Universal Credits- a new nightmare

fullfact.org/economy/universal-credit-being-credited-time/

In this week's PMQ's May seemed quite pleased that 80% of claimants get their first benefits on time.
That means five to six weeks after the first claim.
That also means that 20% are still waiting after six weeks.
I find that absolutely appalling that the government can be complacent about this.

Your link said that people working for the DWP are used to claimants saying they will commit suicide.
Gauke admitted that in parliament this week. Again, appalling.

Not surprised that article is written under a pseudonym, FarNorth.
Claimants saying they are being evicted are a penny a dozen?
Being moved onto universal credit can mean that some people find out after waiting six weeks that they are hundreds of pounds down per month?
If your case manager goes on holiday, there might be nobody available to pay you?

www.theguardian.com/politics/video/2017/oct/12/labour-mp-laura-pidcock-talks-to-owen-jones-the-dwp-has-caused-fear-and-terror

It's so very depressing isn't it. I read Angela's Ashes years ago and felt relieved that though things weren't perfect we were moving away from the idea of the 'deserving poor' , or the wealthy giving the poor advice on how to manage the money they lacked in the first place. How wrong I was. Things are getting tougher for the have nots and easier for those of us who are fortunate.

Laura Pidcock said in her interview that it is assumed that most people claiming benefits are liars. That makes me feel ashamed.
We only found out after my husband reached retirement age that he could have been claiming another £50+ a week, for a few years but he didn't claim because of a lie he was told by a DWP worker.

www.newsshopper.co.uk/news/15590252.This_man_says_he_is__suicidal__at_possibility_of_being_homeless_after_Lewisham_Council_decision/?ref=mc&lp=1

skwawkbox.org/2017/10/14/from-midwife-to-sick-and-homeless-in-2yrs-pipstories-dwp/

www.welfareweekly.com/penniless-and-reliant-on-foodbanks-how-universal-credit-destroyed-this-mums-life/

" If the DWP were an airline, it would be regulated by the UK Civil Aviation Authority, a watchdog with statutory powers. As it stands, there have been more DWP-linked deaths than airline accident fatalities in the UK—and shockingly, the DWP remains unregulated because the Work and Pensions Select Committee lacks statutory powers.

The DWP is a ‘grave and systematic’ human rights violator and its draconian welfare reforms are prematurely ending the lives of many benefit claimants. We must insist that it be governed by an independent body with statutory powers; otherwise, welfare reform in the UK will remain a ‘human catastrophe’, according to the UN, for sick and disabled Britons.

We should publicly call for the DWP to be regulated by a watchdog. A Private Members Bill (PMB) could help facilitate this, by eliciting discussion of reining in this rogue department, which is gravely and systematically violating human rights. I’m well aware that all Select Committees are devoid of statutory powers and that Private Members Bills have virtually no chance of passing. But it will provoke discussion and that alone is worthwhile. "

Anyone else agree with this?

www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2017/oct/15/the-warped-logic-of-making-the-poor-pay-more

Good article here by Barbara Ellen.

www.thecanary.co/uk/2017/10/13/nobodys-talking-savage-attack-buried-universal-credit-people-lose-thousands/

Now it seems that the Universal Credit system can't cope with free school meal entitlement. The old identifying criteria for FSM is being removed by the new system.

This apparently means that either £600 million a year extra is needed to extend the FSM system or it will not be paid to those who were previously entitled to it. Or another system would need to be set up to identify those in need.

School performance statistics also use FSM entitlement as the main measure of deprivation.

www.theguardian.com/society/2017/oct/14/universal-credit-flaw-hits-free-school-meals?CMP=share_btn_tw

The DWP is either full of incompetence or has been deliberately made not fit for purpose.
I think the latter.

A response to an article I read said that the rollout was/is all wrong because the DWP should have had all the information in one place before asking people to apply for it.
That's true. What was the point of doing it piecemeal?
It should have been organised internally first.

Good article by Barbara Ellen, Jen. Thanks for the link. She sounds angry; I feel angry about these things. It is good to see someone speaking out about it.

I certainly think there should be a DWP watchdog - not just for the people using it but it must be pretty bad for some of the people working there to know they are not doing the job they would want to do.

www.24housing.co.uk/news/dwp-accused-of-concealing-information-critical-of-universal-credit/

David Gauke might have problems this week. It doesn't look like he can rely on as much support from his party.

Is there any part of government to which 'what a mess' cannot be applied. We should not be surprised as they have always been economically illiterate and socially divisive so this is just more of the same I suppose. But so many people lives affected. In the style of the past when the people were led by the Conservative Class we have lions led by donkey's yet again. Oh the irony of Buffoon Boris talking of lions roaring. I think, if he hears it, he should run very fast. It will not be his avaricious friends but the people turning on them.

3% pension payrise next year?
It's because of 3% inflation last month, but hey, beggars can't be choosers.

I wouldn’t hold your breath. Aren’t we broke? I suspect that Hammond may well try to do something about winning back the young vote, so this may mean we lose out.

news.sky.com/story/theresa-may-meets-tory-universal-credit-rebels-to-avoid-vote-loss-11085360

However, this is more important at the moment.
I wonder who will give in, May and Gauke or Tory MPs.
The rebels want no wait, money given upfront, and money paid fortnightly instead of monthly.
PMQs might be interesting tomorrow.

The 3% payrise will have to go ahead, as the government said they will keep the triple lock.
If they hadn't they wouldn't be in power, such that it is.

This is why we need our 3%.

infacts.org/no-deal-price-hikes-dwarf-current-3-inflation/

There's an opposition debate tomorrow on universal benefit.
I presume that, as many tories want the roll-out stopped, they will take part in it and vote.
Just wondering if May is hoping they vote against the government, and then she can resign over a vote of no confidence.

We need the removal van at the back door of Number 10, the PM is out of touch with the real world.