Dad struggles to afford food as Universal Credit payments stop without warning
A DAD struggled to feed himself and his six-year-old daughter after his Universal Credit payments were stopped without warning. Cesar Zanin, 44, says he was also forced to borrow money from friends to pay the bills when none of his payments came through on January 20. The part-time NHS worker, who lives in Bristol with […]
A DAD struggled to feed himself and his six-year-old daughter after his Universal Credit payments were stopped without warning.
Cesar Zanin, 44, says he was also forced to borrow money from friends to pay the bills when none of his payments came through on January 20.
The part-time NHS worker, who lives in Bristol with his daughter Laura, says the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) didn’t inform him that his payments would be stopped, reports Bristol Live.
Instead, he was later told by the DWP that the payments had been stopped because he hadn’t provided enough information about a childcare provider.
But Cesar claims he supplied this information, including screenshots and payment confirmation emails.
He told Bristol Live: “They [DWP] didn’t sanction me, they didn’t suspend my childcare costs reimbursements but the fact is my Universal Credit was completely stopped, with no formal notification.”
The Sun wants to Make Universal Credit Work
UNIVERSAL Credit replaces six benefits with a single monthly payment.
One million people are already receiving it and by the time the system is fully rolled out in 2023, nearly 7 million will be on it.
But there are big problems with the flagship new system – it takes 5 weeks to get the first payment and it could leave some families worse off by thousands of pounds a year.
And while working families can claim back up to 85 per cent of their childcare costs, they must find the money to pay for childcare upfront – we’ve heard of families waiting up to 6 months for the money.
Working parents across the country told us they’ve been unable to take on more hours – or have even turned down better paid jobs or more hours because of the amount they get their benefits cut.
It’s time to Make Universal Credit work. We want the government to:
- Get paid faster: The Government must slash the time Brits wait for their first Universal Credit payments from five to two weeks, helping stop 7 million from being pushed into debt.
- Keep more of what you earn: The work allowance should be increased and the taper rate should be slashed from from 63p to 50p, helping at least 4 million families.
- Don’t get punished for having a family: Parents should get the 85 per cent of the money they can claim for childcare upfront instead of being paid in arrears.
Together, these changes will help Make Universal Credit Work.
Join our Universal Credit Facebook group or email UniversalCredit@the-sun.co.uk to share your story.
He added: “I had to borrow money from friends. I was depressed.
“I work part-time for the NHS and rely on paid childcare so life is not easy. It was a low-blow to be honest.
“To say there’s red tape is an understatement.”
After a couple of weeks going back and forth with the DWP, Cesar received his payments – but he’s now “really scared and insecure” they may be stopped once again.
A DWP spokesperson said: “We are urgently looking into the details of Mr Zanin’s case.”
The Sun is campaigning to Make Universal Credit Work by making sure Brits are paid faster, they get to keep more of what they earn and get childcare costs paid upfront.
Our calls have been supported by campaigners, debt charities and top MPs including Ian Duncan Smith, Damian Green and Frank Field.
What to do if you have problems claiming Universal Credit
IF you're experiencing trouble applying for your Universal Credit, or the payments just don't cover costs, here are your options:
Apply for an advance – Claimants are able to get some cash within five days rather than waiting weeks for their first payment. But it’s a loan which means the repayments will be automatically deducted from your future Universal Credit pay out.
Alternative Payment Arrangements– If you’re falling behind on rent, you or your landlord may be able to apply for an APA which will get your payment sent directly to your landlord. You might also be able to change your payments to get them more frequently, or you can split the payments if you’re part of a couple.
Budgeting Advance – You may be able to get help from the government to help with emergency household costs of up to £348 if you’re single, £464 if you’re part of a couple or £812 if you have children. These are only in cases like your cooker breaking down or for help getting a job. You’ll have to repay the advance through your regular Universal Credit payments. You’ll still have to repay the loan, even if you stop claiming for Universal Credit.
Cut your Council Tax – You might be able to get a discount on your Council Tax or be entitled to Discretionary Housing Payments if your payments aren’t enough to cover your rent.
Foodbanks – If you’re really hard up and struggling to buy food and toiletries, you can find your local foodbank who will provide you with help for free. You can find your nearest one on the Trussel Trust website.
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In January, a dad-of-five was left with just 30p in coppers to live off until the end of the month after a “mix up” with his Universal Credit payment.
The troubled six-in-one benefits system has been delayed yet again – this time until 2024.
Meanwhile, Brits on Universal Credit paying back £50million a MONTH in advances to cope with the five-week wait.