THOSE in poverty and hardship in Bolton are clearly continuing to struggle.

Universal Credit, the new all encompassing benefits system, has been running in Bolton for over two years now. It is important to remember that it is not just welfare support for those with no work but the many, particularly in Bolton South East such as Farnworth and Great Lever, who earn less than the living wage. There have been many testimonies from people on benefits of the system not supporting them. Many have found it hard to get the right help and support to find long term work. Too many have ended up losing money through benefit sanctions. Likely not enough have been informed about the hardship funds available when they have gaps in their income.

There has been an increase in people stealing food which has drawn some sympathy. The Food Banks have found many on benefit sanctions arriving there. Universal Credit applications are on-line so it is an absolute must in areas of poverty and hardship that digital access is available. Councillors have made their views known on this at the Corporate Scrutiny Committee. It is a hard ask in a council facing cuts.

The Minister who set up Universal Credit, Lord Freud now admits that there is a serious problem of payment delays. The minimum delay is six weeks but it can easily be two months and more. The unemployed who have little money to live on are going into debt and rent arrears and are seriously at risk to loan sharks and of losing their tenancies. We have housing case workers at Bolton Citizens Advice Bureau who help tenants facing eviction at County Court which is due to close in May and residents will have to go to Manchester. Who will help them there? Many in Labour believe more could be done if the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) budget was devolved to Greater Manchester, and could link the DWP budget better to the Skills budget, Council investment in the Community and Voluntary Sector and other Council functions such as hardship funds.

The Prime Minister is utterly failing her pledge “to make Britain a country that works not for a privileged few but for everyone one of us.” It is an appalling state of affairs that when people need to find work or survive on low income the Tory government works against them, impoverishing them, at a time they need help the most.

Cllr Sue Haworth

Harper Green ward