Universal Credit: Set Up To Fail

Only a few days after the roll-out of the Tories’ new ‘universal credit’ benefits system, the working poor, disabled and most vulnerable in our society are already suffering. Ronnie, an income officer for a housing trust in Halton, Merseyside, spoke to the Socialist Party’s Stephen Armstrong about the difficulties encountered by claimants and her own organisation.

“Since the roll-out of universal credit full service hit Halton in July 2016, claimants are required to apply online and then create a journal which they must keep up to date and use to query payments or discuss their claim with their work coach or case worker. For elderly people or some of our clients with mental health or special needs, this can present real problems.

“The 55p-a-minute helpline put many clients off ringing for advice. We aren’t allowed to contact the DWP [Department for Work and Pensions] without the client being present - and when we do, we get through to a call centre which could be anywhere in the country.

“Operators don’t have local knowledge. Often the computer system is down or the operator won’t have all the information. It feels like the government wants the system to fail.”

The disastrous housing policy of the Tory government is adding to the problems. Ronnie told us: “Social landlords have to bid for funding to develop new properties. The government can determine what type of scheme and mix of property size or tenure type they want.

Delays