I Daniel Blake

I think an average 10 year old could have suggested trialing the new system before rolling it out.

There have been over 1500 tweaks to the system since it began. Many more are needed. So glad full roll out has been delayed.

But no help to those who have already been forced onto UC

they hav etialled it! In Scotland and the North of England ,you know the places where the people dont count to your average Tory.

Trialled it

There is telephone help to build the Universal credit claim, and maintain it, If you have problems getting internet access,or have other problems, and cannot use computers.You just need to ask at your local jobcentre. My neighbours son has used this service.

When friends and family, neighbours and others rally round to help someone who is experiencing difficulties in life, surely that is how it should be?

In other words that's not necessarily indicative of a failing of the system, that's human nature in action - to look out for each other.

Indeed it is Grannyknot but as illustrated by the young Woman in I Daniel Blake, who was uprooted from her friends, mother, neighbours by being rehoused far away, (which WAS the fault of the system) that support is not there for many people.

they hav etialled it! In Scotland and the North of England ,you know the places where the people dont count to your average Tory.

Such as Devon, Eastbourne, London.....

Agree granny23 that just doesn't make sense to house people far from their support system. I absolutely agree that people who really need help should be able to access it with ease.

Happychops
You are correct in saying 'there is telephone help to build the Universal credit claim'. However, it has been my experience that it can take up to ninety minutes for a call to be answered. The help is much less forthcoming in maintaining a UC claim, which is done entirely via smartphone or computer. (I deal with this on a regular basis on behalf of my clients.) Our local Jobcentre is very helpful, but is a very expensive bus ride away and only has staff available to assist with computers on two afternoons each week.

I recorded this film and have just watched it. I am not often moved by films but sobbed my way painfully through this one at the sheer frustration of it all!! It is a hard watch but from stories I have heard it is all too common. Yes it should be compulsory viewing for May and her government.

By the way it is the first film I have seen for years that has managed to present itself without using intrusive background music (or more commonly droning). I thought it was the more powerful for just using traffic sounds, footsteps, people talking etc as in the real world and I loved the black screens between some shots. There was no distraction from the real message of the film.

Luckygirl
Are you saying that she shouldn't repay the overpayment?
What has her cancer got to do with repaying money?
Should all those people who have been paid too much in error, by banks, by pension providers or any other means, only have to repay the money if they are in full health but everyone who has an illness gets let off?
That doesn't sound fair to me.
If she thought it was too much, why not put the extra aside?
Mistakes are made. IT systems fail. That's life. It doesn't mean you can keep what isn't yours.

I did watch this and it was upsetting and disturbing, a case of ‘There but for the grace of God go I’. I was reminded of what an impact Cathy Come Home had on me way back in 1966 when our first son was born. Both dramas illustrate how easy it is to get into a downward spiral and that for those without the support of family it is impossible to get out of.