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LABOUR condemned reforms to the disastrous universal credit scheme as “feeble” yesterday, arguing that the supposed improvements will only worsen the suffering of hard-up claimants.
Work and Pensions Secretary David Gauke has announced a £1.5 billion package of measure to “improve” the scheme that has seen claimants fall into rent arrears and even evicted from their homes.
The measure includes an advance loans system which will allow 100 per cent of a payment to be available as an interest-free loan instead of 50 per cent, and repayable over 12 months instead of six. Claimants can access the loans from January.
DYLAN MURPHY reports that far from helping people back into work, the sanctions regime is inflicting unnecessary trauma on working-class families
Labour will find increases in the state pension age are unacceptable, just as cuts to the Winter Fuel Allowance, personal independence payments and universal credit are — it needs to change direction immediately, writes PCS general secretary FRAN HEATHCOTE
