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BY UNITEWORKS TEAM


Find out more HERE “


abused. I continued to work throughout all of this.


“Eventually, I had the courage to divorce my husband. Because he’d refused to work and I’d always paid all the bills I believed there would be no change financially.” But moving onto Universal Credit actually left Emma £350 a month worse off, as her disabled worker’s allowance was stopped.


Making things worse for Emma was the fact that her wages are paid on the last Wednesday of every month rather than on the same date. This led to her claim being cancelled and payments stopped for three months. She was also ineligible to claim her entitlement back for the month in which the claim was ended.


This is a widely experienced problem for Universal Credit claimants whose regular wages are paid on different days each month and stems from an ill-considered


* Not their real names


policy stipulation that the benefit amount is calculated to a strictly defined time period.


Emma said, “When the financial hardship hit I had a complete breakdown. I’ve since been diagnosed with PTSD, anxiety and depression. I have always paid my bills, taxes, pension and cannot believe as a health care professional with 22 years’ service I now find myself in this position. I have never in my life been so much as a penny over my overdraft – now I am mortgaged up to the hilt, am living off a credit card and have taken out two personal loans.


“Over everything, it’s Universal Credit that has broken me” Emma admitted. “I have been treated like some kind of benefit scrounger. Had I known that I would lose my tax credits and be transferred to Universal Credit before I separated from my ex-husband, I would have remained in


29 uniteWORKS Autumn 2019


Unite is calling for Universal Credit to be scrapped altogether in favour of a secure, well-funded and above all humane social security system that treats people with dignity and respect


Liane Groves


Head of Unite Community





the marriage – and that is a worrying thought. “What an absolute joke.”


Unite Community’s national co-ordinator Liane Groves agreed. “Sadly, Pat and Emma aren’t alone. Universal Credit not only leaves people worse off, but it also fails to recognise people’s individual circumstances,” Groves added. “But make no mistake – this cruelty is not a design flaw in the system; it’s the whole point.


“That’s why we’re calling for Universal Credit to be scrapped altogether in favour of a secure, well-funded and above all humane social security system that treats people with dignity and respect.”


The 24 hour National Domestic Violence Helpline, run in partnership between Women’s Aid and Refuge is for women experiencing domestic violence, their family, friends and others calling on their behalf and can be reached on 0808 2000 247.


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