The Tory benefits boss has been slammed after dismissing
concerns his new welfare system is causing hardship and forcing claimants into
rent arrears. Damian Green claimed “teething problems” had cleared up despite
council figures showing average rent arrears of more than £900 among some
Universal Credit claimants. The Work and Pensions Secretary downplayed evidence
of problems raised by MPs and MSPs during a joint Westminster-Holyrood
committee meeting. SNP MP Pete Wishart, who chaired the session, said areas
where the full service began, including Inverness, reported a sharp rise in
housing arrears. Direct payments to landlords are taking between six and 10
weeks to process. Read more on the Daily Record website.
