Universal Credit – 5 week payment delay

As you know, UC is a single payment which is replacing six means-tested benefits and tax credits for working age individuals and families.

In your letter, you raise serious concerns about the initial five-week wait for the first UC payment. You highlight that this delay is leaving many people without the money to cover the basics and forcing them to rely on foodbanks. I am deeply concerned by the real hardship being caused by UC.

I know that the Trussell Trust handed out a record 1.6 million emergency food parcels in the last year. This represents a 19% increase on the previous year. These figures are shocking - nobody in our society should be forced to turn to foodbanks to survive.

I am also aware that in November 2018, a UN report on extreme poverty in the UK warned that the five-week wait pushes many people who may already be in crisis into debt, rent arrears, and serious hardship.

I agree the five-week waiting period is a key defect of UC and I think it is unrealistic and senseless to leave people without a payment during this time. I firmly believe that the Government should cut the five-week delay. Furthermore, I believe that offering claimants a loan to cover this period does not solve the problem.

UC is clearly not working, as it is leaving families in debt, rent arrears and at risk of becoming homeless. I believe that the Government must stop the rollout of UC as a matter of urgency and deliver a social security system that supports people. Alongside this, I am in favour of ending the benefits freeze and introducing a Real Living Wage of at least £10 per hour.

I can assure you that I will continue to call on the Government to cut the five-week wait and stop the rollout of UC.