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Universal credit: Children's Commissioner calls for pause | Universal credit: Children's Commissioner calls for pause |
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The rollout of universal credit to families with children should be paused, the Children's Commissioner for England has told MPs. | The rollout of universal credit to families with children should be paused, the Children's Commissioner for England has told MPs. |
Anne Longfield told the Education Select Committee there was evidence families with children were being hit hard by the welfare changes. | Anne Longfield told the Education Select Committee there was evidence families with children were being hit hard by the welfare changes. |
The impact of universal credit had not been tested on families with children, said Ms Longfield. | The impact of universal credit had not been tested on families with children, said Ms Longfield. |
The government says the change will make it easier to claim benefits. | The government says the change will make it easier to claim benefits. |
The rollout of the new benefit across the UK accelerated last month - with about 50 job centres now being added each month. | The rollout of the new benefit across the UK accelerated last month - with about 50 job centres now being added each month. |
It merges six benefits for working-age people into one new payment. | It merges six benefits for working-age people into one new payment. |
What is Universal Credit? | What is Universal Credit? |
Universal Credit: Helpline delays | Universal Credit: Helpline delays |
The system, with a built-in six-week wait, has been beset by controversy. | The system, with a built-in six-week wait, has been beset by controversy. |
The benefit is paid in arrears, which means everyone has to wait at least four weeks for their money. | The benefit is paid in arrears, which means everyone has to wait at least four weeks for their money. |
The rest of the wait is because of the way the scheme is administered. | The rest of the wait is because of the way the scheme is administered. |
So far, about a quarter of all claimants have had to wait more than six weeks to receive their first payments. | So far, about a quarter of all claimants have had to wait more than six weeks to receive their first payments. |
"I am worried about the rollout of welfare reforms," Ms Longfield said in her evidence to the committee. | "I am worried about the rollout of welfare reforms," Ms Longfield said in her evidence to the committee. |
"I am aware that, actually, families with children are being very hard hit, families with more than two children very hard hit, and, actually, lone parents. | "I am aware that, actually, families with children are being very hard hit, families with more than two children very hard hit, and, actually, lone parents. |
"So, I do think we've got a set of families whose lives are quite precarious. | "So, I do think we've got a set of families whose lives are quite precarious. |
"Often they are the ones in work, and I am not sure that everyone has recognised that the new poor and the new insecure are those in insecure work." | "Often they are the ones in work, and I am not sure that everyone has recognised that the new poor and the new insecure are those in insecure work." |
She said the fact that the new system had not been tested on families with children meant "we are moving into rollout not knowing what that means". | She said the fact that the new system had not been tested on families with children meant "we are moving into rollout not knowing what that means". |
"So, one of the things that I will be asking the chancellor to do is to pause universal credit rollout for families with children until we better understand what that means," Ms Longfield said. | "So, one of the things that I will be asking the chancellor to do is to pause universal credit rollout for families with children until we better understand what that means," Ms Longfield said. |
She said the change was coming on top of "welfare failures" and families were now having to resort to using food banks. | She said the change was coming on top of "welfare failures" and families were now having to resort to using food banks. |
"I am well aware of the impact of the rules around two children and also the benefits freeze," she said. | "I am well aware of the impact of the rules around two children and also the benefits freeze," she said. |
"There is cumulative impact and I think at this stage, with such a vulnerable group of children and families, it's the right thing to pause universal credit." | "There is cumulative impact and I think at this stage, with such a vulnerable group of children and families, it's the right thing to pause universal credit." |
The Department for Work and Pensions says universal credit will boost employment by about 250,000 once it is fully rolled out. | |
A spokeswoman said: "Under universal credit, people are moving into work faster and staying in work longer than the old system. | |
"The number of children growing up in homes where no-one works has fallen by half a million since 2010. | |
"Under UC, parents get tailored support to find work that fits with their caring responsibilities and, once in work, have 85% of their childcare costs refunded." |