My readers who are unemployed, or dependent on benefits for other reasons, must feel more than ever under attack at the moment. First, the move to Universal Credit, the personal mission of Iain Duncan Smith, has so many flaws that even the civil servants seem to be worried about it. But IDS greets all the criticism with his customary insouciance. You can all apply online. If you're one of the losers who doesn't have an internet connection (it doesn't cost anything, does it?) you can go to the library and do it in public. And those who can't use the internet will just have to learn. After all, they need to be able to do it to get a job. And you'll have to learn to cope with getting your benefits monthly. If you're so bad at budgeting that you can't, there'll be classes. (Prepare the bid writers, A4e.) If you begin to suspect that IDS and his kind live on another planet, you will be cheered by the vision of Lord Freud. The Guardian reports fears of cyberfraud wrecking the IT system, but Freud suggested that "ultimately claimants might take advantage of the development of internet eye-glasses by Google - which allows users to surf the internet on the lens of a pair of glasses, using eye movements to navigate the web and make benefits claims." You couldn't make it up. It's clear that some people are going to be significantly worse off, but nobody wants to admit it.
Then one of those dubious surveys comes out which shows that a majority of people are in favour of welfare cuts. The relentless propaganda of governments and the right wing press has done its work. So we're told that the government plans to link benefit increases to wages rather than to CPI. So much fairer. (Cue lots of references by Tory ministers to "hard working families".) Economists point out that it would be counter-productive. But the next step is to float the idea of a two-year freeze on benefits before making the change. The Guardian reports lots of quotes about "tough choices". And it also carries the angry reaction of the Child Poverty Action Group.
Since the best time to kick people is when they're down, I wouldn't be at all surprised if there are plans to outsource Jobcentre services.
Interesting thing about needing the internet to apply for jobs. In April when housing benefit changes to how many bedrooms you have I will have to pay £40 a month towards my rent because I live in a 2 bedroom flat & only need 1 bedroom. This means I doubt I'll be able to afford my internet connection or telephone. How am I supposed to apply for jobs and here from employers if that happens? They really don't think things through.
ReplyDeleteI read the article,Foreign governments and organized crime groups are waiting in the rafters to abuse and rip off the system,bit to late don't you think? The WP providers have got there first and I don't think they are willing to share.If I were able to ask IDS one question it would be,what does the WP bring to the table that JCP did not,I have asked my provider this and of course as a lay person there is no clear explanation.Seriously though what does the WP actually provide?
ReplyDeleteSardines
DeleteThese one bedroomed rentals tend to be tiny and claustophobic One extra bedroom, which will also be tiny, is not really a luxury so long as you use it. Storage is one use! A study/office for atudying or applying for jobs, another.
Perhaps a better system would be to pay Housing Benefit per sq metre. I wonder too if there is actually a legal requirement for the amount of space humans dwell in. (Sorry, badly worded)
What an absolute brilliant summary. I totally agree with all you say. Another thing we have found out is that if you do not fill in the online form correctly, then you will not get paid until the form is correct - which I find a little scary, and can foresee lots of people struggling here, after all the form is ambiguos at parts to say the least. The country scapegoating in particular the unemployed, I feel. I look at what councils may be doing next year when council tax benefit and housing benefit, I believe, is to be set rules by their local authorities. I have read in Leeds City Councils ideas on how to make cuts in the future, one idea, whether they bring it in or not is another matter, but it is on the cards, that unemployed people in line with the govts idea to make work pay (that's a joke for those on minimum wage) that unemployed will have council tax benefit reduced by 50%, and I believe no other group will get a reduction? This position may change as they move along their negotiations though. East Yorks councils I believe are considering an idea in line with more of a 50% cut in council tax across the board. Also, I have seen that housing offices are preparing to have debt counsellors and welfare rights advice in their office, no doubt they foresee the disaster this universal credit system and govt changes will make, so fasten your seat belts and get ready for a rough ride. More 3-year with no benefit sanctions will also be seen for unemployed not meeting certain criteria too. For me it is the nhs too with the 49% private and as we see it now, gossip on the street, people do not get sick notes any more? just what they can do? and people are finding it harder to get appropriate investigations and a diagnosis at all. It is worrying, there are no jobs and yet people are being penalised and scapegoated without mercy. To hear people who are from the working class talk about the unemployed derogatory is shocking, they could be next, after all we are only half way through the second band of cutbacks with a third following next April approx. Keep up your great blog, I love to read it as it is so well written, concise, and so informative. You are also keeping a good record of events for the future.
