Against the cuts in Euston

By New Worker correspondent

Disabled People Against Cuts (DPAC) campaigners took to the streets of London this week to protest against the government’s removal of the £20 per week uplift to Universal Credit and to demand a fundamental overhaul of the social security system.
    They blocked The Euston Road in central London for over half an hour on Tuesday in an “AudioRiot” of drums, bells, whistles and loudhailers as part of their national campaign to mark the end of COVID‑19-related support mechanisms in Universal Credit.
    The government increased Universal Credit by £20 per week at the start of the pandemic. They never gave it to people on legacy benefits – meaning that more than two million disabled people and carers missed out. The uplift was also temporary and ends on 30th September.
    Senior Tories, including six former Secretaries of State for Work and Pensions, have pleaded with the government not to end the uplift yet. Iain Duncan Smith and Damian Green even made a last-ditch attempt to get a motion to stop the cut voted on through the Pensions uprating debate, but their amendment was not chosen by the Speaker.
    Many claimants never got the £20 in the first place. It was only applied to Universal Credit, so those still on legacy benefits and not yet moved over to Universal Credit were missed out. Over three-quarters are disabled, and their living costs have been significantly higher as a result of the pandemic and needing to shield.
    Out-of-work benefits are well below the amount needed for a decent standard of living. Even after the uplift, Universal Credit is just 43.4 per cent of the minimum income standard needed for a decent standard of living. For those on legacy benefits, their social security payments all the way through the pandemic have represented just 33.9 per cent of the minimum income standard.

Stop Universal Credit!

NCP's Theo Russell on the left

By New Worker correspondent

Comrades and friends protested outside the Department for Work & Pensions offices in Caxton House, central London, on a busy Friday lunchtime last week to call for the hated Universal Credit system to be scrapped. Leaflets were handed out and speakers drew attention to the thousands of people who have died after being after being declared fit for work. Many passers by and drivers showed their support for the protesters, and leaflets were given to DWP workers taking their lunch breaks. The pickets, called by the Kilburn Unemployed Worker’s Group are held on the first Friday of every month from 12 noon.

Against Universal Credit!

By New Worker correspondent

A highly successful protest against Universal Credit was held last Saturday in Ladbroke Grove in west London. About 50 Unite members along with Labour Party and Hammersmith, Fulham, Kensington & Chelsea Trades Council activists joined the demonstration in carnival land that was also supported by Emma Dent Coad, the new Labour MP for Kensington & Chelsea. They sang anti-Universal Credit Christmas carols such as God Rest ye Tory Gentlemen and We Three MPs of Tory Faith, and received enthusiastic support from local residents, rapidly running out of leaflets and stickers.

Scrap Universal Credit!

by New Worker correspondent

There was a big turnout from Kilburn Unemployed Workers Group picketing the DWP HQ at Caxton House in London’s West End last week. The protesters were calling for the scrapping of the hated ‘Universal Credit’ benefits scheme that is killing the poor and disabled.

Universal Credit is a punitive measure against a vast section of the population on low income rather than a rational simplification and streamlining of the benefit system, as the Tories claim. Universal Credit combines six working-age benefits into a single payment — but is paid monthly in arrears.

The roll out of Universal Credit (UC) threatens to ruin thousands of families throughout the country, forcing them into huge debt, homelessness and unemployment while a recent study led by the University of York found that benefits sanctions are pushing people into destitution, survival crime and ill health.