News & Features
DWP Asked to Make Benefits System Changes
Posted in General News on Monday, August 17th, 2020
The Trade Union Congress (TUC) believes the Coronavirus pandemic has highlighted that the nation’s benefits system is unfit for purpose and in need of change. The TUC argues that the failings of the social security system have been brought about by the £34 billion worth of funding cuts it has endured since 2010. In order to solve the perceived issues, the TUC recommends raising the basic level of Universal Credit (UC) and legacy benefits to at least 80% of the national living wage (£260 per week), ending the five week wait for the first payment of UC by changing emergency payment loans to grants, ensuring that nobody loses out on any increases to social security by removing the arbitrary benefit cap, and more. The TUC General Secretary, Frances O’Grady said: “If we don’t urgently boost Universal Credit many risk being plunged into poverty. That is not right. We need a social security system that can deal with the current pandemic and beyond. It's time to start a national conversation about how we repair Britain’s safety net and help those who fall on hard times to bounce back”.
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Peter Lees
Monday, August, 17th, 2020
I would totally agree with the TUC's assessment of the current state of the nation's benefit system. It is not fit for purpose unless the purpose is to deny people in difficult circumstances through no fault of their own access to support that they are entitled to receive. After a decade of increasing complexity and reduction in real value there is a too modernise the benefit system to make it fit for the 21st. century. This country needs a social support system that recognises that the victims of unemployment and social change are victims of decisions made in globalised corporate organisations who do not take account of the local impact of their policies. Most people are unemployed because of decisions taken that are out of their control and therefore the nation's benefit system should recognise this and support those who's work options are curtailed by disability, mental health issues or adjusting to new work patterns caused by the modernising of globally based corporations. As technology reduces the number of people required to work we need to update our attitude to the benefit system to reflect these changes.