Student President's Blog| Further Updates to (Hardly) Universal Credit
Universal credit it a means-tested, single payment for working age adults that is delivered monthly to a single member of a household and paid in arrears (DWP, 2015) and due to certain restrictions, students cannot access it, regardless of their student funding status.
The pandemic caused a significant increase in the number of people claiming not just UC, but jobseekers' allowance and employment and support allowance, there was a 90% increase in the number of people on UC between 12th of March – 8th of October 2020 (DWP, 2020). The basic UC award was raised by £20 a week temporarily but the expansions ended in April 2021, which Mims Davis MP (Minister for employment) called “a really important intervention for families most in need”.
Although we welcomed these changes with open arms, the nature of UC causes pain not just to students but to the wider population, the pandemic had exacerbated weaknesses in the system in general, for example the requirements for a 5 week wait for the first payment, single household payments and joint household assessments/incentives, applicants who have to wait 5 weeks before getting their first payment can be put into situations where they could be vulnerable, such as abusive relationships, especially during the pandemic when access to other support networks may be restricted. The single household payments are also problematic for similar reasons, it can make it easier for abusers to control their victims financially, as well as any other ways. The Women’s Budget Group argued that the ability to request alternative payment arrangements has been insufficient to get rid of these risks over the pandemic, although it is problematic in “normal” times as well, Jobseekers on Universal Credit will have to look for jobs outside their chosen field more quickly or face sanctions under new government plans.
From Thursday (27th Jan 2022), people will have to look outside their sectors after just four weeks, rather than three months. If they fail to make "reasonable efforts" to get a job, or turn down employment, they could see their benefit payment reduced.
Ministers want 500,000 jobseekers in work by the end of June. As part of the jobs push - called "Way to Work" - claimants will have to widen their job search outside their previous occupation or sector which we believe is outrageous- imagine going to college/university, getting yourself into a lot of student debt thanks to student loans all for your dream job, only to be told that you have to get any job anywhere, rather than the job that you’re qualified for, this means that we’ll have people with PHD’s who have trained to be Doctors or Chief Executives dry cleaning your jackets or cooking your lunch at a local restaurant.
So, how can you help?
Read and sign the open letter here.
Contact your local MP: Write them a letter or send them an email, search for your MP and their contact details here.
