Universal Credit 'Flaws' Mean Thousands Will Be Worse Off

Thousands of self-employed, agency, and zero-hours contract workers will be potentially hundreds of pounds a year worse off under universal credit. Analysis by Citizens Advice claims that flaws in the new benefit mean self-employed workers whose earnings fluctuate monthly could receive far less over the course of a year than employees in “traditional” jobs who earn the same amount. Its analysis shows that a self-employed worker earning £9,750 a year would be £630 worse off under universal credit than an employee with an identical annual income but paid a regular monthly salary. Read more on the Guardian website.

https://www.theguardian.com/society/2018/apr/12/universal-credit-flaws-mean-thousands-will-be-worse-off

Zero-Hours Contracts 'Trapping Young People In Homelessness'

Zero-hours contracts are trapping young people in homelessness. Centrepoint has said that the controversial contracts are making it harder for 16 to 25-year-olds to escape homelessness and more likely for them to be saddled with rent arrears leading them being evicted. The result was young people trying to get back on their feet after having been homeless were effectively being penalised for getting a job. For young people on zero-hours contracts the first problem was getting a landlord willing to accept them as a tenant in rented accommodation. With the current affordable housing shortage landlords could pick and choose tenants, and many viewed zero-hours workers as worse than jobless benefits claimants. Read more on the Independent.

Labour Attempts To Water Down Pay To Stay

Labour MPs have tabled a series of amendments to proposed legislation in an attempt to water down the government’s Pay to Stay policy.  Shadow ministers are attempting to alter the government’s plans to force higher-income social housing tenants to pay up to market rent. Under the proposed policy, tenants with a household income of £30,000 or more (£40,000 in London) would pay higher rents. Labour is seeking exemptions for people aged 65 years or older, carers, those in receipt of care, disabled people, people on zero-hours contracts, people on housing benefit and those with seasonal contracts of employment.  This follows concern that the £30,000 threshold is too low and will lead to some housing benefit claimants having to pay more rent. Read more on Inside Housing.

Millionaire Landlords Begin Evicting Large Families

Britain’s most controversial landlords, Fergus and Judith Wilson, whose property empire extends to nearly 1,000 homes in Kent, have begun evicting families with more than two children, banned tenants on zero-hours contracts and thrown out extended families where the grandmother comes to stay. Last January, the Wilsons sparked a national outcry after it was revealed they were evicting anyone on housing benefit. They sent the eviction notices to 200 tenants, saying they preferred eastern European migrants who defaulted much less frequently than single mums on welfare. But, in a bizarre twist, the Wilsons have begun evicting many of their eastern European tenants – because they are having too many children. “I have taken the decision to evict all families with more than two children and also three-generation households,” said Fergus Wilson in a statement sent to the Guardian. Read more on the Guardian website.

Universal Credit – Parliamentary Written Answer

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what sanctions his Department uses on universal credit claimants who refuse a zero hours contract.

Esther McVey: All claimants are expected to accept reasonable offers of employment. If they do not then they may be referred for a sanction. This is the same for UC.