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Calls for rethink as Universal Credit rolled out in Northern Ireland
Housing and charity sector leaders in Northern Ireland have called for an urgent review of the Universal Credit roll-out across the region as it comes into effect this week.
The new welfare system, which sees existing benefits including housing benefit replaced with a single payment, will be introduced in Limavady from Wednesday.
The Northern Ireland Federation of Housing Associations (NIFHA), the Chartered Institute of Housing Northern Ireland and six charities have written to work and pensions secretary David Gauke demanding that the roll-out timetable is “urgently reviewed”.
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“There are many flaws with Universal Credit that need to be addressed before they cause unnecessary hardship and confusion,” their letter said.
It added that the ongoing political stalemate in the region means “there is no NI Assembly and no ministerial or committee oversight or monitoring of such a significant change”, and raised concerns about the ability of many people to use the government’s online portal to manage their claims.
Political parties Sinn Fein, the SDLP and Alliance have also called for the roll-out to be halted.
Benefit claimants across Northern Ireland will transition to Universal Credit over the next two years, with more than 300,000 families affected.
Ben Collins, chief executive of NIFHA, said: “We are concerned that the flaws in the Universal Credit system will bring similar hardship to Northern Ireland as that already being experienced by Universal Credit claimants in England, Scotland and Wales.
“A delay in the implementation of Universal Credit could allow vital time for technical issues to be addressed and prevent people falling into avoidable debt.”
The Northern Ireland Executive previously agreed to mitigation payments for people transitioning to the new system.
A spokesperson for the Department for Communities said: “Regarding mitigating payments, appropriate administrative arrangements are in place to ensure that the mitigation measures that are already in place in relation to the existing benefits are extended to eligible Universal Credit claimants in line with the previous decisions of the Northern Ireland Executive.”
