In recent years there has been a massive overhaul of the welfare benefits system including the introduction of Personal Independence Payment, Employment Support Allowance if you are sick or disabled, but the biggest change is the introduction of Universal Credit. It is the biggest change since the 1940’s

What is Universal Credit? For people who do not know Universal Credit is a new benefit that will replace six existing means-tested benefits, these are Income Support, Income-based Job Seekers Allowance, Income-based Employment Support Allowance, Housing Benefit, Child Tax Credits, Working Tax Credit and Housing Benefit.

The benefit is being piloted in certain areas, but managed migration will take place over the next few years from the legacy system under the old rules, but any new claimants will be expected to claim universal credit. There has been so much controversy about this benefit and many other benefits such as Employment Support Allowance and Personal Independence Payment.

All these benefits come with problems due to issues such as unfair and cruel unreliable medical assessments. Universal credit alone has been linked to an increase in suicide risks with the stress in certain cases of claimants being left without money for weeks pushing them into poverty.

Another big problem is people often do not know where to go for help or have complex needs or language barriers. Services are being inundated with clients and often there is a lack of resources. I am pleased to say that in my borough I am lucky, and there are many good organizations to assist with such issues. Often people have a lack of literacy skills and cannot complete complicated forms although universal credit is can be claimed online there is the option to apply over the phone as well.

I would like to introduce a new service:

The Clockhouse Advice Hub,

Defiance Walk, Woolwich, London SE18 5QL

This is held each Friday morning at the Clockhouse Community Centre from 09.30am until 12.30pm. There is no appointment required, it’s a drop-in service.

It was set up with a focus on universal credit. The service is a partnership between, The Clockhouse Community Centre, Advocacy Now, Greenwich Housing Rights, Greenwich Welfare Rights, and Greenwich Citizens Advice. The principal focus is on universal credit advice, but the advice is available on other issues such as housing, welfare benefits advice, debt management and specific advice for those over 55 years of age.

Anyone attending this One-stop service is entitled to free food.

This service is primarily for Greenwich residents, but if people are from another borough then they will be signposted accordingly.

I think this new service will help many people and break down the barrier people face and the stress that is faced when applying for benefits, it will also make it easier for places like job centers when people sometimes turn up with issues that cannot be dealt with at the time.