Universal Calamity
Struggling to survive in Tottenham, with a history of depression.
Paid
one penny to last next month because he earned £1109 last month. The
Universal Credit is a nightmare for zero hours contract workers.
£317 a month UC standard allowance is the equivalent of £73.10 a week IS/JSA/ESA
The council charges him council tax at £3.40 a week or £14.75 a month
He has rent and council tax arrears due to a three month benefit sanction and irregular work.
He is threatened with eviction when he inevitably gets behind.
We
know that £73.10 a week IS/JSA/ESA has reduced in value since 1979, the
increase was frozen at 1% in 2011 and it has not been increased since
April 2015.
Link reference
HARINGEY COUNCIL TAXES BENEFIT INCOMES OF ITS POOREST RESIDENTS
OF UK'S MOST DEPRIVED WARDS WITH
LOW LIFE EXPECTANCY AND HIGH RISK OF LOW BIRTH-WEIGHT.
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,
Comment received by e-mail from Prof. Guy Standing, Co-President of Basic Income Earth Network:
ReplyDelete"I remain bemused how so many people think Universal Credit (or tax credits) is the answer to any sensible question.
"Keep the material flowing.... I have special words for that 'alternative' to basic income..."