GCHQ says Universal Credit poses serious security risks

A Kwuggie (Kilburn Unemployed Workers Group activist) has sent in the following by e-mail:

I wish I had the facility to scan news paper items.  Yesterday the 6th, The Times had a lovely piece on Universal Credit poses serious security risk, spies tell No 10.(1)  Experts working for GCHQ the government listening agency contacted  Downing Street in alarm after being "fobbed off" by the DWP over security  flaws in the benefits program. millions of people could be hacked  The system will not be operational until 2022 at the earliest. GCHQ  involvement on delaying UC  is revealed in a report by the Institute for Government into how the welfare reform program went disastrously wrong. The report says that it still remains to be seen if UC will eventually work.

Blazing rows between George Osborne and Iain Duncan Smith in front of civil servants.  "I have not seen two grown adults  have such a row for a long time ," one official said.

IDS  allegedly told one civil servant  that he would  not back down even when the plan was failing. There is a reference to a small number of jobcentres where UC is in operation major problems have emerged . A quarter of claimants face "significant issues" with the system. Councils  had to take on extra staff as CAB couldn't cope.

The report reveals the GCHQ officials went to No.10 after being repeatedly "fobbed off '. as they tried to establish what security measures were in place. After which the Cabinet Office ordered  an independent review. The review team  interviewed staff , assuring them that what they said would not be traced back to them.  The report said that under every stone was chaos. People burst into tears.  One of the suppliers said " just don't put this thing online.".  It is a complete security disaster. There was no way this could be launched as digital service.

IDS was ordered to put back the launch. Nick Thimmins , who wrote the report, said that. "There are elements of the policy that are still not entirely  clear.  Huge challenges remain."

Related link address

1. http://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/universal-credit-poses-a-major-security-risk-spies-tell-no-10-m87rs8qq5
2. See also http://www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/news/latest/universal-credit-way-recovery and http://www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/blog/14592/universal-credit-a-programme-in-recovery/

The Monstrous Unfairness of Benefit Sanctions

Guest blog post by Revd Paul Nicolson of Taxpayers Against Poverty

The monstrous unfairness of benefit sanctions 

PM must look below the statistics to tackle the inequalities of income, wealth, health & administration of justice 

The Prime Minister ( Guardian If Theresa May is serious about inequality she will ditch Osborneomics) must look below the headline statistics to tackle the dire inequalities of income, wealth, health and the administration of justice she has inherited.

I helped John Smith, name changed, through the traumatic aftermath of a benefit sanction. 

Three powerful government department​s had descended on a single unemployed adult with a history of depression. 

The DWP [Department for Work & Pensions] stopped his income and the DCLG [Department for Communities & Local Government]/Local authority enforced rent and council tax arrears, and the MOJ [Ministry of Justice] enforced a TV license fine, all with threats of eviction, the bailiffs and prison. 

During a three month sanction the unmanageble debts pile up.  When it ends they are enforced against £73.10 a week JSA. 

He was then told his block of flats was due for demolition. He was speaking about his thoughts of throwing himself off the balcony of his 5th floor council flat. 

These extreme punishments imposed by the State, extending to over a year due to the enforcement of debts, were totally disproportionate to the offence of missing an appointment. 

John Smith did not receive a fair trial at the Jobcentre.

When the bailiffs called on John Smith I told them I was taking the case back the the Magistrates Court - this is the case I put to them - they remitted £135 fine and dismissed the bailiffs. 

The case I put to the magistrate is on the TAP website. 

from the Reverend Paul Nicolson

Taxpayers Against Poverty

No citizen without an affordable home and an 

adequate income in work or unemployment. 

93 Campbell Road, Tottenham, London N17 0BF, 0208 3765455, 07961 177889, 

https://www.facebook.com/Taxpayers-Against-Poverty-299911526728884/

https://twitter.com/taxpayers_a_p www.taxpayersagainstpoverty.org.uk, 

www.z2k.org, www.prohousingalliance.com

Taxpayers Against Poverty ask new PM for cumulative assessment of all benefit cuts in UK

Guest Blog Post by Revd Paul Nicolson of Taxpayers Against Poverty

I am today posting a letter recorded delivery to the new Prime Minister — the full text can be found on the Taxpayers Against Poverty website — all good wishes — Paul

It begins;  

"Dear Prime Minister, 

POVERTY IN THE UNITED KINGDOM

May I congratulate you on becoming Prime Minister and wish you a successful term in the service of the people of the UK.

I am making one request. Please will you commission a report into:

1. The cumulative impact of Housing Benefit cuts, benefit caps and Council Tax on the health of benefit claimants, in work and unemployment, since 2008 taking into account the impact of debt on mental health and the need for women to receive a healthy diet before they conceive and while they are pregnant if they are to give birth to healthy babies.
2. The cost to the health service of poverty related ill health."

Link address

http://taxpayersagainstpoverty.org.uk/news/new-prime-minister