Universal Credit rollout ‘will cause riots in the streets’ as 3million more Brits to lose £50 a week on controversial new benefit system
ROLLING out Universal Credit to another three million families will cause riots in the streets, Gordon Brown has warned.
The former PM called on Theresa May to abandon the flagship benefits shake up which is replacing several benefits with one monthly payment.
Three million families are set to be rolled out onto Universal Credit next year - which will cos an average of around £50 each, research has suggested.
Mr Brown wrote in the "From next July when three million more families begin to be herded on to Universal Credit, our country will face the kind of chaos we have not seen since the days of the hated Poll Tax.
"We face a summer of division and despair."
And he said that more and more children were at risk of slipping into poverty as a result.
"Having served 50 years in public life I am now seeing poverty and hardship that I never thought I would witness and that I honestly thought we had escaped from for ever decades ago," he warned.
And that imposing Universal Credit and forcing more people to apply for their benefits on top of a freese, would be "chaotic, cruel and vindictive".
It was revealed earlier this week that ministers were aware that Universal Credit changes would leave poor families £200 worse off.
MP Frank Field, who chairs the Commons Work and Pensions Select Committee, insisted the cuts were “always planned” as the next phase of the flagship benefits rollout continues.
One million people now receive the benefit - with millions more still to move across.
But already the rollout has been beset with problems - with some waiting months for payments, being forced to use food banks, and its taking far longer to put in place than it was thought.
The Institute for Fiscal Studies has previously estimated 2.1 million families will lose while 1.8 million will gain.
Ministers insist that the new scheme is trying to get more people into stable work.
THE SUN SAYS: GET CREDIT RIGHT
THE Universal Credit system IS a good idea – but the roll-out must be done properly.
The Tories’ benefit changes in the last Government, making it more rewarding to be in work, are a big part of the reason employment is at a record high. UC is the final part of that puzzle.
But reports that some working families could lose significant amounts of cash overnight are deeply worrying.
Our benefits regime needs to be firm.
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What to do if you have problems claiming Universal Credit
IF you're experiencing trouble applying for your Universal Credit, or the payments just don't cover it, here are your options:
Apply for an advance - Claimants are able to get some cash within five days rather than waiting weeks for their first payment. But it's a loan which means the repayments will be automatically deducted from your future Universal Credit pay out.
Alternative Payment Arrangements- If you're falling behind on rent, you or your landlord may be able to apply for an APA which will get your payment sent directly to your landlord. You might also be able to change your payments to get them more frequently , or you can split the payments if you're part of a couple.
Budgeting Advance - You may be able to get help from the government to help with emergency household costs of up to £348 if you're single, £464 if you're part of a couple or £812 if you have children. These are only in cases like your cooker breaking down or for help getting a job. You'll have to repay the advance through your regular Universal Credit payments. You'll still have to repay the loan, even if you stop claiming for Universal Credit.
Cut your Council Tax - You might be able to get a discount on your Council Tax or be entitled to Discretionary Housing Payments if your payments aren't enough to cover your rent.
Foodbanks - If you're really hard up and struggling to buy food and toiletries, you can find your local foodbank who will provide you with help for free. You can find your nearest one on the
Freezing benefits is taking billions out of the benefits budget, which will mean real-terms cuts in the next few years.
But ministers have insisted that anyone who migrates onto the new system will not be any worse off.
Mrs May said today that people who swap will "be protected" with transitional benefits.
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