Monday 21 May 2018

Stop Universal Credit: Harlesden Job Centre May 24th 11-12




From Unite Community

Please join the local protest to Stop Universal Credit, the damaging (and expensive) new benefits system this government has been trying to introduce.

Universal Credit will extend the use of benefit sanctions to those receiving in-work benefits (housing benefit, working tax credit and child credit) - a target driven agenda to remove people from the survival benefits they are entitled to. 

11am -12 midday, Thursday 24th May, Harlesden Job Centre, 161-163 High St, NW10 4TL

Read more here

http://www.unitetheunion.org/ca…/stop--fix-universal-credit/

Despite knowing Universal Credit causes serious problems for claimants, the Tory government is pressing ahead and rolling it out to thousands of people who will have to wait weeks to receive any money.

Claimants are descending into debt, relying on food banks, getting into rent arrears and in many cases getting evicted from their homes because of in- built problems with Universal Credit.

Who gets Universal    Credit 
 
Universal Credit replaces five benefits – child tax credit, housing benefit, income support, income-based jobseeker’s allowance, income-related employment and support allowance and working tax credit.

Seven million households will be affected, including over one million low paid part-time workers. For the first time ever people in work could face being sanctioned (having their benefits stopped) if they don’t prove to the job centre that they’re searching for better paid work or more hours.

10 reasons why Universal Credit should be stopped

  • Unbearably long waits for claimants to receive money
  • People can only apply for Universal Credit online making it inaccessible for many
  • Not enough help for claimants when the system fails them
  • Rent paid directly to claimants instead of Landlords causing people to get into arrears and even to lose their homes 
  • Letting agents are already refusing to rent to anyone claiming Universal Credit
  • Cruel sanctions for both in-work and out-of-work claimants 
  • Payments only go to one named member of a household
  • Universal Credit takes 63p in every £1 people earn 
  • Universal Credit leaves many working families much worse off than the old system
  • People in part-time work could be forced to give up work that suits their disability or family life in order to take up worse paid full-time work or risk sanctions.

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