unite protest , it is claimed it will leave people facing hunger,poverty and eviction.
This troubles me deeply yet I question how can a couple on benefits with six children, mother has ME husband is her carer , save £50 a week to spend £3,000 on presents for their children , she said they save and didn't go out every weekend , but if that amount can be saved through out the year ?
www.disabilitynewsservice.com/mystery-over-shock-fall-in-disability-benefits-paid-to-older-people/
It looks like we elderly people are not such a drain on government finances as they say we are.
Another sly cut. Could you cope with a cut of £395 a month?
I know I couldn't.
kittysjones.wordpress.com/2018/03/01/disability-income-guarantee-abolished-under-universal-credit-rules-a-sly-and-cruel-cut/
The Demos think tank has produced a report in which it reveals that disabled claimants have been hit with over a million benefits sanctions since 2010. The majority of these have been against disabled people on JSA. Demos has calculated that disabled JSA claimants are up to 53% more likely to be sanctioned than JSA claimants who are not disabled.
When I joined the Civil Service in 1975, the first thing I noticed was a Union poster saying "Stop the Cuts"- meaning cuts to civil servants. And since then, every change in law or initiatives has resulted in a cull of staff. Technology and outsourcing has enabled a speeding up of the process. And thousands of established, experienced staff have happily taken very generous redundancy/early retirement packages. I can't begin to imagine how much this all has cost. I imagine the same thing has been happening throughout the public sector.
"A “substantial minority” of long-term disability benefit claimants are being failed by an assessment system that is too often undermined by basic errors, insensitivity and ignorance about people’s conditions, MPs have said.
A report by the work and pensions select committee highlighted a person with Down’s syndrome asked when they “caught” it, a woman reporting frequent suicidal thoughts asked why she had not yet killed herself, and someone whose assessment said she walked a dog daily, when she can barely walk and does not own a dog."
DWP response?
"The DWP said it was “disappointing that this report uses a number of anonymous claims that we are unable to investigate”. A spokesperson said: “We’ve already commissioned five independent reviews of the work capability assessment – accepting over 100 of their recommendations – and two independent reviews of Pip assessments. Anyone needing extra support can request it, and if someone is unhappy with a decision, they can appeal."
Not saying that they are sorry that their assessors have been telling lies, just that they can't check up on the people who say so.
It makes me so angry.
More examples in this article.
www.theguardian.com/politics/2018/feb/09/disability-claimants-substantial-minority-failed-by-assessment-system-mps-committee
This is awful.
Is this what we expect our NHS to have become, an adjunct of the DWP?
www.theguardian.com/healthcare-network/2018/feb/09/life-death-situation-why-gps-referring-patients-food-banks
www.consumeractiongroup.co.uk/forum/index.php
Real people asking questions in this link. It looks quite useful.
That's what I thought, pensionpat. They still haven't got a clue what is happening.
It really annoys me when Tory ministers say that it's working okay in their constituencies; most of them have probably never been anywhere near a foodbank.
David Gauke stated that there would be no reduction in benefit when moving on to benefit provided no change of circs. I am more concerned about the hardship, and use of Food Banks because of monthly pay.
Just read that link. There is a clue in the phrase "transitional protection will be given to those moving to UC from other benefits, providing their circumstances are unchanged" no mention of what circumstances. It could be after a sanction. I suspect sanctions will be plentiful. Otherwise people will cling on to the benefit they know, with fortnightly payment. I worked in an Unemployment benefit office when claimants were moved from weekly pay to fortnightly. There wS an uproar, although nothing in media. When people struggle from payday to payday it is distressing to double the wait. I'm not going to find out what I want to know until a customer tells me. Will keep on researching though.
Thanks both. Gracesgran cynical moi?
I know this isn't what you were asking for, pensionpat, but you might find some information in the links on this article.
rightsinfo.org/explainer-landmark-legal-challenge-universal-credit-system/
You might just think it was designed to stop people claiming mightn't you PP 
Thank you Gracesgran. I'll do some more research. I worked for DWP in all the benefits for 40 years and have never known anything so complex. At the same time as, like many organisations, you can't ask a question from a human.
You have probably looked at all these PP but this one gives a few answers too.
www.moneyadviceservice.org.uk/blog/eight-questions-about-universal-credit
Pensionpat do you have any idea if that means your area will become a 'Full Service Area'? If so this may help although they do seem to make it as complicated as possible.
www.welfare-benefits-unit.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/What-triggers-a-claim-for-Universal-Credit-in-a-full-service-area.pdf
Sometimes I think GNHQ should use the powers our numbers give them and ask the government departments some of these questions on our behalf directly.
Off to do so more, hopefully useful, research.
UC is coming to my area soon. As a Food Bank volunteer I want to know what our clients will be facing. I have read lots on various sites and tried to contact DWP and CAB, but they are either online, or voice- activated and not appropriate to a general enquiry. I understand the new claim stuff, and the long waiting period, and the loan clients can apply for. What I can't find out is how existing claimants if JSA/ESA will be treated. Currently they will be paid fort nightly, and that is difficult enough. From the day that UC goes live, will they immediately start to be paid monthly or will they continue to be paid fortnightly until they stop their claim. Or indeed it is stopped by a sanction. I do hood someone can tell me.
Right-wingers don't know any universal credit claimants, GracesGran, so they don't need to read about them.
www.24housing.co.uk/news/housing-associations-need-better-engagement-over-future-for-universal-credit/
According to this article I have just read, it seems the DWP are blaming the problems of the roll-out on housing associations and local councils, for not engaging fully with the idea. They told the DWP it wouldn't work, so why should they?
I know our resident right-wingers don't like links but for those who use the internet to expand their reading around the political they can be very helpful. This certainly gives insight into UC.
Revealed: Secret Universal Credit Reports 'Barely Mention Claimants
Esther McVey is on the board of the Samaritans!
Just had a thought - I wonder if they are botoxed.
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