NEXT month sees the roll out of Universal Credit in Newport, and in 26 other local authority areas across the UK.
Already those working closely with benefit claimants here are airing very real concerns about a process which has become mired in controversy due to payment delays.
Even some Tory MPs urged work and pensions secretary David Gauke to temporarily halt the roll-out while such issues were sorted out, so this is not just about party political differences.
We cannot understand why he did not use the opportunity for a temporary halt. Surely it would be better to get the system right before extending it to so many other areas of the country.
Our concern is that with a November roll-out, any delays in payments could extend up to Christmas and perhaps even beyond. And that means real people suffering real hardship.
It is fair to say that the idea behind Universal Credit – to simplify our complex benefits system – makes perfect sense.
But it is the implementation of the change which has the potential to cause major problems. And that is what needs sorting out sooner rather than later.
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