BENEFITS bosses have been slammed by MPs for treating mums on Universal Credit like “dirt” by ignoring their pleas to fix the system.
Politicians on the powerful Work and Pensions Committee today demanded the Government sit up and listen to the hard-working mothers who have been trying to help fix the problems with the new benefits system.
They said the Government’s response to their inquiry into childcare and Universal Credit was “skimpy and disappointing” and demanded officials go back and look at their proposals again to try and help more parents back into work.
The Committee said some of the rules around the flagship welfare acted as a “barrier” to work and that the Government appeared to be “dismissing the serious problems that are plaguing parents”.
One of those was mum-of-one Thuto Mali – who revealed how the benefits system left her so poor she had to go to a charity to beg for food.
The Sun crowned her Supermum Mum of 2019 for her tireless campaigning on the issue last week.
Parents have to cough up for their childcare upfront on Universal Credit – but they can claim up to 85 per cent of it back later on.
Many going into work simply don’t have the cash to pay for a nursery place in advance and have to give up their offered jobs as a result – like Katrina Lear-Parkes told us.
Ministers have urged staff to make better use of the Flexible Support Fund for help with costs before their first paycheque but experts said it was the “biggest secret in the Jobcentre” and wasn’t publicised enough.
The Sun has been campaigning to Make Universal Credit Work by demanding ministers allow Brits to claim that money upfront rather than get it paid back, encouraging more women to return to work.
MPs claim that 100,000 households would get less childcare support under the new benefits system.
We on the Committee are frankly sick of these disrespectful Government responses that treat us like dirt
MP Frank Field
Independent MP Frank Field said today: “We on the Committee are frankly sick of these disrespectful Government responses that treat us like dirt and fail to engage with our robust, evidence-based conclusions.
“It’s not clear they’ve even read this one.
“Worse, in responding this way, Government dismisses the experience and evidence of the individuals and organisations that have taken the time, and made the effort, and are working with us to try to fix the unholy mess that is Universal Credit.
“This will not do.”
Labour’s Angela Rayner added: “Sadly this dismissive attitude is nothing new for struggling parents who are denied access to vital childcare support.”
MPs want ministers to address the problems with the new system and explain more details about their plans to make childcare payments more flexible.
DWP boss Amber Rudd has promised to give more help to mums on Universal Credit as part of a sweeping package of reforms.
She’s already announced a trial to monitor people moving over to the new system, and has stopped disabled Brits automatically going over until they can get financial help.
And from this week Brits on the new system can earn up to £630 a year more as a result of the boost to the work allowance.
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:
Together, these changes will help Make Universal Credit Work.
Join our Universal Credit Facebook group or email UniversalCredit@the-sun.c
A DWP spokesperson said today: “These claims are disappointing – we take the committee’s input very seriously, have provided detailed responses to all of their recommendations and have already accepted some. We will now carefully consider their additional points.
“Universal Credit is supporting 1.8 million people and can pay up to 85 per cent of people’s childcare costs, which is more generous than the old benefit system.”
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