PMQs: Theresa May warned of Xmas 'trauma' over Universal Credit
Jeremy Corbyn reveals a letting agency is warning tenants about eviction due to the introduction of flagship benefit changes.
Wednesday 15 November 2017 15:36, UK
The Prime Minister has been warned thousands of families are being put through the "trauma" of fearing eviction over Christmas due to flagship benefit changes.
Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn tackled Theresa May over the roll-out of Universal Credit, as he revealed a letting agency's warning to tenants that they could be asked to leave their properties.
In a letter from Lincolnshire-based GAP Property, tenants are told the company cannot sustain arrears "at the potential levels Universal Credit could create" when the new benefits system is introduced in the area next month.
Highlighting a six-week wait claimants will face for their first benefit payments under Universal Credit, the agency adds: "IF YOU DO NOT PAY YOUR RENT WE WILL HAVE NO OPTION BUT TO LEAVE AND RECOVER LOSSES FROM YOUR GUARANTOR".
GAP Property insists to tenants the letter is "not intended to cause you alarm, rather to inform you of the problems that could very well occur during the roll-out of Universal Credit".
Challenging Mrs May over the letter at Prime Minister's Questions on Wednesday, Mr Corbyn asked: "Will the Prime Minister pause Universal Credit so it can be fixed or does she think it is right to put thousands of families through Christmas in the trauma of knowing they're about to be evicted because they're in rent arrears because of Universal Credit?"
In response, Mrs May acknowledged concerns about people managing their budgets to pay rent during the Universal Credit roll-out, but added: "What we see is after four months the number of people on Universal Credit in arrears has fallen by a third."
The Labour leader told the Prime Minister he suspects "it's not the only letting agency that's sending out that kind of letter" and highlighted increased food bank usage and child poverty fears as he demanded the Government pause the roll-out of Universal Credit.
Mrs May countered the new benefits system "is ensuring that we are seeing more people in work and able to keep what they earn".
Their exchanges came after Sky News was told the Government is to cut the controversial six-week wait for Universal Credit payments in the comings days in a bid to appease unhappy Conservative MPs.
After PMQs, Mrs May's official spokesman said the Prime Minister had made clear she will "continue to evaluate" Universal Credit as it is rolled out
He added there have "already been developments" on the new benefits programme, such as the number of people claiming advance payments "increasing significantly" and the scrapping of charges on Universal Credit phone lines.
Shadow work and pensions secretary Debbie Abrahams repeated Labour's demand for a pause to Universal Credit while "these issues are fixed".
She said: "The Government is reportedly planning to reduce the six week wait for Universal Credit payments.
"I hope they have now listened to Labour's repeated calls to significantly reduce the waiting time, which has driven many into debt, arrears and evictions.
"Much more needs to be done.
"The Government must confirm that alternative payment arrangements will be offered to all recipients, including fortnightly payments, and bring forward plans to restore the principle that work always pays under the programme."
A flagship scheme of David Cameron's coalition government, Universal Credit aims to simplify the benefits system by rolling six existing benefits into one single payment.