Welfare Reform

Growurown

With the introduction of Universal Credit in Ashton-under-Lyne where a small pilot of the scheme is being run, Radio 4's Today programme ran a piece this morning where they talked to benefit claimants asking them what they thought about the changes. Some of the things the claimants said about Universal Credit were incorrect. There needs to be a lot more information given to claimants about how this new benefit is going to work. I think a lot of people don't realise just how much of change this is going to be for them.

Depth_Charge

Growurown wrote: »

With the introduction of Universal Credit in Ashton-under-Lyne where a small pilot of the scheme is being run, Radio 4's Today programme ran a piece this morning where they talked to benefit claimants asking them what they thought about the changes. Some of the things the claimants said about Universal Credit were incorrect. There needs to be a lot more information given to claimants about how this new benefit is going to work. I think a lot of people don't realise just how much of change this is going to be for them.

Hi

I agree more information is needed.

There does seem to a strange lull around at the moment.

People have to look into things themselves to a certain extent however as these changes are for real and will have an impact down the line.

Slowly but surely the effect will be felt and in a number of ways.

Todays offering from the BBC below (inc IDS video link) -

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-22299580

My take

Depth_Charge

Hi

Inside Housing article on housing benefit being paid direct to social landlords in the event of 2 months rent arrears in UC pathfinder

http://www.insidehousing.co.uk/tenancies/landlords-to-get-benefits-of-tenants-in-arrears/6526719.article?PageNo=1&SortOrder=dateadded&PageSize=50

Maybe someone is edging their bets already

This part of the welfare reform was always on dodgy ground and could turn out to be very expensive in my opinion.

Growurown

Thanks DC, interesting article. I'm wondering how this works when people are sanctioned. My understanding was that if sanctioned the claimant loses all their UC including the rent element.

In work I am already seeing more referrals to the food bank as people struggle to meet the cost of the bedroom tax.

Depth_Charge

Growurown wrote: »

Thanks DC, interesting article. I'm wondering how this works when people are sanctioned. My understanding was that if sanctioned the claimant loses all their UC including the rent element.

In work I am already seeing more referrals to the food bank as people struggle to meet the cost of the bedroom tax.

Hi

Im not sure of the answer as I type and what is more worrying is that Im not altogether sure that those making the rules know the some of the answers.

Its a bit of a suspended U turn by the look of things and there will be others that I am sure about.

Foodbanks round our area are going into overdrive by the look of things and it begs the question...what will happen as this welfare reform really gets underway along with everything else?

Bet me and you will have similar thoughts on this one:)

As always the time card will eventually tell us

My take
,

Growurown

Depth_Charge wrote: »

Foodbanks round our area are going into overdrive by the look of things and it begs the question...what will happen as this welfare reform really gets underway along with everything else?

Indeed - watch this space I guess. I am going to have to check up on the sanctions information as I have read on a couple of websites that sanctions won't take the whole amount of UC only the standard allowance portion of the UC payment.

antonic

This from the BBC website this morning

GPs 'flooded' with letter requests due to UK benefit reforms



http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-22406739

Depth_Charge

antonic wrote: »

This from the BBC website this morning

GPs 'flooded' with letter requests due to UK benefit reforms



http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-22406739

Hi

Think this will happen right across the board - our local GP surgeries have CAB advisers in almost all of them with demand and waiting lists sharply on the rise.

It is a struggle to say the least

Growurown

antonic wrote: »

This from the BBC website this morning

GPs 'flooded' with letter requests due to UK benefit reforms



http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-22406739

It is common for people on benefits to support their case with a GP's letter. They do it to get themselves more points, or get into a higher band with the housing associations to increase their chance of getting housing. I'm guessing the thoughts here are that their chance of getting more points on their medical assessments is more likely with a GP's letter. Only one person claiming that I have worked with in my job has been successful in scoring over the 20 points needed to be considered unfit for work completely. Everyone else got put onto ESA. Some appealed and won their case. Our GP charges £12 for letters, an expense that some can't afford either.

bloolagoon

antonic wrote: »

This from the BBC website this morning

GPs 'flooded' with letter requests due to UK benefit reforms



http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-22406739

It isn't only letters, it is time and loss of treatment. For home visit workers like myself a large percentage of our time is taken up dealing with benefit paperwork and assistance. It's an expensive drain on NHS and lowers value of our true work as we do not have time and value we give to patients.

I cannot see how this can be avoided unless more administrative specialist support is in place.