• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

Joint Public Issues Team

Churches working for peace and justice

  • Home Page
  • Who We Are
    • Six hopes for society
  • Issues
    • Economy
      • Tax Justice
      • Reset The Debt
      • Living Wage
    • Environment
      • Net Zero in My Neighbourhood
    • Poverty and Inequality
      • The Cost of Living Crisis
      • Universal Credit
      • Truth and Lies
      • Enough
      • Rethink Sanctions
      • Faith in Foodbanks
      • Housing and Homelessness
    • Asylum and Migration
      • Refugees
      • End Hostility
      • The Asylum System
    • Peacemaking
      • The Arms Trade
      • Nuclear Weapons
      • Drones
      • Peacemaking resources
    • Politics and Elections
      • General Election manifesto suggestions
      • Elections
      • Meet Your MP
      • Art of the Possible
      • Brexit
    • Other Issues
      • International Development
      • Modern Slavery and Exploitation
        • Forced labour in fashion
  • Get Involved
    • JPIT Conference 2022
    • Newsletter
    • Events
    • Walking with Micah
  • Resources
    • Advent
    • 10 Minutes on… podcast
    • Politics in the Pulpit?
    • Stay and Pray
    • Season of Creation
    • Prayers
    • Public Issues Calendar
    • Poetry
    • Small Group Resources
  • Blog

“A benefit system which drives families into debt and leaves people hungry is a failing benefit system” say Churches

Blog, Briefings, Church Statements, Poverty and Inequality · 15 June, 2018

Speaking on behalf of the Baptist Union, the Church of Scotland, the Methodist Church and the United Reformed Church, Paul Morrison commented on the release of the National Audit Office (NAO) report, Rolling out Universal Credit, saying,

“Churches have repeatedly expressed concerns about Universal Credit and the damaging effects it is having on communities. The NAO’s findings are deeply concerning but not a surprise.” [1]Churches detailed briefing on Universal Credit http://jpit.uk/uc-poverty-by-design

The NAO report states that that Universal Credit is not value for money, failing to meet its financial objectives. Most importantly it is the first official document to take seriously the concerns of claimants and acknowledge the problems they are facing.

Churches around the country are supporting people who are affected by Universal Credit. It is clear that lives are being damaged by Universal Credit.

Paul explained:

“I met a single mum at a parent and toddlers’ group in West London. She cried when she told me about her experience of Universal Credit. She is worse off, struggling to make ends meet and as a result has to stop her childcare course at college.

“The policy that cut her benefits was intended to “incentivise work”. In reality it made her life more difficult and closed down her opportunities. Her story is sadly unexceptional.

“Half of people receiving Universal Credit report going into debt. This is the result of delayed, inadequate, and irregular payments. It makes budgeting impossible and can make debt inevitable. The DWP’s own figures show that 4 in 10 people reported serious financial difficulties, whilst 1 in 10 waited more than 11 weeks for payment. In Universal Credit areas foodbank use went up 52% [2]http://www.methodist.org.uk/about-us/news/latest-news/all-news/universal-credit-is-driving-families-to-food-banks, whereas in other areas it was 13%. The case is incontrovertible. Universal Credit is failing, and the poorest are suffering the consequences.

“A benefit system which drives families into debt and leaves them hungry is a failing benefit system.

“Universal Credit was designed by people who were highly literate, with access to computers and a full bank account. As soon as the system met people who didn’t fit this model it began to fail.

“Until the voice of those who use the benefit system is listened to and valued, Universal Credit will continue to cause harm to the communities it is meant to serve.”

The Churches call on the Government to:

• halt the roll-out of Universal Credit
• commission independent research into the effects of Universal Credit
• engage with the people who use the system to design an approach that meets their needs.

Paul Morrison is available for interview – media enquiries to ivattm@methodistchurch.org.uk

 

References[+]

References
↑1 Churches detailed briefing on Universal Credit http://jpit.uk/uc-poverty-by-design
↑2 http://www.methodist.org.uk/about-us/news/latest-news/all-news/universal-credit-is-driving-families-to-food-banks

Filed Under: Blog, Briefings, Church Statements, Poverty and Inequality Tagged With: department of work and pension, Universal Credit

Previous Post: « Universal Credit: From bad to farce
Next Post: When will the Government recognise that Universal Credit is in trouble? »

Primary Sidebar

Search

Recent Posts

  • Church leaders respond to net zero announcement
  • Introducing Sienna
  • Introducing Annie
  • Loss and Damage in the run up to COP-28
  • Conflict Prevention and ‘A New Agenda for Peace’
  • The Illegal Migration Bill becomes law
  • Voter ID: the Consequences
  • Why the US should change course on sending cluster munitions to Ukraine
  • Interest rate rises: is there another way?
  • Banning boycotts and divestments – have we not learned anything from South Africa?
  • Sanctions don’t work – but they are increasing anyway
  • Environment Sunday – Hope in the face of Climate Crisis
  • Response to the Government’s White Paper on Gambling
  • 1450+ church leaders oppose the Illegal Migration Bill
  • Local elections: what have they got to do with climate change?
  • Homes for Ukraine – One Year On
  • Response to the ‘Illegal Migration Bill’ – March 2023
  • Ukraine Invasion – One Year On
  • JPIT’s Review of 2022
  • What does Government Support for Asylum Seekers really provide?

Subscribe to our monthly newsletter

Footer

Follow us

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

Quick links

Stay and Pray
Politics in the Pulpit
Faith in Politics podcast
Public Issues Calendar
Useful Links

Our work

About Us
Meet the Team
Join the Team 
Internship
Our Newsletter

Contact us

25 Tavistock Place London WC1H 9SF

Tel: 020 7916 8632

enquiries@jpit.uk

Copyright © 2023 · Showcase Pro on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in