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It's a Tory party issue. Their Universal Credit system is designed to restrict people's welfare payments, and if possible eject them from the system by hook or
by dTal 8y ago
It's a Tory party issue. Their Universal Credit system is designed to restrict people's welfare payments, and if possible eject them from the system by hook or by crook. I'm not playing politics here - all the metrics show large jumps in 2014, when the system was introduced (replacing the older benefits). Rough sleeping spiked. Unemployment (as measured by people on benefits) plummeted.
The UK is plenty rich enough to feed all its citizens. It just chooses not to.
- arethuza 8y agoAmber Rudd even admits that rising food bank use has been caused by Universal Credit: https://www.theguardian.com/society/2019/feb/11/universal-credit-rollout-linked-to-rising-food-bank-use-amber-rudd-admits https://www.theguardian.com/society/2019/feb/11/universal-cr... I don't know whether this is admirable honesty or complete cynicism.
- NeedMoreTea 8y agoThey chose to design in a five week wait for first payment for the poorest and least able to cope. Then sanction people at every possible turn and have a refusal and appeal apparently as a standard part of claiming sickness benefits[1]. How could food bank use not grow? Even Rudd recently admitted UC caused the rise of food banks. It's an appalling, vindictive, punitive system that's been designed to be exactly that. [1] The rate of successful sickness appeals reached 60% in 2015, not sure of figures since: https://www.benefitsandwork.co.uk/news/3481-dwp-recruits-180-presenting-officers-to-cut-esa-and-pip-appeal-success-rates https://www.benefitsandwork.co.uk/news/3481-dwp-recruits-180...