SFHA evidence cited in letter to Secretary of State
Chair of the House of Commons Work and Pensions Select Committee, Frank Field, has written to Secretary of State Damian Green, highlighting shortcomings with Universal Credit roll-out.
The Chair of the House of Commons Work and Pensions Select Committee, Frank Field, has written to Secretary of State Damian Green, highlighting shortcomings with the roll-out of Universal Credit that need to be addressed. Citing evidence provided by a large number of individuals and organisations, including the SFHA and SFHA members, Albyn Housing Society and East Lothian Housing Association, Mr Field highlighted a number of concerns, including:
- delays of 12 weeks or more before claimants received their first payment
- vulnerable claimants struggling to cope with the regime of monthly payments in arrears
- the added financial difficulty caused by the seven-day waiting period, a fault Lord Freud himself expressed concern about
- the increased rent arrears as a direct consequence of Universal Credit
- The withholding of implicit consent working against the speedy expediting of problems, with mitigating initiatives such as Trusted Partner and the Landlord Portal not yet operational
- the mismatch of Universal Credit with paying for emergency temporary accommodation.
SFHA Policy Adviser Jeremy Hewer said:
“The letter reflects the concerns that SFHA has had for some considerable time and echoes the call by the Scottish Government for the halt to the roll-out of Universal Credit Full Service until these issues are satisfactorily resolved.
“The DWP must understand that Universal Credit can only be successfully implemented if it is prepared to work with and co-operate with stakeholders, rather than just imposing its imperfect solution and walking away to let other pick up the pieces and patch up broken lives.”