Govan Law Centre calls for bulwark against Universal Credit in Scotland

Mike Dailly

Universal Credit is the UK government’s flagship welfare reform designed to simplify the benefits system and make it easier for people to transition to work.

It will be received by over 600,000 households in Scotland, and its final rollout is due to be completed on 5 December 2018.

GLC said its casework across Glasgow confirms that Universal Credit is “causing misery and increasing poverty” and is calling for its devolution to the Scottish Parliament “so a new solution to in-work poverty can be found”.

In the meantime, it has suggested that the Scottish government prevent landlords deducting more than five per cent of a tenant’s UC or disposable income for arrears of rent and that it establish a national co-ordination of advice and intervention strategies in Scotland to limit the damage of UC.

Mike Dailly of Govan Law Centre said: “With the full rollout of Universal Credit in Glasgow for new claimants in a few weeks much more must be done to tackle the crisis of Universal Credit until it can be devolved.

“The Scottish government and all stakeholders need to act now, with interim measures, to reduce the misery.

“We need updated pre-action requirements to provide help and support to prevent evictions, we should restrict the increased deductions from universal credit for rent arrears, ensure tenants are fully aware they can have their UC paid direct to the landlord if this will help them feel safer in their home, and we need national co-ordination of advice and intervention strategies in Scotland.”