Nick Smith MP Labour MP for Blaenau Gwent
“There has been a lot of talk about Universal Credit this week following the publication of a report which shows that the average low-income family in some parts of the UK is likely to be worse off under universal credit.
“My office hears from people week-in, week-out who are being let down by Universal Credit. These are often hard-working people who have been left without enough money to get by.
“Universal Credit is causing misery for families in Blaenau Gwent and across the country.
“Universal Credit was designed to ‘make work pay’. Under this Government, low-paid workers can’t even keep their own bonuses.
We heard recently how Greggs gave 25,000 of its workers a £300 bonus. However, because of Universal Credit, some workers will only keep £75.
“Universal Credit was supposed to make the social security system simpler.
People’s lives are being ruined by its complex rules and confusion over payments.
“Universal Credit was supposed to reduce poverty but in many cases it is having the opposite effect.
“In Blaenau Gwent and places across the UK, families are being forced to rely on the foodbank to feed their children.
“The Prime Minister and this Tory Government must accept that Universal Credit is broken.”