Five-week Universal Credit wait is ‘really hard’ on pressed Brits, Amber Rudd admits as she pushes next PM to kill it off
FORCING Universal Credit Brits to wait five weeks for their first payment is "really hard", Amber Rudd admitted last night.
The Work and Pensions Secretary said those claiming the new benefit should have acess to their cash "as soon as possible".
The Sun reported yesterday how Ms Rudd is now pushing for a cut to the five-week wait - in a boost for our Make Universal Credit Work campaign.
Last night she expanded on her change of heart, telling Politico: "I want to make sure that people who need benefits, particularly people who are coming onto UC from other benefits - so they are already dependent on a monthly pay - can have access to the money as soon as possible.
"We have done that up to a point, because they can now get advances straight away, usually on day one and repay it over a twelve-month period.
"I would much rather they could have some of those funds earlier."
She defended the thinking behind the five-week wait, saying it's meant to mirror the experience of taking a new job.
Ms Rudd said: "It's the same principle, it was honest and fair in the way it was set out but for some people at the end of the month it was really hard."
And she called on the new PM - whether it's Boris Johnson or Jeremy Hunt - to cut the wait and lift the benefits freeze.
The Sun wants to Make Universal Credit Work
UNIVERSAL Credit replaces six benefits with a single monthly payment.
One million people are already receiving it and by the time the system is fully rolled out in 2023, nearly 7 million will be on it.
But there are big problems with the flagship new system - it takes 5 weeks to get the first payment and it could leave some families worse off by thousands of pounds a year.
And while working families can claim back up to 85 per cent of their childcare costs, they must find the money to pay for childcare upfront - we’ve heard of families waiting up to 6 months for the money.
Working parents across the country told us they’ve been unable to take on more hours - or have even turned down better paid jobs or more hours because of the amount they get their benefits cut.
It’s time to Make Universal Credit work. We want the Government to:
- Get paid faster: The Government must slash the time Brits wait for their first Universal Credit payments from five to two weeks, helping stop 7 million from being pushed into debt.
- Keep more of what you earn:The work allowance should be increased and the taper rate should be slashed from 63p to 50p, helping at least 4 million families.
- Don’t get punished for having a family: Parents should get the 85 per cent of the money they can claim for childcare upfront instead of being paid in arrears.
Together, these changes will help Make Universal Credit Work.
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The leading Remainer has recently carried out a U-turn, saying she accepts that No Deal Brexit must remain on the table during talks with the EU.
She's expected to stay in the Cabinet whichever candidate wins the leadership election and could be in line for a promotion.
The Sun has been campaigning for a number of fixes to Universal Credit to ensure the system works properly and doesn't condemn claimants to poverty.
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