Welcome back to my column. This is the first one for 2020, happy new year to you.

I decided to write about universal credit, but as it is such a huge issue, I am going to write it in two parts this month and the next in March.

Universal credit is a social security benefit, which was first introduced in 2013.

It was meant to simplify matters and replace six means-tested benefits. Yet evidence has shown that it has caused hardship for claimants, severe hardship, misery, suffering and even deaths. It is putting people into debt and poverty and causing rent arrears, and reliance on food banks.

Universal credit is designed to replace income-based jobseekers’ allowance, (JSA), housing benefit, working tax credit, child tax credit, income support, and income-related employment support allowance (ESA). The plan is to move all legacy claimants on to universal credit by 2023.

Unite the union one of the leading trade unions carried out a survey last year on universal credit, the results are worrying. The government said that universal credit would make life better for claimants, but the evidence suggests otherwise.

The government seems to be ignoring the concerns of claimants and is not making any changes to universal credit. It affects people not just out of work but people in employment, but part-time low paid zero-hours workers and agency workers and the self–employed.

• Key findings of the Unite survey.

• Many claimants believe they are not getting the money they are entitled to.

• Sanctions are cruel and unfair and make things worse.

• Universal credit is causing claimants to get in debt, including into the arms of payday lenders and loan sharks.

• It is having a detrimental impact on the claimant’s mental health which is increasing the risk of suicide.

• The application process is unfair, complicated and difficult to access. It is ridged and unresponsive, for example, most claimants prefer to be paid fortnightly.

• It is causing serious problems with housing, including rent arrears and homelessness.

• It is discriminatory, disproportionately impacting on disabled people and carers.

• Parents are struggling to pay for school trips, uniforms and feeding their kids, particularly during the school holidays and Christmas.

• Legacy benefits claimants overwhelmingly fear being moved onto universal credit.

• Universal credit is an industrial issue that impacts on working people. It is particularly unfair on part-time, low paid zero hours and agency workers as well as the self-employed.

Claimants were also asked the following questions, and had they experienced the following:

Skipped meals 69.3%

Used food banks 41.9%

Could not afford to buy clothing 78.2%.

Could not afford school trips 25.7%

Could not afford transport 60.2%

Could not afford bills such as heating, electricity, and water 64.6%

Been to a loan company 18.6%

Been to a loan shark 8.2%

Relied on support from family and friends 78.4%

The other 12.5%.

Below are just a few comments from Universal credit claimants:

“I can't afford to buy food, so I have to go to my mums for food, it’s an absolute disgrace and disgusting”

“I leaked at work due to having a period I could not afford sanitary products. I am a teacher and I had to leave work and go home to get changed”

“Lost my car and as I have a disability which the DWP are aware of they made me jump through hoops to prove I needed it making my injuries worse, getting upset, anxious, depressed and angry”

As you can see these findings are shocking and, in my opinion, this is not giving people their human rights?

If you live in the London Borough of Greenwich and are having problems with universal credit, benefits issues, housing, and similar issues. There is an advice hub every Friday at:

Clockhouse Community Centre, Defiance Walk, Royal Arsenal

London SE18 5QL.

It is a drop-in service between 10.00 am and 12.30 pm.

The last client is seen at 12.00 pm. Free food is provided for clients to eat.

Also, Greenwich Council Welfare Rights have a telephone service

Between 10am and 1pm Mon, Wed, and Thursday

The number is 0208- 921-6575