Scrap Universal Credit

When the Universal Credit concept was introduced in 2010 it sounded like a real step forwards — simplifying a complex and bewildering system of working-age benefits and ensuring that payments would taper as the recipient moved into work, avoiding the cliff edge that people had experienced historically with means tested benefits.

In practice the implementation has been problematic, resulting in significant hardship to large numbers of people. Universal Credit has directly contributed to the rise in homelessness, child poverty and need for foodbanks — in 2018 the Trussell Trust observed a 52% rise in foodbank use in areas that has moved to UC.

It’s time we did something about this and paused UC rollout until it can be replaced with something that works better for the often vulnerable and marginalised people it is meant to help.

Suggested actions for improving UC for existing claimants:

• Continue existing benefit payments for claims that are being processed.
• Pause benefit sanctions whilst UC is reviewed.
• Remove the two child limit.
• Reinstate the extra element for the first child.
• Give claimants the option of having weekly payments.
• Abolish the system of advance loans which has been widely abused by fraudsters.
• Replace single household payment with payment to the individuals. concerned, as this has been problematic in abusive relationships and has a chilling effect on women’s independence.
• Remove the Minimum Income Floor for self-employed claimants.