ReplyDeleteEuphoria has left the building! As stated I had started a new,though menial job..The last 2 weeks have been great,although only 12 hrs a week,today as I went to sign the work contract I was informed that only 6 hours a week were guaranteed,shocked! The lady was in fairness very upfront,under the WP she is able to hire 3 under 25yo and over the course of time,with money provided by DWP they almost pay for themselves.I had to sign on and was sent back to the WP,new provider,hopefully better than the last,yes the last provider gave me an out,but only from their programme. Crap!
ReplyDeleteThat's lousy! You need to write a letter with all the details to your MP and send a copies to IDS and to Dame Anne Begg who is Chair of the Work and pensions select committee.
DeleteAh, you can go to your local library and use the computer there.
ReplyDeleteIf you live in a town you can, but not if you live in a rural area where the councils are forced to shut down the libraries because there is no funding.
And the Google eye glasses idea is no good if you have neurological problems, but of course, there are no people around with problems that prevent them using computers for long or short periods are there? I'm still waiting for A4E to sort this out for me with their computers.
Or if you need glasses or those with dyslexia or a myriad of other problems, of course the cost for those could be a lot. Freud is living in a different world
DeleteMany claiming benefits cannot read or write in english (first language or not). Hence claiming is difficult.
ReplyDeleteThey are currently forced to seek help from friends, relatives or agencies such as citizens advice bureau.
Many cannot use a computer hence claiming will be difficult.
They may be forced to seek help from friends, relatives or agencies such as citizens advice bureau or a public library to claim.
Though not a hassel free development, I do not see how this is a significant change from the status quo.
"They are currently forced to seek help from friends, relatives or agencies such as citizens advice bureau."
DeleteNothing wrong with that. That's how Italy for example "works" or not. On the whole, they look after one another. State benefits are few and far between for the unemployed You get a job via contacts, or not.
The state do however look after old people financially but even then, family are very much involved with their well being.
Call me an optimist. But I doubt Universal Credit will be ready by 2013. And even if is ready by then I doubt it will be capable of doing all the things our government envisage.
ReplyDeleteIt is a immense task and very complex to co-ordinate millions of HMRC records, council tax records and DWP claimant records into one database.
The old computer term G.I.G.O. The more complex a system is and this Universal Credit scheme ,seems to be getting more complex every day, the more that will go wrong. Yes we are using an old computer system already and yes it does need updating However it has been bug checked over and over, this new system, expect bugs and unexpected errors occurring for years to come. The fact that this will be in addition to people sending monthly accounts (self employed) to the system, rather than the yearly they have now it will make it far more complex.
ReplyDeleteNot to mention other potential problems, all the money being paid to one name/person this could in the worst case lead to financial control and potential abuse, added to this the money I think is paid monthly, rather than the bi weekly. The more I hear about this Scheme the more complicated and the perils are growing daily.
How out of touch can these Bullington boys become - proving time and time again their well deserved title of the Nasty Party.
ReplyDeleteYou final line about 'outsourcing' Job Centre services is well under way - for years Job Clubs and assistance for unemployed has been outsourced, with false records and outcomes shown to claim their fees!
Jobseeker direct has already been sold to Monster. JSA online is to be run by Crapita (oops Capita). I totally agree, I fear for the future for Jobcentres. I think the DWP presence on the High Street will be a small office accessible by appointment only.
ReplyDeleteI cannot afford to use the library computers due to the £10 registration fee I've been told I have to pay. Currently, I only have internet because my sons pay for it. Once they leave home, I will be able to afford only my top-up rent (£26), gas (£20) and electricity (£20) per week. Nothing left for food, clothing, household items, phone, travel costs
ReplyDeleteHow can we trust a man like Ian Duncan Smith to work for the good of the country? He belongs to a social elite who have only the best interest of the class they belong to 1st and foremost,it is a true class war and all this privatization nonsense is stripping assets from public ownership into the control of a small clique of elites. I read the book written by his father about his Battle of Britain and flying war exploits and in that he laments the money being spent welfare and not industry.If this is how he was raised no wonder he is so dead against the working people of this land being able to share in the wealth we all own.They are stealing it from us and we need to see it now.
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