A LIST of 16 cases of what campaigners described as individual suffering caused by Government welfare reforms has been presented to Mark Pawsey.
A delegation from the Rugby Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition (TUSC) met him to spell out their concerns about the problems claimants were said to have been facing since the introduction of Universal Credit back in April as part of a national pilot.
They included claimants told to apply online but given no training as to how to do that, a young man with throat cancer who was 30 minutes late for his DWP appointment because he had been to hospital for treatment and was told he would lose benefits as a result, and another said to have been told he did not qualify for JSA or housing benefit despite having a shattered leg and being barely able to walk.
Universal Credit replaced income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance, income-related Employment and Support Allowance, Income Support, Working Tax Credit, Child Tax Credit and Housing Benefit in Rugby in April.
Rugby TUSC spokesperson Pete McLaren, who will stand against Mr Pawsey at the next general election, said: “We repeatedly asked him to accept Universal Credit had failed and therefore should be withdrawn, but he felt the problems it was experiencing could be fixed. He likened it to a car needing repair work whilst TUSC thought it should be scrapped.
“He concluded by stating he would articulate the concerns we had raised with ministers and/or the DWP, and report back to us. We do appreciate the fact Mark agreed to meet with us.”
